Harald Hardrada, the “Thunderbolt of the North,” is one of the most aggressive and singularly focused leaders in Civilization VI. A playthrough as Norway is a masterclass in calculated aggression, naval supremacy, and economic warfare. For players who relish the thrill of conquest and the spoils of war, a domination victory with Harald Hardrada is one of the most satisfying paths to victory. This guide will provide a comprehensive, in-depth strategy for achieving global domination with the Norwegian civilization, drawing on analysis from the player community and professional gamers.
The Viking Philosophy: A Symphony of Pillage and Conquest
Analysis on forums shows that the most successful Norway players embrace a simple, yet brutal, philosophy: the seas are your domain, and everything on the coast is yours for the taking. Norway’s unique abilities are all geared towards a hyper-aggressive early and mid-game, leveraging a powerful navy to cripple opponents and fuel your own expansion.
- Leader Ability: Thunderbolt of the North: This allows all naval melee units to perform coastal raids, a unique action that pillages tiles without consuming a unit’s entire turn. This is the cornerstone of your economy, generating science, culture, faith, and gold from your enemies’ hard work.
- Civilization Ability: Knarr: This ability allows units to enter ocean tiles after researching Shipbuilding, much earlier than other civilizations. It also allows embarked units to traverse water tiles without ending their turn, enabling swift amphibious assaults.
- Unique Unit: Viking Longship: Replacing the Galley, the Viking Longship is an ancient-era naval melee unit that is stronger than its replacement and can heal in neutral territory. It is the key to your early-game dominance.
- Unique Building: Stave Church: Replacing the Temple, the Stave Church provides a standard adjacency bonus from woods to your Holy Site, and all coastal resources in the city provide +1 production. This building is a powerhouse that can be leveraged for a surprising variety of strategies.
Phase 1: The Age of the Longship (Ancient and Classical Eras)
The early game is where a Norway domination victory is won or lost. Your primary objective is to establish naval supremacy as quickly as possible and use it to your advantage. Many professional gamers suggest that a slow start as Norway is a losing start.
Initial Build Order and Tech Path
A popular strategy is to prioritize naval production above all else. Your first few turns should be laser-focused on getting your Viking Longships into the water.
- Initial Build: Your first production should be a Scout. This is crucial for exploring your immediate surroundings, finding tribal villages, and, most importantly, locating your first coastal victim. Follow this with a Slinger or Warrior for basic defense and to meet the eureka moments for Archery and Bronze Working.
- First Techs: Your first and most important technology is Sailing. This unlocks the Viking Longship. Once Sailing is complete, make a beeline for Shipbuilding. This will allow your navy to enter ocean tiles and heal in neutral territory, giving you a massive mobility advantage over your rivals.
- First Civics: Rush Code of Laws to unlock your initial policy cards. Your primary target is Political Philosophy to establish an Oligarchy government. The +4 combat strength for all melee units (including your Viking Longships) is a significant boost to your early conquests.
- Spam Viking Longships: Once you have Sailing, it’s time to build your armada. Use the Maritime Industries policy card for a +100% production bonus towards ancient and classical naval units. A fleet of 4-6 Viking Longships is a formidable force that can take down early coastal cities.
Executing the Raid: Your Economic Engine
With your fleet of Viking Longships, it’s time to declare war. Do not hesitate. Your early wars are not about capturing vast swathes of territory; they are about generating yields.
- Pillage Everything: The coastal raid ability is your primary source of income. Pillaging mines provides science and gold, while pillaging pastures, plantations, and quarries yields culture and faith. These yields are not just a bonus; they are essential for keeping your research and civic progression on par with, or even ahead of, your opponents.
- Target Vulnerable Cities: Cities without walls are your primary targets. A concentrated attack from your Longship fleet can quickly bring a city’s health down, allowing you to capture it. Remember to rotate your damaged units out to heal in neutral waters.
- Control the Seas: Use your naval superiority to hunt down any enemy naval units and clear barbarian encampments from the coast. This will ensure your raiding parties can operate with impunity.
Phase 2: The Berserker’s Fury (Medieval and Renaissance Eras)
As you transition into the medieval era, you’ll unlock another powerful tool for your conquest: the Berserker. This unique unit, which replaces the Man-at-Arms, is a high-risk, high-reward offensive powerhouse.
Unlocking and Utilizing Berserkers
- Military Tactics: Researching Military Tactics unlocks the Berserker. This should be a priority as you enter the medieval era.
- Pillaging Power: Berserkers use one less movement point to pillage, making them incredibly efficient at devastating enemy lands.
- Offensive Powerhouse: Berserkers have a +10 combat strength bonus when attacking but a -5 penalty when defending. This makes them ideal for overwhelming defenders but vulnerable to counterattacks.
- Synergy with Naval Power: Use your fleet to transport your Berserkers to enemy shores. Norway’s ability to embark and disembark units without ending their turn allows for swift and surprising amphibious assaults.
Mid-Game Strategy: A Combined Arms Approach
The player community consensus is that Berserkers should not be used as a standalone force. Their defensive penalty makes them vulnerable. A combined arms approach is essential.
- Army Composition: Support your Berserkers with ranged units like Crossbowmen to soften up targets before the charge. Siege units like catapults and trebuchets are also crucial for taking down city walls.
- Promotion Choices: For your Berserkers, the Battlecry promotion (+7 combat strength vs. melee and ranged units) is an excellent choice to further amplify their offensive capabilities. The Amphibious promotion is also highly synergistic, removing all penalties when attacking from the sea or across a river.
- The Stave Church and a Religious Sub-Strategy: The Stave Church is a surprisingly powerful tool for a domination victory. If you can found a religion, the “Work Ethic” belief (Holy Site adjacency bonus provides production) combined with the Stave Church’s adjacency bonus from woods can turn your cities into production powerhouses. The “Crusade” belief (+10 combat strength in cities of your religion) is also a natural fit for a domination game. The faith generated can be used to purchase land units with the Grand Master’s Chapel.
Phase 3: Global Domination (Industrial Era and Beyond)
By the industrial era, you should have a significant naval and economic advantage. Your goal now is to leverage this to achieve a domination victory.
Upgrading Your Navy and Army
- The Modern Viking Fleet: Your Viking Longships will eventually become obsolete, but your naval melee units retain their coastal raiding ability. Upgrade them to Caravels and eventually to Destroyers. Your navy should also include Battleships for bombarding cities and Aircraft Carriers for projecting air power.
- Combined Arms: Support your naval assaults with land-based siege units like Bombards and Artillery to take down more heavily fortified cities. Your land army should be composed of modern units like Mechanized Infantry and Modern Armor.
Winning the Game
- Focus on Capitals: To win a domination victory, you must capture the original capital of every other civilization.
- Maintain Momentum: Don’t let your wars drag on. Use your superior mobility and economy to strike hard and fast.
- Adapt to the Late Game: While your early game advantages are significant, be prepared to build a balanced late-game army with a mix of naval, land, and air units to secure your victory.
Wonders of the North: Essential Wonders for a Norway Domination
The right wonders can significantly amplify Norway’s strengths. Analysis on forums shows a clear hierarchy of wonders that are most beneficial for a Norway domination game.
- Tier 1: Essential Wonders:
- Venetian Arsenal: This is the single most important wonder for a Norway domination victory. It creates a second naval unit for free each time you train one. Combined with your production bonus, this allows you to build an overwhelming armada.
- Great Lighthouse: The +1 movement for all naval units is a massive advantage in the early game, allowing for faster exploration and raiding.
- Colossus: The extra trade route and Great Admiral points are invaluable for a coastal empire.
- Tier 2: Powerful Wonders:
- Terracotta Army: The promotion level for all your current units is a huge power spike in the early to mid-game.
- Alhambra: The extra military policy slot is incredibly valuable for a domination victory.
- Kilwa Kisiwani: If you can become the suzerain of two or more city-states of the same type, this wonder provides a massive boost to your empire’s yields.
The Inexorable Viking Tide
A domination victory with Harald Hardrada is a testament to the power of a focused, aggressive strategy. By embracing the Viking philosophy of pillage and conquest, you can turn the oceans into your personal highways, crippling your enemies and fueling your own inexorable advance. From the first raids of your Viking Longships to the final, decisive assaults of your modern armada, a well-played Norway game is a relentless tide of destruction that will sweep you to a satisfying and decisive victory. The player community agrees: for those who love to conquer, there are few experiences in Civilization VI as thrilling as leading the Thunderbolt of the North to global domination.