Clans overview & Multiplayer basics

This guide should explain new players what each clan can do in multiplayer games.

Introduction

Hello players,

Northgard is a good game, but it is complicated because of number of clans. I decided to write this guide to explain strong/weak sides of all clans in all popular game modes. I think it helps new players to dive in multiplayer games easily with more fun.

If you are absolute beginner in the game I recommend this guide made by Watchdog Man. It explain a lot of basic mechanics.

Also, there is a good guy on YouTube who has a lot of useful video. Check him out.

About me

I am huge strategy fan with more than 20 years of expertise. Reached Master league in Starcraft 2, played Warcraft 3, Age of Empires, Heroes 3 and other multiplayer strategy games a lot. I am one of the best players in FFA and have played more than 1000 games in Northgard. So, I think I know something to make my words solid.

Quick info about game modes

Northgard has 3 modes:

• Duel
  
• Teams (2v2, 3v3 and 4v4)
  
• FFA (6 or 8 players OR 2v2v2v2 games)

Player has independent ranking score for all 3 modes. Also all of them requires different strategy which leads to different game style for even single clan.

Duel
The most balanced and the least popular game mode. To achieve victory player should rely only on his own strength. It is boring, because usually you play alone for 20+ minutes then 1 big fight appears and the game ends. Not enough amount of fun for such a big duration. Pure rushes are almost ineffective and can be defended easily, so the game proceeds to the late game. I won't speak a lot about duels since it is almost impossible to find a partner in iron+ league.

Teams
The most playable mode. Most of the players play 3v3. There can be a group of random people or premades. I really advice to find partners for the game, because pre-team games are well balanced and offer a lot of fun and strategy possibilities.

FFA
In my opinion, the most fun game mode. Whole FFA game is constant self-trade between making your eco and warfire capabilities. If you spend a lot of resources into eco, then you will be swarmed easily by your neighbor. If you spend a lot into early war then you will be eliminated by other players who gathered strength all this time. Very fun and very strategic game. On other side, it is most unfair mode. You can be attacked by several players at the same time and there is nothing you can do about this.

Quick clans overview

Difficulty means how much actions and decisions you need to do to succeed in the game.

Clan Learning curve from Easy to Hard.

• Boar
  
• Goat
  
• Bear
  
• Stag
  
• Wolf
  
• Kraken
  
• Lion
  
• Rat
  
• Horse
  
• Dragon
  
• Snake
  
• Eagle
  
• Ox
  
• Raven
  
• Squirrel
  
• Stoat
  
• Lynx

The list is based on my own experience. It shows how difficult to achieve average level with chosen clan. For example, Boar is the simplest one. You can play 1 game, and the second run will be OK game for you. On other hand you need to play at least 10-15 games as OX to figure out build order, battle spec, way of playing and etc.

Owl clan is out of lists because I didn't play it yet.

Teams
As I said, all clans can be played in this mode. Anyway, some clans are much stronger than others in current meta.

Tier A - Good option

• Horse
  
• Stag
  
• Eagle
  
• Goat
  
• Snake
  
• Boar
  
• Wolf
  
• Bear
  
• Kraken
  
• Rat

Tier B - Can be good

• Lion
  
• Dragon
  
• Squirrel
  
• Lynx
  
• Stoat
  
• Ox
  
• Raven

FFA
Some clans in FFA are absolute outsiders. I divide all clans into 4 categories.

Tier A - Great most of the time.

• Horse
  
• Stag
  
• Kraken
  
• Rat
  
• Lion

Tier B - Good in partial circumstances.

• Eagle
  
• Bear
  
• Dragon
  
• Squirrel
  
• Stoat

Tier C - Playable but not great. A lot of weak sides.

• Snake
  
• Boar
  
• Goat
  
• Ox

Tier D - Can't do much most of the time.

• Raven
  
• Lynx
  
• Wolf

FFA - Quick Review

Main rule of FFA is to pick a clan which strong in late game (after 803). Usually noone really fights. If you start a fight with a neighbor early, you will stop the development of your eco. And even if you win - other player will gather strength and win.

So, everyone just making eco first 2,5 years. Yeah, sometimes there are games with Eagle presented. But they can be defended.

How to win in FFA.
1) Take late game clan
2) Plan your final goal - win with Lore/Fame/Domination.
3) Develop your economy to be ready for war.
4) Scout neighbors. If there Stag in the game - you need to find him. Because Stag can easily win with Fame in 803. When nobody else can.
5) Start fighting.

If you will make your economy too long - someone else just win. So, you should feel the pulse of the mission.

Remember one thing. If you become a leader - everyone will start attacking you. And even if you can defend 2 players, third just come and finish you. So become a leader only if you have a plan.

The safest way to win through Domination. The fastest one with Fame win. You just to kill 1 neighbor, reach ~1000 fame. Take 10 tiles. And start gathering food. You need to have big crown stock in case you will be attacked by some else. When you will get 1500 food, colonize 3 tiles, make feasts, upgrade some building. You will reach needed amount of fame and need to wait 1-2 month to get food for the last 14th tile. Also, you can buy on the market.

Nobody won FFA with Trade victory for decades. Special map conditions is not an option too. You will just get to much attention. Lore Victory was an option in previous Meta. Now it takes too much time. You will be just overwhelmed.

Best clans for FFA now are Stag, Lion, Rat.

Teams - Quick Review

Team games with 3v3 are the most balanced match you can have. You can win with any clan in this mode. But coordinating with your teammates is essential for the win.

Usually, team decides who will take Clearer ( Wolf / Eagle / Lynx / Bear). If Clearer presents in the game, it can boost economy of teammates during the first year. You can try to play without Clearer if you are sure you can clear tiles themselves. In that case you are also is too vulnerable for early attacks of enemy Clearer. For example, enemy Wolf come in the end of 801 with chief and a couple of units and you are in trouble.

So, first rule of winning in teams. Communicate with teammates during lobby time and decided what clans you need to pick. If you won't coordinate your moves with teammates - you will lose for sure.

Second rule is to choose your plan. You should a date when you will attack. In my own experience, the team which attack first wins in 75% of games. Usually, all fights start in 802. Some clans are ready for fight sooner and some are ready later. You should find the date which fits for all teammates. Also, it would be wise to pick clans during lobby time.

Third rule is to decide who will scout. Most of the game are lost when enemies come from nowhere. So, you should always tell you teammates what you got scouted. Getting scouted usually means you will be attacked very soon. This time is essential to make preparations to stack food, make camps and etc. Anyway, it won't happen if you will scout your enemy sooner when he scouts you. So, decide this matter in the start of the game.

Fourth rule of winning is pick proper clans. For example, if you see that enemy has Clearer + Wolf or Clearer + Boar and etc. It definitely means, they will rush you. And if you pick late game clans, you just have no chance to defend them in 801. So, always try to counter-pick them.

Fifth rule is to try to help your teammates. Help them clear when they ask. Make feasts if you can. Distribute important tiles with food/stone/iron. Transfer tiles in some situations.

Finally, the game should bring fun to you. So, try to find your favorite clans for Late and Clearer purposes. And play them. Try to get out from noob pit and reach at least Iron league (400+pts). Teams games there are much more strategic and more fun.

I. Stag

Absolute late game clan. One of the weakest clans in the start, but it starts shining after 803.
Making good economy with upgraded buildings is a core part of gameplay. Also, Stag requires and generates a lot of Fame.
Clan relic gives an access to an improved version of warrior with more damage, health and resistance. In addition with high gold income and big population allows to dominate in the late game. But most Stags play through Happiness relic which greatly improves Stag economy.

It has a lot advantages:

• (FFA) A lot of ways to win. It can with Fame, Lore or via Domination.
  
• The strongest economy after 803 (a lot of upg. buildings, fame production bonus and altar bonus).
  
• Stag army (with relic) and some upg. barracks is Top #3 best in the game. High damage and 20% HP bonus.
  
• Chief becomes a very tough unit after reaching 1000 fame. It offers a lot of tactic possibilities.
  
• High food income allows to make feasts in team games or win via Fame in FFA.
  
• All Stags play through Altar. It gives a huge passive eco bonuses (with silo also), so you can make your eco working with a few people.
  
• Stag has high happiness which make population big.

On other hand Stag clan a lot of weak sides:

• (FFA) No battle bonuses in first years of the game. It means hard clearing and extreme vulnerability to early attacks. A lot of other clans can bring Stag down at 802. Stag is the most desired target for aggressive clans.
  
• (FFA) Stag gameplay is based on high Fame. If you survived early attacks in 802, then Stag usually becomes Game Leader in eyes of other players. It brings a lot of attention. Everyone start screaming "he is gonna win", "Somebody should stop it.". Usually it leads that Stag got attacked by several players at the same time. It is tough and will drive you crazy a lot.
  
• Depends a lot of on map generation. Stag will suffer if player has a) only 1 stone; b) No lore stone is 100% GG; c) no boosters (sheeps, shipwreck, tombs) will slow early game; d) blocked by 2-3 Bears, ranged Draugs, Rock Golem is a bug problem; d) More than 1 entrance to main base make it hard to defend.
  
• Stag suffers a lot from a lack of free space first 2 years of the game. If he spends a lot of crowns on expanding he won't have enough gold for defending early aggression.

Resume
7/10 Teams
10/10 FFA
4/10 Difficulty
8/10 Fun

Stag can't bring a lot into team games because most of the fight starts in 802 when it is weak. If Stag starting fight early it gets weak eco and can't bring much in the late game. Yeah, Stag can be played with Top lore line (Food preservation) to make feasts, but Goat and Squirrel performs better with that task.

On other hand, Guardian Stag feels OK in FFA games and can defend most of the early attacks (with Guardian) if performed well. It allows to reach full eco to make a big army and start overwhelming people even without Legions battle spec. If player manages to kill at least 1 neighbor, then it can easily win with fame duo extremely high food production. But Guardian has big problems with fighting other Guardian clans like Horse or Squirrel. So, sometimes you can just get stuck without any options to do something. Also, it can't compete with Rat and Dragon in the late game.

Best game mode - FFA 2v2v2v2
If Stag is paired with clearer like Bear/Eagle then it can take Legions battle spec and dominate in the late game.

My notes
My favorite clan in the game. I played it since the game release. It got greatly buffed last patches and now it brings unique gameplay style with a lot of economy and battle fun moments. This clan can be easy to play on a paper, but in reality it requires a lot of macro and micro management. Easy to play, hard to master.

II. Goat

Gameplay is built around food income and feasts. Goat clan can use sheeps for extra food income. With right development of economy it gives a lot food which can be spent on feasts. Goat relic doubles bonus of feasts and reduces this price. So, basically Goat is a team player It greatly boost Goat partners. This is the reason why Goat is desirable clan in team games. On other hand, Goat doesn't have any battle bonuses. Anyway, food trading allows to gather big crown stock to make average but pack of units for a final battle.

Advantages:

• Goat is the best supportive clan in the game. Feast marathon rockets economy of team members to the sky.
  
• Highest food income in the game.
  
• Goat has good crown income. Thanks to trading and some clan lores. Big crown stock allows to make big but not powerful army.
  
• Goat is the fastest to get Jotnar ally thanks to food and special lore.
  
• Sheep and a few people can maintain your eco, so Goat can recover fast and wage long wars.

Weak sides:

• It doesn't have battle bonuses at all except feast battle bonus.
  
• (FFA) Hard to clear zones. Vulnerable to any early attacks.
  
• Usually Goat can prepare a big army but usually it lacks of power.
  
• No lore bonuses but Goat requires a lot of lores to unlock the potential.

Resume
9/10 Teams
4/10 FFA
4/10 Difficulty
5/10 Fun

Best game mode - 4v4
The more people gets feasts bonuses, stronger the overall team strength becomes. So allies can make a powerful units while Goat support them a big army to increase total toughness.

My notes
Goat clan is the best if you like supportive role in the game. Also, I suggest to play this clan at least one time, because managing sheep and see high food income is very pleasant. A great choice for team games and bad for FFA.

III. Wolf

Supposed to be a war clan. Gameplay is round clearing neutrals for getting tons of food and crowns. Food can be spent on feasts in team games, while early big stock of golf allows to make a good warband early. Wolf is the best rush clan in the game. If team coordination performed well, Wolf can attack opponents early and bring a win even in 801 year.

Advantages:

• One of the best clearers in the game. Free first unit allows to clear important tiles (with lore/iron and etc). Clearing becomes an easy walk after hiring the Chief.
  
• Wolf Chief is the best warchief in the start of game because of 50% increased base damage. It is a big deal when fighting in early game.
  
• Getting food/crowns for killing enemies boost the beginning of the game. Wolf can make several feasts in a row OR gather 8-12 wb army for an early attack.
  
• Can gather serious army (~10wb) very fast if played properly.
  
• Pretty useful relic if made early. Three extra units for a food cost is a great addition to the army. Also, they have cloaked ability and high mobility, so Wolf can harass even 2 opponents at the same time.

Weak sides:

• Absolute outsider in any game after 803. All neutrals are dead. Economy is weak. Crown stocks are low.
  
• If he loses an army/chief then Wolf can't recover in most cases.
  
• No economy and lore bonuses at all. Neutrals are limited and give resources only in the start of the game.
  
• No treasure in the starting zone makes game much harder.
  
• Can't reach 500 fame bonus in most Team games for a good +15% damage bonus.

Resume
8/10 Teams
3/10 FFA
7/10 Difficulty
7/10 Fun

While most of clans offers chill gameplay during first 2 gaming years, Wolf clan requires a lot actions, so it is skill depended clan. You should use your Chief non-stop and managing your small eco at the same time. If you attack the enemy, you need to move damaged units back and watch out for your chief. You should plan to kill neutral fractions and prevent the enemy from doing thisю
The earlier Wolf attacks, the less chances enemies can't defend it. Also, Wolf is the weakest clan in FFA.

Best game mode - 2v2
Wolf is a good clearer and the great rush clan in the game. Small map offers closer dislocation of opponents, so Wolf can start harassing enemies even during the first winter when a lot of clans can't do anything against it. Wolf strength goes dramatically down after 802 year, so do not let the game does into late game.

My notes
I never saw Wolf wins FFA game. So, do not even try it. All you can do is to kill 1 neighbor (2 tops) at 801-802 but Wolf can't win with Fame/Lore. On other hand, Wolf is a frequent choice in Team games. It runs across all map for killing neutrals, gather big pack of units and attack enemy in early 802. Take this clan if you like aggressive play style and would like to attack opponents as soon as possible.

IV. Raven

One of the unusual clans. A good clan concept on a paper, but people hates playing against the raven. Gameplay is based on gathering big crown stock. Raven is the only clan who can colonize new tiles with crowns, so it requires only limited food production. The rest is spent on merchants/sailors. Raven has another unique feature - mercenary raid. They can attack coastal tiles across whole map. Previously mercenaries could decolonize the tiles, now they just steal resources, so they do not hurt a lot anymore.

Advantages

• Scouting benefits. It is a great tool in Team games. It gives extra lore production and save up some food.
  
• Raids can boost your economy. But they requires a lot of planning and actions. Also good players will just not make economy buildings on shores.
  
• Great to get Jotunn Warrior and make relations with teammates.
  
• (Teams) Constant raids with clan relic can make enemies really mad.
  
• Several good economy bonuses.
  
• With right economy development can gather a big warband in the mid-late game.
  
• Good happiness bonuses.
  
• One of the best battle bonuses (up to 20% bonus damage and resistance).
  
• (FFA) Raven can win with Fame/Lore.

Weak sides

• Extremely difficult clan to play. You need to manage a lot of things at the same time. First year of the game is especially hard.
  
• (FFA) Absolutely no defense bonuses. Extremely weak during the starting phase of the game. Also it can offer nothing against late clans after 803.
  
• Raven is economy clan, but it can't compete with other late clans at certain point of the game.

Resume
8/10 Teams
5/10 FFA
10/10 Difficulty
7/10 Fun

This clan is fun because player scouts whole map and sees what happens everywhere. Raids is another good addition. Raven is extremely weak in defense on all stages of the game which is scary even in Team games. Become master of this clan is a hard task, it is really complicated when you need to defend himself, manage army and raid at the same time.

Best game mode - 4v4
Scouting benefits are extremely useful on big maps. Also, raids are great tools in big maps because army movement takes a lot of time. In high ranked FFA lobbies Raven usually can't do a lot because there are other better late clan options.

My notes
Raven is a good option for premade team games. It requires a good managing skills from a player to build your economy. Raven is the best to scout early. So it works good with Wolf, Eagle, Snake clans. But Raven can't bring much on a battlefield in early years, so your teammates will usually fight outnumbered.

V. Bear

The best mid-game clan in Northgard. Can do everything but does nothing great. Bear clan has a lot of bonuses during winter and access to a special and cheap battle unit, Armored Bear. Also, the clan chief is much tougher than usual chief.

Advantages:

• Free battle unit (Bear) offers easy clearing with health regeneration and small food income.
  
• (Team) Combo of Chief and Bear can be used as Clearer in team games.
  
• 15% production bonus for 2 areas is a great bonus and can be unlocked early.
  
• Bear use Fish for food income, so winter almost doesn't hurt Bear economy.
  
• Extremely versatile clan. Can perform well in all game situations.
  
• Unusual battle bonuses, winter bonus resistance and healing during winter, gives a lot of strategic possibilities.
  
• With a special lore and Leadership battle spec figting during winter make Bear army is extremely tough. They are the best tanking clan in the game.
  
• Bear has a good happiness bonus lore.
  
• (FFA) Can easily bring down non-agressive clan at second winter.
  
• (FFA) Bear can win with Fame and it happens sometimes.
  
• All three battle specs are playable.

Weak sides:

• Getting 500 Fame is not an easy task.
  
• During summer Bear army is average, so Bear can be brought down. So Bear must use winter time at maximum.
  
• No lore bonuses, but bear requires a lot of stone and lore to be good in late game.
  
• (FFA) Has not enough power in the late game.

Resume
7/10 Teams
6/10 FFA
6/10 Difficulty
6/10 Fun

Armored bear can clear starting areas, so Bear do not spend crowns on this task. Also, it regenerates its health, so there is no need for Healers in the start. After getting Shield Maiden, bear clan can clear tough spots for an expanding. After reaching 200 fame, it starts boosting its economy. Bear can gather enough power to bring down a neighbor in FFA at the second winter.
After reaching 500 fame, it gets slightly higher combat capabilities and generates fame. Together with good food production it can win with Fame.

Best game mode - 3v3
Bear clan is the best mid-game clan in Northgard. It can be used as clearer for his team while it raises 200 Fame. Bonus of 15% gives a huge boost. So, attacking in the 802 with a big pack of tough units is the best choice for Bear clan while late game clans didn't get full power.

My notes
Jake-of-all-trades clan. Can be aggressive, can be defensive, can attack early, can compete in late game. Can do a little of everything, but nothing great. Easy to play it, hard to master. Take this clan if you want to make economy and fight at the same time.

VI. Boar

Supposed to be a clan with some kinda lore mechanics, but it is not. It has Menders instead of Healers, but they have +1 lore income instead of +4 food. This is ... not much. On other hand Boar has some great economy bonuses like -50% wood construction discount and +15% production bonus for non-upgraded buildings. Finally, Altar of Kings gives +50% income.

Boar clan is very simple to play, so it is the best choice for new players.

Advantages:

• You do not need to clear. Just colonize tiles. Yeah, sometimes you get be blocked by draugs but it is a rare situation.
  
• A lot of great economy bonuses.
  
• Bonus to +2 max. population per tile is also good.
  
• Very useful Thane and Jarl bonuses.
  
• One of the top clans for getting reputation with neutrals.
  
• Since you do not need a lot of stone for Eco buildings, you can spend them on barracks.
  
• Can win with lore at 803 year. Other victories are also available.
  
• All three battle specs are playable.

Weak sides:

• In my humble opinion it is the most boring clan in the game. No need to clear, no fun mechanics, no special bonuses in combat.
  
• Pretty useless clan relic.

Resume
9/10 Teams
6/10 FFA
2/10 Difficulty
4/10 Fun

While Boar doesn't have special battle bonuses it can make a solid warband very fast. Also, allied animals is a good small defense bonus. So bringing Boar down early is not an easy task. That is the reason why Boar usually takes Legions battle spec. Boar doesn't spend a lot of stone on economy buildings, it rather spends all of it to upgrading barracks. Good Boar usually have 10+10 warriors or even better in FFA. In team games Boar can prepare 16-18 pack to end of 802 and it is dangerous force.

Best game mode - 3v3
Boar needs clearing clan for getting tough spot (or just saving food). Then he can gather crowns right from the game start and prepare a good and big pack of units for an early attack in 802. Even if it doesn't lead to win, Boar can wage long-lasting war. Anyway, Boar is a great choice if you want to win games. In FFA Boar can play defensively trying Lore win, or it can go offensive trying to win with Fame.

My notes
The best clan to start Northgard experience. Also, Boar is the one of top clans in FFA and Teams duo several reasons. Extremely easy to play, but effective. Sad, but it is kinda boring clan without any special mechanics.

VII. Snake

The most harassing clan with a strong chief and fast units. Its army can't compete in face-to-face battle. But Snake can use attack & back tactics constantly to weaken the enemy to make a final blow later. Requires a lot of micro and macro management. One of the hardest clan to play. If used wrong it performs very poorly.

Advantages:

• Snake has the strongest chief after 802 second winter. High resistance (~20), faster movement speed and ranged attack opens a lot of strategic possibilities.
  
• With Leadership, Demonic Frenzy stole lore and Legengary Heroes lore becomes the toughest and the strongest unit in the game. It can kill armies of 10-12 units in solo.
  
• Scorched Earth ability gives a free resource income (usually food). It allows to get krown income right from the start.
  
• A lot of great battle bonuses. Scorched earth gives +50% damage and Guerolla tactics gives +40% for first 5 seconds of the fight. Skirmisher weapon upgrade gives +20% damage. These bonuses are huge if performed good.
  
• Signy has ranged attack so she can clear tiles nearby with hit and run tactic.
  
• Signy and skirmishers have move faster than other units and can go through neutrals without being attacked.
  
• Skirmishers cost less than usual wars.

Weak sides:

• Very annoying clan. Players always refuse to play against Snake.
  
• Extremely hard to master this clan. Player needs to harass with a hero, building eco and using Scorched Earth. One mistake can ruin everything.
  
• Also it requires a lot of actions in battle aspect of the game. Right timing for using Scorched earth. Tanking with Signy to absorb damage, managing army with different army types. Attacking with skirmishers for getting resources and etc.
  
• (FFA) No fame generation gives us only option to win with Domination victory. But despite all efforts Snake can't compete in late game battles even with Legions.
  
• No lore bonuses, but Snake requires a lot of knowledges.
  
• Useless relic.

Resume
10/10 Teams
6/10 FFA
8/10 Difficulty
6/10 Fun

Best game mode - 2v2
Snake can start harassing after first winter. All clans are still gathering strength and this time. Snake's units has fast speed, so they can attack and back with a small chance of being attacked. Enemy needs to convert people for army which hurts its eco. Only a few clans can defend against Snake so early, so enemy needs help from other team member. But snake doesn't go to a fight, it runs towards other weak tile and keeps harassing. Then snake allies come and finish weakened enemies. The smaller the map the easier for snake to harassing it. In FFA Snake get bring 1-2 neighbors down but it can't win with lore/fame and can't compete in late game combats with other late clans. So playing in FFA is not wise, just for fun.

In the last patch devs slightly changed Snake. Now it can get food for free. It means it can send 4 sailord right from the start of the game and start gathering crowns. And then come in 801 with 10-14 skirmishers when noone can do anything.

My notes
One of the greatest clans in team games, but it is usually get banned. Very hard to play. In FFA you kill 2-3 neighbors and die later against other late clans. I never saw Snake wins FFA game.

VIII. Dragon

Late game clan with ultimate combat power. Dragon has the strongest army in the late game. It just wipes army of any size thanks to splash attack. Also clan relic summons strong battle units every year and their amount is not limited. Dragon has some unique gameplay mechanics. The most notable one is ability to get thralls. They give production bonuses. Dragon constantly need to sacrifice his men to gather special resource.

Advantages:

• The strongest army in the game. 12-14 dragonkins with some damage upgrade with 2-3 Jotnars wipe out army any size and quality because of splash attack.
  
• Dragon relic summons a tough Jotnar Draug. It provides a great defensive capability in the early-mid phase of the game. It make clearing of new tiles easier. Finally it gives options for early harassing of the opponent (with +100% damage with lore).
  
• Jotnar Drakonkins can be stacked. Three and more these creatures make Dragon army is almost unstoppable.
  
• You can capture enemy units as thralls. Works extremely good against Jotnar and Dwarfs since they are tough units.
  
• Great 801 Rush potential in Teams games. When you finish relic, take Draug Jotnar plus a few Dragonkins and attack. Very hard to beat it

Weak sides:

• Pro dragon players tell that playing this well is extremely hard task.
  
• Draug Jotnar refreshes one year. So if you lost your pack, you lost it.
  
• Dragon is vulnerable to charge attack kiting. Especially from Ox.
  
• Managing Draconics gauge is annoying sometimes. Also, it is easy to miss it when in combar or other action. Thralls start rebellion and it means the end of your economy, because you won't recover get the same amount of thralls.
  
• (FFA) Only option to win is through domination victory. It requires a lot of time and efforts. Also, fighting with several late clans in a row will definitely weaken your army. The time you scout clans at other map corner, someone is already about to win fame/lore.
  
• (FFA) Extremely vulnerable to attacks in first 10 minutes of the game since it has no barracks. If someone makes deep scoting and Dragon can colonize this tile he has only option to defend with peasants.
  
• In my humble opinion this clan is not fun to play. Army doesn't require a lot of management. We can't attack early, so Dragon waits, waits, waits, converts and goes dominate.

Resume
7/10 Teams
7/10 FFA
8/10 Difficulty
4/10 Fun

Best game mode - 3v3
Dragon is extremely strong in the late game, but usually it wins FFA very rarely. On other hand, even several Dragonkins in a big fight in team game are great tool. So if Dragon can manage its economy to attack in 802-803 with 8-10 Dragonkins and 2 Jotnars with teammates, then it leads to victory usually, since it is stalemate situation. If you focus Dragonkins and they are tough you will be killed by a pack of warriors, but if you attack warriors then after 20 seconds of a fight all your units will be killed from splash damage. Broken clan in my opinion.

My notes
Play this clan if you like to dominate in battles. Not very popular clan right now. Be aware that you can aim only at Domination Victory. Don't take it in FFA if you play games for a victory.

IX. Horse

Clan Champion of previous Northgard meta. Now it is good and fun clan to play.
It is good in everything. It is fun to build economy, fun to fight at all stages of the game. It has different ways to play it and has some really unique clan mechanics. Gameplay is based on warchiefs who are the only unit in the clan who can mine and smith.

Advantages:

• Our chiefs mine, forge and builds. It is the huge boost of economy because Horse can save up productivity of ~4 people through all game.
  
• Horse has 2 chiefs. It gives solid defense and attack capabilities. Horse is stronger than any other clan with same number of warband during early-mid phase of the game.
  
• Horse has 2 relics. Also, there are a lot of good potential combos.
  
• Horse has one of the greatest economy. Improved tools provides 20% bonus and can be forged for all types of workers because Horse has a lot of iron. Also, 15% relic bonus is another great boost. Both bonuses can be unlocked early.
  
• (FFA)Horse can expand fast and safely, so usually it gets access to third stone. Third allows to upgrade a lot of barracks and make army extremely powerful.
  
• All three battle specs are useful.
  
• Great happiness bonus with a special lore.
  
• Very fun clan to play because of chiefs' mechanics.
  
• (FFA) Can win with any victory conditions.

Weak sides:

• No treasure in the start make the game worse, because Horse needs 300 gold for chiefs and 90 for first forge upgrades.
  
• Horse is vulnerable to harassing attacks because if Chiefs defend then they do not work.
  
• Requires high game skill to master this clan.

Resume
8/10 Teams
8/10 FFA
6/10 Difficulty
10/10 Fun

Best game mode - Any
The only clan which shines everywhere.

Horse is very flexible clan. It could put everything eco development and reach 500 fame bonus, make a relic and build Altar in the end of 801. Or it can play more accurate for being ready for an enemy attack while slightly gathering power. Horse is a good option on all game stages.

In team games Horse also usually scouts because of the unit upgrade. In FFA Horse can be a serious threat but usually fades to other late clans. One of the reason that they use Legions battle spec, but it looks average with Horse. Without Leadership our chiefs become just 2 expensive mobs.

My notes
Very strong clan and really funny to play. This is the reason why this clan is an often choice. It is a good choice for newcomers and pro players.

X. Kraken

An interesting clan with some cool mechanics. Kraken has a special resource - Nord. It it positive - is summons popoulation, if it negative then it summons spirit warriors. Spirit warriors are great tanky units. Also they do not count into warband

Advantages:

• Jarl bonus is great in combat. It gives 20% to create ghost warrior upon enemy death, which significantly improve the toughness of your army.
  
• Special bonuses like Valkyrie and Tile Improvement are very good.
  
• Fast and self-healing Valkyrie allows easy clearing.
  
• Unit discount lore with Legions battle spec make Kraken army the cheapest.
  
• Recruitment lore with high Wyrd from buildings allows to make high population in the game. Also, Kraken clan recovers extremely fast after a fight.
  
• Free 3 month-length feast during Kraken event is a great boost of Eco.
  
• Kraken usually gets get an Jotnar ally faster than any others clans.

Weak sides:

• No really effective economic bonuses except +20% fish bonus.
  
• Kraken requires at least 4 upgraded Fishery to make enough food to cover consumption and trading.
  
• Blizzard event at the late game can be devastating for Kraken.
  
• Useless relic.
  
• Kinda passive gameplay.

Resume
8/10 Teams
8/10 FFA
5/10 Difficulty
5/10 Fun

Best game mode - 3v3
Kraken is one of the best mid-game clans. It can make tons of crowns fast to make a big pack of units. Two free Valkyries and a pack of Spirit Warrior make Kraken is very strong at 802. While it still has late potential, it is not so great as other late game clans. So, trying to win in 802-803 is the best for Kraken. Most of 3v3 battles pass at this time.

My notes
Kraken has some unique mechanics and they make playing Kraken differently. It is very versatile clan. It can defeat an opponent early in FFA or can be played defensively aiming for the late game. It fits good to any game. A good clan to play. But a bit boring.

XI. Ox

A clan with interesting concept. Ox has the most expensive chief in the game with ... slightly better stats. It can get new items to pump his strength. All production buildings have only 1 slot for a worker instead of 2, but with better efficiency. It's an advantage and a flaw bad at the same time. Anyway, Ox requires to play completely differently compared to all other clans.

Advantages:

• Extremely fun clan to play.
  
• Great economy bonuses. All workers have 40% bonus production as well as extra bonus from 200 Fame bonus. Finally, City Builder lore gives another +10%.
  
• All units have extra 15% damage/defense for the same price. Defense bonus is very solid.
  
• Extra +2 lore income at the start of the game is a great bonus.
  
• Cheap cost of upgrading barracks.
  
• Ox relic if used right can win unwinnable fights.
  
• (FFA)Warcraft lore provides a great boost of Lore and Fame.
  
• (FFA)Can win with all victory types.

Weak sides:

• Extremely vulnerable to early enemy aggression because Ox usually doesn't have space to build enough barracks.
  
• Ox extremely depends on map generation. If player has only 1 food at starting areas or there is no second stone at second row tiles then it will be GG for Ox.
  
• Low population, no happiness bonuses and absence of Recruitment skill make OX vulnerable to long lasting wars.
  
• Chief is inexplicably expensive.
  
• If player loses Thorfin usually it means GG. And it can be get lost easily.
  
• Requires a good understanding of the combat and a lot of micromanagement to be effective.
  
• Although Ox is a late game clan it is not strong enough to beat other late game clans.
  
• Long cooldowns of chief abilities.

Resume
7/10 Teams
6/10 FFA
8/10 Difficulty
9/10 Fun

Best game mode - 3v3
Ox is often choice in FFA, but for some reason it wins FFA rarely because it loses to other late game clans like Lion, Rat and even Stag. So, I think it fits better in Team games. Ox units with Leadership can be extremely tough. Also Torfin can absorb tons of damage during relic active ability for 6 seconds while allies wipe enemy armies. On other hand, it requires time to get the chief, get tiles, place barracks and gather warband, so Ox in Teams is vulnerable to 801 rushes. In overall, it is a strong mid game option.

My notes
In my opinion, Ox clan is the most fun clan to play. Have some really cool mechanics. Gameplay style is different from other clans. So, it requires a lot of games on Ox to understand how to play it. Finally, in my humble opinion Ox is weak at the current patch. It requires many factors went well. And there are just better clans for any purposes. Anyway, this clan is not for noobs.

XII. Lynx

"Hunting" clan. Kill tons of neutrals to gather special resources and spend it on special upgrades. These upgrades replace Battle specs. So, it is not a bonus. It is just different. Lynx has 2 special battle units which can clear and scout tiles. While this clan is fun to play, it can't bring too much on the table. Also, it is decently hard to play.

Advantages:

• Lynx is a Clearer clan.
  
• Oskoreia ability is great. It summons 6 units for some time which are good tanks. Also, the last battle lore gives 3 animals as permanent companions.
  
• Tracker unit has good range and high dps.
  
• Fun to play.
  
• With proper micromanagement it can dominate in battles at 802-803 years.

Weak sides:

• Lynx doesn't have battle specs. They have hunting bonuses instead. And they are not good enough.
  
• Oskoreia ability has short time duration and can be easily neglected.
  
• No economy bonuses.
  
• Mythical lure provides hunting trophies income but in some cases it can work against the player.
  
• Chief is weak, slow and easily die.
  
• Trackers and lynxes units are fragile.
  
• Relic ability has not enough utility.
  
• (FFA) Absence of animals at starting zones makes starting game for Lynx as hell.

Resume
7/10 Teams
5/10 FFA
9/10 Difficulty
8/10 Fun

Best game mode - 3v3
Lynx is a bad choice for FFA. It needs a lot of animals but there could be only draugs. It doesn't have economy bonuses, so it can't compete with late game clans. Finally, all Lynx units are too fragile, so can be easily swarmed by any other clan. On other hand, Lynx has potential in Team games. It can deal good damage while allies fight at frontline. Also Lynx clears tiles and makes feasts.

My notes
Lynx is fun to play, but it is weak at the current patch. I never saw it wins FFA and this is rare choice in Team games, because Eagle/Wolf is just better.

XIII. Squirell

Funny clan with interesting mechanics. It has production bonuses during last 2 autumn months. Also, it has access to unique Meals mechanics. It requires special resources to make powerful and different temporarily bonuses. On other hand, Squirrel has the weakest army in the game. But it is wonderful in defense anyway.

Advantages:

• Highest population recovery in the game. It can use villagers as a meat shield, and new villagers will arrive extremely fast.
  
• Squirrel has a strong relic. It increases defense capabilities a lot and gives small economy bonuses.
  
• Can mine and forge relic fast thanks to special meals.
  
• Guardian Squirrel is the most unbreakable clan in the game. It requires great army, good tactics skills and gold/pop reserves to bring Squirrel down. So, basically nobody attacks Squirrel.
  
• Meat mechanics is a great benefit. Especially in Team games.
  
• Can get reputation with neutrals very fast.
  
• Squirrel has good economy. It usually have plenty of every resource.
  
• Fun to play thanks to special mechanics.

Weak sides:

• No Weaponsmith lore (+20% damage). It makes Squirrel clan poor in combat.
  
• Meat mechanics makes playing this clan really complicated. So, it requires good playing skills.
  
• New patch reduced effiency of Meals, so Squirrel is not so great in Teams now.
  
• (FFA) Squirrel doesn't usually win or lose FFA games.

Resume
6/10 Teams
7/10 FFA
10/10 Difficulty
8/10 Fun

Best game mode - 4v4
Squirrel can't make feasts, but can receive bonuses from it. Also, it can give Meals to whole team. So, this clan is designed for Team games. In combat this clan has supportive role. Squirrel can make a lot of crowns and make a big army, but this army is weak.

My notes
The most supportive clan in the game. Also, it is the most defensive clan. Squirrel is fun and hard to play. So, experienced players may find it awesome, while new players will find this too complicated and useless. The clan is complicated and Meal ally bonus was reduced in the last patch, so Squirrel is a rare choice in any game now.

XIV. Rat

Very interesting clan. It doesn't have access to feasts, but it has similar Overwork mechanics which boosts and hurts people. Also they have special battle unit, Shaman, which acts as portable version of a healer. So, most of the time we hurt our people and then heal them back. Rat has strong economy and it is great in combat. But this clan is very hard and strange to play.

Advantages:

• Highest population among viking clans in the game because wounded units do not consume happiness points.
  
• Rat army beats anything in the late game except Dragon army. Rat is the only clan which can make 40+ warband in ranked games.
  
• Relic special unit is extremely tough unit which is great for offensive and defensive tasks.
  
• Shaman is a great supportive unit. It decrease enemy armor and heal allies.
  
• Rat army is the cheapest in the game because of 30% discount lore and 25% discount from Legions battle spec.
  
• Overcrowding lore allows to make super economy. Super mega trade hub with 12 merchants and +80% crowns income is super great.
  
• Overwork instead of Feasts is a great boost of economy if used well.
  
• 200 fame bonus for reducing eat consumption is really good.

Weak sides:

• Rat clan requires a lot of actions to manage it properly. So if Rat gets attacked during first 2 years, usually it can't manage economy and fighting at the same time.
  
• Also mechanics of hurting people is so not intuitive, so it feels strange playing it.
  
• (FFA) Lore bonus is not enough and there is no Fame bonuses. So, usually Rat can win only through Domination victory which happens rarely.

Resume
8/10 Teams
9/10 FFA
9/10 Difficulty
6/10 Fun

Best game mode - 3v3
Rat can't win with Fame/Lore, so it wins FFA not often despite the fact it has a super strong army. So, Team games are more suitable for Rat. Also, Rat can't make feasts but can get feast bonuses which is another reason to play Team games. Finally, Shamans are strong supportive units which boost overall team strength. Relic Big Rat also is a great addition in Team Fights.

On other hand, Rat dominates in the late FFA game. It can easiliy make 25+ wb of shamans with 100+ hp each. And even if it loses everything it can make it again and again. The problem what it can win with domination only while there are always Stags and Horses which can win with Fame sneakily.

My notes
Rat is underrated clan. Low amount of players use it. Only a few of them know to play it. This clan is extremely strong at the mid-late game, but it is hard to manage it well. I can recommend this clan to true strategy veterans.

XV. Eagle

The best offensive clan in the game right now. Very strong especially, first 2 game years. It can heal its army using Hawks. Also, it can explore all treasures outside of its territory. It gives tons of crowns and a lot of stone/iron/wood. All of this strongly boosts starting economy. With big crown stocks Eagle can gather serious army fast and bring passive player down. Finally, it has good potential in mid-late game.

Advantages:

• Best Clearer clan in the game now.
  
• Clan specials allow to gather a lot of resources very fast. This can boost starting economy or gather a strong warband to bring a neighbor down.
  
• Army gets free heals after killing an enemy. This bonus is one of the best combat bonuses in the game.
  
• Great 200 Fame bonuses. One is reducing food consumption for battle units and scouts by extra 30%. Another is allowing expand zones with food.
  
• 500 Fame bonus provides a huge one time resource bonus.
  
• Eagle has access to +15% production bonus.
  
• Strategic initiative. Eagle keeps in fear all neighbors.

Weak sides:

• No real weaknesses. Slightly fades in the late game, but it can win with Fame/Lore.
  
• High skill cap. Player need to build the base, managing falconers and fighting non-stop.
  
• Average relic with questionable efficiency.

Resume
9/10 Teams
6/10 FFA
9/10 Difficulty
8/10 Fun

Best game mode - 3v3
Eagle is a strong power in Teams. It can start clearing very early with 2 axes adding a chief later. It boosts its economy with treasures. Usually there is a lot of them. Stock gold allows to buy army earlier and start pressuring the enemy. In FFA it can easily bring neighbors down even Guardians. And be a threat in the late game with well made economy.

My notes
Eagle clan requires a lot of actions per minute. So high skill is required. It fights, develop and scouts at the same time. Very desirable ally in Team games. Interesting to play. So take it if you like active gameplay.

XVI. Lion

Lion introduces Kingdom clans mechanics. It differs a lot from Viking clans. Main features alow to have 4-10 workers in one biulding. Kingdom clans have some really cool features and depend less on map generation. Lion also can convert warband with Lore. This is really great feature in the late game.

Advantages:

• Converting with Lore is a great option because Monk has 3.0 base production while Merchant has 2.0 base only.
  
• Extreme Lore production after Monastery construction. Monk receive +10% bonus from Lore stone. With 15% Smithy bonus and 15% Prosperity bonus you can raise Monk production to 4.2 (without relic). Also, Relic adds another 25% bonus Usually, it means that your Lore stocks never end in the late game.
  
• Zone with Smithy and High Livability provide +5% attack and 5% defense bonus (2x with Legions) to battle units. This bonus is super huge.
  
• Gather free Lore when killing units with alive Chief. Small pleasant bonus.
  
• Lion has a special lore which allows to trigger all military weapon upgrades more often.
  
• A pack of Fantassins (Tanky units) with Legions and 7 upgraded zones is extremely tanky and hard to beat.
  
• Villagers are healed for free in the main tile.
  
• Can upgrade building without upgrading main.
  
• Lion has other combat option - Champions. They deal low but area splash damage.
  
• Has access to 4 different relics. Two of them are very useful.
  
• Do no depend on Map generation.

Weak sides:

• Can't really fight early. So, if Lion gets attacked before the end 801, it can do almost nothing.
  
• Lion is a bad scout because upg. requires upgrading of main building which player usually do no need (or needed something else).
  
• Can't us Lore stones. So, it cant get spirit warriors and Lore bonus from Mimisbrun.
  
• In humble opinion all Lion games are the same because of map generation affect nothing. You do same build order and lore order in all games, so you get bored very fast playing for this clan.

Resume
7/10 Teams
9/10 FFA
6/10 Difficulty
6/10 Fun

Best game mode - FFA
Lion has almost unfinished Lore reservs after 803 year. If other clans should bring pop from crown income to sustain army, Lion have no problem with it. So, if you won't kill Lion won't kill Lion in 1-2 battle - you won't kill it at all. Also, Lion gets significantly stronger with each new tile improved, so basically you don't want to play against Lion in the end. You just can't win it.

So in Teams games, play Lion if you know they won't rush you. In FFA you can take this clan if there is no Stags presented.

My notes
Interesting clan to play. Has great late game potential but extremely weak in the start. Fantassin army the toughest army among all clans. While Champions pack can wipe bug armies fast. The main flaw of this clan is identical gameplay each new game.

XVII. Stoat

A Kingdom clan with some unintuitive mechanics. It can turn tiles into Duchies. Villagers in duchies give less resources but do not count to population limit. As result it has the highest population among all clans. Stoat army contains large amounts of non-improved different units. Finally, Stoat has a special Lore which give +0.25 crown income per villagers. It gives high crown boost.

Advantages:

• Highest population in the game. Playing as Stoat it is easy to get 70+ people.
  
• High pop and Lord in each zone make Guardian Stoat nearly impossible to break.
  
• Duchies after certain point provide good economic boosts.
  
• Levies can benefit allies.
  
• High passive crown income.
  
• One of the best clans to get reputation with netrals (thanks to 10-12 merchants).
  
• Stoat can maintain extremely long-wasting wars thanks to cuches. He can make several converts until he will be completely wasted.
  
• Fresh approach on usual Northgard gameplay.
  
• Can use Viking Lore stones and Relics. Mjollnir seems as a good option for Stoat.

Weak sides:

• Completely unintuitive mechanics of Duchies. Hard to understand how to play with this clan properly.
  
• Stoat army do not receive great upgrading bonuses (like Lion). So Legions battle spec work bad with it. It means Stoat army is big but of low quality.
  
• Hard to manage everything. Super hard.
  
• Like others economy clans, Stoat is extremely vulnerable to attacks in 801.

Resume
6/10 Teams
7/10 FFA
8/10 Difficulty
5/10 -> 8/10 Fun

Best game mode - FFA
I think FFA is the best option because Guardian Stoat is unbreakable. So he can sit till the end and gather crowns or he can try to win with Wisdom. In Teams Stoat can provide Levies bonuses while he receives Feast bonuses.

I have played several games as Stoat and I am not really sure I understood what strong sides it has. It feels like an average clan but different. Also, almost nobody play as Stoat in Teams. So, I think other player did not get this clan as well.

Update. I played more Stoat games. I find this clan still super difficult to manage. And even you make everything right it feels weaker than Lion clan. But new mechanics really make it fun.

My notes
Stoat gameplay differs a lot from other clans. It makes playing this clan kinda fresh. On other hand, this clan do not have great powers except of high pop and great defense capabilities. These Features make Stoat a good option in FFA.

XVIII. Owl

Didn't play this game clan yet. But I played a lot of games with it. It performs well in Team games. Can be a threat in FFA games, but it still loses to Late clans.

Also, usually all new clans are overpowered. And they will be nerfed later. So, I will add info about later.

Final Word

Thanks for reading it.
Any feedback will be appreciated.
Guide was written in December 2022 - January 2024, so some blocks can be outdated.
Feel free to point me any mistakes, so I could improve it.

Finally, I can take a break from Northward, because I really tired of technical issues in multiplayer and server.

Have a good game!

[Ahlen]

Thanks for the summary, it helps a lot in overall understanding of each tribe :)

[Rainy]

Good guide. Well written !

[TANNIXZ]

Just started this game and I'm new to the genre. This was an insanely helpful breakdown! Thank you for the work and detail that you put into this. Extremely helpful!

[Rurik]

@#1 Bear
801 is the first yeat of the game (furst 12 minutes of the game)
802 is the second (12 to 24 minutes) and etc.

usually. 801 means early game. Making economy.
In 802-803 everybody starts fighting.

[#1 Bear]

what do you mean when you say 802 or 803

[Water.BLUE]

fair fair. if you got the time, id love to see your take on them, even without a rating. i personally am mostly playing with friends, so i dont care much about meta exploiting, im just interested on how to have the most fun and unique experience per clan.

already gotta say that i really enjoy your review since it doesnt just read like a tier list. i try to avoid that kinda ranking cause i think it can ruin the fun of a game.

[Rurik]

@Water.BLUE there werent such clans when I made this review)
I recently played 30 matches and saw hound only 1 time. Can't tell much.

[Water.BLUE]

What about Garm/Hounds?

[EYPI]

its still viable tier list?

[Rurik]

Only Horse can upgrade tower twice. But in the most games this bonus is kinda useless.