DLC REVIEW: ‘Europa Universalis V: Across the Pillars’ Is Historical Snapshot That Prioritizes Military Might

Paradox Interactive has players battling for control of a strait of water in its latest immersion pack, Across the Pillars, for its 2026 release, Europa Universalis V. This new immersion pack focuses on the Battle for the Strait. It includes new, unique historical events, mechanics, and expeditions inspired by the Maghrebi and Iberian regions.

Across the Pillars focuses on the historical Battle for the Strait. This involves the Crown of Castile, Morocco, and Granada, and of course, necessitates war between the three. To capture the history of the event and make sure the flavor is just right, each country has its own set of challenges and win conditions for the Battle for the Strait of Gibraltar, and you can continue your playthrough with the Golden Century, which historically went to the Crown of Castile.

Iberia and North Africa are at an inflection point in their history. At the time of the Battle for the Strait, generations have been in conflict for one reason or another. Whether religion or territory, the struggle you enter is one driven by each nation’s belief in its right to control the region. That is why the Golden Century matters. Once achieved, it not only brings stability but also lets you exert your power and Influence beyond the region. 

Paradox Interactive’s latest Europa Universalis V DLC drops you into a region at war. 

When you’re picking who you’ll play as, the Crown of Castile is the easiest given its power, economy, and subjects. Granada is the hardest of the three countries because it is a subject of the Crown of Castile, and this isn’t recommended for the faint of heart. To win as Granada, you must not be a subject of another country, fully control Andalusia and Murcia (modern-day Southern Spain), and keep Moroccan and Castilian Influence under 50 in the Battle for the Strait. 

If you’re looking for a challenge with more autonomy (and win-conditions), then Morocco will likely be your choice. Morocco is more difficult than the Crown of Castile, but as a sovereign itself, it offers more options than playing as Granada, getting your independence and then winning the Battle for the Strait. Still, Morocco is a much smaller, weaker nation, and it starts the game at war, which puts you at a disadvantage.

The challenge of changing this historical event (Battle for the Strait) for Morocco is managing a full-scale war against Tlemcen, its neighboring country, before you can even focus on the Strait of Gibraltar. To win as Morocco, you have to essentially conquer the region. Players must ensure Granada, Andalusia, and Murcia are fully owned by their country, then choose between two paths.

Achieving the Golden Century is the focal point of the Across the Pillars DLC.

The first requires you to fulfill all of these options: Moroccan Influence over Granada in the Battle for the Strait is greater than 99, Granada is a Subject of Morocco, and you also make Grana a Vassal state or a Tā’ifa. Or you can just make sure Granada doesn’t exist if you want to take it that way. 

That said, gaining Influence across Andalusia doesn’t only take military prowess as Morocco. Players can rule through oppression, or they can work with a region like Granada, offering refugees a home and boosting Andalusia’s economy by accepting and hiring their tradesmen. This lets you work with Granada as an ally by offering refuge and eating into Castilian influence and strength in the region. 

As the historical winner of the Battle for the Strait, the win conditions are much simpler for the Crown of Castile. To win as the Castillians, you essentially need to replicate history. Morocco can have no ownership in Iberia, Granada must be completely owned by Castile or remain a subject, and then one of the following: The Castilian Influence over Granada in the Battle for the Strait is greater than 99, Granada is a Subject of Castile or a Vassal, or you can just make sure that Granada doesn’t exist. 

For players looking to focus on trade or assert dominance by means other than war, Across the Pillars can be a challenging affair. No matter which of the three countries you choose at the center of the DLC, you will have to focus on war.

War shapes economies, citizenry, religion, and just about every facet of your nation. Being locked in war, especially with more than one nation, can snowball quickly, making the Battle for the Strait and Across the Pillars a big challenge if that’s your primary playstyle. 

The Battle for the Strait is the pivotal historical event in Across the Pillars that shapes what you can do after.

But the Battle for the Strait isn’t just about the war itself. Across the Pillars also pushes players to make new decisions through new cabinet actions and country interactions in the region, all shaped by the push to control the Strait of Gibraltar. This also gives players access to new, nation-specific military units based on Religious Orders.

Like the Byzantine DLC, the expansion of religion through this region embraces the time period and how central religious sects and leaders shaped pushes for power, economies, and subjects of nations, which is particularly expansive regarding Morocco, and with new bureaucracies for the nation, it makes sense. As the Crown of Castile, you get access to new bureaucracies from Spanish and Portuguese history, while also shaping your power through the Iberian Union. 

The Iberian Union lets players choose a path focused on consolidating power and control in Iberia. Here, players work to unite the Iberian peninsula by centralizing the monarchy’s power or creating a federalized Iberian state in an Iberian Wedding scenario reworked for this DLC. 

Additionally, Across the Pillars keeps true to Europa Universalis V’s dedication to having its players work through history; the battle, while the primary focus, is bolstered by the other new additions to the game that bring out the flavor in the region through new expeditions, bureaucracies, historical events, technology, cosmetics, and music. 

Europa Universalis V: Across the Pillars is great for players who focus on conquest.

This DLC includes special Expedition content with region-specific elements, including gold caravans and treasure fleets. The Expeditions also embrace the myths people in the period pursued. The one that stands out the most is the search for the Fountain of Youth. And it’s not just Expeditions that expand the region in Across the Pillars; the Religious Orders and new flavor also highlight Iberia and the other regions. 

With Iberian and Maghrebi (Moroccan) Historical Events, the region itself takes on a new life. If you’ve played Europa Universalis V, you know the historical events were crafted to bring more life to the flavor added to capture history. In Across the Pillars, the Crown of Castile, Portugal, Aragon, Navarre, Morocco, Granada, and other North African nations help push the player to explore the depth of the region’s history.

Ultimately, Europa Universalis V: Across the Pillars is a DLC that prioritizes strength through conquest and military might to look beyond your region. This also means it primarily targets players who seek challenge through military conflict, not diplomacy or economic expansion, because of the historical event it drops you into. If you’re a player in the latter two categories, it’s easy to feel like you’re on the back foot from the start up until the end of the Battle for the Strait. 

Despite this targeted focus, Across the Pillars adds plenty of flavor and cultural elements for players to appreciate, adding to the robust historical narratives players come to the franchise for. While it may be hit or miss depending on your playstyle, the challenge captures a robust history and asks you to enforce it or change it. 

Europa Universalis V: Across the Pillars is available now on PC.