Raiders of the North in Age of Empires IV : Vikings vs Scots Starting October 29

Age of Empires IV : Vikings vs Scots on October 29, and it looks like a masterpiece

Mark your calendars : October 29. In exactly two weeks, Age of Empires IV welcomes Raiders of the North, introducing two civilizations with polar-opposite design philosophies. On one side, the Vikings, who want you to go all-in aggressively. On the other, the Scots, quietly waiting for the enemy to shatter against their walls. This is the ultimate "strike first" expansion taking on the "come and get it" faction.

You already know that I absolutely adore the Age of Empires franchise, so let us dive straight in, axe in hand and tartan draped over our shoulders.

The pre-order is officially open on Steam, Microsoft Store, and Xbox for $19.99 / €20. Yes, with no discount, we know, everyone is talking about it. On PlayStation 5, the expansion arrives straight on launch day without early access. Now that we have covered the wallet side of things, let us talk about what really matters.

The Vikings : your economy is their economy

Raiding as the core economic engine

Let us begin with the wildest mechanic of this expansion : for the Vikings, every successful raid against enemy villagers fuels your own economy. You take down enemy workers, and you gain resources to build more units to hunt even more workers. Yes, it sounds extremely snowball-heavy, and no, it is definitely not a bug. It is the entire identity of the civilization, and honestly, it looks incredibly promising.

The whole recipe : intense speed, relentless aggression, high adaptability, and a dominant early-game melee infantry. At the core of it all stands the Longhouse, anchoring an economy that grows right alongside your expansion. And here is the detail that will spark endless community debate : thanks to Northern Migration, your villagers train completely for free. Free villagers on auto-queue. We can already hear people saying "this helps beginners and changes nothing for pros". If it changed nothing for pros, competitive players would not already be complaining on the forums. This is a massive mechanic, let us own it.

A civilization that evolves through the Ages

What comes next is far more nuanced than it looks : beyond the early Viking Age, the civilization evolves significantly. Knights and Militia Crossbowmen enter the battlefield, reflecting the historical rise of organized Scandinavian kingdoms. You retain total map control and dictate the tempo, but with an updated arsenal. Add to that the Heroic Sagas (where major feats unlock powerful buffs), Sacred Groves that secure key map positions while boosting nearby troops, brutal Berserkers ready to charge, and mysterious Völur guiding your path.

The Scots : the defensive wall waiting for you to crash into it

The ultimate civ for patient tacticians

The Scots represent the exact anti-Viking archetype. Their main strength lies in an incredible resilience and map control. They thrive during prolonged engagements and reward players who hold the line. In other words : this is a dream civ for patient defensive players, and a total nightmare for reckless rushers.

Aggressive players, we see you coming : you love pushing forward, you spot formidable Tower Houses and heavy castles anchoring Scottish territory, and you dive right in headfirst. Congratulations, your entire army just vanished. The defensive design literally forces opponents to fully commit with every push, or not push at all.

Cattle, ambushes, and strategic identity choices

On the economic front, Highland Cattle (whose milk boosts nearby unit morale) provide a reliable and steady food source. Combine them with communal Fishponds, and you get a smooth economy that never panics under pressure. On the battlefield : formidable Gallowglass stand toe-to-toe in direct clashes, Border Reivers strike deep behind enemy lines, and the entire faction excels at setting up deadly ambushes from stealth forests.

Furthermore, the Mustering Hall allows you to shape your strategic identity : pick the raw resilience of Highland warriors or the organized strength of Lowland forces. Two distinct ways to anchor your defensive playstyle.

Because let us be direct here : heavy static defense combined with strict positioning means this carries a bit of a low-skill-floor reputation, and we say that with love. It feels like an English 2.0 packed with even more towers. Here is our prediction : tournament teams will permaban this civilization in competitive drafts from day one.

Vikings vs Scots at a glance

The Crucible re-forged : the real highlight of this DLC

2-player co-op mode finally arrives

While everyone focuses on cattle and Viking axes, the biggest operational news might be hiding elsewhere. The Crucible mode receives a massive revamp alongside this release : fresh content, a huge balance update, and quality-of-life tweaks driven directly by player feedback.

Best of all, the mode officially introduces 2-player co-op across both new and existing missions. This was the single most requested feature on the community wishlist, and Relic delivered. The dev team even shared that they spent every Friday afternoon playing co-op together throughout development. That level of passion shows.

For expansion owners, four exclusive story missions await, featuring coastal raider invasions and intense Scottish clan warfare. Add two brand-new game modes, Conqueror and Custom, a dedicated Talent Track for each civilization, 25 new Boons, and 25 new Mutators. Every match becomes a completely unique run. If you already loved the Crucible, you are in for a treat.

The rest of the bundle : biomes, taunts, and tartans

Two fresh biomes

Two stunning new biomes complete the package. Scottish Heathland brings poetic scenery : mist rolling over the Highlands, endless purple heather, and ancient standing stones overlooking dark lochs. Nobody remembers who erected them, and the land holds its own secrets. Atmosphere guaranteed. On the other hand, Tundra Summer offers a vibrant northern landscape : a few brief weeks of thaw, cotton grass, deep red shrubs, and glittering lakes under a sun that barely sets. Pure screenshot material.

Taunts and masteries

On the banter side, 12 new taunts for Vikings and Scots are joining the roster, with three already revealed :

• "I canne believe it !" (official spelling, Scottish accent included)
• "Looks like a skill issue."
• "We held a meeting about your economy… everyone laughed."

The second one is guaranteed to become an instant chat spam favorite. We cannot wait to discover the remaining nine.

Finally, round out your journey with a fresh set of masteries for both factions. Channel your inner Viking, customize your crest with your favorite clan tartan, erect fear-inspiring monuments, and unlock seven new achievements. Relic has also promised additional developer deep-dives before launch, so expect creator previews to drop very soon.

Verdict : waiting for October 29

We do not know yet whether the Vikings will be completely OP or if the Scots will redefine defensive gameplay, but one thing is certain : both civilizations bring a thousand years of rich history to life through highly engaging gameplay mechanics. Easy to pick up, deep to master. It is a classic promise, but here it feels genuinely sincere.

The expansion launches on October 29 for $19.99 / €20, and pre-orders are available right now : pre-order Age of Empires IV : Raiders of the North on Steam. Grab your axes, suit up in your tartan, and if anyone calls your defensive strategy lazy : "Looks like a skill issue."

Are you team aggressive Vikings or team defensive Scots ? Let us know in the comments below ! And if you missed our breakdown of the latest added civilizations, make sure to catch up on the site !

FAQ : Raiders of the North in Age of Empires IV

When does the Raiders of the North expansion release ?

The Raiders of the North DLC releases on October 29, 2026, for Age of Empires IV. Pre-orders are live on Steam, Microsoft Store, and Xbox. On PlayStation 5, the content drops directly on launch day without early access.

How much does Raiders of the North cost ?

Raiders of the North costs $19.99 / €20 across Steam, Microsoft Store, and Xbox, with no launch discount. It adds two civilizations, the Vikings and the Scots, four exclusive Crucible co-op missions, two biomes, twelve taunts, and seven achievements.

What are the key differences between Vikings and Scots ?

Vikings emphasize early aggression : successful raids feed their economy, villagers train for free, and powerful melee infantry dominates the early game. Scots rely on resilience : Tower Houses, castles, Highland Cattle, and stealth forest ambushes reward patient players holding defensive chokepoints.

Is the Crucible mode receiving co-op support ?

Yes, the Crucible officially introduces 2-player co-op for both new and existing missions. The expansion also adds four exclusive story scenarios, Conqueror and Custom modes, civilization Talent Tracks, 25 Boons, and 25 Mutators.

What are the new biomes featured in the DLC ?

Two biomes are introduced : Scottish Heathland, featuring Highlands mist, purple heather, and ancient loch stones, and Tundra Summer, featuring vibrant thaws, cotton grass, red shrubs, and midnight sun visuals.