Northgard is a Viking-themed strategy game where you lead a clan, grow a settlement and fight for land. Military units are the fighters you train to defend your territory, raid rival clans and claim new ground. Most clans share a few basic soldiers, then add special units and a named warchief of their own. Knowing how units are trained, what limits the size of your army and how your warchief fits in will help you plan from the start.
Clan
All clans
Axe Thrower
A standard ranged fighter that attacks from outside melee.
- Clan
- All clans
- Role
- Ranged infantry
- Recruit / Unlock
- Train at the Axe Thrower Camp; its cost increases with the warband.
- Health
- 50
- Attack
- 12
- Defense
- 4
- Combat details
- Ranged attacker.
Bodyguard
A free escort recruited alongside a warchief.
- Clan
- All clans except Lynx
- Role
- Free warchief escort
- Recruit / Unlock
- Unlock the Leadership route in Military Experience; recruit one for free when a warchief is present, with a six-month cooldown.
- Health
- 55
- Attack
- 6
- Defense
- 8
- Combat details
- -
Dwarven Operative
An allied dwarf who can mine and forge.
- Clan
- All clans
- Role
- Trade-allied miner and smith
- Recruit / Unlock
- Befriend the Dwarves through trade; the operative appears on your main tile.
- Health
- 63
- Attack
- 10
- Defense
- 10
- Combat details
- -
Gayant Champion
A giant ally recruited through trade.
- Clan
- All clans
- Role
- Trade-allied giant fighter
- Recruit / Unlock
- Befriend the Gayants through trade; the champion appears on your main tile.
- Health
- 100
- Attack
- 20
- Defense
- 17.5
- Combat details
- -
Jötunn Champion
A giant ally with area attacks that does not use warband capacity.
- Clan
- All clans
- Role
- Trade-allied giant fighter
- Recruit / Unlock
- Befriend a Jötunn through trade; the champion appears on your main tile.
- Health
- 100
- Attack
- 20
- Defense
- 17.5
- Combat details
- Does not use warband capacity and cannot be hired again if it dies.
Shield Bearer
A defensive fighter built to absorb ranged attacks.
- Clan
- All clans
- Role
- Defensive melee infantry
- Recruit / Unlock
- Train at the Shield Bearer Camp; the recruitment cost rises with the warband.
- Health
- 50
- Attack
- 7
- Defense
- 7
- Combat details
- A defensive frontline unit with resistance to projectile damage.
Warrior
The standard close-range fighter used by every clan.
- Clan
- All clans
- Role
- Basic melee fighter
- Recruit / Unlock
- Train at the Training Camp; recruitment cost increases with the warband.
- Health
- 50
- Attack
- 11
- Defense
- 4
- Combat details
- Basic military unit.
Clan
Kingdoms
Sentry
A low-cost Kingdoms fighter.
- Clan
- Kingdoms
- Role
- Cheap defensive infantry
- Recruit / Unlock
- Train at a Sentry Camp for a base cost of 15 Kröwns; the cost rises with the warband.
- Health
- 50
- Attack
- 7
- Defense
- 5
- Combat details
- -
Clan
Bear
Borgild
The Bear clan warchief, also called the Shield Maiden.
- Clan
- Bear
- Role
- Warchief
- Recruit / Unlock
- Recruit from the Bear clan's Training Camp for 150 Kröwns and 5 Iron.
- Health
- 75
- Attack
- 12.5
- Defense
- 15
- Combat details
- Has 20% projectile resistance. At 200 Fame, Kindred Spirit increases production in her zone by 15%.
Kaija, the Armored Bear
The Bear clan's armored bear is a durable fighter that can support food production.
- Clan
- Bear
- Role
- Armored bear fighter
- Recruit / Unlock
- Recruit at the Training Camp for 40 Kröwns and 40 Food; only one can be active at a time.
- Health
- 80
- Attack
- 10
- Defense
- 13
- Combat details
- Resists projectile damage, regenerates over time, and produces food near fishing lakes.
Clan
Boar
Svarn
The Boar clan warchief.
- Clan
- Boar
- Role
- Warchief
- Recruit / Unlock
- Recruit from the Training Camp for 150 Kröwns and 5 Iron.
- Health
- 90
- Attack
- 14
- Defense
- 9
- Combat details
- -
Clan
Dragon
Draconic Jötunn
A Dragon giant summoned through a relic.
- Clan
- Dragon
- Role
- Relic-summoned giant fighter
- Recruit / Unlock
- Forge the Skull of Hrungnir relic to summon it.
- Health
- 80
- Attack
- 16
- Defense
- 14
- Combat details
- -
Draconic Nightmare
An upgraded Dragonkin fighter.
- Clan
- Dragon
- Role
- Upgraded Dragonkin fighter
- Recruit / Unlock
- Reach 500 Fame, then send a Dragonkin to the Dragonkin Altar to upgrade it.
- Health
- 80
- Attack
- 12
- Defense
- 10
- Combat details
- -
Dragonkin
A durable Dragon fighter with projectile resistance and an area attack.
- Clan
- Dragon
- Role
- Dragon clan fighter
- Recruit / Unlock
- Convert a villager at the Dragonkin Altar by spending Dragon Essence and Kröwns; the conversion is permanent.
- Health
- 70
- Attack
- 11.5
- Defense
- 6
- Combat details
- Has projectile resistance and an area attack; nearby targets take reduced splash damage.
Surtr
The Dragon clan warchief.
- Clan
- Dragon
- Role
- Warchief
- Recruit / Unlock
- Recruit from the Dragonkin Altar for 150 Kröwns and 5 Dragon Essence.
- Health
- 65
- Attack
- 18
- Defense
- 10
- Combat details
- -
Clan
Eagle
Grif
The Eagle clan warchief.
- Clan
- Eagle
- Role
- Warchief
- Recruit / Unlock
- Recruit from the Eagle clan's Training Camp for 150 Kröwns and 5 Iron.
- Health
- 75
- Attack
- 18
- Defense
- 10
- Combat details
- -
Clan
Goat
Harvald
The Goat clan warchief.
- Clan
- Goat
- Role
- Warchief
- Recruit / Unlock
- Recruit from the Training Camp for 150 Kröwns and 5 Iron.
- Health
- 80
- Attack
- 13
- Defense
- 11
- Combat details
- -
Clan
Hippogriff
Sindri
The Hippogriff clan warchief can fight, mine and forge.
- Clan
- Hippogriff
- Role
- Warchief, miner and smith
- Recruit / Unlock
- Recruit from the Training Camp for 150 Kröwns; no Iron is required.
- Health
- 80
- Attack
- 12
- Defense
- 12
- Combat details
- Can mine inside or outside his territory and work at the Forge.
Clan
Horse
Brok
One of the Horse clan's two warchiefs, Brok specializes in forging.
- Clan
- Horse
- Role
- Warchief and smith
- Recruit / Unlock
- Recruit from Völund's Forge for 100 Kröwns; no Iron is required.
- Health
- 70
- Attack
- 10 to 12
- Defense
- 9 to 10
- Combat details
- -
Eitria
One of the Horse clan's two warchiefs, Eitria specializes in building and repairs.
- Clan
- Horse
- Role
- Warchief and builder
- Recruit / Unlock
- Recruit from Völund's Forge for 100 Kröwns; no Iron is required.
- Health
- 70
- Attack
- 10 to 12
- Defense
- 9 to 10
- Combat details
- -
Clan
Kraken
Kàra
The Kraken clan warchief.
- Clan
- Kraken
- Role
- Warchief
- Recruit / Unlock
- Recruit from the Training Camp for 150 Kröwns and 5 Iron.
- Health
- 75
- Attack
- 15
- Defense
- 10
- Combat details
- -
Valkyrie
A Kraken fighter and healer.
- Clan
- Kraken
- Role
- Frontline healer and colonizer
- Recruit / Unlock
- Consecrate a Norn at the Hörgr; the Valhalla's Reinforcement lore allows a second Valkyrie.
- Health
- 75
- Attack
- 10
- Defense
- 14
- Combat details
- Heals near a Hörgr; Purify sacrifices the Valkyrie to colonize a neutral or unclaimed enemy zone.
Clan
Lion
Archer
A Lion Kingdom unit that attacks at long range.
- Clan
- Lion
- Role
- Long-range attacker
- Recruit / Unlock
- Train at the Archery Camp, an upgrade of the Sentry Camp; base cost is 30 Kröwns.
- Health
- 50
- Attack
- 9
- Defense
- 5
- Combat details
- -
Champion
A slow Lion Kingdom melee attacker.
- Clan
- Lion
- Role
- Slow melee attacker
- Recruit / Unlock
- Train at the Champion Camp, an upgrade of the Sentry Camp; base cost is 30 Kröwns.
- Health
- 50
- Attack
- 8
- Defense
- 5
- Combat details
- -
Fantassin
Defensive Lion Kingdom infantry.
- Clan
- Lion
- Role
- Defensive infantry
- Recruit / Unlock
- Train at the Fantassin Camp, an upgrade of the Sentry Camp; base cost is 30 Kröwns.
- Health
- 60
- Attack
- 7
- Defense
- 6.5
- Combat details
- -
Hildegard
The Lion Kingdom warchief can be recruited from any of its military camps.
- Clan
- Lion
- Role
- Warchief
- Recruit / Unlock
- Recruit at a Lion Kingdom military camp (Sentry, Champion, Archery or Fantassin Camp) for 150 Kröwns and 5 Iron, or 225 Faith and 5 Iron.
- Health
- 80
- Attack
- 12
- Defense
- 13
- Combat details
- -
Paladin
Lion heavy infantry that can carry relics.
- Clan
- Lion
- Role
- Heavy infantry and relic carrier
- Recruit / Unlock
- Upgrade a Monk; recruitment costs 100 Kröwns.
- Health
- 60
- Attack
- 10
- Defense
- 8
- Combat details
- -
Clan
Lynx
Brundr
Brundr scouts and fights alongside Kaelinn for the Lynx clan.
- Clan
- Lynx
- Role
- Lynx fighter and scout
- Recruit / Unlock
- Recruit from the Lynx clan military camp for 60 Kröwns and 40 Food.
- Health
- 60
- Attack
- 13
- Defense
- 7
- Combat details
- Can reveal undiscovered areas and gain stealth through Hunter Path upgrades.
Kaelinn
Kaelinn scouts and fights alongside Brundr for the Lynx clan.
- Clan
- Lynx
- Role
- Lynx fighter and scout
- Recruit / Unlock
- Recruit from the Lynx clan military camp for 40 Kröwns and 60 Food.
- Health
- 60
- Attack
- 13
- Defense
- 7
- Combat details
- Can reveal undiscovered areas and gain stealth through Hunter Path upgrades.
Mielikki
The Lynx clan warchief.
- Clan
- Lynx
- Role
- Warchief and hunter support
- Recruit / Unlock
- Recruit from the Archery Range for 100 Kröwns; no Iron is required.
- Health
- 60
- Attack
- 10
- Defense
- 8
- Combat details
- -
Tracker
A Lynx ranged fighter that replaces Axe Throwers.
- Clan
- Lynx
- Role
- Ranged fighter
- Recruit / Unlock
- Train at the Archery Range for 25 Kröwns.
- Health
- 45
- Attack
- 11.5
- Defense
- 4
- Combat details
- A ranged unit that replaces Axe Throwers for the Lynx clan.
Clan
Owl
Skuld
One of three Owl clan warchief choices; her attack grows with Military knowledge.
- Clan
- Owl
- Role
- Warchief
- Recruit / Unlock
- Choose as the Owl clan's warchief at the Training Camp; recruitment costs 150 Kröwns and 5 Iron.
- Health
- 80
- Attack
- 13
- Defense
- 12.5
- Combat details
- Gains 5% Attack Power for each Military knowledge unlocked.
Urdr
One of three Owl clan warchief choices; she produces Lore in her territory.
- Clan
- Owl
- Role
- Warchief
- Recruit / Unlock
- Choose as the Owl clan's warchief at the Training Camp; recruitment costs 150 Kröwns and 5 Iron.
- Health
- 70
- Attack
- 10
- Defense
- 10
- Combat details
- Produces Lore in her territory; production rises by 1 for each Wealth knowledge unlocked.
Verdandi
One of three Owl clan warchief choices; she boosts specialized production.
- Clan
- Owl
- Role
- Warchief
- Recruit / Unlock
- Choose as the Owl clan's warchief at the Training Camp; recruitment costs 150 Kröwns and 5 Iron.
- Health
- 70
- Attack
- 10
- Defense
- 10
- Combat details
- Increases specialized production in her zone by 5% per Growth knowledge unlocked.
Clan
Ox
Torfin
The Ox clan's warchief grows stronger by finding and equipping ancestral gear.
- Clan
- Ox
- Role
- Warchief
- Recruit / Unlock
- Recruit from Torfin's Throne for 250 Kröwns and 15 Iron.
- Health
- 100
- Attack
- 14
- Defense
- 10
- Combat details
- Can equip three pieces of ancestral gear chosen from six options to gain stats or abilities.
Clan
Rat
Eir
The Rat clan warchief and healer.
- Clan
- Rat
- Role
- Warchief and healer
- Recruit / Unlock
- Recruit from the Shaman Camp for 150 Kröwns after wounding 10 units; no Iron is required.
- Health
- 80
- Attack
- 12
- Defense
- 9
- Combat details
- -
Garm's Incarnation
A heavy Rat unit summoned through a relic.
- Clan
- Rat
- Role
- Relic-summoned fighter
- Recruit / Unlock
- Forge the Flame of Muspelheim relic to summon it.
- Health
- 110
- Attack
- 12
- Defense
- 16
- Combat details
- -
Shaman
A Rat fighter who also heals allies.
- Clan
- Rat
- Role
- Fighter and field healer
- Recruit / Unlock
- Train at the Shaman Camp; base cost is 30 Kröwns plus 6 per warband unit.
- Health
- 55
- Attack
- 8
- Defense
- 5
- Combat details
- -
Clan
Raven
Liv
The Raven clan's warchief can reveal the Fog of War for one month.
- Clan
- Raven
- Role
- Warchief
- Recruit / Unlock
- Recruit from the Training Camp for 150 Kröwns and 5 Iron.
- Health
- 70
- Attack
- 18
- Defense
- 9
- Combat details
- -
Mercenary
A Raven coastal raider that attacks a target zone for resources.
- Clan
- Raven
- Role
- Coastal raider
- Recruit / Unlock
- Recruit a raid from the Raven clan's Harbor for 50 Kröwns.
- Health
- 50
- Attack
- 8
- Defense
- 4
- Combat details
- Raven raid units stay in the target zone and cannot be directly controlled during the raid.
Clan
Snake
Signy
The Snake clan's warchief gains new abilities as each year passes.
- Clan
- Snake
- Role
- Warchief
- Recruit / Unlock
- Recruit from the Skirmisher Camp for 150 Kröwns; no Iron is required.
- Health
- 60 to 75
- Attack
- 12 to 18
- Defense
- 8 to 11
- Combat details
- Gains abilities as she ages, including a ranged attack, stealth, and Scorched Earth.
Skirmisher
A quick Snake fighter that slips past neutral enemies.
- Clan
- Snake
- Role
- Fast stealth fighter
- Recruit / Unlock
- Train at the Skirmisher Camp for 20 Kröwns.
- Health
- 50
- Attack
- 10
- Defense
- 4
- Combat details
- Can cross neutral enemy zones without being detected and gains 10% dodge.
Clan
Squirrel
Andhrimnir
The Squirrel clan's warchief can fight or work at the Stove.
- Clan
- Squirrel
- Role
- Warchief and cook
- Recruit / Unlock
- Recruit from the Training Camp or Stove for 150 Kröwns and 5 Iron.
- Health
- 85
- Attack
- 15
- Defense
- 10
- Combat details
- Can fight and can be assigned to a Stove to cook meals.
Clan
Stag
Brand
The Stag clan warchief.
- Clan
- Stag
- Role
- Warchief
- Recruit / Unlock
- Recruit from the Training Camp for 150 Kröwns and 5 Iron.
- Health
- 75
- Attack
- 15
- Defense
- 10
- Combat details
- -
Einherjar
A Stag relic unit whose attack grows with Fame.
- Clan
- Stag
- Role
- Relic-unlocked warrior
- Recruit / Unlock
- Forge the Hlidskjalf relic, then convert villagers into Einherjar; War Effort can discount their cost.
- Health
- 70
- Attack
- 11
- Defense
- 5
- Combat details
- Attack power scales with Fame, and the Warrior weapon upgrade also applies to Einherjar.
Clan
Stoat
Nominoë
The Stoat clan warchief is both a Lord and a War Lord.
- Clan
- Stoat
- Role
- Warchief
- Recruit / Unlock
- Recruit from the Training Camp for 150 Kröwns and 5 Iron.
- Health
- 75
- Attack
- 15
- Defense
- 10
- Combat details
- -
Clan
Turtle
Njörd
The Turtle clan warchief lowers prices and can dodge some attacks.
- Clan
- Turtle
- Role
- Warchief and trader
- Recruit / Unlock
- Recruit from the Training Camp for 200 Kröwns; no Iron is required.
- Health
- 80
- Attack
- 10
- Defense
- 12
- Combat details
- Bargaining reduces prices, and his fighting style lets him dodge some enemy attacks.
Clan
Wolf
Egil
The Wolf clan warchief, also called the Berserker.
- Clan
- Wolf
- Role
- Warchief
- Recruit / Unlock
- Recruit from the Wolf clan's Training Camp for 200 Kröwns and 5 Iron.
- Health
- 70
- Attack
- 22
- Defense
- 9.5
- Combat details
- Dominion unlocks at 200 Fame and lets him colonize a zone for free on a cooldown; the cooldown shortens to six months at 500 Fame.
What Are Northgard Military Units?
Military units are the soldiers and special fighters that make up your army. They defend your villages, attack rival clans and hold the land you claim. The most common one is the Warrior, a basic foot soldier.
Beyond the Warrior, your army is built from shared units and clan-specific units. Shared units such as Axe Throwers, Shield Bearers and Skirmishers give you a mix of ranged, defensive and fast fighters. Clan-specific units bring special abilities that set each clan apart.
How to Train Military Units
Units come from military buildings, so you need the right camp before you can train a certain type of unit. The Training Camp trains Warriors, while the Axe Thrower Camp, Shield Bearer Camp and Skirmisher Camp each produce their own shared units. Clans can also swap some of these buildings for their own. The Lynx, for example, replace the Axe Thrower Camp with an Archery Range that trains Trackers, a ranged unit.
Most units are paid with Kröwns, the main currency, and the price rises as your warband grows. That is why a large army gets expensive quickly. Some units need other materials too, so check the cost before you commit to a big batch.
How Many Military Units Can You Have?
Your army is capped by your warband, which sets how many military units you can have at once. Building more military camps raises that cap, so expanding your camps is how you make room for a bigger army.
Warchiefs and Clan-Specific Units
Almost every clan has a named warchief, a hero who leads the army. Most warchiefs are hired at the Training Camp for Kröwns and Iron. A few clans use a building of their own instead: the Horse clan hires its warchiefs at Völund's Forge, the Dragon clan at the Dragonkin Altar, the Ox clan at Torfin's Throne, the Rat clan at the Shaman Camp and the Snake clan at the Skirmisher Camp.
Each clan also has special units of its own. The Bear clan's Kaija, the Armored Bear, is recruited at the Training Camp for Kröwns and Food, and only one can be active at a time. The Dragon clan's Dragonkin cost Dragon Essence and Kröwns at the Dragonkin Altar. These special units are a big part of why one clan's army can feel very different from the next.
Kingdom Armies in the Southern Kingdoms
The Cross of Vidar expansion added the Southern Kingdoms, whose armies are built differently from those of the Viking clans. The Kingdom clans train Sentries at a Sentry Camp. The Lion clan can upgrade that camp into Archery, Champion and Fantassin camps.
Lion recruitment can use Faith instead of Kröwns, and the Lion's Monks can become Paladins. That gives the Lion more ways to pay for and shape its army than the Viking clans have.
FAQ
Who is each clan's warchief in Northgard?
Brand leads the Stag, Harvald the Goat, Egil the Wolf, Liv the Raven, Borgild the Bear, Svarn the Boar, Signy the Snake, Surtr the Dragon, Brok and Eitria the Horse, Hildegard the Lion, Kàra the Kraken, Torfin the Ox, Mielikki the Lynx, Andhrimnir the Squirrel, Eir the Rat, Grif the Eagle, Nominoë the Stoat, Skuld, Urdr or Verdandi the Owl, Njörd the Turtle and Sindri the Hippogriff. Hounds have no warchief at all.
How do Axe Throwers compare with Warriors?
Axe Throwers are ranged units that hit slightly harder than Warriors and have the same health and defense. Warriors hold ground up close, while Axe Throwers are better kept behind them, hitting from a distance.
What do Shield Bearers do in Northgard?
Shield Bearers are defensive units that give extra protection against ranged attacks. That makes them useful at the front when enemy Axe Throwers or archers are firing at your army.