Varangian Guards

Varangian Guards
Stars	★★★★★
Era	🟨 Golden
Max Level	30
Type	Special
Alternative Name(s)	King's Shields Axes of the North
Basic Attributes (Base)
Health (Level 1)	11619
Health (Max Level)	13629
Unit Count	16
Leadership	290
Speed	5.0
Labour	2.24
Range	N/A
Ammo	N/A
Armor Penetration (Base)
Piercing	1300
Slashing	1650
Blunt	1179
Damage (Base)
Piercing	1218
Slashing	1588
Blunt	988
Defense Attributes (Base)
Piercing	557
Slashing	570
Blunt	515

Varangian Guards are a golden era special melee infantry unit.

In-Game Description

This imperial heavy infantry troop of Barcyan comprises Norse mercenaries who have traveled wide and far. They swore upon their weapons that they would help maintain stability to the best of their ability: to serve as a moat for those wishing to harm their masters.

While the Varangian Guards were more akin to a group of mercenaries than a full-fledged legion, they stayed true to their promises and aided Barcyan where it was needed. In turn, Barcyan Empire bestowed upon them high-quality weapons and good pay.

The young Haroldr joined the Varangian Guards during his travels around the world. Owing to his military experience, he soon became their captain. Here he honed his skills in battle further, learning from both the Varangians and the Barcyan army. This knowledge later enabled him to summon his former subordinates upon his return to the north after Barcyan Empire's fall-effectively recreating the Varangian Guards anew.

These ferocious professional warriors ended up being what ultimately enabled Haroldr the Butcher to conquer Ocelsi.

Acquisition

Varangian Guards can be unlocked via the Season XII: Helheim seasonal challenges. As the season's golden era unit, Varangian Guards require the Huskarls to be unlocked (i.e. 3rd stage of the Huskarls seasonal challenges completed) before progress can be made on their seasonal challenges.

Unit Traits

Trait	In-Game Description
▲ [Attack and Defence]	While wielding swords, the unit can build up rage by taking damage and defeating heroes. While wielding axes, the unit can spend rage by using skills.
▲ [Fire-Resistant]	This unit's armour is less vulnerable to thermal weapons than other units of the same era.

Formations

Formation	In-Game Description
Dispersed	The unit forms a spread-out square formation to lessen the impact of ranged attacks.
Shield	Soldiers stand in a tight defensive formation, countering frontal attacks. Enhances impact resistance.

Unit Orders

Unbreakable

Base Cooldown: 7s

The soldiers take up a defensive stance. This reduces the damage that they take by 30%, but also reduces their movement and attack speed by 40%. After a successful block, damage taken is reduced by 30% for 1.4 seconds.

Raging Onslaught

Base Cooldown: N/A

The soldiers pull out their two-handed axes, increasing all types of armour penetration and damage by 400 points, and gaining new rage skills.

Great Sweep

Base Cooldown: N/A

The unit consumes 30% Rage to strike at the enemy with their axes, gaining control immunity for 2 seconds. When they hit an enemy, soldiers with less than 50% health will deal 50% more damage and 20% of their maximum health will be restored. They will also knock down enemies.

Colossal Strike

Base Cooldown: 2s

The unit consumes 30% Rage to initiate a full power attack, gaining control immunity for 2 seconds. When they hit an enemy, soldiers with less than 50% health will deal 50% more damage and 20% of their maximum health will be restored. They will also knock down enemies.

Shatter Shields

Base Cooldown: 2s

The unit consumes 40% Rage to charge the enemy and attack with long axes, gaining control immunity for 2 seconds. When they hit an enemy, soldiers with less than 50% health will deal 50% more damage and 20% of their maximum health will be restored. They will also knock down enemies. When all Rage has been consumed this skill will end, and the unit will return to wielding swords and shields.

Veterancy

2

1

2

2

2

3

1

4

3

5

3

6

3

7

8

2

9

2

10

1

11

2

12

3

13

3

14

3

15

16

2

17

2

18

1

19

2

20

2

21

2

22

1

23

The Soldier's Life - 2 level(s)
Each level increases health by 3%.

Toughen Up - 2 level(s)
Each level increases piercing defence by 3%.

Reflexes - 2 level(s)
Each level reduces ranged damage taken by 5%.

Rearguard - 1 level(s)
Reduces damage taken from rear attacks by 10%.

Unwavering - 3 level(s)
Each level increases block recovery rate by 5%.

The Soldier's Life - 3 level(s)
Each level increases health by 3%.

Close Quarters - 3 level(s)
Each level reduces all damage taken when armour is pierced by 5%.

Shield of the Empire - 1 level(s)
Reduces melee damage taken by 10%.

Notes
Changes unit name to King's Shields.

Razor-Sharp - 2 level(s)
Each level increases slashing damage by 3%.

Cold Blood - 2 level(s)
Each level increases slashing armour penetration by 3%.

Move as One - 1 level(s)
Increases movement speed by 10%.

Cold Blood - 2 level(s)
Each level increases slashing armour penetration by 3%.

Rushing Thunder - 3 level(s)
Each level increases Great Sweep's blocking break by 5%.

Bloodbath - 3 level(s)
Each level increases Colossal Strike's damage by 5%.

Assault Training - 3 level(s)
Each level increases Shatter Shield's blocking break by 5%.

Axe of the North - 1 level(s)
Each level increases damage dealt to infantry by 15%.

Notes
Changes unit name to Axes of the North.

Hone - 2 level(s)
Each level increases piercing damage by 3%.

Butcher's Bill - 2 level(s)
Each level increases blunt damage by 3%.

Breakthrough - 1 level(s)
Increases the number of enemies each soldier can attack with a single normal strike by 1.

Toughen Up - 2 level(s)
Each level increases slashing defence by 3%.

Reflexes - 2 level(s)
Each level reduces ranged damage taken by 5%.

Unswerving - 2 level(s)
Increases blunt defence by 3%.

Shield Bash - 1 level(s)
Shield bashing can now knock back enemies.

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Label	Icon	Name	Levels	Description
1		The Soldier's Life	2	Each level increases health by 3%.
2		Toughen Up	2	Each level increases piercing defence by 3%.
3		Reflexes	2	Each level reduces ranged damage taken by 5%.
4		Rearguard	1	Reduces damage taken from rear attacks by 10%.
5		Unwavering	3	Each level increases block recovery rate by 5%.
6		The Soldier's Life	3	Each level increases health by 3%.
7		Close Quarters	3	Each level reduces all damage taken when armour is pierced by 5%.
8		Shield of the Empire	1	Reduces melee damage taken by 10%. Notes Changes unit name to King's Shields.
9		Razor-Sharp	2	Each level increases slashing damage by 3%.
10		Cold Blood	2	Each level increases slashing armour penetration by 3%.
11		Move as One	1	Increases movement speed by 10%.
12		Cold Blood	2	Each level increases slashing armour penetration by 3%.
13		Rushing Thunder	3	Each level increases Great Sweep's blocking break by 5%.
14		Bloodbath	3	Each level increases Colossal Strike's damage by 5%.
15		Assault Training	3	Each level increases Shatter Shield's blocking break by 5%.
16		Axe of the North	1	Each level increases damage dealt to infantry by 15%. Notes Changes unit name to Axes of the North.
17		Hone	2	Each level increases piercing damage by 3%.
18		Butcher's Bill	2	Each level increases blunt damage by 3%.
19		Breakthrough	1	Increases the number of enemies each soldier can attack with a single normal strike by 1.
20		Toughen Up	2	Each level increases slashing defence by 3%.
21		Reflexes	2	Each level reduces ranged damage taken by 5%.
22		Unswerving	2	Increases blunt defence by 3%.
23		Shield Bash	1	Shield bashing can now knock back enemies.

Mastery

Varangian Guards do not have mastery.