The Age of Wonders 4: Unleashing the Ultimate Rulers

In Age Of Wonders 4, players can experience a fresh high fantasy twist on 4x strategy games. They have the opportunity to build their own empires with a remarkable level of personalization. With the ability to choose their culture, physical and mental traits, height, mounts, and even the appearance of their ruler, players can forge their own unique faction from scratch.

Aside from the custom faction option, the game also includes premade factions with distinct rulers. These rulers conform to the traditional fantasy archetypes of each race and offer different strengths and playstyles. For those who prefer to bypass the customization process and jump right into Age Of Wonders 4 with a formidable ruler, here are some top choices.

14 Logarr The Shipscourge

With the recent release of the Dragon Dawn DLC for Age of Wonders 4, gamers now have access to an array of exciting new features. The DLC includes the addition of fresh units, a captivating game mode, a new race, and the highly anticipated inclusion of dragons. Among the notable additions is the introduction of the Dragon Lord, a distinctive leader type that allows players to personalize and design their very own mythical creature. Furthermore, four new premade rulers have been unveiled, with two of them serving as Dragon Lords and the other two leading the newly introduced Lizardfolk race. Each ruler possesses formidable capabilities, leaving players with an extensive pool of choices when deciding who will guide their faction towards greatness.

Logarr the Shipscourge, the Leader of the Crocodile Corsairs faction, is a formidable Champion and the sole lizardfolk ruler within the game. With extensive expertise as a seafarer and raider, he navigates the vast expanse of the oceans in pursuit of unsuspecting ships, mercilessly plundering their treasures while disregarding the lives aboard.

Logarr the Shipscourge has 3 Chaos affinity and 3 Nature Affinity, making him a rather versatile leader. He is ideal for a balanced, broad playstyle.

13 Artica

Artica, the leader of the Gnarled Frostlings faction, holds the title of wizard king. As a wizard king, she enjoys numerous advantages, such as a 10% increase in mana income, 5 additional world map and combat casting points per level, and the ability to utilize Overchannel during combat. Artica's ultimate goal is to transform the world into a frigid haven, where her loyal frostling minions can exist in a frozen paradise.

Artica has 3 Shadow Affinity, 2 Chaos Affinity, and 1 Nature Affinity, making her a well-rounded ruler that can be chosen for plenty of different playstyles and tomes.

12 Dafal Dea

Dafal Dea, the esteemed leader of the Crusading Croakers faction, assumes the role of a Wizard King adorned with 5 Order Affinities and 1 Nature Affinity. Exhibiting an unwavering devotion and incorruptible moral compass, he guides his loyal disciples on a sacred mission to restore equilibrium and vanquish the forces of disorder.

Dafal Dea introduces an innovative amphibian element to the traditional Order-based factions. His distinctive qualities and the fervent Tome of Zeal set him apart from other feudal culture factions. While not the most dominant Order faction in the game, Dafal Dea remains a reliable choice.

11 Tempest

Tempest, the Leader of the Stormborn Draconians faction, is a Wizard King who governs over the lizardfolk, despite his human appearance. With his advanced age and wisdom, he proficiently utilizes potent destruction magic, aptly living up to his name, to relentlessly overpower his adversaries.

Tempest possesses a respectable amount of magical offense with his 4 Astral Affinity, complemented by 1 Materium Affinity and 1 Shadow Affinity. Although he may not boast the same level of specialization as certain other Astral rulers, players can still engage with him to a satisfying extent.

10 Nekron The Risen

Nekron The Risen, the leader of the Cruel Deathbringers faction, is a formidable Wizard King who offers players an array of magical abilities. As a merciless necromancer fueled by anguish and demise, his ultimate goal is to establish an empire of the undead and constantly hunts for new souls to devour.

9 Ham Binger

Nekron The Risen possesses equal proficiency in 2 Chaos Affinity, 2 Astral Affinity, and 2 Shadow Affinity. This versatile expertise enables him to adapt seamlessly to various roles, granting players the freedom to shape their unique playstyle and harness the full potential of their magical abilities.

Ham Binger, the esteemed leader of the Wholesome Halflings faction, embodies the essence of a true Champion. With unparalleled prowess, he reaps the rewards of +10% additional gold income from cities and is bestowed with +20 city stability. Furthermore, non-hero units under his command thrive, benefiting from a remarkable +20% experience boost. Remarkably, Ham's exceptional leadership skills grant him +100 starting relations with free cities, fostering harmonious relationships wherever he treads. Immersed in the beauty of nature, he sustains his people as they flourish within their welcoming and closely-knit community.

8 Gloom Hooknail

With 4 Nature Affinity and 2 Order Affinity, Ham Binger is ideal for a supportive playstyle as he possesses the ability to heal units and summon natural forces whenever the player's land requires defense.

Gloom Hooknail, the leader of the Necrotic Goblins faction, is a Champion ideally suited for players who prefer a more cunning and elusive approach. Her sinister objective revolves around inflicting suffering and malice throughout the realm, while motivating her subordinates to mercilessly battle for her favor until their dying breath.

7 Karissa The Red

Karissa The Red, the formidable Wizard King, commands the Enthralled Orcs faction, cunningly drawing bands of orcoids into her loyal army. With her mastery of pyromancy, she unleashes devastating fire spells that ignite the earth and obliterate any obstacles in their fiery wake.

Karissa The Red has 5 Chaos Affinity and 1 Nature Affinity, making her ideal for those looking to cause as much mayhem and damage as possible.

6 Tugrum Hammerhall

Tugrum Hammerhall, the Leader of the Mountain Dwarves faction, is a Champion specifically suited for players who prefer a defensive playstyle. Nestled among the towering peaks of the realm, the dwarves possess remarkable resilience and place great importance on their society's expertise in construction, smithing, and stoneworking.

Fittingly, Tugrum Hammerhall has 5 Materium Affinity and 1 Nature Affinity, allowing her to wield stone as a weapon and forge unbreakable defensive lines.

5 Enam’Ru Enkhanan

Enam’Ru Enkhanan, the esteemed figurehead of the Arcane Tigrans faction, assumes the role of the feline Champion while adeptly manipulating weather patterns for their strategic benefit. Her unwavering dedication lies in the pursuit of arcane mastery, enabling her to safeguard her people and territories with an unwavering ferocity, fueled by the enigmatic secrets of magic.

4 Zaethyl Silverleaf

Enam’Ru Enkhanan possesses 5 Astral Affinity and 1 Shadow Affinity, granting players the ability to unleash powerful weather destruction magic, including thunder, lightning, and wind. This enables them to strike their adversaries with great force while also providing protection to allied units.

As the head of the First Elves faction, Zaethyl Silverleaf reigns as a formidable Champion skilled in the arts of both archery and magic. Immortal and elfkin in nature, she is driven by a deep-rooted desire to safeguard the inherent grace and beauty of the natural world for generations to come. However, in the face of her adversaries, Zaethyl is unafraid to summon mighty creatures and wield destructive magic to ensure their demise.

3 Aerelazaliar The Vainglorious

Having 3 Nature Affinity, 2 Order Affinity, and 1 Astral Affinity, Zaethyl Silverleaf possesses a varied range of spells to wield. With her race's enhanced magical attack damage, she reigns as a formidable ruler, boasting countless choices to unleash devastating spells upon her adversaries.

Aerelazaliar The Vainglorious, leader of the Starbred Salamanders faction, is a formidable Dragon Lord. With his powerful hero abilities and the ability to earn additional gold through the Dragon Hoard mechanic, he counters the high upkeep cost of fielding such a mighty creature. Despite the disadvantage of not being able to equip hero items, Aerelazaliar remains a force to be reckoned with.

Aerelazaliar The Vainglorious commences with 4 Astral Affinity, 2 Nature Affinity, and 1 Chaos Affinity. As an Astral dragon, he procures an extra Astral Affinity, bringing his total to 5, thus amplifying his overall strength.

2 Tephradenir

Tephradenir, the Leader of the Worldscorcher Cultists, holds the mighty title of Dragon Lord, which brings both advantages and disadvantages. However, despite these setbacks, Tephradenir stands as one of the most formidable rulers in the game, capable of decimating armies and ravaging lands. As the game progresses, his power only amplifies, granting him access to unique abilities and even earning him additional Affinity.

Tephradenir commences his journey with 3 Chaos Affinity, 3 Astral Affinity, and 1 Nature Affinity. As a Chaos Dragon, he acquires an extra Chaos Affinity, increasing the count to 4. This additional Affinity bestows upon him remarkable adaptability and the ability to tailor his rule according to his desires.

1 Meshara The Radiant

Meshara The Radiant, the esteemed leader of the Human Paladins faction, is not only a Champion but also stands as one of the most formidable rulers within the confines of the game. Exalted as the prophetess of her people, she fearlessly guides the paladins in their unwavering pursuit of justice, infusing their spirits with undying devotion and unyielding resolve.

Meshara The Radiant possesses the most powerful individual Affinity among all rulers, with a notable score of 6 in Order. Although this specialization limits the options for diverse playstyles, it enables players to effectively utilize Order tomes and abilities.

Age Of Wonders 4 is currently accessible on PS4, Xbox Series X/S, and Windows platforms.