Northgard: Definitive Edition

Resident Draugr was the largest direct addition, introducing the temporary Draugrheim mode and its creature-filled biome. The event also added a themed reward and Arachnophobia Mode, while server-security work addressed player impersonation in chat.

• Resident Draugr: Added the Draugrheim mode, where players battled terrifying new creatures in the Draugrheim biome.
• Draugrheim rewards and accessibility: Completing a game in Draugrheim awarded an exclusive Town Hall skin, while Arachnophobia Mode let players manage the new creatures.
• Server security and gameplay fixes: The August 28 server update added gameserver security and stopped players from sending chat messages while impersonating others. It also improved mod pause/resume behavior and corrected Hounds Fame 200, the free forge interaction, and healing during overwork.

Northgard: Definitive Edition launched on December 4, bundling the base game with the Cross of Vidar expansion, three additional clans, a new campaign, expanded Bifrost Realms, the Valhalla biome, and a digital artbook. The Clan of the Hippogriff also arrived earlier in the cycle, bringing Sindri, new conquest scenarios, and ranked-play support.

• Definitive Edition content: Sváfnir, Nidhogg, and Svadilfari joined the roster, while Valhalla added new events and units to both single-player and multiplayer. Frostbite introduced a harder Bifrost challenge with reward-boosting modifiers, and the release also added The Art of Northgard and an in-game art gallery.
• Clan of the Hippogriff: The new clan brought its forge-focused mechanics to the base game and entered ranked play later in June. Its three conquest scenarios were:
  • Monuments of the Ancients, focused on raising sacred monuments.
  • Storm of Scales and Steel, centered on defending against wyverns.
  • Walls Will Fall, built around sieges and fortress defense.
• Combat overhaul: The Power Triangle and Military Unit Trinity were reworked so mixed armies received shared unit-type bonuses. The Legion path was rebuilt, the Dragon Military Path gained branching choices, and new armor-breaking tools included Piercing Strike, Armor Shred, and the Kingdom Military Forge.
• Multiplayer systems: 2v2 Quick and Ranked matches returned with sequential clan selection, while the Blind System concealed opponents’ ranked clan choices to reduce counter-picking.
• Balance changes: Snake skills Rapacious and Cloaked were scaled back, while Horse received stronger starting power. Later tuning raised the Lore victory requirement, reduced Jörmunr lore production, weakened upgraded-house population growth, and adjusted Giant Boar stats.
• Seasonal event: Draugrheim launched as a temporary Halloween mode, adding a dedicated biome, terrifying creatures, and an exclusive Town Hall skin for completing a run.

Bifröst launched as Northgard’s largest addition, introducing a cooperative PvE mode for up to four players who crossed escalating realms, unlocked new options, and faced the Vanirs. Clan of the Hounds, Clan of the Turtle, and a substantial trade-and-diplomacy overhaul also broadened the strategic sandbox.

• Bifröst: The new mode supported four-clan cooperation, shared start-with options, customizable skills, buildings, and perks, and escalating challenges across realms. Muspelheim, Niflheim, Idavoll, and Nidavellir added distinct hazards, portals, enemies, and resources, while solo runs gained bonus selections and Bifröst-specific achievements.
• New clans: Clan of the Hounds added Brawlers and evolving Berserkers whose strength and resource gathering centered on defeating wildlife. The Clan of the Turtle DLC introduced an accessibility-focused economic clan, Warchief Njörd, garrisons, and Trading Caravans that could claim zones temporarily, heal armies, and trade with neutral factions and allies.
• Trade and diplomacy: Miklagard became a new faction tied to a reworked Trade Victory, requiring players to build influence through krowns, relations, and trade routes while competing with neutral factions and rival clans. The victory condition was subsequently tightened to require 50% of Miklagard’s krown pool rather than 40%.
• New adventures and Conquest content: Bifröst Adventure sent clans against the Vanirs and through the new realms, while Titanomachy, Age of Vampires, and Battle for Midgard expanded Owl Conquest. Three additional Conquest missions were also added for every clan.
• Progression and multiplayer: The Legion Military Path was reworked around multi-unit armies, while the Clan of the Dragon Military Path introduced a separate progression route with unique mechanics. 2v2 Quick and Ranked games launched alongside sequential clan selection for team matches and hidden clan picks in FFA and Duel. Military Camps also shifted from percentage-based bonuses to flat bonuses, with new charge and passive abilities for Shield-Bearers and Warriors.

The Stoat Clan arrived as a major new faction, bringing Nominoë’s Kingdom and its own abilities and mechanics to Northgard. The Clan of the Owl, led by Vördr and protecting Yggdrasil, followed with another distinct playstyle, while the game also expanded its conquest and multiplayer systems.

• New clans: Kingdom of the Stoat – Nominoë’s Clan introduced the Stoat faction alongside a diplomacy rework, custom UI, and new military upgrades. Clan of the Owl added Vördr, Yggdrasil-focused mechanics, and ranked-game support.
• Conquest content: New Conquest Battles added nine unique missions across multiple clans. Kernev, Neustria, Rat, and Eagle each received three additional clan- or kingdom-specific conquests.
• Multiplayer systems: Spectator Mode launched with player switching, omniscient and cinematic views, and real-time resource and military statistics. Lobby Finder was tested and then introduced for fairer ranked matchmaking, while the New Player Ranking System placed newcomers in Stone league until they completed five ranked games.
• Victory and co-op reworks: Lore Victory became more active through Wonders, while Wisdom Victory required 800 Lore and the map center. Conquest Mode gained a redesigned menu, separate co-op bonus pools, clearer battle selection, broader resource bonuses, and a five-minute reconnect window for team games.
• Balance and world updates: Kingdom Military Upgrades, Holy Fire, revised warchief abilities, clan-specific conquest bonuses, and reworked relics reshaped faction strategy. The Biome Rework refreshed environments, inhabitants, Yggdrasil, unit animations, and terrain blending, while Night of the Living Draugar added the Draugrheim event and its Town Hall reward.

The Cross of Vidar Expansion released on December 13, 2022, adding Northgard’s second campaign, the Southern Kingdoms civilization, and the Kingdom of the Lion faction. The Cross of Vidar Epilogue followed on January 19 with missions 9 and 10, while Clan of the Eagle introduced Hræsvelg and a new exploration-focused playstyle.

• Cross of Vidar campaign: The expansion delivered a new eight-mission story, new achievements, and several major additions.
  • Southern Kingdoms: Added unique buildings, units, and gameplay mechanics.
  • Kingdom of the Lion: Introduced a religious and military faction, then became playable in ranked multiplayer.
  • Cross of Vidar Epilogue: Added missions 9 and 10 and made Surtr the Dragon Clan’s new warchief.
• Clan of the Eagle: Added Hræsvelg, led by Grif, as Northgard’s ninth clan.
  • Aviaries: Replaced Scout Camps and trained Falconers while revealing Buried Caches.
  • Falconers: Gained Lore from exploring uncharted lands and could investigate sites outside clan territory.
  • Boneyards: Turned cleared zones into areas that provided resources and healed units.
  • Relics and Forbidden Caches: Added rare-resource discoveries and military attack bonuses.
  • Zone Upgrades: Let players spend Food to increase housing and warband capacity.
• Campaign and balance changes: Mission 7 gained periodic enemy reinforcements and faster enemy-tile decolonization, while Mission 6 received a map rework and a rebalance to its second phase. Mission 8 started with a +20 relationship bonus toward the Dwarves, and secondary objectives stayed hidden until missions were completed once. Rat Infestation also became a new threat that reduced Food production around houses, while units outside territory consumed 30% less Food and Firewood.
• Night of the Living Draugar: The seasonal event added the Draugrheim biome and new creatures, alongside Arachnophobia Mode and a Town Hall skin earned through the Draugrheim game mode.

Clan of the Rat, Dodsvagr arrived as Northgard’s eighth clan, introducing wounded villagers, corpse cremation, Overwork, and Shamans. Clan of the Squirrel also added a resource-hoarding economy built around cooking, while Skrymir and Fjolsvin expanded diplomacy with new Jotunn trading factions.

• Clan of the Rat: Dodsvagr replaced the Healer Hut with the Shaman Camp, whose Shamans could fight and heal multiple units outside friendly territory. Its wounded starting villagers avoided Happiness requirements, corpses could be cremated for Lore, and Overwork boosted production at the cost of worker health. Rat Clan achievements later received new Expeditions.
• Clan of the Squirrel: Andhrímnir’s clan introduced the Stove and Cooks, meals with major bonuses, Gift Routes for sharing resources, and Eldritch Zones around Yggdrasil’s Root. Its resource stockpiling granted a pre-winter production boost but increased winter consumption, and Ratatoskr provided a unique 1,500-Fame victory condition.
• Jotunn factions: Skrymir and Fjolsvin became tradeable factions, with each granting access to a giant hero. The update also adjusted coastal exploration, mythical-beast waves, Dragonkin recruitment, and militia behavior, including player control and more frequent respawns.
• Night of the Living Draugar: This spooky event introduced the Draugrheim biome and new creatures. Completing a Draugrheim game also awarded a Town Hall skin, while Arachnophobia Mode reduced the number of eight-legged creatures.
• Balance and clan tuning: Clan of the Kraken received more early-game power, while the Clan of the Squirrel had its Fame victory revised and shared-meal costs increased. Mercenary Raids gained Fire Javelins and new sending and upgrade conditions; Oskoreia, Gungnir, Scabbard of Gram, Skirmishers, Warriors, Watchtowers, and several clan bonuses also received targeted adjustments.

Northgard: Expeditions Expansion released on February 16, 2021, introducing expedition quests, cosmetic crafting, and 57 new cosmetic items. The Map Editor and Steam Workshop greatly expanded player-made content, while Clan of the Lynx added a new nature-focused faction led by Mielikki.

• Expeditions Expansion: Added Daily Trip and Week-Long Journey expeditions built around hidden-step objectives, with Silver rewards used in the new cosmetic crafting system for Warchief skins, Townhall skins, and Decorations.
• Creation tools:
  • Map Editor: Enabled custom battlefields with adjustable elevation, buildings, starting zones, classic-map modifications, and special tiles including Poisonous Swamp and Naströnd.
  • External Tool for Customization: Allowed players to alter unit and building values and write scripts for maps.
  • Steam Workshop: Added support for sharing and downloading custom maps, while the new tiles also appeared in non-user-generated maps.
• New clan and world content: Clan of the Lynx introduced Mielikki, the Beastmaster, with strong archery and nature abilities. A new zone protected by Spectral Warriors also increased building speed.
• Multiplayer and competitive systems:
  • Cross-Platform Multiplayer: Connected Steam and GOG players for multiplayer matches.
  • Ranked System: Shortened seasons to three months and moved ranked totems into the Treasures menu as Decorations.
  • AI Improvements: Improved resource management, defense, and aggression.
• Balance and gameplay: The Altar of Kings was reworked around Fame-based resource generation and later had its stone cost reduced to five. Call to Arms, Garrison, and Suppressing Fire received ability-order and effect changes, while Dragonkin, Shieldbearers, Trackers, Scabbard of Gram, and Hindering Arrows received combat tuning. Howl of the Sea also introduced a chance for slain neutral- or enemy-zone units to become Spectral Warriors.

Clan of the Dragon arrived with a radically different economy and army: Thralls, Dragon Essence, the Sacrificial Pyre, and Dragonkin Altar gave the new clan a sacrifice-driven playstyle. Ragnarok also expanded Northgard with Myrkalfar, Volcano tiles, dangerous world events, and a new multiplayer season, while Clan of the Snake added Signy and guerrilla-focused gameplay.

• Clan of the Snake DLC: Released with Signy, the Spear Maiden, and a clan built around cunning, mobility, and ranged attacks. The free Skirmisher unit and Skirmisher’s Camp also became available to every clan, with neutral-territory movement and wildlife stealth.
• Ragnarok: Added the Myrkalfar faction, the erupting Volcano tile, Ancient Graveyard, Blood Moon, and Fallen Sailors events. Its Military Paths system let experienced armies choose Tactician, Guardian, or Conqueror specializations.
• Clan of the Dragon: Introduced Thralls, which could fight in neutral territory without counting toward population limits, alongside Capture Lore, Dragon Essence, five clan-specific Lore options, and the Sacrificial Pyre. The clan also started with the Dragonkin Altar, its warband-expanding military building.
• Relics: Added the Forge, civilian and military tool upgrades, six common relics, and a unique relic for every clan. Northgard: Relics also entered Open Beta, giving players a test phase for the new crafting and relic systems.
• Competitive multiplayer: Northgard Trials introduced ranked games, Glory Points, the Wood League, and a ranking-history page. Huge Maps expanded multiplayer with formats including 8-player FFA, 4v4, and multi-team matches, while Balanced Map Generation reduced randomness in supported modes.