Age of Wonders 4: Rise from Ruin DLC with Nomads and Harefolk launches in early March

Paradox Interactive and Triumph Studios announced the release date for the new Age of Wonders 4 expansion called Rise from Ruin. The DLC launches March 9, 2026 on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S.

The central theme of the expansion is rising from the ashes. Players will journey to the Withered Worlds and explore devastated landscapes with the new Nomad culture, who have adapted to survive and thrive in desolation. Along the way, they'll unearth lost magic and decide whether to banish it forever or harness its power for their own purposes.

Nomads become the eleventh culture in the game. They are masters of mobility on the battlefield, capable of carrying entire cities across the realm in relentless pursuit of conquest. Nomads also serve as scavengers of magical wastelands – they drain the land of potent essences, leaving only desolation behind. Players can choose between sub-cultures: Conquerors for fast, aggressive raids, or Scavengers to harvest ancient wonders and battlefield loot.

The new physical form is the Harefolk.

When the world collapsed, the Harefolk endured through speed, instinct, and an unyielding will to live. They thrive where others fall, turning agility and cunning into the ultimate weapons of survival.

The expansion adds three new tomes:

• Tome of the Warband – for building strong armies and raising units through the ranks

• Tome of the Sand Stalkers – for spreading sands, blinding enemies, and summoning desert guardians

• Tome of the Warlord – for conquering the realm with mighty warriors and infernal allies

The new map features the Astral Barrens – a terrain type born from a magical catastrophe. This unforgiving wasteland drains mana, halts regeneration, and punishes spellcasters as unstable energies cause spells to backfire. The expansion also includes 20 handcrafted regions, 2 new mounts, 5 new realm traits, 3 music tracks, new wildlife and units.

The free Scorpion update releases alongside the DLC with fixes and "substantial overhauls" to combat balance and unit movement.

Rise from Ruin costs $20, and is also included in Expansion Pass 3.