Stronghold: Warlords will allow players to control AI commanders across the battlefield.

From the 3rd century BC China through to the coming of the Mongol Empire in 1200 AD, Stronghold: Warlords allows players to relive famous historical battles and sieges against great khans, imperial warlords, and shogun commanders.

Stronghold: Warlords is Firefly’s first Stronghold to recreate the castle economies of the Far East. Stronghold: Warlords lets you take command of Mongol hordes, imperial warriors, tribal fighters and samurai clansmen as you lay siege to Japanese castles and fortified Chinese cities. Besiege historical rulers using new gunpowder-fuelled siege weapons, classic units and a completely new way to play Stronghold.

Firefly Studios has revealed three new siege weapons coming to Stronghold: Warlords.

Ranging from classic Siege Towers to new-to-the-series fortification destroyers like the Korean Hwacha and Chinese winged rockets, Firefly’s latest entry in the series will allow you to infiltrate, decimate and obliterate castle walls.

With Stronghold: Warlords, Firefly Studios seeks to balance explosive siege weapons inspired by Chinese, Korean and Mongolian history with fan favourites recreated from past Stronghold games. Players will use gunpowder weaponry to protect their castle walls and eliminate enemy forces, but also rely on series classics to win the day.

Fire Arrow Cart

An excellent addition to any skirmish army, the Fire Arrow Cart can be used to decimate  unarmoured units like Tribesmen or clear castle walls of pesky Archers. Skilled tacticians will be able to find all kinds of uses for this versatile unit.

Rocket Launcher

Inspired by depictions of winged rockets from 14th century Chinese texts, the Rocket Launcher is purpose-made for destroying an enemy’s castle defences. Shatter exposed towers filled with Archers or blow apart a defenseless gatehouse with a series of surgical strikes. A powerful addition to your siege sandbox, the Rocket Launcher can be built at a Siege Camp or requested from a friendly Dragon Warlord.

Siege Tower

A series classic returns for Stronghold: Warlords. Siege Towers latch onto enemy walls before pouring troops onto the ramparts. Vulnerable only to squads of the most powerful enemy units, explosive and anti-siege weaponry, the mighty Siege Tower is built to protect your troops long enough to get them onto castle walls and into melee combat.

From the humble fire lance to the deadly Hwacha, with more siege weapons to be revealed closer to launch, these weapons of war changed the course of military history. While these new weapons will be balanced against other units and gunpowder-less siege weapons, players will also have options to enable stronger castle walls as a means of further tweaking game balance.

For the first time ever Stronghold: Warlords allows you to recruit, upgrade and command AI warlords across the battlefield with their own unique perks and characteristics. Each warlord under your command boosts your control of the battlefield allowing you to fortify borders, forge weapons or team up for a pincer attack! Each campaign mission, skirmish game, and multiplayer battle means a fresh set of warlords to command and new strategic depth. By unlocking more powerful castles, armies and abilities each Warlord has the potential to disrupt the flow of battle and turn the tide in your favor.

Stronghold: Warlords is scheduled for release on PC (Steam) in 2020.