Songs of Conquest Yulan DLC Preview: New Faction, Three Houses & 8 Units (June 4, 2026)

Songs of Conquest’s Most Complex Faction Yet Arrives June 4, 2026

Lavapotion has been steadily expanding Songs of Conquest since its 1.0 release, adding new factions and narrative expansions at a steady pace. On June 4, 2026, the studio releases its latest DLC: the Yulan, a faction rooted in Asian mythology from the long-isolated region of Aerbor. Mechanically, this is the most ambitious content update to date — built around an entirely new three-house system.

If you’re looking for a fresh strategic challenge this summer, here’s everything you need to know.

Table of Contents

• The Three Houses System: Li, Sheng, Xuan
• The Eight New Units
• Campaign & Conquest Maps
• Free Content for All Players
• What We’re Watching at Launch

The Three Houses System: Li, Sheng, Xuan {#h-three-houses}

The Yulan’s core innovation is their political and magical structure. Their homeland of Aerbor is shaped by three rival Houses, each embodying a different approach to Essence — the fundamental magic of the game:

• House Li — Order: disciplined armies, territorial control maximized
• House Sheng — Creation: tactical flexibility and unit transformation
• House Xuan — Arcana: access to the deepest, most unpredictable mystical powers

The key mechanic: Yulan units evolve differently depending on which House they serve. The same base unit can become an orderly soldier under Li, a chaos agent under Xuan, or a hybrid if the player pledges to multiple houses simultaneously. This is the first faction in Songs of Conquest to offer this level of branching in its upgrade trees.

The potential for hybrid compositions — part-Li, part-Xuan — introduces strategic depth not seen in previous factions.

The Eight New Units {#h-units}

Lavapotion has officially confirmed eight new units, with four revealed in detail ahead of launch:

• Grenadiers — Throw clay bombs at range while boosting army morale. Offensive support role.
• Conscripts — The backbone infantry. Disciplined and versatile, forming the core of any Yulan army.
• Tian — Part-dragon, part-ancestral guardian creature inspired by Asian mythology. Likely the faction’s signature elite unit.
• Seekers — Described by Lavapotion as “scholars of Essence who risk transformation into fearsome Transcendents.” These units can literally change form mid-combat under the influence of Essence.

The remaining four units stay secret until June 4 — a welcome surprise for players who want to discover the faction fresh.

Campaign & Conquest Maps {#h-campaign}

The Yulan DLC is more than just a new faction. Its full content includes:

• A 3-map narrative campaign following House Sheng as their homeland faces new and ancient threats — perfect for learning Yulan mechanics in a story-driven context.
• 5 new Conquest maps designed specifically around Yulan, with scenarios that highlight the Houses system.
• A new biome consistent with Aerbor’s aesthetic — likely misty forests or snow-swept steppes drawn from Asian visual traditions.

For context, the previous DLC Rise Eternal (March 5, 2026) introduced necromancy through Kastus Maal. The Yulan DLC is a complete thematic departure — from shadows and death to living Essence split across three competing lineages.

Free Content for All Players {#h-free}

True to Lavapotion’s established practice, every paid DLC ships with a free update for the entire playerbase. The Yulan DLC will add new research options, new artifact sets, and additional map buildings to all players at no cost. Global balancing stays behind no paywall.

What We’re Watching at Launch {#h-verdict}

Songs of Conquest has earned its reputation as the best pixel-art alternative to Heroes of Might & Magic: tactical turn-based combat, territory management, and Wielders with escalating powers. Each DLC has expanded the roster coherently. The Yulan look set to push the formula further with triple-house mechanics and branching evolutions.

Points we’ll evaluate at launch:

• Balance between specialized mono-house lists and multi-pledge hybrid armies
• Depth and replayability of the 3-map Sheng campaign
• The four still-secret units and their synergy with each house

If the genre appeals to you, our Heroes of Might & Magic: Olden Era Early Access review covers the other major HoMM-like of the moment. And for medieval turn-based strategy, our Wartales Fires in the Capital DLC preview is required reading.

We’ll have the full verdict on June 4, 2026.