Vikings Guide: Berserks, Longboats and Water Map Dominance
If you’re deciding whether to play the Vikings in Age of Empires 2, or you’re up against one and unsure what to expect, this guide breaks down what actually makes them dangerous: two unique units, a genuinely free economic edge, and the maps where they’re close to unbeatable.
Scout Report
- Playstyle: Infantry and naval hybrid civilization
- Unique units: Berserk (self-healing infantry) and Longboat (rapid-fire warship)
- Free bonuses: Wheelbarrow and Hand Cart unlock automatically, no research cost
- Best maps: Islands, Black Sea, Highlands and other water or hybrid maps
- Main weakness: No cavalry beyond the Scout line, no Fire Ships, no Siege Ram
Civilization bonuses
| Bonus | Effect |
|---|---|
| Infantry HP | +10% Feudal Age, +15% Castle Age, +20% Imperial Age |
| Warships | Cost -10% Feudal, -15% Castle, -20% Imperial Age |
| Docks | 15% cheaper to build |
| Wheelbarrow & Hand Cart | Unlocked automatically, no research cost |
Unique units
| Unit | Age | Cost | HP | Attack |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Berserk | Castle Age | 65 Food, 25 Gold | 54 | 9 |
| Longboat | Castle Age | 100 Wood, 50 Gold | 130 | 7 (fires 4 projectiles per volley) |
Unique technologies
| Tech | Age | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Chieftains | Castle Age | Infantry +5 attack vs cavalry, +4 vs camels, gain gold from raiding |
| Berserkergang | Imperial Age | Berserk regeneration doubles from 20 HP/min to 40 HP/min |
Two build orders for the Vikings
Men-at-Arms into Feudal aggression
- Standard Men-at-Arms opening
- The +10% infantry HP bonus already applies in Feudal Age, giving your militia line an edge in trades
- Free Wheelbarrow means the food and wood it would normally cost goes straight into extra villagers instead
- Transition into Archers or a Fast Castle depending on the matchup
Water map dominance
- Heavy early Dock production, docks are 15% cheaper so build more of them than you think you need
- Mass cheap Feudal Age warships to contest the water early
- Fast Castle and add a Dock near your Castle for defense
- Transition into Longboat spam once Castle Age hits
- Control the sea, then land Berserks and Champions for a combined-arms push
Infantry HP and attrition warfare
A Viking Champion has 84 HP instead of the standard 70, a 20% increase in Imperial Age. In head-to-head infantry fights this lets Viking Champions absorb one or two extra hits before dying, which in large clashes means noticeably more total damage output before the army is depleted. Chieftains adds +5 attack versus cavalry and +4 versus camels to all infantry, turning the Viking infantry line into a legitimate cavalry counter rather than easy Knight food.
The Berserk’s regeneration in practice
The Berserk heals 20 HP per minute on its own, doubling to 40 with Berserkergang researched. In theory this makes them hard to attrit. In practice the regeneration matters most between skirmishes rather than during active combat, a damaged group that retreats briefly and heals before the next engagement can sustain pressure far longer than a non-regenerating infantry force of the same size.
Best maps for Vikings
Vikings are widely considered one of the strongest water civilizations in the game. The Longboat fires multiple arrows simultaneously, effectively dealing the damage of 2 to 3 regular galleys from one ship, and the cost discount on every warship means Vikings can replace losses faster than almost anyone. For a broader comparison, see our best water civilizations guide.
On pure land maps, the lack of cavalry becomes a real problem in the late game. Vikings players generally look to close out land games earlier rather than stretch into a long Imperial Age.
How opponents beat Vikings
Without Paladin, Hussar, or most cavalry upgrades, Vikings struggle to keep pace with fast, mobile civilizations once a game drags on. Camel units and strong cavalry archer civilizations are typically the safest land counters, and civilizations with Fire Ships punish the Vikings’ lack of one on the water.
FAQ
Are Vikings good on Arabia?
Playable but not a top pick. Their identity is built around water and infantry durability, both of which matter less on a fully open land map.
What’s the best civ matchup against Vikings?
Civilizations with cheap, durable cavalry that can outlast a slower Viking army tend to have the edge in longer games.
GG
Vikings reward players who commit early, either on the water or with a durable infantry push, rather than those looking to stretch a game into the late Imperial Age. Explore more civilizations on our civilizations hub.
