The Vikings are a combat-focused civilization in Rise of Kingdoms designed primarily for Infantry players, counterattack pressure, sustained PvP fighting, and defensive roles.
Their civilization bonuses provide 5% Infantry Attack, 3% Counterattack Damage, and 10% Troop Load. Vikings also unlock Bjorn Ironside as their starting commander and replace standard high-tier Infantry with the Berserker and Elite Berserker special units.
Vikings can be powerful, but they are not automatically the best civilization for every account. New players focused on fast development may get more value from an economic civilization, while established Infantry fighters and defensive players can make much better use of the Viking combat bonuses.
Choose Vikings primarily for Infantry combat and the 3% Counterattack Damage bonus. The civilization is especially interesting for active fighters and defensive roles, but its bonuses provide less account-development value than civilizations built around construction, research, troop training, or Action Point recovery.
Are Vikings Good in Rise of Kingdoms?
Yes. Vikings are a strong specialized civilization, particularly for Infantry-focused players who spend a large amount of time fighting.
A current community civilization tier list places Vikings in S tier specifically for defending. That does not mean Vikings are universally the best civilization. Civilization choice should depend on your role, troop focus, account progression, and how much time you spend fighting.
| Player Type | Vikings Recommendation | Why |
| Infantry-focused PvP player | Strong choice | 5% Infantry Attack directly improves Infantry damage. |
| Defensive or swarm-heavy fighter | Strong choice | 3% Counterattack Damage becomes useful when enemies repeatedly attack your march or structure. |
| Garrison-focused player | Situationally strong | Counterattack pressure can provide value when defending against multiple attackers. |
| New account focused on growth | Usually not first priority | Vikings lack construction, research, troop-training, or Action Point recovery bonuses. |
| Cavalry or Archer main | Usually choose another civilization | The 5% troop-specific combat bonus applies to Infantry. |
| Gatherer or farm account | Low priority | 10% Troop Load helps resource hauling but does not improve gathering speed. |
Vikings Civilization Bonuses
Choosing Vikings gives your account three permanent civilization bonuses while Vikings remain your active civilization.
| Bonus | Amount | Best Use |
| Infantry Attack | +5% | Infantry marches, open field, rallies, and defensive combat |
| Counterattack Damage | +3% | Sustained combat, swarms, and defensive situations |
| Troop Load | +10% | Resource hauling, gathering returns, and city looting |
5% Infantry Attack
The 5% Infantry Attack bonus is straightforward: Infantry units deal more damage because their Attack stat is increased.
It is useful for:
- Infantry open-field marches.
- Infantry rallies.
- Infantry garrisons.
- Ark of Osiris fighting.
- Kingdom versus Kingdom combat.
However, Infantry survivability often benefits heavily from Health and Defense as well. The Viking bonus therefore should not be interpreted as automatically making Viking Infantry superior to every other civilization’s Infantry in every scenario.
3% Counterattack Damage
This is arguably the most distinctive Viking civilization bonus.
When an enemy attacks one of your marches, your troops retaliate through counterattacks. Vikings increase that counterattack damage by 3%.
The bonus becomes more valuable when:
- Your march is being actively targeted.
- Multiple enemies are attacking the same march.
- You are defending an objective.
- You are participating in sustained close-range combat.
- Your commander pairing already benefits from counterattack mechanics.
It provides much less value when enemies are not attacking you.
That distinction is important. A 3% Counterattack Damage bonus is not the same as 3% universal damage.
10% Troop Load
Troop Load determines how many resources an army can carry.
The Viking 10% bonus can help when:
- Collecting resources from gathering points.
- Looting defeated cities.
- Carrying resources with smaller armies.
However, it does not increase gathering speed.
For a dedicated farm account, a civilization with an actual gathering-speed bonus can therefore provide more meaningful economic value.
Berserker: Vikings Special Infantry Unit
The Vikings’ special unit is the Berserker.
Vikings receive:
- Berserker as their Tier 4 special Infantry.
- Elite Berserker as their Tier 5 special Infantry.
Their stat distribution emphasizes Defense and Health compared with standard Infantry units.
| Unit | Tier | Attack | Defense | Health | Speed | Load |
| Berserker | T4 | 192 | 197 | 192 | Slow | 13 |
| Elite Berserker | T5 | 221 | 216 | 222 | Very Slow | 15 |
How Berserkers Compare With Standard Infantry
A standard T4 Long Swordsman has 192 Attack, 192 Defense, and 187 Health.
The Viking T4 Berserker instead has:
- The same 192 Attack.
- 5 more Defense.
- 5 more Health.
A standard T5 Royal Guard has 220 Attack, 212 Defense, and 216 Health.
The Elite Berserker has:
- 221 Attack.
- 216 Defense.
- 222 Health.
That gives the Elite Berserker a more durable stat profile than the standard T5 Infantry unit.
The important point is that Berserkers do not possess a separate active “special ability.” Their advantage comes from their unit statistics combined with the Viking civilization bonuses.
Are Vikings Good for Beginners?
Vikings are playable for beginners, especially if you specifically want Bjorn Ironside and an Infantry-focused start.
However, they are generally not the strongest civilization for maximizing early account development.
New accounts spend enormous amounts of time:
- Constructing buildings.
- Researching technology.
- Training troops.
- Killing barbarians.
- Spending Action Points.
- Developing commanders.
The Viking bonuses provide almost no acceleration for those activities.
A civilization such as China can provide greater early-development value through Building Speed and Action Point Recovery, while Germany becomes attractive for long-term Troop Training Speed and Action Point Recovery.
Vikings become more attractive once combat performance matters more than development speed.
For a complete early progression plan, see the Rise of Kingdoms beginner’s guide.
When Should You Switch to Vikings?
There is no single kingdom day or City Hall level when every player should change to Vikings.
Instead, consider Vikings when:
- Your main troop type is Infantry.
- Your account is already well developed.
- You spend significant time fighting in KvK.
- You frequently participate in Ark of Osiris.
- You serve in defensive roles.
- You expect your marches or structures to be swarmed.
- Combat bonuses now matter more than Building Speed, Research Speed, or Troop Training Speed.
Stay with a growth-focused civilization longer if major buildings, technology, troop development, or account progression are still your primary bottlenecks.
Vikings vs Other Civilizations
Vikings are not competing only against other Infantry civilizations. The correct civilization depends on what your account needs most.
| Civilization | Important Bonuses | Best Fit | Compared With Vikings |
| Vikings | 5% Infantry Attack, 3% Counterattack Damage, 10% Troop Load | Infantry combat and defensive pressure | Best when direct fighting is the priority. |
| France | 3% Troop Health, 20% Hospital Healing Speed, 10% Wood Gathering Speed | Heavy field fighting and healing efficiency | Health affects all troop types and faster healing can be extremely valuable during KvK. |
| Rome | 5% Infantry Defense, 5% March Speed, 10% Food Gathering Speed | Infantry durability and mobility | Trades Viking Attack and counterattack pressure for Defense and March Speed. |
| China | 3% Troop Defense, 5% Action Point Recovery, 5% Building Speed | Early account development | Usually provides more value while major construction is unfinished. |
| Germany | 5% Cavalry Attack, 5% Troop Training Speed, 10% Action Point Recovery | Long-term training and activity | Better general account efficiency if Infantry combat is not your main priority. |
Civilization choice should support your account rather than simply follow a tier list. A specialized S-tier civilization for one role can still be worse for you than an A-tier civilization that improves something you use every day.
Vikings Starting Commander: Bjorn Ironside
Choosing Vikings as your starting civilization gives you Bjorn Ironside as your starting commander.
Bjorn is an Epic commander with:
- Infantry talents.
- Conquering talents.
- Skill talents.
He is particularly useful during early kingdom progression because Epic commander sculptures are much easier to obtain than Legendary sculptures.
Why Bjorn Is Good for New Players
Bjorn’s expertise improves his active skill so the target and up to two nearby enemies take increased skill damage for three seconds.
That creates an especially useful early-game combination with commanders who can fire a strong active skill immediately after Bjorn.
One of the classic examples is:
- Bjorn Ironside primary
- Sun Tzu secondary
Bjorn applies the increased skill-damage debuff, then Sun Tzu can take advantage of it with his own active skill.
Bjorn is therefore one of the better reasons a new Infantry-focused player might intentionally start as Vikings even if the civilization’s economic bonuses are not optimal.
Is Ragnar Lodbrok the Vikings Starting Commander?
No.
Classic Ragnar Lodbrok is a Legendary Viking commander, but choosing the Viking civilization does not automatically unlock Ragnar.
The actual starting commander is Bjorn Ironside.
Classic Ragnar has Leadership, Conquering, and Attack talent trees and is built primarily around troop buffs, normal attacks, and conquering rather than AOE active-skill damage.
The old claim that Ragnar provides powerful AOE damage is incorrect.
What About Prime Ragnar Lodbrok?
Rise of Kingdoms now also has a separate commander called Ragnar Lodbrok Prime.
Prime Ragnar is a Legendary Infantry commander with Infantry, Versatility, and Skill talent trees. He is completely separate from classic Ragnar Lodbrok and should not be confused with the original Legendary version.
Prime Ragnar is also not granted simply by choosing the Viking civilization.
For current commander investment decisions, compare your available options using the Rise of Kingdoms commander tier list rather than assuming every Viking-themed commander should be paired together.
Planning an Infantry-focused account? Civilization choice is only one part of a strong Rise of Kingdoms setup. Commander expertise, equipment, armaments, technology, resources, migration status, and troop development matter much more than a single civilization bonus. Players comparing Rise of Kingdoms accounts for sale should evaluate the complete Infantry roster and account progression rather than choosing an account only because it currently uses Vikings.
Best Viking Civilization Playstyle
Vikings reward players who actively fight rather than players who remain focused primarily on city development.
Use Infantry as Your Main Combat Type
The 5% Infantry Attack bonus only improves Infantry.
If your strongest marches are Cavalry or Archers, part of the civilization’s permanent combat value is being wasted.
Vikings therefore make the most sense when at least one of your most important marches is Infantry-focused.
Take Advantage of Counterattacks
The 3% Counterattack Damage bonus rewards situations where opponents attack you.
This includes:
- Being focused in open field.
- Holding important positions.
- Defending structures.
- Fighting in crowded Ark of Osiris engagements.
- Being swarmed during KvK.
It is much less important when your march is constantly attacking opponents that never retaliate.
Do Not Overvalue Troop Load
The 10% Troop Load bonus is convenient, but it should rarely determine your civilization by itself.
Troop Load does not:
- Increase gathering speed.
- Increase resource production.
- Increase combat damage.
- Increase troop training speed.
Think of it as an additional utility bonus rather than the main reason to choose Vikings.
Match Vikings With the Right Infantry Commanders
The civilization bonus applies to Infantry regardless of which Infantry commanders you use.
You do not need to use Bjorn, Ragnar, or another Viking-themed commander simply because your civilization is Vikings.
Your best Infantry march should be based on:
- Current commander strength.
- Skill levels and expertise.
- Equipment.
- Armaments and inscriptions.
- Formation.
- Your combat role.
Civilization theme does not create an additional hidden pairing bonus.
Vikings Strengths and Weaknesses
| Strengths | Weaknesses |
| 5% Infantry Attack | Attack bonus does not help Cavalry or Archers |
| 3% Counterattack Damage | Counterattack bonus provides limited value when enemies are not attacking you |
| Durable Berserker special Infantry | Special units matter most after higher troop tiers are unlocked |
| Good fit for defensive and swarm-heavy combat | No Building Speed bonus |
| Bjorn Ironside is a strong early Epic starting commander | No Research Speed bonus |
| 10% extra Troop Load | Troop Load does not increase gathering speed |
| Strong identity for Infantry PvP accounts | Less efficient for players who rarely fight |
Common Vikings Civilization Mistakes
- Calling Vikings the best civilization for everyone: Civilization strength depends on account stage and player role.
- Using Vikings on a Cavalry or Archer-focused account: The 5% Infantry Attack bonus is then largely wasted.
- Calling 3% Counterattack Damage a universal damage bonus: It specifically improves counterattacks.
- Saying Troop Load increases gathering speed: It only increases how much an army can carry.
- Calling Berserkers a special unit with a unique active ability: Their advantage comes from their unit stat distribution.
- Saying Elite Berserkers only have high Health: They have a balanced durable distribution with 221 Attack, 216 Defense, and 222 Health.
- Saying Ragnar is the Viking starting commander: Bjorn Ironside is the actual starting commander.
- Claiming classic Ragnar deals AOE active-skill damage: His classic kit does not work that way.
- Confusing Ragnar Lodbrok with Ragnar Lodbrok Prime: They are separate commanders.
- Choosing Vikings just because you use Viking-themed commanders: Commander nationality does not create an extra civilization synergy.
- Switching away from growth bonuses too early: Construction, research, training, and Action Point bonuses can be more valuable on developing accounts.
- Choosing a civilization based only on a tier list: Your actual role should determine the best civilization.
FAQ
Are Vikings good in Rise of Kingdoms?
Yes. Vikings are particularly strong for Infantry-focused PvP players and defensive situations because they provide 5% Infantry Attack and 3% Counterattack Damage.
What are the Vikings civilization bonuses?
Vikings provide 5% Infantry Attack, 3% Counterattack Damage, and 10% Troop Load.
What is the Vikings special unit?
The special Infantry unit is the Berserker at Tier 4 and Elite Berserker at Tier 5.
What are the Elite Berserker stats?
Elite Berserkers have 221 Attack, 216 Defense, and 222 Health, with Very Slow movement speed and 15 Load.
Who is the Vikings starting commander?
Bjorn Ironside is the starting commander for the Viking civilization.
Is Bjorn Ironside good for beginners?
Yes. Bjorn is an accessible Epic Infantry commander who performs well during early kingdom progression. His active skill also creates useful synergy with skill-damage secondary commanders such as Sun Tzu.
Do Vikings unlock Ragnar Lodbrok?
No. Choosing Vikings grants Bjorn Ironside as the starting commander. Ragnar Lodbrok is a separate Legendary commander.
Is Ragnar Lodbrok Prime the same as Ragnar Lodbrok?
No. Classic Ragnar Lodbrok and Ragnar Lodbrok Prime are separate Legendary commanders with different skills and talent trees.
Are Vikings good for new players?
They are viable, particularly for players who want Bjorn and plan to focus on Infantry. However, civilizations with Building Speed, Research Speed, Troop Training Speed, or Action Point bonuses can accelerate early account development more efficiently.
Are Vikings better than France for Infantry?
It depends on your goal. Vikings provide Infantry Attack and Counterattack Damage, while France provides universal Troop Health and faster hospital healing. Heavy field fighters may prefer France’s healing efficiency, while specialized defensive Infantry players may prefer Vikings.
Are Vikings good for garrison defense?
They can be useful for defensive players because Counterattack Damage becomes valuable when a structure or march is repeatedly attacked. The best civilization still depends on the garrison commander, troop type, and exact defensive role.
When should I switch to Vikings?
Consider switching when your account is developed, Infantry is one of your main troop types, and PvP or defensive performance matters more than economic growth bonuses.
Does Viking Troop Load increase gathering speed?
No. It increases the amount of resources your troops can carry, not the speed at which they gather resources.
Conclusion
Vikings are one of Rise of Kingdoms’ more specialized combat civilizations.
Their 5% Infantry Attack supports Infantry-focused marches, while the 3% Counterattack Damage bonus becomes especially valuable when enemies actively attack or swarm you. The 10% Troop Load bonus provides some additional economic convenience but should not be confused with a gathering-speed increase.
Berserkers also reinforce the civilization’s Infantry identity. T4 Berserkers provide additional Defense and Health compared with standard Infantry, while Elite Berserkers combine 221 Attack, 216 Defense, and 222 Health.
Bjorn Ironside is another advantage for players who begin as Vikings. He is a useful early Epic Infantry commander and can form effective beginner combinations without requiring expensive Legendary sculptures.
Vikings are less compelling for players still prioritizing construction, research, troop training, or general account growth. In those situations, a development-focused civilization can provide more value.
Once your account shifts toward sustained Infantry PvP, defensive fighting, and KvK participation, Vikings become much easier to justify.
Explore more civilization advice, commander guides, KvK strategy, and account progression content in the Heaven Guardian Rise of Kingdoms guide collection.
