Viking overview (AoE2) - updated for 2023

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1:08 Team bonus
1:20 Warships discounted
2:32 Infantry +20% HP
3:38 Wheelbarrow and Hand Cart free
5:05 Longboat
7:55 Berserk
10:20 Unique techs
TECH TREE
12:25 Archers B
12:48 Infantry A-
13:20 Cavalry C+
13:42 Siege B
13:58 Navy A
14:31 Monks C-
14:50 Defenses B+
15:13 Trash units C+
15:45 Strategies
16:30 Sponsor
Previous Viking overview from 2015: • Vikings Overview AoE2
___________________________________________________________
Patreon: / spiritofthelaw
Background music from Epidemic Sound: www.epidemicsound.com
Opening theme by Vitalis Eirich: • Age of Empires 2 DE - ...
Game: Age of Empires II Definitive Edition

[@SpiritOfTheLaw]

The April 2023 patch included a number of important changes for Vikings. This follow-up video covers those in depth: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eYWoqaFoi7BgjKM

[@rubensdonin5617]

Imagine becoming a medieval superpower by putting a wheel on a box quicker than everyone else

[@idkmyname5332]

and then you become even more of a superpower just giving it another wheel

[@avisheknandibarna2807]

Actually if u put it like that... Chariots are after all wheels in a box, same goes for cars Chariots indeed made some civs op.

[@stalhandske9649]

Amateurs study strategy, professionals study logistics.

[@0rphros]

Sounds simple, but im sure the relative time scale, if scaled, would prove to be significant in history.

[@wizardcat7407]

​@@avisheknandibarna2807 ל

[@thefallenspy]

I've always felt like they should just fold berserkergang into the elite berserk upgrade and come up with a new unique tech to fill the gap. Perhaps something with a bit of a naval bent to push that identity.

[@SilverKnightPCs]

Maybe viking longboat can be used as transport ship tech? Flavor wise would work, wouldn't be too strong in Imperial and allows for some cool attacks

[@voidgods]

Or make the tech affect all infantry as someone down below suggested, which sounds like a great idea that also sticks to their identity

[@GamingForGains]

@@SilverKnightPCs that’s pretty smart

[@PoorManatee6197]

@@SilverKnightPCs Didnt longboats work like that at some point? I have some memory of it, maybe in the beta...

[@SilverKnightPCs]

@@PoorManatee6197 maybe

[@flavourously4723]

8:55 Age of Empires 2 is the only game where you can have Vikings attack a Japanese village in the middle of an Arabian desert

[@AlexWithington]

Sorry, i know it's been 3 months, but it could also happen in for honour. Idk if they have a map specific but with how that game is i wouldnt be suprised

[@vario6492]

Age of Mythology would like to know your location

[@finaldarkfire]

I just realized the Vikings entirely missing Fire Ships is almost definitely a historical reference to the Rus Vikings getting repeatedly trounced by the Byzantines and THEIR fire ships XD

[@jollygrapefruit786]

Wait, the Rus were Viking descendants? As in, the aoe4 rus?

[@michaelwarenycia7588]

​@@jollygrapefruit786yes, they were. Source: I'm Ukrainian and it's our history but of course you can find on Wikipedia or anywhere else

[@MZ-9993]

@@jollygrapefruit786 yes, at one point Vikings made up almost entirety of Rus rulling class and were an ancestors of most rulling dynasties in modern day Ukraine and Russia. Hell, there is even a hypothesis that first ruler of Poland was a Viking or of scandinavian descent

[@justinwong3755]

I remember all those years back SotL had a questionnaire which recommends a civ for you based on your answers, and I got Vikings. I appreciate the questionnaire to this date.

[@Mautivicz]

Haha, just googled it and it gave me then Huns, which is pretty to close to my favorite faction, the Tatars (Which aren't included in the quiz, I would guess)

[@jackfrozr6773]

@@Mautivicz I tried the questionnaire for fun, and got the civ (slavs) I have been playing the most often recently haha.

[@Kaiser282]

I did the test twice and got Teutons and Saracens. Which ironically were my 2 favorite campaigns from Age of Kings

[@michabaron4129]

Extend Berserkergang (as +20hp regen) to all infantry. That gives you a unique feel and better value for all of your infantry, makes barracks more viable as a hard transition in lategame and makes you not generic in trash wars. And Berserkers are still unique due to having double the regen and movement speed. And cool capes.

[@samstark568]

That's a really cool idea.

[@theobald_indoaoe]

I like it 100%. I ever suggested it on forum, but it seemed the society there didn't welcome

[@null-xf9pd]

Here's our berserkers! They um... Well.. They're unique because uhhh

[@satyakisil9711]

You really want kancer pikemen don't you?

[@voidgods]

Great idea. Please devs watch this video and read this comment

[@The_Room_2_Doggys_Revenge]

As Hera once said, it's almost impossible to mess up your early to mid game as the Vikings, just keep your town center working at any time and you'll end up with way more resources than you might expect

[@HazmanFTW]

You're the only person I watch the ads for at the end cause I wanna see your company :D

[@IndependentObserver]

Yes, like, I don't even play AOE2, I watch his videos purely because his voice is therapeutic.

[@matthewmartin3787]

I think the outro music is also therapeutic. Sometimes I even rewind just to listen to it.

[@shounenda4291]

I keep the video rolling but start reading comments, like right now 11

[@inductivegrunt94]

Glad to see you doing more updated civ overviews. Could you perhaps do more? Like maybe with the Japanese, Franks, or Italians?

[@darkdill]

He already did Japanese a few years ago. I'd like to see him redo the Mongols.

[@inductivegrunt94]

@@darkdill That was a few years ago, but it was the same deal with the Britons. So scratch that one, the others still are options to go with.

[@brendanspencer6735]

Teutons

[@siprus]

I think with viking one thing that should be mentioned is their weakness in hybrid maps. While they are great on maps where massing galleys is fine option even in early game, in hybrid maps lack of fire galley is a huge problem. Additionally the early wheelbarrow is less of a bonus in hybrid maps, since you'll be doing a lot less farming. So quite counter intuitively, while they are great water and great landciv, they are actually quite medicore in most hybrid maps. Unless maybe all the water is connected... and even then I don't they are that great.

[@flameski_]

Spirit, please don't unlist your old Vikings video, it's a classic!

[@Kawabongahlive]

The skirmisher hitting the berserker and the "screensaver" comment is golden.

[@jmr3178]

I'm going to miss your old videos with all the graphs and explanations, but I'm more glad you're finding the time to redo a lot of your old civ overviews. Thanks for all the effort you put into these, SOTL!

[@robbylava]

What a pleasant coincidence! I just talked about the Danes the other day. I would love to see more remakes of older videos if you're ever up for it Spirit!

[@leonst.7471]

I really hope the Vikings or Norse or whatever will have a appearence in AoE4 or well a lot of the classic AoE2 civs are lacking there.

[@HawkSea]

We need more.

[@leonst.7471]

@HawkSea personally I really want to see the Byzantines return. A American Civ would also be appreciated. And the lack of Japanese and Korean is felt. Not to mention all the potential from the southeast Asian civs.

[@TheJamesHyndman]

Thanks SotL, now I have to play vikings for my next 20+ games !

[@michelndjock]

Am I the only one who's super happy and proud to see SoTL now having sponsors?

[@misteral9045]

Spirit has been sponsored by squarespace for years now bruv

[@michelndjock]

@@misteral9045 Seriously? It feels like just a few months. 😶

[@GigaBoost]

This isn't new bro

[@michelndjock]

@@GigaBoost Yeah, but I'm still happy for him.

[@MyDelta38]

I can't wait until the next Squarespace sponsored video where we will learn about Spirit's new seafood restaurant, "Spirit of the Prawn."

[@kcechoxzar]

12:16 I just imagine that berserk walking around doing his own everyday things while a guy throws javelins at him

[@Rika101OfficialYT]

0:15 ah yes, my phone alarm clock tune. hands down the best AOE tune ever.

[@Toonrick12]

HOOOOOOOOOOONNNNNNNKKKKK!

[@caopi9783]

I must admit. The most appealing thing to the vikings to me is their campaign York. I took the Man of isle as a starting point and had a massive Army of Berserks and Longboats attacking Northumbria. So epic. The devs really nailed that campaign.

[@squidmanfedsfeds5301]

Definitely, one of the greatest campaign levels in the game

[@darkdill]

@@squidmanfedsfeds5301 Agreed. Its only problem is how weaker PCs may struggle with it.

[@JRSasquatch]

Dope, thanks dude. Appreciate all your hard work.

[@jurgnobs1308]

the thing with the two unique techs: well ok, but as you compare them to viking infantry, they also need the first unique tech

[@sounakchatterjer4158]

Those knights are defintely that old spinning villagers brother,by their dodging in the intro

[@Kubinda12345]

I'm happy to see an updated overview about my favorite civ! And their unique units are so cool

[@theredbaron28]

I really love your work Spirit, I am always waiting for your videos.

[@OJC1992]

Definitely your funniest video SOTL! Had me in stitches, love it ❤️

[@MadnessTW]

Man, your Squarespace ads are becoming my favorite part of each video. Reminds me of when this was the case for The Cooptional Podcast. Good times.

[@tushitsu4012]

Can you make updated 2023 aztec overview?Your videos are amazing.

[@hamil3115]

Don't know if you hear this often because I'm new to AOE2 (Xbox player) but these videos are AMAZING! I love the effort you put into the visuals in the background, how you display the stats simply and effectively, and you summary at the end really wraps things up nicely

[@dj_koen1265]

Does the game play well on console? I would think that it would be unplayable without mouse and keyboard Or do you use mouse and keyboard with Your console?

[@marcuspontius3967]

Thank you for great content. Always appreciated

[@CommissarMitch]

The intro music brings back memories. I love this channel so much and having it in the background is really neat.

[@ihababbas9863]

Great video as usual. Thank you :D

[@kevinnorwood8782]

Been loving all your civ reviews, Spirit. However, I’d actually like to request a video about a specific Age Of Kings tech, if you haven’t already made one. Whenever you talk about the Monk tech tree, one of the techs I notice you always tend to put a big emphasis on a civ having is Block Printing. I’d really like it if you made a video about the true significance and/or importance of the Block Printing tech, what civs make the best usage of it, and what civs you feel would really benefit most from having it but currently don’t have access to it.

[@marektoufar9690]

Honestly Vikings should get some change to umique tech, because berserkengang is very niche tech (like it is very hard to get a real positive value from it) and some more general tech would be nice, and It can also be used as a balance tool - you can reduce some of their bonus or remove some basic tech to replace it by unique tech with slightly different effect and cost. Like - absolutely Wild idea- remove a champion and give them a imperial unique tech which would give all their infantry some bonus: like 10hp regen per minute, +5-10 hp amybe some bonus attack (like +2) or something. It would make their infantry better but for higher cost and for more castle time and also it could reduce their power because missing champion is big, but it would in the end make their 2-handed swordsman into as good or even better than generic champions, but it would be more complicated to reach this point. Also it would be funny if Vikings would be infantry civ with no fully upgraded infantry unit 😀

[@orionl7406]

The Berserk 1v2ing Eagle Warriors surprised me the most. That buff to give it 12 attack actually has an impact.

[@SIGNOR-G]

12:19 BERSERKERGANG SON. It hardens in response to phisical trauma. You cant hurt me Skirmisher!

[@darkdill]

I'm sure a lot of less-experienced and/or less-skilled players have gotten cocky with Longboats, so I'll explain how you're suppose to use them. The chief advantage of Longboats in Castle Age is their creation speed and their ability to force engagements on their terms. They are NOT capable of beating an enemy fleet with equal resources if they don't micro, so don't just patrol 15 of them into 20 War Galleys. You'll get stomped on. The goal with Longboats is to quickly build a large fleet of them, outnumber and decisively defeat the enemy's fleet, and then destroy Docks to kick the opponent off the water. Many high ELO games on water maps are decided by late Castle Age, as there are very few viable comeback mechanics when it comes to naval battles. If your fleet has been destroyed, you're not gonna be able to build a new one since your opponent will kill any Villagers who try to build near the shore. Not even building a Castle is going to help, as your enemy will just pick off any ships that come out of Docks beneath said Castle. The Vikings can then just pin you down, get to Imperial Age, and then use Cannon Galleons to finish you off. That's where the Longboat shines. It allows the Vikings to avoid the need for a war of attrition by crushing the enemy's fleet and making it impossible for them to build a new one. Make sure you have an equal or greater number of ships than the enemy and you'll win as long as your opponent doesn't hit you with several Demo Ships.

[@WaveringAna]

glad to see the intro is back

[@justinstreicher8196]

I love that you're updating these for new players like me! The Xbox release is a lot of fun but it can be hard to find up-to-date information with all the patches and dlcs. Thanks for your work!

[@heavens4430]

At 1:38 the displayed discount on the right is calculated based on the cost of a Fire Galley instead of that of the Demolition Raft. Just a small thing I wanted to point out. Love you and your videos, SOTL!

[@jonrite4]

The intro with the big horn was really cool

[@P4GYY]

Yes m8, i miss these vids, you should re-do every civ, seeing as how they've changed over the ytears, quality video

[@pspboy7]

Yes, another one! Thanks SoTL! 👍

[@micahbonewell5994]

I kinda wish the devs buffed the Guard Tower and Keep techs, as I feel like players rarely if ever get those techs. Whenever players do go for towers it's usually bombard towers and only a few specific civs for even that.

[@CrnaStrela]

Well Japanese tower hopping is a legit deadly strat, I think keep shouldn't be buffed since there are too many civs without access to them but yeah maybe guard towers can have some buff.

[@guillermoramirez6092]

nice to listen againg the INTRO SONG.

[@Labyrinth6000]

Video idea similar to the Turk trash unit video: Are Teuton Scout Calvary even worth making? They are a lot more useful and powerful than you think: -Best Monk killers in a standard match game as the only Triple conversion resistant unit. Lose their triple resistance if they somehow get converted. -still retain their usefulness for scouting enemy positions -have all the Calvary upgrades in the blacksmith including bloodlines and husbandry -better attack stats than some Light Calvary - Save you resources for upgrading to Light Calvary and hussar - still a big nuisance to raiding enemy villagers - can be created in large numbers thanks to Teuton farm bonus

[@SIGNOR-G]

I agree with everything exept that "saves you resources for light cavalry and hussar". I can agree with hussars but light cavalry is dirt cheap

[@timioskiechajas9102]

Love to see updated civ overviews, hope to see Japanese next :)

[@theobald_indoaoe]

I'd suggest that Berserkergang makes all infantry regenerate HP, faster rate for Berserks, slow rate for other infantry. It costs 400f & 650g. Thus, they can go either champions or berserks, and their trash units at least are little bit better.

[@Fredministrator]

I like the intro music. havent heard that in a while

[@tomascostanzo3673]

I truly love how SOTL makes a civ overview be so entertaining when it would actually be the most boring thing to learn about.

[@malikshabazz2065]

This is great stuff

[@arkokroeger9799]

I am really not a rts player, but I absolutely love your deep analysis of the different civs❤️

[@pd4166]

I want a Viking campaign, it's been long overdue.

[@nicholase2868]

Wait, there isn't one? Wtf?

[@JohnSmith-tt3go]

Nope. There are two Historical Battles scenarios but no dedicated campaign. The first is the Erik the Red scenario, the second is the invasion of England scenario.

[@Toonrick12]

​@@nicholase2868 We have a few historical scenarios but not a full Viking one. Maybe something based on the Normans or with the Rus.

[@sashidharan1192]

Vikins stable and monastery were equivalent or similar to Dravdians. In many cases its looks similar tech tree. 1. Vikings have self-healing berserk, whereas Dravidians have self-healing elephants. 2. Both have similar stable trees only exception is the cavalier or battle elephant. Both imperial options were not so good. 3. Both were strong water civs. 4. Both have a great eco bonus in land and water maps in early to mid-game. 5. berserk and urmi swordsman were good raiding troops. These are my opinion

[@daheadsmiter2052]

0:16 the noise you make after eating Taco Bell.

[@franzladores3625]

Updated old civ overviews. Yay!

[@90witito]

one of my fav civs in the game

[@robbybeckmeyer828]

I just downloaded the game four days ago and I've only really been playing Vikings, so thank you for the immense amount of help!

[@warriorpriest3344]

Watching Berserk part - this is so funny that some of the civs have a powerfull unique units and some of them are like regular.

[@jollygrapefruit786]

Nice

[@redcastlefan]

I think for vikings they're close to Chinese in the way that lower skill people will not be able to take advantage of the wheelbarrow and hand cart all that much. And if you don't take advantage of those it's just a civ with a very bad stable and ok range.

[@Weldedhodag]

chieftans in castle age gives you some deadly pikemen at that point in the game, hot damn, my beloved teutons are shaking on their horses right now

[@devonbueno8344]

Vikings are a fun Trash/Tower rush civ. Their Spearman survive 1 more hit from other Feudal units. Faster moving Villagers are also really nice.

[@adhamkalaoun2030]

Great now we need one for huns

[@crispx19]

Yeahhhh , my OG favorite civ 😮😮😮

[@jesusrubiomaldonado27]

Now we need an update of this civ overview 1111

[@noxious8]

Does healing of Berserks stack when they are garrisoned in a building and if yes is the stacked healing faster or slower than other units garrisoned with Herbal Medicine?

[@bloodraven2537]

It would be so cool if they added the ability for longboats to transport infantry and archer units as part of their unique techs. It would add so much identity and flavor. Of course, they would still have to make transport ships for any cavalry, siege, monks and villagers they may want to transport.

[@chartomosfil1278]

Military units having some kind of speed and / or attack bonus for some time after getting out of a boat!

[@purpletylenol7787]

8:55 This give me the same vibe in Age of Mythology, where the Chinese are battling the Norse in Erebus

[@JaredKelso123]

You could start a front door repair and painting start up called Spirit of the Door. A carpet cleaning start up called Spirit of the Floor. A bandage delivery start up called Spirit of the Gauze.

[@carloscampo9119]

Points for “Spirit of the Log”, wasn’t expecting that 😂

[@jollygrapefruit786]

On Berserkers, I'll use some terminology that is used in Team Fortress 2, that being how the Berserker is a "Generalist" unique unit. It performs well in almost all situations and can go from attacking to defending on the fly when needed, and be equally effective on both fronts. This in comparison UUs like Teutonic Knights or Huskarls, who would be considered "Specialists" who undeniably perform better than Zerkers in certain situations, but become far less useful in most others.

[@firemyst9064]

This is the kind of data analysis I can get behind. Minmax like the Roman legion we deserve to be.

[@kenworth1237]

Love that ur still making vids but u should rly go back to HD edition

[@stelmosfire1202]

My only issue with the civ is that Chieftains really ought to be called Jarls.

[@RealActarium]

I definitely want to get something from Spirit of the Log

[@ManuelFernandez-nm4hy]

Can you do a updated overview of Magyars?

[@Gwaeddwynn]

i always watch your partner-advertisment to see what new website you came up with...

[@dominiquedo5614]

They could use some "Shield maidens"- an IA upgrade for skirms turning them in to Shield maidens. Simular to imperial skirms upgrade, but better looking ;-). Or make them as a light cav skirm unit like the Genitours and let Beserkergang effect them as well to compensate for lacking upgrades.

[@fiddleriddlediddlediddle]

That younger sibling joke hit too close to home.

[@jaimebakulic86]

12 year old me picked the Vikings because they had the cool dudes with an axe and a cape and epic taunts.

[@Cheximus]

36 year old me still does for those reasons.

[@lloydlejack-official]

Spirit of the Vikings

[@chrisr4023]

Berserkergang, instead of regen, now grant units +1 atk per 10℅ hp missing, starting from 60℅ hp (that means the unit will have max +6 atk at 10℅ hp). Goes well with the name and doesnt sound too OP. The bonus will disappear if the unit is healed. 100-70% no bonus 60% 1 dmg 50% 2 dmg 40℅ 3 dmg. And so on You can also give atk/move speed instead of dmg, or both.

[@GStefanes_]

Losing thumb ring was really sad

[@UCeagle79]

I'd like to see a list of who faction has the best unique unit spam. Like isn't spamming berserkers one of the best things in the game? It's all i do in MP. As long as i can farm until then. i just overrun people.

[@carrots1550]

Spirit of the Log :'D

[@MrCaduceo]

holy shit that wheelbarrow has eyes

[@smugshrug]

a truly iconic civ

[@forsakenquery]

I noticed you don't check whether a civ has sappers. Is that tech any good ?

[@Davtwan]

Threw us a curve ball with a similar-sounding word rather than a rhyme. I approve.

[@simonbas6]

I've always wondered what the piece of music in the intro for these videos is. Anyone know?

[@le_chiffre_]

9:40 - How the one crossbow men on the left walks straight to the mounted archer and kills him with a single shot to the face - and dying instantly after that. Also: Is it me or does the green colour suit the berserks way more than blue? ^^

[@chapocademesquit]

love to see it

[@willemverheij3412]

I'd keep berserkergang as it is, but would add in a new faction ability for them that gives them a set amount of gold for every temple they destroy. That would help fund that tech and otherwise fuels their war machine and that would be so fitting for their faction. The amount of gold it gives could always be adjusted until a good balance is found.

[@mgdoidao]

Do beserks heal faster inside buldings?

[@berkaykoclar4953]

Hello Man love your videoes and all but i have a question can you make more olympics? I want to see teutonic knight claims his rightful Gold medal

[@robincray116]

I miss the days when the berserk had 2/2 armour.

[@simonnilsson8375]

I kinda want to know how often the healing trait to vikings is gotten and how often it results towards a win. Cause if it isn’t resulting towards a win often enough, why ever get it?

[@getgladnotmad4680]

Doesn’t the long boat also benefit from the black smith archer upgrade