Starts with 100 legitimacy and gives 15 army tradition.The trade off is that he will start with lower legitimacy. If your ruler has a lot provinces of his culture in his realm, you will get more ducats and manpower. First one, gives 5% tech discount, is available for everyone.Next you can go either influence or trade or another military idea depending on what you are going for late game. Quality- For better army and navy, because you will have to build a significant naval force as well. Lot of money in spice islands.Įxpansion- boost to your colonial power as well as more trade income. If you restrict their eastern expansion, they won’t be much of a threat.Important to restrict Ottomans expansion or they will become too powerful.The opening moves are the same as Marauding mamluks except don’t attack Byzantium. Use the trade bonuses in Mamluks National Ideas. MERCANTILE MAMLUKS – COLONIZE AND MAKE DUCATS Start building navy once Ottomans are neutralized (mid game).Influence- Faster and cheaper diploannex. Religious/Humanist- Stay as Mamluks, go humanist. One major European ally to counter ottomans early game.Revoke guarantee when above relations limit.Vassalize the scholar country you like (AE reduction one is great).Either rival Timurids and ally Russia.

Look for opportunities in Balkans, Italy and Iberia Hop across the ocean through Hormuz area.Get them before Timurids take those lands.Finish the eastern wall and Byzantium vassalization in 20 years.Conquer Dulkadir/Karaman/Aq Qoyunlu to form a wall.Restrict Ottomans expansion to the east.But you will go above diplomatic relations. Guaranteed by tunis and usually one minor ally.No CB byzantium when troops are in position.Improve relations with Hungary and Medina.Prepare for war against Byzantium- get 11 stack (7 inf 4 cav) in your transports and sail next to Constantinople.Rival Ottomans, Venice and Qara Qoyunlu.I made 2 separate guides for different play styles playing as Mamluks. They also have a unique government type which is really strong. Combine this with all the different avenues you can expand in and Mamluks start looking rather tempting. However, at the start of the game Mamluks start as the 2nd great power, above everyone else bar Ming, and that includes the Ottomans, and their army size is bigger than Ottomans too. Most players don’t play them because we see AI Mamluks die to ottomans every time. Mamluks are one of the more overlooked nations in EU4.

Eu4 arabia or egypt