As the year comes to a close, we at Lavapotion are trading our office shoes for snow boots and our morning coffee for something a little sweeter. It’s a time for reflection, a chance to reflect on 2024. This year has been filled with success, change, and challenges. What would life be without a bit of variation, right?

But as we wrap up the year, one emotion stands above the rest: pride.
We’re proud to have released Songs of Conquest, sharing our game with the world. We’re grateful for our amazing community, whose support, love, and feedback have helped us make the game even better.
We’re thrilled to have launched Songs of Conquest on consoles, allowing players to enjoy the game from the comfort of their couches like never before. And just now, we’ve capped off the year with the hugely successful release of our first Faction DLC, The Vanir.

Not bad for some silly little vikings!As the holidays approach, things will slow down a bit at Lavapotion, but rest assured—we’ll be back in action come January! That’s when work resumes on our next faction, Roots, alongside exciting updates for multiplayer, more balance tweaks, and a few other surprises we’ve been quietly working on. Suffice it to say, 2025 is shaping up to be an exciting year, and we can’t wait to have you along for the ride.

There is no better way to stay connected and informed than our newsletter[www.songsofconquest.com], and if you need more incentive why you should sign up for it, we are giving away some holiday gifts to some of our lucky subscribers, so join in and get a chance for some extra joy! The lucky winners will be contacted i January, when we are back from vacations!

[www.songsofconquest.com]Click the image above to sign up for our newsletter! (Also, Is it pure coincidence that one of the Vanir Wielders have such a jolly appearance?)And speaking of holiday cheer, the Steam Winter Sale is in full swing! What better way to embrace the season’s coziness than with a friendly, family-style Hot-Seat strategy game? Whether it’s your grandmother, your dog, or anyone else looking to dive into some pixelated warfare and magic, now’s the perfect time—Songs of Conquest is a whopping 66% off right now!

Cozy darkness, and then a good game.And with that, we wish you a happy season, regardless how you spend it. We’ll be back before you know it!

/Everyone at Lavapotion

RASCals the lot of them

Our new faction DLC is now officially released along with a large free update to the base game! Creating the Vanir has been an incredible journey, and we believe we’ve crafted something truly special. New, thrilling, and above all, fun! If you’ve been following our devlogs, you already know a little about the process, but there’s so much more to discover.

But today isn’t just about Nordic folklore, fantasy Vikings, and glorious raids. Every DLC launch is also a chance for us at Lavapotion to enhance the base game, ensuring that Songs of Conquest keeps evolving—even for players who might not pick up the DLC. Why? Because the base game is a labor of love for us, and we want to make right by our loyal audience. And speaking of loyal players, congratulations to sir_magnaram who won a key to access Vanir early by signing up for our newsletter, happy raiding!
So, before smashing down the gates and diving into all the exciting Vanir details, let’s talk about the improvements that come with this update for everyone.

Yes, the “smashing down gate” thing was a bit forced, but I’ve been sitting on this GIF for weeks.Your feedback, suggestions, and constructive criticism since our launch last spring have been invaluable. While we couldn’t implement everything, this update brings meaningful changes inspired by your input. And don’t worry, there’s plenty more balance tweaking and features planned for next year.

In this update, we’ve adjusted starting armies, updated the research trees for all factions, and rebalanced several units to keep battles engaging and competitive. For a full breakdown of the changes, we highly recommend diving into the full patch notes[www.songsofconquest.com]—there’s a lot to explore!

Don’t worry, even the dusty old Barony of Loth isn’t forgotten, all factions get a little bit of love with this update! One major update is the introduction of Artifact Sets! These are themed collections of new and existing artifacts that grow in power as you equip more pieces from the same set. We think Artifact Sets brings a lot of fun, especially for players who enjoy crafting their own thematic maps. They add flair, variation, and, most importantly, raw power. And this is just the beginning—we’re already planning to expand with more sets and artifacts in the future to keep things fresh and exciting.

Some sets are small yet impactful like the Marsh Provides—a Rana-themed set of four artifacts. With each additional piece equipped, you gain extra Essence, and a full set offers a truly powerful edge!

Then there’s the Throat-Cutter Set, perfect for those who appreciate a bit of rogue flair. Collect the full set of five artifacts, and a Cutthroat unit will join each turn. It’s as practical as it is dashing!

With a complete set, those Cut-throats will flock to you: So leave a troop slot open!And just because you didn’t pick up the Vanir DLC doesn’t mean you won’t encounter the new Vanir troops on the battlefield. We’ve added them as enemies on several of our previously released Conquest maps, and if you’re diving into a random map, don’t be surprised if you face the Vanir sooner rather than later.

We’ve also added a brand-new map: Barren Frontier. This Conquest map is designed to introduce you to the Vanir faction, setting the stage for battles in the snow-covered lands of the Bleak East. It’s the perfect opportunity to face off against our new faction and get a feel for their combat style.

As you see, there are many reasons to update Songs of Conquest and explore everything this latest patch has to offer! But now, let’s talk more about the new DLC!

https://steamoss.com/steamstore/app/3260210/Songs_of_Conquest__Vanir/

It's an amazing feeling to still be learning new things, even after so many years of development. Designing our new faction has been an adventure in itself, but it also made us see our base game in a whole new light.

At the core of it all, our focus has been simple: make something fun. And we think we’ve succeeded. Have your raven-like Korphans leap onto enemy walls? That’s a damn treat. Watching your witch-like Nornor get hit with Blind Hatred, only to start stabbing your own troops from across the battlefield? Pure chaos—and pure fun!

We’re also incredibly proud of the new biomes. Crafting snow-covered trees, jagged mountains, and windswept plains felt cozy, even if it was harder than you'd think (despite just having to look out the window). Now, we can’t wait to see what you do with them. Somehow, our community map makers always manage to outshine us, impressing us with their creativity and the maps they bring to life.

Cold and filled with Trolls and scary horses, It feels just like home (for us Swedes anyhow!)The units of any faction are vital! They’re your source of Essence, the foundation of your strategy, and the ones who will either die or conquer, based on your tactical brilliance. The Vanir and their Vildra allies bring a unique flavor to the battlefield, drawing deeply from folklore and Old Norse tales.

The Vanir are a resilient people, descended from ragtag settlers and former Baryan debtors. Combined with the enigmatic and forest-dwelling Vildra, they offer a truly unique and memorable playstyle. I mean who wouldn’t love to have a troll chuck a big old stone at your enemies?

Let the troll without sin cast the first stone?We could say more, but as the saying goes, a screenshot (or a GIF!) is worth a thousand words. We hope you enjoy playing with our new faction as much as we enjoyed creating it, and we can’t wait to hear your thoughts in the comments!
As the year winds down, Lavapotion will be a bit quieter over the coming weeks. We'll be retreating into the dark Swedish woods, donning chainmail, and crafting straw goats (don’t ask). But we wish you a wonderful December, and rest assured—before you know it, we’ll be back with more news, updates, and exciting plans for the future. This is just the beginning.
Great deeds await!

/Everyone at Lavapotion

Greetings Wielders!

The launch of Vanir is closing in and we are excited to announce that one lucky player will get the chance to play 24 hours before the actual release! All you need to do is to sign up for our newsletter and you’ll take part in the contest to win an early key for the DLC!

[www.songsofconquest.com]Click the image above to sign up for the newsletter!

But, regardless of if you win or not, you’ll still get a whole bunch of cool stuff. When you sign up for the newsletter you will get follow-up emails that give you additional freebies, like a high-resolution world map, an unreleased soundtrack song, desktop wallpapers, and a mystery video from the weird world of the Lavapotion dev team!

[www.songsofconquest.com]If you win, we will send you an email with the DLC code 24 hours before the official release on Tuesday the 17th of December. We wish you all the best of luck and hope to see you on the icy shores of Bleak East next week!

https://steamoss.com/steamstore/app/3260210/Songs_of_Conquest__Vanir/

Best of luck and see you soon again!

/Team Lavapotion

Sometimes, things fall perfectly into place—and today is one of those days. Ever since we started teasing the Vanir DLC, one question has echoed louder than the rest: “When will it release?” Well, we’re thrilled to announce that the borders of the Bleak East and their fierce inhabitants will open on December 17th, just one week from today!

So, channel your inner Viking and do what any self-respecting raider with Steam would do: Wishlist the DLC now!

https://steamoss.com/steamstore/app/3260210/Songs_of_Conquest__Vanir/

Sometimes life brings challenges along with triumphs, and we believe in being open and transparent, you have more than earned that. Everyone and their grandmothers know that the gaming industry has had its ups and downs in recent years, and Lavapotion hasn’t been immune. Time, resources, and shifting priorities often lead to tough decisions. For us, one of those was scaling back on our team size. While we’re sad to have parted ways with some of our talented friends, we’re proud that they’ve all moved on to new and exciting opportunities already.

But here’s the kicker: Things have been looking up, like a lot, since we unveiled our new roadmap—led by the Vanir and their fast-approaching release. This means we are very confident in our plans and ongoing development investments for SoC during 2025. So, let’s focus on the good stuff ahead of us, starting with Vanir and their launch into the lands of Aerbor!

Click to enlarge the roadmap. It can and will change, but we are already kneedeep in graphics production for the Roots faction, so things are coming along nicely!We’ve talked about units, abilities, and Wielders in the previous Vanir Devlogs, but today I want to shine a light on the maps. These are the settings where every adventure unfolds and battles come to life, making them a key part of what makes Song of Conquest so special.
With the Vanir DLC release, we’re adding eight new maps, each carefully crafted to immerse you in the environments of the Bleak East. Some are tailored to give you the ultimate Vanir experience, letting you explore the tactics of our new Faction, while others introduce you to new Wielders and the lore that shapes their lands and stories.

It's still a little work in progress, but you can sneak a peak! Sorg’s Journey puts you in the non-existent shoes of the Troll Sorg. Learn more about the Vanir and their relationship with the Baryan slavers as you fight to get back home. Sorg’s Journey is a story-driven challenge map that helps introduce one of the Vildra Wielders and their game-play as well as introduce lore

Steadfast is another story-driven Challenge map, but the focus isn’t as heavy as in Sorg’s Journey. Lead Jarn Steadfast and his hird of loyal troops and defend Vanir settlements against the angered Vildra. It’s a perfect map to get comfortable with the human part of the faction and provides plenty of insight into the sometimes fragile alliance. You will face waves of Enemy Wielders and it’s a great map to prove your skills.

A Clash in the Marsh The Marsh is no stranger to conflict, and many seek to control the ancient beacons there. But when raiders from the Bleak East arrive, they disrupt the usual battles. Caught between the Rana’s fierce defenses, disciplined Baryan Mercenaries, and the robed zealots of the Barony of Loth, the Marsh is torn apart by a clash unlike any before.
This is a classic Conquest map for three players. Great to get your feet wet.

Fardeeds Isle A long time ago magic keystones and portals were built on a small island between the Bleak East and Patriam. It has now been rediscovered and will become a battleground between two fierce explorers.

Go East Arleon, Loth, and Barya all have their own reasons to explore the coastline of the Bleak East. But the Vanir of the East will no more be taken advantage of, they will claim these lands for themselves. This is a large Conquest map set in the lands of Vanir themselves, The map is designed to let you experience the Vanir, our new map entities, and explore new tactics. The map also contains hidden rune-stones that give you more insight into the lore of the Vanir!

If I was that Sapper, I’d be hopping mad right now.Dividing Fjords A small and fast Conquest map set in the fjords and mountains of the Bleak East. In this secluded snowy landscape, there are only small settlements, and the mountain paths are guarded by trolls and treacherous Vildra. Play as the Vanir or any of your favorite factions on a map that shows our new Biome, but on a small scale.

Barren Frontier Thrown into the heart of a foreign land, you’ll have to establish a foothold in the unwelcoming tundra. Prepare to face the fierce and monstrous foes of the Bleak East! This map might arrive at the same time as the Vanir DLC but it is actually for everyone and part of the free base game update. Designed to let you face off against the Vanir this is the perfect map if you want to get the feeling of facing our newest Faction in battle.

Raided Shores Vanir raiders have landed on the shores of Arleon. Can the defenders push back these invaders, or will they fall under the axes of the aggressors? A co-op map designed to be played as either the two invading Vanir forces or the defending Arleon and Baryan Mercenaries. A medium-sized map that lets you raid the Arleon Countryside!

Nice town, it would be a shame if something happened to it.With our new maps of course come the tools to make your very own wintery maps. The Vanir Biome and all the new map entities with beautiful pixel art that comes with it will be yours to use in the Map Editor. Our Artists have outdone themselves and the process has been amazing to follow, and without saying too much, their work for next year is also going to be awesome!

From concept to in-game, it’s lodged in my mind.I could write so much more, but I want to save some for next week and for you to discover yourself as you explore the Bleak East. We are excited and thrilled about the work we have been doing and can’t wait to show you everything, next week can’t come fast enough!

/Anders and everyone at Lavapotion

The holidays are upon us, and at Lavapotion HQ that means cozy lights, Christmas trees, and—most importantly—a new Vanir Devlog! This time, we’re diving into what we consider the heart of any faction: the Wielders.

https://steamoss.com/steamstore/app/3260210/Songs_of_Conquest__Vanir/

These heroes, generals, and leaders are your avatars on the battlefield while you explore our pixelated world. Their ability to channel essence from their troops not only shapes your tactics but also adds their own theme to things, adding to create a character and not just a small animated figure.

We’re currently deep into the “polishing phase” of the Vanir DLC, still targeting that vague Winter 2024 release window. Now that we’ve cleared up the big question, let’s focus on what makes this update truly exciting: the Wielders! While we won’t spoil details on the entire roster, we’ve picked a few standouts to highlight.

The name comes from the Swedish word for revenge and she is a wielder inspired by the Vanir units Nornor, the very essence of the witch in the forest. And Haemnd is just that, but also more since she can wield the essence of those that follow her. With her loyal familiar and pet Needleclaw, she really is a sight to behold.

Her starting units are two crones and a Bacahorse, and more about that scary pony can be read in our last devlog. Haemnd is an essence-focused Wielder, with a starting skill in Arcana and a specialization in spell damage.

Jarn Steadfast is a powerful human Wielder, a Chieftan with a specialization that gives +5HP to all human troops under his command, And given the fact that some of the Vanir troops stop being human after they upgrade, it gives you some interesting tactical choices. Will you prioritize an all-human line-up or will you change halfway and embrace the more expensive Vildra units?

His style is very much inspired by iron-age Scandinavian warriors, with some artistic liberty added for that fantasy touch, we are pretty sure they didn’t have furs on their shoulders, despite what that HBO series told us, but hey, it looks cool!

Jarn is also the main character in the story-driven Challenge Map Steadfast, where you take charge of the Vanir settlement Crow’s Hill defense. A perfect map for learning more about the sometimes risky truce between the Humans and the Vildra, the two aspects of Vanir society.

Trolls are sad and mournful beasts, living in seclusion under bridges and in caves. They are despite their melancholy incredibly dangerous, especially those Trolls that turn their sadness into cruelty and turn into Grym.

The Troll Wielder Sorg however isn’t cruel by nature, although dangerous when angered. His starting lineup — 1 Troll and 1 Grym — combined with his ranged offense specialization and Archery skill, make him a devastating force with his boulder-throwing troops.

The new story-driven Challenge Map Sorg’s Journey tells the tale of when Sorg was captured by Baryan slavers and his desperate fight to return home. As one of the new Vanir-themed maps, it highlights the story of this powerful troll while offering you a chance to explore the Vanir faction’s playstyle.

Gorm Aelgrim didn’t always look like a massive human-bear hybrid, Once a man, now a skin shifter twisted by Vildra magic

Filled with rage and fury, even for one of his kind, his change caused a conflict in Vanir society, causing death and destruction in the lands called Bleak East. Gorm is strong in Essence, with a specialization granting chaos essence and a starting skill in Destruction there is a definite theme to this bear-like Wielder.

He starts with two skinshifters, aggressive melee Vildra units with destruction and Chaos essence. Personally, I recommend adding some early-game Huscarls to his lineup, giving him all the destruction magic his angry little bear heart can want.

These are just four out of the nine new Vanir Wielders, each with their very own tactics and play style. We are certain that you will find your own favorite when you get your hands on our Vanir DLC. It’s both exciting and fun, to create a new faction like this, and we can’t wait for you to try them out!

/Anders and Team Lavapotion

Twitter
Discord[discord.com]
Youtube
Instagram[www.instagram.com]
Facebook[www.facebook.com]

Yes. It's the time of the year when indies fight a hopeless fight against the big developers or games in bigger genres. But still, we'll give it our best shot! So please lend us a vote in the Outstanding Visual Style category if you feel we deserve it!

If we win we'll create a first person game mode so you can enjoy those pixels from close range!

By the way: We'll soon drop some exciting news about the Vanir release date. It might be sooner than you think. So don't forget to wishlist!

https://steamoss.com/steamstore/app/3260210/Songs_of_Conquest__Vanir/

As a final bonus: Please enjoy this achievement icon from the upcoming Vanir DLC! What could it be for? Leave your theories in the comments!

What a week it’s been! We’ve just launched Song of Conquest on consoles, which feels massive—but there’s no rest for us yet. As the Swedish winter approaches, so does our next big release, the Vanir DLC!

https://steamoss.com/steamstore/app/3260210/Songs_of_Conquest__Vanir/Wishlist today, it's cool, just like the Vanir.

This Devlog is filled to the pixelated brim with updates on our Viking-inspired expansion. We’ve been hard at work developing new unit abilities, adding Wielders, figuring out the balancing, and of course, adding lots of new art.

It's like a school picture, Vanir, class of 2024 Last Devlog, we introduced you to the Huscarl and Korphan, two of the earlier units available to Vanir Wielders. Today, we’re diving deeper into the faction lineup with some new faces (or snouts). Meet the Swine and its fearsome upgrade, the Serimnaan!

The Swine is your standard armored hog, known for its ferocity and—let’s be honest—its delicious taste. But infuse it with the wild magic of the Vildra, and it transforms into the Serimnaan, an eternal beast inspired by Särimner, the mythical pig that is reborn again after each slaughter. If the Serimnaan falls in battle, it doesn’t truly die—it simply returns to your recruitment pool, ready to charge into battle once more. And with the Bull Rush ability, it’s perfect for closing in on enemy ranged units and forcing them into melee combat.

Get in there and die, 'cause we're achin’ for some bacon!Now, let’s explore a darker corner of Nordic folklore: the Bacahorse. This eerie creature, inspired by legends of a horse that lures children to a watery grave, brings a haunting presence to the battlefield. Internally, we call it the “Scary Pony,” but in-game, it’s known as the Bacahorse and its upgraded form, Hunger.

These undead, magic-infused horses are designed to reflect their terrifying origins. Like the Knights of Arleon, they are powerful chargers, gaining increased melee offense with every step they take. To stay true to their mystical nature, we’ve given them 50% magic immunity—making them a real threat on the battlefield.

But we wanted Hunger to have something extra, so we introduced a new kind of ability: an AoE attack called Feed, that siphons life from enemies, healing itself in the process.

Use the Feed ability and these gruesome steeds will stay in the fight longer than you’d expect!Of course, you might be wondering how the Vanir can hold their own against the fire-breathing dragons of Rana or the Hellroar Cannons of Barya. The answer lies in their Chieftains and the mighty Jormr!

The leaders of Vanir society are known as Chieftains. They boost units close to them with their Inspire trait and lead from the front, using their large axes to cut down foes in a sweeping attack.

The Jormr is the upgraded version of the Chieftans. All Vanir leaders seek greatness, to be remembered in deeds and tales. Some of them are ambitious enough to turn to the dangerous Vildra to achieve this goal. When the Vanir infuse themselves with the Vildra magic they can turn into something truly wicked and magnificent. The Chieftans become strong behemoths that can stand up to the most dangerous of enemies. Because of their strength and size, we gave them the intimidating trait, debuffing anyone standing within one hex of the unit. It also felt kind of weak for a giant to only attack a single enemy, and since they are wielding a literal tree, they have access to a Slam attack.

See that big guy over there? Yeah, don’t mess with him. Why? Just don’t.Song of Conquest isn’t called Songs for nothing—music plays an important role in the game, with each faction having its own musicians. Some, like the Bards of Arleon, sing to inspire their comrades, while others, like the drum-beating, spider-riding frogs of Rana, strike fear into their enemies, lowering their initiative and defense.

So, what does the Vanir bring to this musical battlefield?
Meet the Lykt and their upgraded form, the Lyktvaan. The name "Lykta" means lantern in Swedish, and these eerie, lantern-carrying creatures are as mysterious as they are menacing. Shedding an otherworldly green light, they are known to dwell around Vanir farms, spreading trickery and disharmony while fiercely protecting their territory.

In combat, the Lykt inspire their allies through haunting fiddle music, boosting both melee and ranged offense, as well as providing a small amount of spell damage resistance. These enigmatic musicians are more than just a support unit—they wield their instruments in melee when cornered.

He might bear a resemblance to Santa, but trust us, this guy keeps everyone on the “naughty” list.We hope you liked this slightly deeper dive into the cold, dark, and murky waters that is the Vanir faction of the Bleak East. There are still a few troops and abilities that we haven’t talked much about yet, but we’d like to leave some for you to explore and discover on your own!

Expect us to return soon with more information about the release date and the Wielders of the Vanir. Until then, don’t forget to do what 15,000 other Wielders already did (wishlist the DLC!) and please drop us a comment below! What unit are you looking forward to trying? Do you have any suggestions for improvements? We’d love to hear it!

/Anders and Team Lavapotion

Twitter
Discord[discord.com]
Youtube
Instagram[www.instagram.com]
Facebook[www.facebook.com]