Luck

Lucky nations is a setting changeable at game set-up. It grants the luck bonus to eight countries, depending on the setting, either a predetermined historical group or at random. If a lucky nation is annexed, from patch 1.2 no new country is assigned lucky nation status. Ironman mode is locked to the "historic lucky nations" setting. The player’s nation will never receive the lucky status.

Bonuses

Lucky nation rulers have a bonus of +1 to their administrative, diplomatic and military skills. Additionally the following bonuses:

	+1%	Missionary strength
	−10%	Stability cost modifier
	+10%	Institution spread
	+1	Monthly splendor
	−20%	Mercenary cost
	−20%	Embracement cost
	−20%	Advisor cost
	−1%	Interest per annum
	−10%	Missionary maintenance cost
	+25%	Manpower recovery speed
	+10%	Fort defense
	+5%	Siege ability
	+10%	Spy network construction
	+25%	Improve relations
	−1%	National unrest
	+0.5%	Yearly republican tradition
	+1%	Yearly legitimacy
	−25%	Aggressive expansion impact

Historically lucky nations

In a default "historical" setting, the lucky nations that aren't controlled by a player, exist at the chosen date, and meet any secondary triggers (for example, Castile will only be a lucky nation in games started before the year 1700 and not chosen by you as player), are as follows:

1. Castile (before year 1700 and Spain does not exist) / Spain (before year 1700 and Castile does not exist)
2. Ottomans (before year 1700)
3. Muscovy (if Russia does not exist) / Russia
4. England (if Great Britain does not exist) / Great Britain
5. France
6. Austria
7. Prussia (after year 1700)
8. Netherlands (after becoming a nation)
9. Portugal (before year 1700)
10. Commonwealth (before year 1700)

At the beginning of 1444, the following lucky nations are (unless you pick one of them): Castile, Ottomans, Muscovy, England, France, Austria, and Portugal.

Identifying lucky nations

If playing on random settings, a lucky nation can most easily be determined by examining their trade power in any node, which will receive a bonus +10% for “luck”, or by viewing the defensiveness in a province of that nation, which receives a +10% bonus for “luck”. It is also possible to identify a lucky nation by scrolling over the spy icon, in the diplomacy tab as lucky nations will receive a +5% bonus spy offense.

Jan Mayen

Jan Mayen is also a lucky nation. He can only be summoned into the game via the console, using the command bearhaslanded.

References

Realm