What a “claim” and a Casus Belli actually are
Think of a Casus Belli as your polite-but-pointed reason to start a war. Technically you can just declare war, but having a Casus Belli makes negotiations cleaner and lets you demand specific things like land. A fabricated claim is one of the most common ways to get that diplomatic excuse without waiting for fate to hand you glory on a silver platter.
The quick game plan
Fabricating claims involves a few clear steps: check whether a claim is possible, build up a spy network in the target country, start the fabrication process, then be patient until the claim finishes. If everything goes well, you get a tidy Casus Belli and a much better chance to grab territory without looking like a chaos-loving goblin.
Step 1 — See if a claim is even doable
Open the target nation, look for Hostile Actions and choose Create Casus Belli. The UI will show which Casus Belli are available and list the requirements for each. Hover over the little info boxes to see which conditions are met and which aren’t. If the only thing missing is spies, you’re in business; if half the requirements are red X’s, you might want to pick a softer target.
Step 2 — Build a spy network
To fabricate a claim you’ll usually need a proper spy network. Click the country, find Covert Actions, and select Build Spy Network. A circular progress icon appears on the map for that nation — a green bar fills slowly as spies arrive. You need around twenty spies for a standard claim, and this can take months to over a year depending on distance and how hostile cultures are. Patience is a virtue; espionage is glacial.
Step 3 — Start fabricating the claim
When your spy count hits the required number, go back to Create Casus Belli. The Casus Belli ready to fabricate will be highlighted. Pick the one you want and, for territorial claims, choose a valid province (highlighted on the map). This begins the fabrication timer — some claims finish in months, others take years depending on factors like relations and claim strength.
Parliamentary route (a tougher detour)
There’s sometimes an option to create claims via parliament or other government systems under the Government tab, but those usually have stricter prerequisites. If you enjoy jumping through hoops and meeting obscure requirements, knock yourself out; otherwise the spy route is the straightforward choice.
After you win the war
Once you’ve used your shiny new Casus Belli to start a war and won, don’t forget to secure control of the land you grabbed. Push for the provinces you claimed in the peace deal and use your administrative tools to increase control and stability. Conquering is fun; holding and integrating is the boring-but-crucial part.
Final tips (because you’ll need them)
Pick targets that match your power level, check requirements early so you avoid wasted wait time, and remember spy networks take time to build. Be ready to wait, watch that progress icon, and try not to start a war out of sheer impatience unless you like losing drama. Good luck — may your spies be many and your rebels few.
