Age of Empires II: DE – The Viking Sagas

The Viking Sagas is an expansion for Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition, a real-time strategy game. It adds three new playable civilisations, the Danes, the Saxons and the Varangians, each with its own unique unit, technologies and tactical focus. These civilisations can be used in both the campaign content and in multiplayer.

The Danes are built around early aggression, using longships to raid quickly. Their unique unit is the Jomsviking, an infantryman who throws flaming torches at enemy buildings and ships. The Saxons focus on fortified towns for holding territory and resisting invasions, with the Hearth Troop as their unique unit, a heavy infantryman who throws a javelin before engaging in melee. The Varangians are oriented towards water control, cavalry and mercenary-style flexibility, and their unique unit is the Jarl, an axe-throwing cavalryman effective against infantry. Six new units are included in total, three of which are shared across the new civilisations: the Varangian Guard, shock infantry that generates gold while fighting; the Mounted Crossbowman, a slow-firing ranged cavalry unit aimed at infantry; and the Longship, a fast warship.

The expansion also contains three interconnected campaigns covering the life of Harald Hardrada. The Exiled Prince follows his time in foreign lands, including service under Empress Zoe of the Byzantine Empire, after his exile from Norway. The Hard Ruler covers his wars for the thrones of Denmark and Norway. The Last Viking depicts his invasion of England. The campaigns span Scandinavia, the Kyivan Rus, the Byzantine Empire and England, and use combinations of the Vikings, Varangians, Danes and Saxons civilisations.