Age of Wonders 4 best DLC in 2026: which of the 11 expansions to buy

As of 8 November 2026, Age of Wonders 4 has 11 paid DLC, from Dragon Dawn (June 2023) to The Silver Seas (3 November 2026). At Paradox’s suggested prices, the whole lot costs $209.89. Nobody needs all of it. The right first purchase depends mostly on the kind of content you want, and that is where these packs really differ.

They fall into three groups. A culture is picked whenever you create a faction and shapes its buildings, units and bonuses, so it shows up in every game. A ruler type changes your leader and sometimes your capital. A story pack adds scripted realms, which only matter if you play those campaigns. This guide is not based on hands-on play: it cross-checks official announcements from Triumph Studios and Paradox, the Steam store pages and suggested prices, sales excluded.

All 11 Age of Wonders 4 DLC at a glance

Every pack is available on PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. Prices come from Paradox Interactive’s launch press releases. In Europe, the euro price uses the same figures, and it matches the full price shown on Steam.

Cultures: the best value for replayability

Six DLC add a culture. That is the content you will see most often, because every custom faction has to pick one.

Primal Fury ($9.99) is the cheapest way in. Its Primal culture worships one of seven animals, each tied to a terrain type and a damage type. The pack also brings the Lupine and Goatkin forms, the Tome of Fey Mists, the Tome of the Stormborne and four mounts, mammoths and crocodiles among them.

Ways of War ($14.99) delivers the Oathsworn culture and its three oaths. Harmony avoids war and builds a multicultural empire, Righteousness hunts down evil, and Strife rewards attacking stronger foes. Four tomes (Discipline, Shades, Calamity, Prosperity) plus the Ogrekin and Simian forms make it a dense pack for the money.

Empires & Ashes ($19.99) is the warmonger’s pick. The Reaver culture draws its strength from conquest and raids, and brings war machines to besiege cities. The expansion also adds the Avian form, four tomes and the Seals of Power victory condition: capture the seals and hold them long enough to win.

Archon Prophecy ($24.99) is aimed at builders. The Architects culture raises monuments in its cities, each dedicated to an affinity, which boost the economy and unlock bonuses. It ships with the Elysian and Ancient forms, four tomes, Prophecy traits and two story realms.

Rise from Ruin ($19.99) has the oddest culture of the lot. Nomads pack up and move their cities: the Conquerors subculture goes for fast raids, while Scavengers loot wonders and battlefield spoils. Add the Harefolk form, three tomes and the Astral Barrens, a terrain where magic turns unstable and spells can backfire on the caster.

The Silver Seas ($24.99), the newest release, introduces the Mercantile culture. It splits into Barony and Cartel and can place cities on land and at sea. It comes with the Aqualon and Sharkkin forms, four tomes and a dwelling run by pirate captains. Our Silver Seas preview breaks down Barony and Cartel in detail.

Rulers: change your leader, not your people

Four DLC add a ruler type that replaces the classic wizard king. Their appeal is narrower: these leaders only matter when you actually pick that kind of ruler.

• Dragon Dawn ($9.99): the customisable Dragon ruler, with its own skills and transformations. The pack adds the Lizardfolk form, the Tome of Evolution, the Tome of Dragons and The Ashen War realm, where six elder dragons fight it out.
• Eldritch Realms ($19.99): the Eldritch Sovereign and its Thrall spellcasting. It is also a map expansion, with the Umbral Abyss layer, the Syron and Insect forms, Cosmic Happenings events and two story realms.
• Giant Kings ($24.99): the Giant ruler, a new dwelling and hand-crafted regions to explore.
• Thrones of Blood ($19.99): the Vampire ruler, whose Vampire’s Castle replaces the Wizard Tower. Three tomes and a story realm about the origins of vampire-kind round it out.

Dragon Dawn is the most affordable of the four. Eldritch Realms earns its place through map content more than its ruler: the Umbral Abyss changes your games even if you stick with a wizard king.

Story content: Secrets of the Archmages stands apart

Paradox pitches Secrets of the Archmages ($19.99) as a narrative-focused DLC. It bundles three story realms (Evermore, Azh’Ruun Pit, Burrow Downs), six tomes themed on Athla’s Wizard Kings and the Owlkin form. Our Secrets of the Archmages tome guide goes through those tomes one by one.

If you never load a scripted realm, this one drops down the list. If you love story realms, it is the most generous pack on that front: three of them, when no other DLC offers more than two.

Expansion Pass or individual DLC?

Each Expansion Pass costs $49.99 and bundles three DLC plus a small bonus pack. The maths differ from one pass to the next.

• Pass 1: Dragon Dawn, Empires & Ashes, Primal Fury and Eldritch Realms. The four are worth $59.96 separately.
• Pass 2 ($49.99): Ways of War, Giant Kings and Archon Prophecy, plus Herald of Glory. Giant Kings and Archon Prophecy already cost $49.98 together, so the pass hands you Ways of War for a cent.
• Pass 3 ($49.99): Thrones of Blood, Rise from Ruin and Secrets of the Archmages, plus the Cosmic Wanderer pack. You save $9.98 if you want all three, but any two bought on their own cost $39.98.
• Pass 4 ($49.99): The Silver Seas, Court of the Archfey (Q1 2027) and Forge of the Firstborn (Q2 2027), plus Singer of Storms. Two of its three expansions are not out yet.

Pass 2 is the best deal as soon as you want both the Giants and the Archons. Pass 4 means paying up front for two expansions nobody can judge yet: skip it if The Silver Seas is all you want.

What you get for free with each DLC

Most paid releases come with a free update for every player, and two of them change the buying order. The Item Forge arrived in the free Golem Update on the day Empires & Ashes launched, so it is no reason to buy that expansion. Likewise, the Manta Update’s new trade system has been free since 3 November 2026, with or without The Silver Seas.

Before buying a DLC for a specific mechanic, check whether it actually came with the free update released the same day.

Recommended buying order by playstyle

• Tight budget: Primal Fury, then Ways of War. Two cultures, four forms and six tomes for $24.98.
• Warmonger: Empires & Ashes, then Rise from Ruin for Nomad raids.
• Builder and economist: Archon Prophecy, or The Silver Seas if sea trade appeals to you.
• Story lover: Secrets of the Archmages, then Archon Prophecy and its two realms.
• Fan of unusual rulers: Dragon Dawn first for the price, then Thrones of Blood.

Next thing to watch: the final content of Court of the Archfey and Forge of the Firstborn, which will decide whether Pass 4 is worth $49.99. To brush up on the basics before spending, start with our complete guide to Age of Wonders 4, which covers cultures and tomes.

Going further

• All our Age of Wonders 4 articles
• Age of Wonders 4: How the Sprite Update Rebuilt the Empire Tree and What It Changes for Your Factions
• Age of Wonders 4: Giant Kings