Varangians
Cavalry & NavalTeam Bonus
Knight-line +1 attack vs. Infantry
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"The Varangians are a cavalry and naval civilization whose food gathering also generates gold. Jarls and Varangian Guards lead their attacks."
Civilization Bonuses
- 1
Shepherding, fishing, and hunting also generate gold
- 2
Bloodlines and Caravan effects +50%
- 3
Varangian Guards attack +25% faster and generate +50% gold
- 4
Longships and Catapult Galleons attack +15% faster
Unique Units
Unique Technologies
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Other Civilizations
AoE Coach analysis
Context & meta
The Varangians are the cavalry and naval civilization of The Viking Sagas. Shepherding, fishing and hunting also generate gold. Their Varangian Guards attack faster and earn more gold, while Longships and Catapult Galleons fire faster. The Jarl is their unique cavalry.
History & balance
The faction links early food collection to a gold trickle, then spends that flexibility on mounted pressure and naval warfare. Vendel Legacy gives the Knight-line trample damage; Gothikon lets Varangian Guards throw axes periodically. These are distinct tools: the Jarl is ranged-melee cavalry, not the gold-generating Guard.
In pro play
Keep food gatherers working to sustain both the economy and its secondary gold income. Use Jarls against infantry, as stated in their official help, and support them against Camel Riders and Monks. Pair the Guard’s combat-generated gold with a planned infantry front rather than assuming it replaces normal mining.
How to counter it
Camel Riders and Monks are the official weaknesses of the Jarl; the Militia-line is the official weakness of Varangian Guards. Separate those threats instead of countering all Varangian units with one generic composition. Raids on food collection also constrain the faction’s linked food-and-gold economy.