Today, developers from Triumph Studios released Secrets of the Archmages — the newest expansion in the third season pass for Age of Wonders 4. The DLC hands you wizard-stuff: trace the footsteps of Atla’s old mage-kings and pry at cosmic mysteries. I’ll admit, the “Merlin’s apprentices” hook made me pause.
The key additions include:
- New story content — become Merlin’s apprentice, dig into the mystery of the shattered Circle of Deogai, rescue the fallen archon Isariel in Abbadote, and step through a fairy portal to try to free Duat from its mists.
- Six new spellbooks (e.g., different schools with distinct playstyles):
- Book of Renunciation — crafts charms and wards to protect units you control.
- Book of Gluttony — lets you manipulate denizens of a hellish realm tied to appetite and excess.
- Book of Burning Passion — channels demonic fury into your warriors and spreads hellfire among foes.
- Book of Elves — taps into fey power to support allies while wearing down enemies.
- Book of the Weaver — twists your people into new forms and leaves opponents disoriented.
- Book of the Cosmos — a flashy option: strengthens fighters, nudges your economy, and can call a huge cosmic avatar.
- World map expansions — expect foggy isles and hidden charms, new landmarks (the broken wizard’s throne, the chained prankster, the shade of misty streams), plus a fresh invasion unfolding in Duadatae’s lair.
- A new playable form of wererats.
- New fauna — additions range from three mythical creatures to spider-females and a slain soul, plus the Sun Guardian and Moon Guardian.
- A new interface theme and updated banner symbols (UI folks, take note).
- A new mount (female spider).
- Additional musical compositions.
- A new kingdom template.
Simultaneously, the developers released a free update The Sprite that brings various rebalances and other improvements.
Age of Wonders 4 is available on PC (Steam, GOG, Epic Games Store), PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series with Russian text localization.