Age of Empires IV: Raiders of the North Is Out Now With Scots, Vikings and Co-op

Age of Empires IV: Raiders of the North is available now, adding the Scots and Vikings to the strategy game. The expansion launched on October 29 for PC, Xbox and PlayStation 5. Its other main addition is a set of Crucible missions, with support for solo play and two-player co-op.

The new civilizations approach warfare through different economies, units and upgrades. Scottish defenses support a food economy built around cattle and fishponds. Vikings combine mobile infantry with Sagas that reward specific activities. Both offer fresh choices for players who already know the base game's armies.

The official launch announcement also lists Scottish Heathland and Tundra Summer biomes. New music and taunts round out the package. For returning players, the release arrives alongside broader changes to Crucible and the base game.

How the Scots build their strength

The official Scots guide describes a civilization with strong infantry and unusual food gathering. Highland Cattle graze near berry bushes, producing bonus food without using up the berries. Tower Houses produce and shelter cattle while also providing population space and defensive functions.

The Mustering Hall gives access to unique technologies and rapid recruitment that costs food. Nearby military buildings improve its mustering ability. Landmark choices reflect Highland and Lowland traditions, offering discounts for the matching technologies.

Several distinctive units support that approach. Caterans are fast melee raiders suited to attacking workers and buildings. Gallowglass carry claymores, deal area damage and can brace against cavalry. Border Reivers use pistols and torches, giving the Scots another option for raids.

Scottish units can also see through stealth forests. That changes how players can watch routes that normally hide enemy movement. Combined with defensive buildings and varied infantry, the civilization gives players several ways to protect an economy while preparing an attack.

Viking growth follows a different rhythm

The Viking civilization guide outlines free, automatic villager recruitment up to a cap. Longhouses raise that limit and support economic attachments. Players also pursue seven Sagas, completing tasks such as raids, hunts and trade for military or economic rewards.

Völur add another layer. These religious units can improve Longhouse production or sacrifice themselves at a relic to create a Sacred Grove. That grove produces Berserkers, fast fighters whose low-health rage improves damage and healing.

At sea, the Longship combines an archer vessel with a transport. Embarked troops add health and arrows, making its passengers part of its fighting strength. On land, Shield Maidens gain benefits near friendly buildings and can help defend villagers.

Those systems suggest a different set of priorities from the Scots. Longhouse capacity, Saga progress and the use of religious units all deserve attention alongside army production. Learning the Vikings involves more than replacing familiar infantry with Berserkers.

What the expansion includes

The Steam listing identifies Raiders of the North as downloadable content. PC players need Age of Empires IV: Anniversary Edition to use it. Buying the expansion does not replace that base-game requirement.

Beyond their units, the civilizations have their own architecture, mastery challenges, music and evolving languages. These details give each army an identity across the ages. The Viking progression also reflects a move toward kingdoms, expanding the theme beyond early raiding forces.

For players deciding whether to return, there are two distinct attractions: learning civilizations for regular matches and tackling Crucible challenges. Someone focused on competitive play may care most about the new economies and army options. A player who prefers fighting computer-controlled enemies may find the mission content more relevant.

The launch covers Steam and the Microsoft Store on PC, along with Xbox and PS5. Players should choose the version for their own platform and check the corresponding store's base-game requirements before buying.

Crucible gains missions and co-op

The developers explain the mode's changes in The Crucible Reforged. Raiders adds four exclusive missions: Sea Raiders, Scottish Isthmus, Lost Desert, and Thunder & Trumpets. Players can take them on alone or with one partner, using invitations or matchmaking.

Either Raiders of the North or Dynasties of the East unlocks the core Crucible mode. Owning both expansions is not required for that access. However, both co-op players need the relevant expansion for the mission they want to play.

The wider update adds 25 boons and a browser for reviewing them. Unlockable vetoes let players exclude unwanted boons. Civilization talent tracks now reach 15 levels, while perk points remain earnable without a fixed overall limit.

Conqueror mode provides a more controlled weekly challenge. It uses a fixed allowance of 5,000 perk points, disables other progression benefits and rotates four mutators. Solo and co-op scores have separate leaderboards. Custom mode gives players more control over the modifiers while retaining their progression.

For a first co-op session, agreeing on a mission before buying avoids a common misunderstanding about access. Once both players own the required content, they can decide whether to learn together or pursue weekly scores. Those are different goals: experimenting with an unfamiliar civilization leaves room for mistakes, while a leaderboard run rewards preparation. Players returning after a long break may find it easier to explore the new economies before adding weekly mutators to the mix.

The accompanying update changes everyday play

The expansion also arrives with practical changes described in the Update 17.0 notes. Attack Move gains a setting for targeting buildings, plus a hotkey to invert that choice. Siege weapons designed to attack structures remain an exception.

New selection hotkeys distinguish ranged cavalry from melee cavalry. Players can also adjust team colors for themselves, allies and enemies. These are useful additions for reading a busy battlefield and selecting the right group quickly.

One feature needs a clear distinction: single-player tactical pause is not part of this launch. The developers corrected the notes to say it was deferred to a later update before year-end. Players should not buy the expansion expecting that feature to be available immediately.

The notes also describe changes to hidden team matchmaking ratings, while leaving seasonal points and displayed ranks unaffected. Together, the expansion and update give returning players new armies to study, cooperative missions to attempt, and several control changes to check before their next match.