Vikings: War of Clans is a free-to-play mobile strategy game developed by Plarium Global Ltd where players take control of a Viking clan and build settlements, train troops, and go to war against rivals across Norse-inspired territories. With over 100 million downloads since its release in 2017, it has become one of the most popular mobile games in the strategy genre. Let’s take a closer look at some of the key features and gameplay mechanics that have made Vikings: War of Clans so addictive for millions of players worldwide.
- Genre: Real-time online multiplayer strategic game
- Developer: Plarium
- Game Mode: Multiplayer video game
- Platforms: Android, Web Browser, iOS
- Publisher: Plarium
- Initial release date: August 10, 2015
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/VikingsWarOfClans/
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/vikingswarofclans/
- X: twitter.com/vikings_game
System Requirements
- OS : Windows 8 and later (64-bit only) | macOS Catalina and later
- Processor: Intel Core i3 / AMD Athlon
- Graphics: Intel / AMD Radeon / Nvidia GeForce
- Memory: 4GB RAM
- DirectX: Version 11
- Storage: 500 MB
- OS: Windows 8 and later (64-bit only) | macOS Catalina and later
- Processor: Intel Core i5 / AMD Ryzen 5
- Graphics: Intel / AMD Radeon / Nvidia GeForce
- Memory: 8GB RAM
- DirectX: Version 11
- Storage: 500 MB
Territory Structure and Settlement Building
In Vikings: War of Clans, players start by selecting a territory to build their clan’s first settlement. Territories are vast maps divided into hundreds of individual tiles that gradually expand outwards as the settlement grows in size and population. Different terrain types like forests, mountains, and coastlines are represented for resource gathering and troop movement.
The core of any clan’s territory is their Town Center, the towering mead hall where the Jarl (leader) resides. From here, players can assign villagers and troops to gather resources, research new upgrades, craft weapons and armor, and more. Other building types include Farms to produce food, Lumber Mills for wood, Stone Mines, and Smelters. Building and upgrading structures requires resources as well as time, adding strategic elements to when and where players choose to expand their territory.
Gathering Resources and Training Troops
Four primary resources sustain any thriving Viking settlement – wood, stone, food, and gold (the in-game currency). Players send villagers from their Town Center out into tiles to continuously gather these resources which are stored in warehouses. Resources are necessary to construct and upgrade buildings, research new technologies, and train units for battle.
There are five tiers of both infantry and cavalry units to recruit and level up like Axeman, Shieldmaiden, Raiders and Berserkers. Stronghold levels and unlocking new armor/weapon types allow for stronger troops. Leading armies into battle earns experience points to level up individual units as well as generate loot from defeated enemies.
Quests, Raiding, and Player Versus Player Battles
In addition to developing one’s territory, players can undertake quests to earn bonuses and exclusive rewards. Raiding neutral tiles and other player settlements is a core part of the game, sending troops to pillage resources with the aim of taking over the tile. Stronger players can join Alliance groups for protection and assist each other during raids as well.
There are also 2v2 and 3v3 Arenas to test skills in epic real-time PvP combat. Alliance vs Alliance Sieges involve up to 50 players per side in gigantic territorial clashes. Defending resources and demolishing enemy structures requires strategic troop placement and tactical battles across multiple control points on the field.
Technology Trees and Special Units
Research is a big part of long-term progression in Vikings: War of Clans. Three tech trees covering units, defenses, and economy can be researched using resources and time. Unlocking the next tiers gives access to more advanced units like War Elephants, Catapults and Ballistas, as well as building upgrades.
Special Units in the game introduce alternative troop types like Healers for support roles on the battlefield. Heroes are also a type of legendary fighters that can be unlocked, levelled up and equipped with legendary gear sets providing unique bonuses to armies. Altar levels raise the clan’s might, allowing higher level opponents to be attacked.
Social Systems and clan Guild Features
Strong social bonds and alliances are core for success in Vikings: War of Clans. A global in-game chat system allows communication between all players regardless of different spoken languages through a single translated UI. Players can join or create their own clan Guilds for collaboration – coordinating attacks, sharing strategies and motivating each other.
Guilds have their own internal ranking system from Officers down to new Recruits, with perks and privileges tied to ranks like sharing tech trees or sending mass messages. Higher level Guild Halls provide bonuses too – boosting member stats for different activities. Events exclusive to paying “VIP” members also introduce prestigious cosmetic awards.
Monetization and In-App Purchases
While entirely possible to progress significantly as a free-to-play user in Vikings: War of Clans through long-term dedicated gameplay, the game’s profitability relies on enticing spending through in-app purchases. Resources can be instantly gathered in bulk using the in-game store currency of gems. Powerful items and bundles providing immediate boosts are regularly advertised.
In various packs, players can also obtain Runestones unlocking permanent stat bonuses across multiple areas. Premium VIP monthly subscriptions introduce “accelerated” features like instant building and research times. Players are constantly encouraged to spend for competitive advantages like purchasing the latest hero unlock or siege defense lineup.
Ongoing Development and Expanding World
Although first released in 2017, Plarium has consistently supported Vikings: War of Clans with major expansions and new content updates around every 2 months. New territories, units, heroes, and seasonal events are added regularly to drive player retention. Siege weaponry has evolved drastically from basic catapults to advanced scorpio ballistae.
Key milestones for the game have included new Guild systems, Alliance vs Alliance sieges, and clan level caps raised to 30 alongside Max Town Hall 20. A visual redesign in late 2019 modernized core gameplay aesthetics. With consistent support and compelling strategy/social dynamics, Vikings: War of Clans continues captivating global audiences of over 100 million players in its still expanding Viking world.
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