Northgard Snake Clan 801 Rush Build and Attack Guide

To execute a successful 801 Snake Clan rush in Northgard ranked play, you must bypass long-term economic upgrades and convert your resources into a military strike force before year 802 begins. Most clans delay their primary military spike until early year 802 to upgrade Town Halls, forge relics, or develop lore. The Snake Clan exploits this timing window by fielding Signy alongside six to ten military units in mid-to-late 801, crushing opponents before their defensive towers and warbands are established.

Because this rush is an all-in strategy, failing to inflict catastrophic damage will leave you economically starved. Your immediate objective is either destroying an exposed Town Hall or clearing enemy villagers and decolonizing production tiles to collapse their resource base.

Year 800: Build Order and Early Economy

Your opening year sets the resource baseline required to support an early army. Keep your settlement minimalist, clearing only low-threat adjacent tiles to secure needed building slots while avoiding early villager losses to wolves or Draugr.

1. Scout Camp and Woodcutter's Lodge: Establish basic lumber income and scout immediately adjacent zones.
2. House and Food Building: Build a basic food production building if available to sustain population growth without over-colonizing expensive tiles.
3. Longship Dock or Trading Post: Construct a commercial building before winter to begin early Krown accumulation.
4. Forward Scouting: Locate enemy border zones and identify safe forward tiles for military infrastructure.

Limit food consumption by only colonizing tiles essential for building space or paths toward the enemy. As winter 800 approaches, assign workers to your Longship Dock or Trading Post to begin building your gold reserve.

Year 801: Warband Conversion and Camp Timing

Krown generation is the primary bottleneck of the 801 rush. You need enough gold to summon your warchief, Signy, and recruit six to ten military units.

• Build Military Camps: Place multiple Skirmisher Camps in early spring 801. Skirmishers are cheaper to recruit than standard units and navigate zones without terrain penalties. Add standard Warrior Camps only if you need added frontline durability to soak damage against static defenses.
• Reassign Workers: Transition excess villagers into merchants or sailors by March 801. Skip tool upgrades and unnecessary lore purchases to keep gold stockpiles intact.
• Mass Recruitment: As soon as your gold threshold covers Signy and your planned unit count, convert your workforce into your standing army and advance immediately.

Target Selection and Scouting Priorities

While assembling your warband in early 801, send an active scout to inspect the enemy's border perimeter. Check their military camp counts, active unit numbers, and tower construction progress. In team games, focus on the opponent's economic anchor or clans that lack early defensive tools.

Combat Micro and Tile Decolonization

Launch your attack in mid-to-late 801. Path your Skirmishers through neutral zones to bypass hostile monster dens without drawing aggro, letting you enter enemy territory from unexpected angles.

• Target Villagers First: Focus down defending workers immediately to stop them from retreating into the Town Hall.
• Micro Wounded Units: Signy serves as your frontline damage anchor. When Skirmishers take damage, pull them back individually to leash enemy units away from defense towers.
• Neutralize Production Zones: If the Town Hall is walled off or heavily defended, do not throw your units away into tower fire. Instead, hold the surrounding food and wood tiles until the decolonization timer completes to cripple the opponent's economy and eliminate their ability to fund a defense.