Age of Wonders 4: Secrets of the Archmages — Guide to All Six Tomes and the Owlkin Form

Secrets of the Archmages Drops June 16 — Everything You Need to Know

Two days from now, Secrets of the Archmages arrives in Age of Wonders 4. Triumph Studios delivers six tomes of forbidden magic once banned by the ancient Archmages, a new Owlkin physical form, and three narrative story realms — all accompanied by a free Sprite update that reshapes the Empire Tree.

This guide breaks down every element of the DLC based on information confirmed in Dev Diary #61 by Triumph Studios and the official Paradox page, so your empire is ready for the June 16, 2026 launch.

Table of Contents

• The 6 Forbidden Magic Tomes
• The Owlkin Form
• The 3 Story Realms
• The Sprite Update (Free)
• Build Recommendations

The 6 Forbidden Magic Tomes {#tomes}

Six new tomes form the heart of the DLC, each centered on magic once deemed too dangerous by the ancient masters of the world. Triumph Studios detailed all six in Dev Diary #61.

Tome of Burning Passion — Offensive demonic arts. Your units gain infernal wrath, can seduce enemies to temporarily turn them and engulf foes in infernal flames. An aggressive tome that excels at disrupting enemy lines before pushing through.

Tome of the Weaver — Transform your people and trap the enemy in your web by harnessing the power of spiders. Effective for defensive compositions and terrain control, especially in late game when enemy movement is already constrained.

Tome of Abjuration — Create wards and protections to preserve your units. A pure defensive tome: against high-DPS compositions, it can make certain troops nearly untouchable for several turns.

Tome of Gluttony — Gain control over the infernal domain of Gluttony, making your units tougher and stronger as they feed on mortal essence. Rewards sustained aggression and gradual power scaling — ideal for long campaigns where each battle fuels the next.

Tome of the Sprite — Use the powers of fey to support your units and befuddle your enemies. One of the most versatile tomes in the DLC, easy to slot into almost any build thanks to its flexibility.

Tome of the Cosmos — Use your mastery over the magic of the universe to empower your units, boost your economy, and summon a mighty Avatar of the Cosmos itself. The only DLC tome combining economic progression with a decisive late-game military threat.

The Owlkin Form {#owlkin}

The Owlkin is the new physical form introduced by the DLC. Triumph Studios describes them as wise and watchful beings who move through the world with quiet confidence and an air of ancient mystery.

In AoW4’s mechanics, each physical form governs passive race bonuses, special units unlocked at certain development levels, and dedicated city buildings. The Owlkin clearly leans toward stealth and knowledge over frontal confrontation.

Natural synergies emerge with the Tome of the Sprite (fey-knowledge affinity) and Tome of Abjuration (protection over offense). An Owlkin empire plays best by observing, setting traps, and striking when the enemy is worn down.

The 3 Story Realms {#realms}

Secrets of the Archmages features three guided scenarios with their own contexts and dedicated objectives.

Hunt Merlin’s Apprentice — Track down a disciple who fled with forbidden secrets across a world that must be gradually pieced back together. An exploration and investigation scenario, perfect for players who enjoy AoW4’s lore. The best entry point to discover the DLC.

Survive a World of Endless Infernal Carnage — High-difficulty survival challenge with roguelike tension. For veterans who have already mastered the core systems. The Tome of Gluttony thrives here: units must stay mobile and keep fighting to grow stronger throughout.

Save Hero Ham Binger from a Fairy Domain — A rescue mission set in a treacherous, magically hostile fae environment. The most narrative of the three realms, with an atmosphere that fits the Owlkin and the Tome of the Sprite perfectly.

Progression tip: start with the first realm to familiarize yourself with the new tomes, save the second for challenge sessions, and explore the third for its narrative richness.

The Sprite Update (Free) {#sprite}

Good news for all AoW4 players: the Sprite update releases simultaneously on June 16 and is completely free.

• Empire Tree rework — a major community request since the game’s 2023 launch. Mid-game progression should become significantly smoother and more readable.
• Two new Reaver sub-cultures (requires Empires & Ashes): Imperial Reavers and Federate Reavers, each with distinct identities and bonuses.

This rework is reason enough to restart a campaign even without purchasing Secrets of the Archmages.

Build Recommendations {#builds}

A few combinations to explore from day one:

These are starting points — AoW4’s sandbox ultimately rewards experimentation and synergies discovered through actual play.

For the fundamentals before diving into these new tomes, our complete Age of Wonders 4 guide covers everything you need to build an effective empire.

Sources: Dev Diary #61 — The Tomes of Secrets of the Archmages (Steam / Triumph Studios) | Official DLC page (Paradox Interactive)