Conqueror’s Blade: Helheim features armour that seeks to immerse players in the full experience of Viking battles, whether you’re commanding a ferocious band of warriors or throwing yourself into the thick of it. Inspired by legends like Harald Hardrada, the pantheon of Norse gods, and so much more, the designs of Attire in Helheim vary from traditional to interpretative.

We sat down with Anton Mamhionov, Creative Director at Booming Tech, to talk through the ideas and inspiration behind the new cosmetic items in Helheim.

The Hero and Unit Attire of Helheim takes inspiration from Norse mythology and its gods, as well as the mortal Vikings themselves; what other real-life history did you take inspiration from for the design of the Attires?

We partially took inspiration from Scandinavian mythology for the design of the Loptr's Hide and Bringer of Thunder Hero Attires. Regarding the real-life history applied, we believe that Helheim’s unit attire is the best representation of it—-we used traditional historical clothing and elements to create a simple, minimalistic image of a Scandinavian Viking warrior.

Obviously, the Bringer of Thunder Hero Attire is inspired by a real-life Varangian Guard’s armour, mixed with elements that refer to the god Thor.



When conceptualising the Attires for Helheim, were there any specific Norse legends or Viking history you looked to for inspiration?

Many actually. Our team members are enthusiastic about researching history and mythology alongside creating fictional worlds based on those. We mostly went with historical references related to the so-called “last Viking King”, Harald Hardrada, as the main inspiration. This persona has also created a strong link to our Varangian Guards unit, as it is known that Hardrada used to be a commander of those.

The Einherjar Unit Attire is possibly the most realistic Unit Attire yet; minimalistic with no horns and mostly fabric—-why did you decide to design it this way?

Many attires in games try to exaggerate luxury or armour weight—-and our game also did it on multiple occasions because it appeals to certain categories of players. We actually had some horns and crazy armour as the first concept for this unit attire, but what’s the point?

We decided to scrap it all and decided that it would be interesting to create a simple, historically-authentic unit attire to let players enjoy their fantasy of leading a group of Vikings as they appeared back in that era, during certain battles while defending their holds.

It is one of the teams’ most favourite attires among all existing now.



Do you hope players will feel god-like when they wear the Hero Attires in-game?

We absolutely do—-but then you reach Level 100 and do not feel like a god anymore!

Check out more behind-the-scenes peeks at Conqueror’s Blade: Helheim with our look at making a sequel season, new stormy weather effects on the reworked maps, and weapon skins

As civilisation has advanced, things like practising good personal hygiene have become a given, and we may expect ancient cultures to have neglected things we take for granted today—-such as bathing. However, we’d be wrong in that assumption. One of the most well-known and celebrated people, the Vikings, were actually incredibly clean!

Moreso than other Europeans of the time, Vikings prided themselves on keeping up appearances—literally. They took such great care to stay clean, it was almost ritualistic.

Let’s explore some of the ways that the Scandinavians kept squeaky clean.
Vikings reportedly bathed at least once a week, blowing other Europeans out of the water when it came to hygiene. Not only this, but they even had a specific day for bathing—Saturday. In Icelandic, Saturday is called laugardagur (bathing day), with other Viking colonies’ languages following suit with lørdag in Danish, lördag in Swedish, and lauantai in Finnish.

Baths ranged from skinny-dipping in natural hot springs to taking a plunge in ice-cold rivers (depending on the season) or even visiting heated bathhouses. While electricity and gas heat was not around when the Vikings roamed, bath temperature could be adjusted by hot and cold water pipes running from nearby springs, just like famous Viking Snorri Sturluson built at his farm in Reykholt, Iceland, around 1210 A.D.
Viking men and women were invested in practising personal hygiene, which stretched beyond just a weekly bath. Vikings combed their hair, changed their clothes, and had a morning ritual of washing their face, hands, and hair. Viking men ensured their beards were trimmed and tidy as a symbol of masculinity and were often buried with their combs.

Archaeological excavations of Viking sites have revealed objects like combs, tweezers, razors, and toothpicks to have been among their possessions. Usually made from animal bones, antlers, or metal, these personal items are, in fact, the most common finds on Viking dig sites—not swords or axes, as you might expect!

A verse from the Viking poem Reginsmol even cites, "combed and washed shall the wise man go.”


A Viking comb made from bone from the exhibition ‘We Call Them Vikings’ produced by The Swedish History Museum
In addition to their fastidious bathing, brushing, and combing habits, the Vikings also appeared to perform dental hygiene. Many Viking skeletons have been unearthed with shockingly good teeth, even by today's standards. Historians believe Vikings used twigs to make simple toothbrushes to keep their pearly whites shining, but a low-sugar diet didn’t hurt either.

While some Viking skulls have been found with chipped or missing teeth, this is probably due to the intense lifestyle and battles they faced and not poor dental hygiene.
As we’ve seen, the Vikings were pretty obsessive about hygiene, but did it extend to the outhouse? Excavated Viking latrine sites uncovered evidence that Vikings used moss as toilet paper and would even use their own expulsions to make a unique item for later use.

Touchwood fungus would be collected from tree bark and boiled in urine for several days before forming into a felt. The sodium nitrate in the urine would allow the felt to smoulder, meaning the fires set by the Vikings would last longer, and light and heat sources could be taken on the go.

Check out more Conqueror’s Tales about the Viking era with our look at festivals, the drinking habits of the Vikings, the origin of Thursday, and more!

A warrior is only as good as their weapon, and in Conqueror’s Blade: Helheim, those weapons are as beautiful as they are deadly. Inspired by Viking weaponry of the legendary era of epic raids and battles, we hope the weapon skins of this season bring you back to this time with their textures, designs, and craftsmanship.

We spoke with Anton Mamhionov, Creative Director at Booming Tech, about the inspiration and design behind the weapon skins of Helheim.

How did you begin to design the weapon skins in Helheim? Were there any particular references used?

We began with general brainstorming on what the players would prefer those attires to look like, what the expectations are, and whether it fits our current visual direction in the game and how we can adapt to it.

The seasonal key points were much related to raiding, thunder, heavy rain, Varangian and Byzantine characters and units, and a character inspired by both Thor and Harald Hardrada.

We decided to create some new styles for weapons by mixing the luxurious elements and materials of Byzantine weaponry used by nobles, and we added a fair touch of mythological symbols from Scandinavia and the shapes of some traditional Norse weapons.



How much inspiration did you take from real Viking weapons?

Quite a fair amount, but to be absolutely honest, we were not aiming to make identical copies of real weapons—-we usually prefer Units to carry those, and let the cosmetic items for Heroes to have slightly (and sometimes, much) more eye-catching shapes and visuals.

How did you decide which Norse symbols and designs to use?

While the process of making those choices is quite immersive and demands some research and creative thinking from the artists, our team went through hundreds of references of weapons in history and the details used and carved on those.

Some, like knots, are very widespread, but others, such as Mjölnir or different kinds of serpent symbols, are more specific and related to various mythological characters and are less commonly used. Luckily for us, we aimed to bring a touch of mythology to those attires and created symbols and the background description for each weapon to represent a famous character or a legend from Scandinavia.



Which weapon, in particular, do you think the Vikings would have loved to wield as they charged into battle, and which is your personal favourite?

I think it’s the Shortsword’s Shield and the Poleaxe in the shape of the Dane Axe. I personally unlocked those first. I hope our Viking fans will enjoy those and many others skins we released and will release in the future. Enjoy Helheim!

Check out behind-the-scenes peeks at Conqueror’s Blade: Helheim with our look at making a sequel season, and the new stormy weather effects on the reworked maps. Stay tuned for more articles coming soon!

There’s nothing like a vintage! For a limited time only, you can pick up Antique versions of the weapon skins featured in Season III: Soldiers of Fortune from the in-game Store.

Flaunt your classic fashion sensibilities with weapon skins and exclusive bundles straight from Sicania, available until July 21 (10:00 server time).
For the mercenary with a mixed militia, bundles of Antique weapon skins are available at a 10% discount:

• Soldiers of Fortune Sword Bundle: Seal your foes’ fate with forged fury with this Bundle containing the Antique Waning Eclipse Shortsword & Shield and the Antique Vespa’s Longsword & Shield.
• Soldiers of Fortune Polearm Bundle: Keep your enemies at arm's length with the Antique Summer's Reckoning Glaive, Antique Daybreak Brilliance Poleaxe, and Antique Sanguine Sunrise Spear.
• Soldiers of Fortune Bow Bundle: Sniper fans rejoice by requisitioning the Antique Diana's Sanctuary Bow and Antique Janus’ Judgement Shortbow.
• Soldiers of Fortune Specialist Bundle: Grip, grab, grasp, gouge, and gash with the Specialist Bundle, containing the Antique Luminous Dawn Nodachi, Antique Gunsmith's Dream Musket, Antique Blood and Sky Daggers, and Antique Vulcan’s Forge Maul.

IMPORTANT: Each Bundle is subject to a purchase limit of 1. There is no Pike weapon skin featured in this set.

Bag a bargain with these limited-time sales until July 21 (10:00 server time)!

The fight for Heilung Fjord returns until August 25 (10:00 Server Time)—with a new stormy spin. Warriors who fought in Season VII: Wolves of Ragnarok will know this reworked map as simply Heilung Fjord, the ancestral home of the Northmen. Now, a new war will be waged on a weathered version of the map.



It has been many moons since Heilung Fjord’s glory days, and the once sacred settlement now lies in ruins. Pelted by massive storms and subjected to raids, the unique architecture that the Northmen erected long ago has now been ravaged. Despite this, the Northern citadel boasts a defensive wall, port, and a scattering of buildings.

The invaders have brought their own soldiers, in the form of Paragons’ loyal Banner Guards and the robust Highlander warriors, Claymores.


ATTACK

• While the citadel is fortified, those defences are now damaged and easier to navigate. The outer wall can be breached and broken through to gain quick entry.
• Capturing Point C is vital for victory and can be approached via the harbour.
• Point A is the most difficult to secure and will require the most attention and planning.

DEFENCE

• Defending the surrounding outer wall is key, as is reinforcing it after damage is taken.
• As attackers will be gunning to capture Point C, using the high ground nearby to defend is crucial, as is resupplying nearby.
• Point A is the easiest to defend, so assets are best used to counter-attack.

Raid on Heilung Fjord will be available in Conqueror’s Blade: Helheim until August 25 (10:00 Server Time), and you can find the exact timings for your server below:
Prepare for stormy conditions during the Raid on Heilung Fjord, and may your battles be victorious!

Please be aware that from 08:00 CEST on July 14 (23:00 PDT on July 13), the Conqueror’s Blade servers will be inaccessible. The downtime is expected to last for 4 hours.

Please refer to the Patch Notes for documented changes. Meanwhile, stay tuned to our Discord channel in case of any immediate server updates.

From July 14 until July 21, visit the Smuggler to stock up on limited-time steals!

The Northmen raids often prove fruitful, and the warriors have returned from their latest excursion with treasures that the Smuggler has obtained through nefarious means, and now needs to sell as soon as possible…

One of these treasures is the brand-new Cult of the Four Stags Unit Attire, exclusive to the Shieldmaidens. According to Northlander mythology, Dáinn, Dvalinn, Duneyrr, and Duraþrór are the four stags that eat among the branches of Yggdrasil the World Tree. The cult that venerates them is likely a splinter group from the Cult of Freyja that most Shieldmaidens belong to.



Check out the Smuggler’s goods below:

• Smuggler’s Stash: For 8,000 Bronze Coins, you can get your hands on fabulous loot, including Cult of the Four Stags Unit Attire, precious resources like Amber, Moonstone, Garnet, and Turquoise, as well as plenty of Well-Made Artillery, Principles, and much more.
• Smuggler’s Treasure: Part with 4,000 Silver Coins to receive a bountiful bounty, including everything available in the Smuggler’s Stash, along with extra Optimal Artillery, Silk, Silver Keys, and much more.

IMPORTANT: The Smuggler’s Stash and Smuggler’s Treasure are subject to a purchase limit of 50 and 30 per day respectively, and items dropped are random. [/b]Principles can be transformed into Treatise at a rate of 100:1

There’s nothing better than heading into battle with a pal at your side, and the Conqueror’s Blade Referral Program is here to make your friendships even more fruitful! Refer friends, play together to complete tasks to earn Referral Points, then spend them in the Referral Shop.

Simply follow the three steps below, and start earning rewards!

1. Join the Referral Program
2. Collect Referral Points by referring friends and playing together
3. Spend your Referral Points in the Referral Shop for exclusive items!

When a friend joins with your Referral Link and confirms their email, you will receive 10 Referral Points and they will receive a Great Chest of Bronze, Rotmistrz's Horse Attire to use in-game, and 250 Referral Points to spend! Additionally, when a friend you refer (above level 50) purchases Sovereigns using the official Top-up, you'll also receive 5% of their top-up value!

Additionally, if you already referred friends in the previous version of the Referral System, we did our best to connect you with all the users you referred so far. They will become visible within your Referral System as soon as both you and they ‘join’ the new Referral Program. Once that is done, you can start collecting points together!

As part of Conqueror’s Blade Year Three celebrations, we asked you to put your creative skills to the test and design a banner—-and the results are in. Using the templates provided, our errant entrants flexed their sketching muscles, and now it’s time to dish out some well-deserved rewards!

The winners will receive 2,300 Sovereigns, the Exclusive Epic Title: ‘Rally to Me’, and a chance for their design to be added to the game! Honourable mentions will receive 525 Sovereigns.
Diane (EU2) submitted this elegant forest green and gold design in honour of three years of Conqueror’s Blade, earning the first-place prize. We can just imagine this regal flag flying high above a troop of Varangian Guards.



CrstalValkyrie (EU1) presented us with this picturesque monochrome cavalry combat scene, netting themselves second place.



Third place goes to Dragonov (EU2), who combined Nordic runes, dragons, and fire to create a banner worthy of any true Northman!



Diane (EU2) also earns our honourable mention for their blood-red battle scene, depicting two more warriors on horseback fighting amidst the dramatic crimson sunset.



Thank you to everyone who designed a beautiful banner and produced all of our artistic entries. Stay tuned for more contests!

Varangian Guards are the protectors of the Empyrean Royal family, possessing fighting prowess as rich as their compensation. Unlock this new troop of fighters in Conqueror’s Blade: Helheim via new Unit Challenges!


To mark the Varangian Guards’ release, you can arm them with the exclusive North Star Shield until July 24 (23:59 server time/23:59 CEST) in-game or via MY.GAMES Market. This item will never be sold again, so grab it while you can!

The northern aurora is indelibly etched into the hearts of the Varangian Guards, and their North Star Shields display this beautiful sight. They know that one day they will return home with treasure, and once again greet the gods beneath that shimmering night sky.

Varangian Guards can be unlocked by completing Seasonal Unit Challenges and come with a Seasonal Bonus in the form of Leadership requirements decreased by 10 points for the duration of Helheim.
Varangian Guards are heavy infantry soldiers, deemed to be the finest warriors the North has to offer. Well-equipped with swords, shields, and two-handed axes, they are the ultimate deterrent to threats against the realm. These mercenaries swore an oath to protect the royal Empyrean family, and maintain the stability of the kingdom while doing so.

The Varangian Guards are devoted but deadly and use their highly effective Rage mechanic to strike fear into the hearts of enemies.

Able to wield both defensive swords and shields and offensive axes, this unit can switch between protecting and attacking with ease.
While this band of fighters may appear to be invincible, once their Rage is spent, they must return to wielding far less dangerous swords and shields and resign themselves to protecting their commander instead of all-out brawling.

Formations

• Dispersed: The unit forms a spread-out square formation to lessen the impact of ranged attacks.
• Shield: The guards stand in a tight defensive formation, countering frontal attacks, and enhancing impact resistance.

Unit Traits

• Northlander Legend: Leadership cost is reduced by 10 points during Helheim.
• 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: The Varangian Guards’ armour is less vulnerable to thermal weapons than other units of the same era.

Unit Orders

• Unbreakable: While the Varangian Guards are holding up their shields, movement and attack speed is reduced by 30%, and damage taken is reduced by 30%. After a successful block, damage taken is reduced by 60% for 1 second.
• Raging Onslaught: The unit pulls out their two-handed axes, increasing armour penetration and damage by 300 points, and gaining new rage skills.
• Great Sweep: The unit consumes 30% Rage to make a horizontal sweep with their axes, gaining control immunity for 2 seconds. Soldiers with less than 50% Health will get a 50% damage boost and 20% of their maximum health will be restored, and will also knock down enemies.
• Colossal Strike: The unit consumes 30% Rage to initiate a full-power attack, gaining control immunity for 2 seconds. Soldiers with less than 50% Health will get a 50% damage boost and 20% of their maximum health will be restored, and will also knock down enemies.
• Shatter Shields: The unit consumes 40% Rage to charge the enemy and attack with axes, gaining control immunity for 2 seconds. Soldiers with less than 50% Health will get a 50% damage boost, 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.

Varangian Guards are available to unlock via Unit Challenges now.

NOTE: The above information is correct as of the time of publication. Please check in-game for the most up-to-date Unit information.