Age of Empires IV is heading north. Raiders of the North arrives on October 29, adding two playable civilisations that behave very differently: the Vikings, who thrive on raids and momentum, and the Scots, who prefer strong positions and disciplined infantry. For people who have spent years playing the same opening builds, this is the kind of expansion that can change the early minutes of a match.
It is not only a civilisation pack. The DLC brings two new biomes and four exclusive Crucible missions, while the accompanying Update 17.0 introduces wider balance and quality-of-life changes. That distinction matters because not everything arriving with the update requires buying Raiders of the North.
Raiders of the North release date and where to buy it
World’s Edge and Relic Entertainment scheduled the expansion for October 29, 2026. Preorders were offered through Steam, Microsoft Store and Xbox, with PlayStation 5 purchasing planned for launch day. Prices vary by store and region; an Indian rupee price should be taken from the relevant local storefront instead of guessed from a US listing.
Players buying the add-on get access to both the Vikings and Scots, each with its own units, buildings, music, progression and civilisation masteries. It also introduces Scottish Heathland and Tundra Summer as two distinct battlefield biomes. Neither is merely a reskin of an existing army.
Vikings: raids, free villagers and longhouse economics
The Viking identity is built around taking initiative. Their Villagers are recruited automatically at no cost until a capacity limit is reached, while Longhouses expand that capacity and can be upgraded with useful economic attachments. This makes protecting the opening economy important, but it also encourages an aggressive player to act early rather than sit behind walls.
In battle, Bondi spearmen and Hirdman hold the line while Berserkers provide shock power. The Völur religious unit can establish Sacred Groves on relics, generating Berserkers over time. Viking Sagas reward achievements such as raiding, trading and hunting with long-term economic or military bonuses. Done well, the faction turns pressure on an opponent into extra strength at home.
Longships also make water maps a genuine strategic question. The Viking archer ship can carry troops, and those passengers help defend it. On land, however, careless aggression can still leave the economy exposed. A civilisation that rewards raids does not reward throwing units away.
Scots: hold the ground, feed the army and choose your fights
The Scots are a different proposition. Their economy draws on Highland Cattle, while Tower Houses and castles protect territory. The Mustering Hall allows players to prepare around Highland or Lowland strengths. These mechanics point to an army that prefers carefully chosen engagements over the Vikings’ constant pressure.
Scottish infantry also benefit from opportunities to ambush opponents through stealth forests. That gives defensive players a chance to punish overconfident attacks, but it also gives aggressive Scots players useful flanking options. The faction is not simply “build walls and wait”; it is about using terrain, food income and strong infantry at the right moment.
The Crucible now supports two-player co-op
The expansion adds four exclusive Crucible missions: Sea Raiders, Scottish Isthmus, Lost Desert, and Thunder & Trumpets. The mode also receives two-player co-op, making it easier to tackle changing objectives and enemy waves with a friend. New boons, mutators, progression tracks and challenge options should give returning players more reasons to experiment.
There is a useful ownership detail here. World’s Edge says people who already own Dynasties of the East receive the base Crucible improvements in the October 29 game update. Raiders of the North is required for the four new exclusive missions. Players should check that distinction before paying for an expansion purely to try co-op.
Free Update 17.0 matters for players who skip the DLC
Update 17.0 also changes the way players can configure attack-move targeting of buildings, adds observer HUD support for tournaments and replays, and provides new taunts. The patch includes balance work aimed at landmark variety and civilisation matchups. More importantly, the developer warns that saves and observable match replays from older builds will not load after updating.
For competitive and community players, that last detail is worth acting on before the patch. Save any older replay footage you need for content, analysis or tournaments. A new civilisation is exciting, but losing the ability to watch a recent match can be a frustrating surprise.
Which civilisation should you start with?
Pick Vikings if you enjoy early attacks, forcing reactions and building a lead through activity. Try Scots if you like controlling space, making a strong economy work for your army and choosing defensive fights carefully. Neither approach guarantees an easy win. The first weeks should reveal how players adapt once opponents understand the new mechanics.
Raiders of the North looks like a worthwhile addition because the two factions ask different questions of the player. For veterans, that variety is the real selling point. For everyone else, Update 17.0 still brings changes worth reading before the next match.
