Northgard is a Viking real time strategy game from Shiro Games, first released on 7 March 2018 and now sold on Steam as Northgard: Definitive Edition. You settle a newly discovered continent one territory at a time, assigning villagers to jobs, feeding them through winters that raise food and wood consumption, and choosing which of the several victory paths to chase. Clans are the real depth here: the base roster of Stag, Wolf, Goat, Raven and Bear plays very differently, and the clan list has grown past fifteen with Kraken, Ox, Lynx, Squirrel, Rat and more. A match usually runs 40 to 90 minutes and is decided long before the fighting starts.
Picking the right build determines how your experience plays out. These builds are ranked by overall effectiveness, factoring in damage, survivability, gear requirements, and how well they scale into endgame. New to the game? Start with our beginner's guide first.
Quick Rankings
| Build | Tier | Playstyle | Core Gear |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clan of the Stag (Eikthyrnir) | A | Balanced | Best available |
| Clan of the Wolf (Fenrir) | A | Balanced | Best available |
| Clan of the Goat (Heidrun) | A | Balanced | Best available |
| Clan of the Raven (Huginn and Muninn) | A | Balanced | Best available |
| Clan of the Bear (Bjarki) | A | Balanced | Best available |
For detailed meta rankings, see our Northgard: Definitive Edition tier list.
A-Tier: Clan of the Stag (Eikthyrnir)
Clan of the Stag (Eikthyrnir) is a top-performing option in Northgard: Definitive Edition.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | Warrior | The standard melee unit trained at the Training Camp and the backbone of any army. |
| Core Gear | Best available for your level | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | Territory colonisation with Food and Krowns | The map is divided into fixed territories, and taking one costs Food or Krowns and often means clearing wolves, draugr or a kobold camp first. |
How to Play Clan of the Stag (Eikthyrnir)
Clan of the Stag (Eikthyrnir) focuses on a balanced approach to content.
Why this build works: Warrior does the damage and Territory colonisation with Food and Krowns keeps it running, which is why this sits at the top of the list. See our weapons guide for detailed equipment breakdowns.
Pros:
- Highest overall performance
- Straightforward gearing path
- Works in all content types
Cons:
- Popular pick, resources may be contested
- Needs specific gear to reach full potential
A-Tier: Clan of the Wolf (Fenrir)
Clan of the Wolf (Fenrir) is a strong option in Northgard: Definitive Edition.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | Shield Bearer | A defensive unit with extra protection against ranged attacks and towers, trained for 30 Krowns with the price rising by 6 for each one you have already made. |
| Core Gear | Best available for your level | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | Winter and the seasonal clock | The year cycles through seasons and winter raises both food and wood consumption while cutting production, so every summer is spent stockpiling for it. |
How to Play Clan of the Wolf (Fenrir)
Clan of the Wolf (Fenrir) focuses on a balanced approach to content.
Why this build works: Pair Shield Bearer with Winter and the seasonal clock and the build stops depending on a good start, so it holds up across most content. See our weapons guide for detailed equipment breakdowns.
Pros:
- Most versatile option
- Straightforward gearing path
- Works in all content types
Cons:
- Lower peak damage than S-tier
- Needs specific gear to reach full potential
A-Tier: Clan of the Goat (Heidrun)
Clan of the Goat (Heidrun) is a strong option in Northgard: Definitive Edition.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | Axe Thrower | A ranged unit with high damage, very weak defence and a noticeably high price. |
| Core Gear | Best available for your level | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | Villager job assignment | Villagers are generic until you drop them into a building, which turns them into woodcutters, hunters, fishermen, farmers, miners, sailors, brewers, healers or merchants. |
How to Play Clan of the Goat (Heidrun)
Clan of the Goat (Heidrun) focuses on a balanced approach to content.
Why this build works: Villager job assignment covers the gap Axe Thrower leaves open, so the build stays usable even when a fight goes badly. See our weapons guide for detailed equipment breakdowns.
Pros:
- Best survivability
- Straightforward gearing path
- Works in all content types
Cons:
- Slower clear speeds
- Needs specific gear to reach full potential
A-Tier: Clan of the Raven (Huginn and Muninn)
Clan of the Raven (Huginn and Muninn) is a specialized option in Northgard: Definitive Edition.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | Skirmisher | A faster and lighter fighter used for harassment and for reaching a threatened territory before the main army can. |
| Core Gear | Best available for your level | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | The Lore tree and the four blessings | Loremasters generate Lore, and Lore unlocks knowledge in a branching tree that grants economic and military bonuses. |
How to Play Clan of the Raven (Huginn and Muninn)
Clan of the Raven (Huginn and Muninn) focuses on a balanced approach to content.
Why this build works: This one leans on The Lore tree and the four blessings rather than raw numbers, and Skirmisher is what makes that trade pay off. See our weapons guide for detailed equipment breakdowns.
Pros:
- Strong in group/team content
- Straightforward gearing path
- Excels in its niche
Cons:
- Weaker solo performance
- Requires deep game knowledge
A-Tier: Clan of the Bear (Bjarki)
Clan of the Bear (Bjarki) is a specialized option in Northgard: Definitive Edition.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | Warchief | The top of the Warband, hired at a Training Camp for 150 Krowns and 5 Iron, with better stats than any other standard unit. |
| Core Gear | Best available for your level | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | Five separate victory paths | Domination means destroying every other Town Hall. |
How to Play Clan of the Bear (Bjarki)
Clan of the Bear (Bjarki) focuses on a balanced approach to content.
Why this build works: Warchief and Five separate victory paths pull in the same direction here, which separates this from the safer picks above. See our weapons guide for detailed equipment breakdowns.
Pros:
- Unique, rewarding playstyle
- Straightforward gearing path
- Excels in its niche
Cons:
- High skill floor, punishing when misplayed
- Requires deep game knowledge
Build Progression Path
- Start with Clan of the Wolf (Fenrir): the most forgiving option for learning the game
- Transition to Clan of the Stag (Eikthyrnir) once you understand core mechanics and have access to Warrior
- Keep a Clan of the Goat (Heidrun) setup for content that keeps killing you
- Try Clan of the Bear (Bjarki) for a fresh experience once you've mastered the basics
Follow our walkthrough for the optimal progression path through each area.
Gearing Tips
- Invest in your primary equipment first, since it gives the biggest power spike. See our weapons guide for rankings.
- Send your Scout out in the first seconds of a match, because unexplored territories hide relics, hostile camps and the special victory zone you may want to plan around.
- Never colonise a territory you cannot feed through the coming winter, since starving villagers die and a lost population takes far longer to rebuild than the zone was worth.
- Don't spread upgrade resources across multiple builds until endgame
More Northgard: Definitive Edition Guides
- Northgard: Definitive Edition Northgard: Definitive Edition Overview
- Northgard: Definitive Edition Tier List
- Northgard: Definitive Edition Walkthrough
- Northgard: Definitive Edition Beginner's Guide
- Northgard: Definitive Edition Tips & Tricks
- Northgard: Definitive Edition Weapons Guide
- Northgard: Definitive Edition Combat Guide
- Northgard: Definitive Edition Boss Guide
- Northgard: Definitive Edition Maps & Locations
- Northgard: Definitive Edition Crafting Guide
- Northgard: Definitive Edition Classes & Characters
Similar Games
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- RimWorld Builds: strategy game with similar mechanics
