# Varangians the civ, & Varangian Guard the regional unit **URL:** \ **Category:** II - Discussion\ **Created:** [August 2, 2026, 9:50am UTC](https://forums.ageofempires.com/t/varangians-the-civ-varangian-guard-the-regional-unit/288419 "2026-08-02T09:50:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Prokman7582](https://forums.ageofempires.com/user_avatar/forums.ageofempires.com/prokman7582/32/144555_2.png) [@Prokman7582](https://forums.ageofempires.com/u/Prokman7582)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2026, 9:50am UTC](https://forums.ageofempires.com/t/varangians-the-civ-varangian-guard-the-regional-unit/288419/1 "2026-08-02T09:50:39Z")
**Varangians** **as a civ** ; despite that it clearly isn’t a discrete nation, I will live with it. **Varangian Guard** **as a unit other than Byzantine** ; they must be kidding! ⚠ ![image](https://forums.ageofempires.com/uploads/default/original/3X/b/6/b6fcfd6c6690594800dfce880e821ac676badcb8.png) Thousands kilometers of posts have been written in this forum, regarding **Varangian Guard** as a second Byzantine UU, only to become regional unit of the civs of the north (Vikings, Danes, Saxons, Varangians) in the upcoming expansion. > **[Varangian Guard](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Varangian_Guard)** > > The Varangian Guard (Greek: Τάγμα τῶν Βαράγγων, romanized: Tágma tōn Varángōn) was an elite unit of the Byzantine army from the 10th to the 14th century who served as personal bodyguards to the Byzantine emperors. The Varangian Guard was known for being primarily composed of recruits from Northern Europe, including mainly Norsemen from Scandinavia but also Anglo-Saxons from England. The recruitment of distant fighters from outside Byzantium to serve as the emperor's personal guard was pursued T... PS: At least **Cheirosiphon** 🔥 is remaining to be given to Byzantines, to be the UU with defensive characteristics that will make their Castle drop play more versatile, since the beloved Cataphract can be considered situational, reactive (which is good, reaction is a defensive element as well). ---
**Author:** ![smiki5five](https://forums.ageofempires.com/user_avatar/forums.ageofempires.com/smiki5five/32/217730_2.png) [@smiki5five](https://forums.ageofempires.com/u/smiki5five)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2026, 9:53am UTC](https://forums.ageofempires.com/t/varangians-the-civ-varangian-guard-the-regional-unit/288419/2 "2026-08-02T09:53:28Z")
It could be a team unit shared by Varangians’ allies. Would be kinda oversaturated if Vikings and Danes can train it too. ---
**Author:** ![JuryMusic777863](https://forums.ageofempires.com/user_avatar/forums.ageofempires.com/jurymusic777863/32/161679_2.png) [@JuryMusic777863](https://forums.ageofempires.com/u/JuryMusic777863)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2026, 10:07am UTC](https://forums.ageofempires.com/t/varangians-the-civ-varangian-guard-the-regional-unit/288419/3 "2026-08-02T10:07:54Z")
The Varangians were mercenaries on their path from Sweden through the region towards the South. ---
**Author:** ![Skadidesu](https://forums.ageofempires.com/user_avatar/forums.ageofempires.com/skadidesu/32/172243_2.png) [@Skadidesu](https://forums.ageofempires.com/u/Skadidesu)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2026, 10:51am UTC](https://forums.ageofempires.com/t/varangians-the-civ-varangian-guard-the-regional-unit/288419/5 "2026-08-02T10:51:53Z")
Varangian Guard is a regional unit so it will likely be available to the Byzantines. Why else add it to the game, right? Most logical would be if they were only available to the Byzantines and Varangians. > [@smiki5five](#): > > It could be a team unit shared by Varangians’ allies. They were introduced as a regional unit and not as a shared unique unit. ---
**Author:** ![Prokman7582](https://forums.ageofempires.com/user_avatar/forums.ageofempires.com/prokman7582/32/144555_2.png) [@Prokman7582](https://forums.ageofempires.com/u/Prokman7582)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2026, 11:39am UTC](https://forums.ageofempires.com/t/varangians-the-civ-varangian-guard-the-regional-unit/288419/6 "2026-08-02T11:39:30Z")
> [@Skadidesu](#): > > Varangian Guard is a regional unit so it will likely be available to the Byzantines. Why else add it to the game, right? Let’s hope for the best then? Devs have revealed a scene with Varangian Guard in Byzantine colors next to a Byzantine castle, but it can easily be a scene from the Hardrada campaign, and nothing more: ![image](https://forums.ageofempires.com/uploads/default/original/3X/b/f/bf31bb8ec7f2db9771e647bcfb945cd595efa63c.jpeg) Perhaps Varangian Guard is an anti “anti-shock infantry units” shock infantry? ---
**Author:** ![Mahazona](https://forums.ageofempires.com/user_avatar/forums.ageofempires.com/mahazona/32/213405_2.png) [@Mahazona](https://forums.ageofempires.com/u/Mahazona)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2026, 11:52am UTC](https://forums.ageofempires.com/t/varangians-the-civ-varangian-guard-the-regional-unit/288419/7 "2026-08-02T11:52:50Z")
> [@Skadidesu](#): > > Most logical would be if they were only available to the Byzantines and Varangians. Why not for saxons? they too worked as Varangian guards after the Norman conquest of England. ---
**Author:** ![Prokman7582](https://forums.ageofempires.com/user_avatar/forums.ageofempires.com/prokman7582/32/144555_2.png) [@Prokman7582](https://forums.ageofempires.com/u/Prokman7582)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2026, 11:57am UTC](https://forums.ageofempires.com/t/varangians-the-civ-varangian-guard-the-regional-unit/288419/8 "2026-08-02T11:57:18Z")
> [@Mahazona](#): > > Why not for saxons? they too worked as Varangian guards after the Norman conquest of England. You probably mean Varangians; the term Varangian Guard refers only to the elite guard of the Byzantine emperor, composed by Varangians. That’s why I said devs are kidding us. ---
**Author:** ![Mahazona](https://forums.ageofempires.com/user_avatar/forums.ageofempires.com/mahazona/32/213405_2.png) [@Mahazona](https://forums.ageofempires.com/u/Mahazona)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2026, 11:59am UTC](https://forums.ageofempires.com/t/varangians-the-civ-varangian-guard-the-regional-unit/288419/9 "2026-08-02T11:59:26Z")
> [@Prokman7582](#): > > the term Varangian Guard refers only to the elite guard of the Byzantine emperor, composed by Varangians. Saxons also were employed as Varangian Guards. See this first part. > **[Varangian Guard](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Varangian_Guard)** > > The Varangian Guard (Greek: Τάγμα τῶν Βαράγγων, romanized: Tágma tōn Varángōn) was an elite unit of the Byzantine army from the 10th to the 14th century who served as personal bodyguards to the Byzantine emperors. The Varangian Guard was known for being primarily composed of recruits from Northern Europe, including mainly Norsemen from Scandinavia but also Anglo-Saxons from England. The recruitment of distant fighters from outside Byzantium to serve as the emperor's personal guard was pursued T... ---
**Author:** ![Prokman7582](https://forums.ageofempires.com/user_avatar/forums.ageofempires.com/prokman7582/32/144555_2.png) [@Prokman7582](https://forums.ageofempires.com/u/Prokman7582)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2026, 12:02pm UTC](https://forums.ageofempires.com/t/varangians-the-civ-varangian-guard-the-regional-unit/288419/10 "2026-08-02T12:02:22Z")
> [@Mahazona](#): > > Saxons also were employed as Varangian Guards. See this first part. It says that _"The Varangian Guard_ **(of the Byzantines)** _was known for being primarily composed of recruits from Northern Europe, including mainly Norsemen from Scandinavia but also Anglo-Saxons from England"._ Not that Norsemen or Anglo-Saxons formed any guard with that name for themselves. ---
**Author:** ![Skadidesu](https://forums.ageofempires.com/user_avatar/forums.ageofempires.com/skadidesu/32/172243_2.png) [@Skadidesu](https://forums.ageofempires.com/u/Skadidesu)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2026, 12:09pm UTC](https://forums.ageofempires.com/t/varangians-the-civ-varangian-guard-the-regional-unit/288419/11 "2026-08-02T12:09:46Z")
That’s the ethnicity of the Guard and not what civilisations actually fielded them. They might have been of Saxon or Norse origin but they were never fielded in England or Scandinavia. ---
**Author:** ![Mahazona](https://forums.ageofempires.com/user_avatar/forums.ageofempires.com/mahazona/32/213405_2.png) [@Mahazona](https://forums.ageofempires.com/u/Mahazona)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2026, 12:10pm UTC](https://forums.ageofempires.com/t/varangians-the-civ-varangian-guard-the-regional-unit/288419/12 "2026-08-02T12:10:54Z")
> [@Prokman7582](#): > > Not that Norsemen or Anglo-Saxons formed any guard with that name for themselves. Who said anything about themselves? What Im saying is if all the viking civis ingame has this unit as a shared unit it should be given to Saxons and Byzantines.Maybe be even Slavs should get them. ---
**Author:** ![Mahazona](https://forums.ageofempires.com/user_avatar/forums.ageofempires.com/mahazona/32/213405_2.png) [@Mahazona](https://forums.ageofempires.com/u/Mahazona)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2026, 12:12pm UTC](https://forums.ageofempires.com/t/varangians-the-civ-varangian-guard-the-regional-unit/288419/13 "2026-08-02T12:12:48Z")
> [@Skadidesu](#): > > They might have been of Saxon or Norse origin but they were never fielded in England or Scandinavia. Then why should the civi varangian have them? it should be a UU for Byzantines only. ---
**Author:** ![Skadidesu](https://forums.ageofempires.com/user_avatar/forums.ageofempires.com/skadidesu/32/172243_2.png) [@Skadidesu](https://forums.ageofempires.com/u/Skadidesu)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2026, 12:15pm UTC](https://forums.ageofempires.com/t/varangians-the-civ-varangian-guard-the-regional-unit/288419/14 "2026-08-02T12:15:53Z")
Realistically they shouldn’t. ---
**Author:** ![SchwarzeGarde49](https://forums.ageofempires.com/user_avatar/forums.ageofempires.com/schwarzegarde49/32/144601_2.png) [@SchwarzeGarde49](https://forums.ageofempires.com/u/SchwarzeGarde49)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2026, 12:28pm UTC](https://forums.ageofempires.com/t/varangians-the-civ-varangian-guard-the-regional-unit/288419/15 "2026-08-02T12:28:12Z")
Thinking of it, that dlc would be a good occasion to introduce a mercenary mechanic where you could give some of your troops as tribute to an ally. Opinion? ---
**Author:** ![Mahazona](https://forums.ageofempires.com/user_avatar/forums.ageofempires.com/mahazona/32/213405_2.png) [@Mahazona](https://forums.ageofempires.com/u/Mahazona)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2026, 12:35pm UTC](https://forums.ageofempires.com/t/varangians-the-civ-varangian-guard-the-regional-unit/288419/16 "2026-08-02T12:35:47Z")
Pretty sure it would be impossible to balance.It will be worse than resource slinging. There is a mechanic for faster or slower unit production for Macedonians maybe that could be given to a civi. ---
**Author:** ![KHANATTILA](https://forums.ageofempires.com/user_avatar/forums.ageofempires.com/khanattila/32/30722_2.png) [@KHANATTILA](https://forums.ageofempires.com/u/KHANATTILA)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2026, 12:40pm UTC](https://forums.ageofempires.com/t/varangians-the-civ-varangian-guard-the-regional-unit/288419/17 "2026-08-02T12:40:07Z")
> [@SchwarzeGarde49](#): > > Thinking of it, that dlc would be a good occasion to introduce a mercenary mechanic where you could give some of your troops as tribute to an ally. > Opinion? I don’t know, I’m thinking of Cuman Mercenaries, which is still a dubious UT. ---
**Author:** ![UnAutreVoyage](https://forums.ageofempires.com/user_avatar/forums.ageofempires.com/unautrevoyage/32/158016_2.png) [@UnAutreVoyage](https://forums.ageofempires.com/u/UnAutreVoyage)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2026, 3:31pm UTC](https://forums.ageofempires.com/t/varangians-the-civ-varangian-guard-the-regional-unit/288419/18 "2026-08-02T15:31:37Z")
I like Varangian Guards for Vikings, Danes, Slavs and Byzantines… ---
**Author:** ![Skadidesu](https://forums.ageofempires.com/user_avatar/forums.ageofempires.com/skadidesu/32/172243_2.png) [@Skadidesu](https://forums.ageofempires.com/u/Skadidesu)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2026, 3:43pm UTC](https://forums.ageofempires.com/t/varangians-the-civ-varangian-guard-the-regional-unit/288419/19 "2026-08-02T15:43:39Z")
Mercenary mechanics could be really cool and super unbalanced. Imagine a new Imperial Age building that allows you to train your allies Castle Unique unit. You can probably immediately think of some insanely unbalanced combinations. But wouldn’t that be kinda fun? Not as a ranked feature of course. ---
**Author:** ![Ekarlath](https://forums.ageofempires.com/user_avatar/forums.ageofempires.com/ekarlath/32/146833_2.png) [@Ekarlath](https://forums.ageofempires.com/u/Ekarlath)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2026, 5:05pm UTC](https://forums.ageofempires.com/t/varangians-the-civ-varangian-guard-the-regional-unit/288419/20 "2026-08-02T17:05:13Z")
> [@Prokman7582](#): > > **Varangians** **as a civ** ; despite that it clearly isn’t a discrete nation, I will live with it. “were Viking warriors, traders and **SETTLERS** …” The “Settler” statment makes them a group capable of becoming a nation, cause they expand. Civ in the game are not Nation based, nor empire based, but cultural based. So yes currently the Varangian are eligible as a Civ due to their settling history. > [@Prokman7582](#): > > **Varangian Guard** **as a unit other than Byzantine** ; they must be kidding! Varangian Guards were hired a lot by Byzantine, but not only. > [@Prokman7582](#): > > regarding **Varangian Guard** as a second Byzantine UU, only to become regional unit of the civs of the north (Vikings, Danes, Saxons, Varangians) in the upcoming expansion. Byzantine could be rewamped a way they could access them without changing their original identity. If they add some Twin UT like in Chronicles, for Castle and Imperial, they could allow every civ to be played many different ways, including allowing the Byzantine to access the Varangian Guards. And I honestly think it could be a pretty interesting enhancement for many civs, to be able to focus on themselve, or to rely on foreigner mercenaries via UT choices. ---
**Author:** ![Prokman7582](https://forums.ageofempires.com/user_avatar/forums.ageofempires.com/prokman7582/32/144555_2.png) [@Prokman7582](https://forums.ageofempires.com/u/Prokman7582)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2026, 6:49pm UTC](https://forums.ageofempires.com/t/varangians-the-civ-varangian-guard-the-regional-unit/288419/21 "2026-08-02T18:49:06Z")
> [@Ekarlath](#): > > Varangian Guards were hired a lot by Byzantine, but not only. > [@Prokman7582](#): > > You probably mean Varangians; the term Varangian Guard refers only to the elite guard of the Byzantine emperor, composed by Varangians. That’s why I said devs are kidding us. The Varangian Guard refers only to one specific thing. I’m not refering to Varangians, as warriors in general. [Next page](https://forums.ageofempires.com/t/varangians-the-civ-varangian-guard-the-regional-unit/288419.md?page=2)