The Longship Awaits: A Beginner’s Guide to Starting Viking Rise
The horns sound. The longships cut through the mist. A new saga begins. Welcome to Viking Rise, the mobile strategy game where you take on the role of a Jarl—a chieftain leading your clan to glory through conquest, trade, and the favor of the gods. Developed by IGG, the studio behind the massive hit Lords Mobile, Viking Rise plunges you into a beautifully rendered world of Norse mythology, rival clans, and the endless struggle for resources and territory.
If you have just started, you might feel overwhelmed by the sheer number of buildings, heroes, and events. Don’t worry. Every great Jarl once stood where you stand now. This guide will walk you through the fundamentals of keeping your clan alive, building a powerful war band, and carving your name into the runestones of history.
There is no complex story to spoil here. The narrative is simple: lead your clan from a small settlement to a legendary kingdom, earn the blessings of the gods, and prove your worth in the fires of battle.
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Part I: The Longhouse – Your Heart and Soul
In most strategy games, the Town Hall is just a progression gate. In Viking Rise, the Longhouse is the beating heart of your entire operation. It determines the maximum level of every other building in your settlement. If you want stronger troops, better resource production, or access to new features, you must upgrade the Longhouse.
The Golden Rule
Always check the requirements for the next Longhouse level. It will demand specific building levels (e.g., level 10 Woodcutter, level 10 Farm). Focus 100% of your resources and speed-ups on those required buildings. Ignore everything else until the Longhouse upgrade is started.
Why the Longhouse Matters
- Higher Troop Tiers: Upgrading the Longhouse unlocks better troops. T4 troops are vastly stronger than T3. T5 troops (the highest) require a maximum-level Longhouse.
- New Buildings: The Longhouse unlocks essential structures like the Altar (for god blessings) and the Harbor (for trading and raiding).
- Prestige and Power: Your Longhouse level is the first thing other players see. A high-level Longhouse deters attackers.
Pro Tip: Do not waste speed-ups on resource gathering. Save them for Longhouse upgrades. A faster Longhouse means faster everything else.
Part II: Resource Management – The Bones of Your Clan
You cannot build an empire without resources. Viking Rise has four primary resources, each critical to your survival and growth.
| Resource | Primary Use | How to Obtain |
|---|---|---|
| Food | Training troops, healing wounded, upgrading buildings | Farms, fishing, hunting wild animals |
| Wood | Building construction and upgrades | Lumber Mills, chopping trees on world map |
| Stone | Advanced building upgrades (Longhouse level 10+) | Quarries, raiding resource tiles |
| Iron | High-tier troops (T3+), advanced buildings | Iron Mines, raiding, events |
| Silver | Premium currency | Events, achievements, in-app purchases |
The Production Balance
In the early game (Longhouse levels 1-10), prioritize Wood and Food. You will need vast quantities of wood for construction and food for training your first armies.
In the mid-game (Longhouse levels 11-20), Stone becomes critical. Many key buildings (Watchtower, Barracks) require stone to upgrade.
In the late game (Longhouse levels 21+), Iron is your bottleneck. Iron is slow to produce and expensive to raid. Start stockpiling iron early.
The Gathering Strategy
Your resource buildings generate materials even when you are offline. However, they have a storage cap. Once they hit that cap, they stop producing until you collect.
The Habit: Log in at least 2-3 times per day to collect resources. This takes 30 seconds but doubles your daily income.
The World Map Economy
Beyond your settlement, the world map is dotted with resource nodes. You can send your troops to gather from these nodes, supplementing your passive income. However, other players can see your troops gathering. A lone gathering march is an easy target.
Safety Tip: Always gather with a full march of troops. Never send your troops to gather if you are about to log off for the night—they will be sitting ducks for raiders.
Part III: Heroes – Your Strongest Weapons
Heroes are the generals of your armies. They lead your troops into battle, provide passive bonuses to your settlement, and serve as the faces of your clan. Viking Rise uses a familiar hero system: you recruit heroes, level them up, and equip them with gear.
Hero Rarities
| Rarity | Description | How to Obtain |
|---|---|---|
| Elite (Blue) | Common, easy to obtain | Early quests, basic recruitment |
| Epic (Purple) | Stronger, harder to obtain | Events, advanced recruitment, hero chests |
| Legendary (Gold) | The most powerful; game-changers | Limited events, premium recruitment, high-cost bundles |
The Best Heroes for Beginners
You do not need to spend money to get a strong hero lineup. Focus on the heroes you can earn for free:
- Floki (Legendary): The game’s mascot. You earn his shards through daily login rewards and early quests. He provides excellent combat bonuses and is worth maxing out.
- Hrist (Epic): A solid Infantry leader. Infantry are your front-line tanks. Hrist boosts their defense and health.
- Ragnar (Epic): A balanced leader. Good for new players who haven’t specialized yet.
- Lagertha (Epic): Excellent for PvP. Her skills boost attack against other players’ troops.
The Golden Rule of Hero Shards
Do not spend your Legendary Hero Shards randomly. Save them for specific heroes that match your strategy. If you spread your shards across five different Legendary heroes, you will have five weak heroes instead of one strong one.
Focus on Floki first. He is the easiest Legendary to max out, and his bonuses apply to all troop types.
Hero Progression
- Leveling: Increases base stats using Experience Potions (earned from battles and events).
- Ranking Up: Requires Hero Shards. Higher ranks unlock new skills.
- Gear: Each hero can equip four pieces of gear (weapon, helmet, armor, boots). Gear provides stat bonuses and set bonuses. Upgrade gear using materials from monster hunting.
- Skill Upgrades: Each hero has four skills. Upgrade these using Skill Books (earned from events and the Arena).
Part IV: Troops – The Spear and Shield of Your Clan
Your heroes lead, but your troops do the fighting. Viking Rise has four troop types, each with a specific role in battle.
| Troop Type | Role | Strong Against | Weak Against |
|---|---|---|---|
| Infantry | Front-line tanks | Marksmen | Cavalry |
| Marksmen | Back-line damage dealers | Cavalry | Infantry |
| Cavalry | Flankers and speed attackers | Infantry | Marksmen |
| Siege | Destroy walls and buildings | Defenses | All troop types (in field) |
The Troop Tier System
Troops are divided into tiers (T1, T2, T3, T4, T5). Higher-tier troops are significantly stronger but more expensive to train and maintain.
| Tier | Longhouse Level Required | Strength Increase |
|---|---|---|
| T1 | 1 | Base |
| T2 | 10 | +30% |
| T3 | 15 | +60% |
| T4 | 21 | +100% |
| T5 | 25 | +150% |
The Rule: Do not train massive armies of T1 or T2 troops. They are weak and will die in droves. Rush to T3 as quickly as possible. T3 troops are the first “viable” tier for PvP.
The Balanced Army Composition
A balanced army is more effective than a single-type army. A good beginner ratio:
- 40% Infantry (absorbs damage)
- 30% Marksmen (deals damage from safety)
- 20% Cavalry (flanks and kills enemy marksmen)
- 10% Siege (only for attacking walled cities)
The Hospital and Your Wounded
When your troops are defeated in battle, they do not instantly die. They go to your Hospital. Wounded troops can be healed using food and time.
- Keep your Hospital upgraded. A full Hospital means your next defeated troops will die permanently.
- Heal your wounded before launching another attack. Attacking with wounded troops still in the Hospital leaves you vulnerable.
Part V: The Altar – Blessings of the Gods
The Altar is a unique building in Viking Rise that sets it apart from other strategy games. Here, you pray to the Norse gods for temporary blessings.
| God | Blessing Effect | Best Used When |
|---|---|---|
| Odin | Increased troop attack | Before a major PvP attack |
| Thor | Increased troop defense | Before defending against a known attack |
| Freyja | Increased resource production | Before logging off for the night |
| Tyr | Increased march speed | Before chasing an enemy or joining a rally |
| Heimdall | Increased watchtower range | When expecting an attack |
Pro Tip: Activate a blessing before starting a Longhouse upgrade or a long resource-gathering session. The small bonus adds up over time.
You can only have one blessing active at a time. Choose wisely based on your immediate goals.
Part VI: The Clan – Never Raid Alone
This is the single most important advice in this guide: join an active clan immediately.
Why Clans Are Essential
- Help Function: Every time a clan member clicks “Help” on your construction or research, it reduces the remaining time. With an active clan, you can shave hours off your upgrades.
- Alliance Events: Clan Fest, Kingdom vs. Kingdom, and other events offer massive rewards that are impossible to get alone.
- Protection: A strong clan deters attackers. Players think twice before attacking someone with 40 active allies who can reinforce them.
- Clan Technology: Clans can research technologies that provide passive bonuses to all members (construction speed, troop attack, resource production).
How to Find a Good Clan
- Look for clans with at least 40 members
- Check if the chat is active (English or your preferred language)
- Avoid “dead” clans where no one has logged in for days
- It is okay to leave a clan and join a better one later
Don’t wait. Join a clan on your first day. It is the single biggest accelerator for new players.
Clan vs. Kingdom
Your clan is your family. Your Kingdom is your nation. Multiple clans within the same Kingdom compete for resources and glory, but when Kingdom vs. Kingdom (KvK) events occur, you must unite against other Kingdoms. Do not make enemies within your own Kingdom. You will need them later.
Part VII: The World Map – Raiding and Resources
Beyond the walls of your settlement lies the world map—a vast, shared space where thousands of players compete for resources, territory, and glory.
Resource Nodes
The world map is dotted with resource nodes (Food, Wood, Stone, Iron). You can send your troops to gather from these nodes. This is your primary source of resources beyond your own production buildings.
Prioritization:
- Iron (most valuable, hardest to produce)
- Stone (needed for mid-game upgrades)
- Wood (needed for everything, easy to produce)
- Food (needed for troops, easy to produce)
Player vs. Player (PvP)
Attacking other players is how you acquire resources quickly. However, it carries risks.
Before Attacking:
- Scout the target. Use a Scout (a fast, cheap troop) to gather information. You will see their troop count, wall level, and resource stockpiles.
- Check their clan. Are they in a large, active clan? If so, they will reinforce each other.
- Check their online status. If they are online, they can hide their resources or counterattack.
- Use the right troops. Send Infantry first to absorb wall defenses, then Marksmen to deal damage, then Siege to break the wall.
The Shield is Your Best Friend
When you are not actively attacking, use a Shield. This prevents other players from scouting or attacking you. Shields come in 8-hour, 24-hour, and 3-day varieties. You can earn them from events, clan gifts, or purchase them with gems.
Critical Tip: Always shield before logging off for the night. The kingdom never sleeps.
Part VIII: Events – The Rhythm of the Game
Viking Rise operates on a strict event calendar. Participating in events is the best way to earn rare resources, hero shards, and speed-ups without spending money.
| Event | Frequency | Rewards | Strategy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clan Fest | Weekly | Hero shards, speed-ups, gems | Complete clan tasks. Coordinate with clan members to maximize points. |
| Kingdom vs. Kingdom | Monthly | Legendary hero shards, exclusive gear | Unite with your Kingdom against another Kingdom. Fight for territory and glory. |
| Monster Hunt | Daily | Gear materials, experience potions | Kill world map monsters. Higher-level monsters drop better rewards. |
| Arena | Daily | Arena coins (exchange for hero shards) | Fight other players’ teams in automated battles. Climb the rankings for better rewards. |
The “Don’t Waste” Rule
Do not use your resources and speed-ups randomly. Save them for events that reward you for spending them. For example, during Clan Fest, there are tasks for “Upgrade a building” or “Research a technology.” Save your speed-ups for those moments.
Part IX: The Long Game – Patience and Consistency
Viking Rise is not a game you “beat.” It is a game you grow with over months. Upgrades that take minutes in the beginning will eventually take weeks. This is by design.
The F2P Reality
Can you play Viking Rise without spending money? Yes. Many players enjoy the game as free-to-play.
What can you achieve as free-to-play?
- Build a strong settlement
- Join a top clan
- Participate in all events
- Reach Longhouse level 20+ (mid-game)
What can you not do as free-to-play?
- Compete for “#1 Jarl” rankings
- Max out Legendary heroes quickly
- Keep up with “whales” (high spenders) in raw power
The Whale Warning
“Whales” are players who spend significant amounts of money on the game. They will have T5 troops, maxed Legendary heroes, and immense power scores. You cannot beat them in a fair fight.
The Strategy: Don’t fight them. Avoid their cities. Hide your resources. Join a clan that has its own whales to protect you. Diplomacy is more important than brute strength.
The Habits of Success
- Log in daily to collect resources and start upgrades
- Keep your Longhouse upgrading constantly
- Complete daily quests for free rewards
- Participate in events (even minimally)
- Communicate with your clan
Consistency matters more than intensity. A player who logs in for 30 minutes every day will outpace someone who plays for 6 hours once a week.
Part X: Common Beginner Mistakes (And How to Avoid Them)
Mistake #1: Upgrading everything evenly
Focus on the Longhouse and its requirements. Ignore unnecessary buildings.
Mistake #2: Training T1 troops in mass
T1 troops are weak. Rush to T3 as quickly as possible.
Mistake #3: Ignoring your Hospital
A full Hospital means your next losses are permanent. Keep it upgraded and heal regularly.
Mistake #4: Attacking without scouting
A city that looks weak might be a trap. Always scout first.
Mistake #5: Hoarding resources without a shield
Resources sitting in your city can be stolen. Spend them or shield them.
Mistake #6: Playing alone
Join a clan on your first day. This is not optional.
Mistake #7: Spreading hero shards too thin
Focus on 1-2 Legendary heroes. Max them out before moving to others.
Mistake #8: Ignoring events
Events offer the best rewards. Even if you can’t compete for top ranks, participate for the participation rewards.
Part XI: The Saga Begins
You have the tools. You have the strategy. Now it is time to write your own saga.
Viking Rise is a game of patience, planning, and community. The players who succeed are not the ones who spend the most money, but the ones who build the strongest alliances, manage their resources wisely, and never stop pushing toward the next Longhouse level.
The longship is built. The oars are in the water. The horizon stretches endlessly before you.
Ready, Jarl!
Skål. And may the gods watch over your clan.
This is a game that features multiplayer gameplay. You can discuss features and updates, look for team formations, challenge other players, and exchange information on gaming forum (click here).
