Once Midgård was called Vanheim, home of the Vanir. But since the coming of man, the Vanir have dwindled in number. At first, the Vanir were the undisputed rulers of the land, but the growing human population has taken over the land and renamed it Midgård. Only a few Vanir survive, but their magic has not yet departed the land. The Vanir are sacred to the human population and the few surviving Vanjarls carry great influence. The humans of Midgård themselves have become altered by the ancient magic of the Vanir and skinshifters are more common than they once were.

"These are all nations sprung from old Norse myth. The Poetic Edda and some later tales, combined with general conceptions of Iron Age Scandinavia, are the main sources. Vanir, Aesir and Giants are ancient antagonists in these myths. The Aesir, being perceived as gods, have been made pretenders in Dominions. Not that Vanir weren't, but they seem less so than the Aesir in most instances. As with most nations of supernatural origin, it seems fitting that their magic fades with each passing age as humans become more and more numerous….

Vanheim, Helheim and Midgård also share a common ancestry and development. In the middle era Helheim merges with Vanheim and disappears as an independent nation. Only the valkyries remain as reminders of the legacy of Helheim." -Illwinter

If you are considering picking this nation to play, what should you know?

Magic Access	Alt. Access	Unit Summary	Core Abilities	Buildings
3 (Rare 4)* 2 1 (Uncommon 2, Rare 3) 1 (Uncommon 2, Rare 3) 1 1 (Uncommon 2, Rare 3) 2	Hero 32222 Summons 423 243 432 432 (req. 43)	Heavy Infantry Skinshifters Berserkers Vanir	Stealthy Sailing Glamour	Standard Forts Trace income across oceans

* less rare than the other rare paths

Capitol Gems: 211

Cold Limit +1
Prefers Cold Scale + 1

Blood Sacrifice: May blood sacrifice to increase dominion. This ability is not transferred to disciple nations. Disciple nations with this ability can still use it. These nations do not have dying dominion.

See Magic Access. These guides supplement the summaries at the top.

The Galderman has a 1 in 16 chance of 2, 2, or 2.

Summon Dwarf of the Four Directions requires 43, which a Galderman with the right boosters can get to. Easiest is probably a 31 with one Air booster and two Earth boosters. The four dwarves each have 43. One has 2, another 2, and another 2. See above for the disadvantages of the summons.

Staff of Elemental Mastery
22 Galderman (1 in 16) +

No native access. No simple summons.

Highest Starting: 3 Galderman (1 in 4). The hero, Vanlade - Vanadrott has 3.

No native access.

Summon Spectre
1 Galderman (7 in 16) +
Spectral Mage has a 7 in 16 chance of 1.

Highest Starting: 1 Galderman (7 in 16), (1 in 16 of 2).

Pebble Skin Suit Unremovable
11 Galderman (1 in 8) +

Blood Stone
11 Galderman (1 in 8) +

Highest Starting: 2 Völva

Highest Starting: 1 Galderman (7 in 16), (1 in 16 of 2).

Hidden Underneath in Cave
11 Galderman (1 in 8) +
Released Sage has 1 in 2 chance of 2, 1 in 2 of 3.

The Black Book of Secrets Unique
11 Galderman (1 in 8) +
22 The hero, Vanlade - Vanadrott

No native access.

Summon Gnome
11 Galderman (1 in 16) +
Gnome has 2

Highest Starting: 1 Vanherse, Vanjarl or Galderman (1 in 4)

Bind Succubus
11 Vanjarl +
Succubus has 2.

Mirage Crystal
11 Galderman (1 in 16) +

Highest Starting: 1 Vanjarl or Galderman (7 in 16), (1 in 16 of 2).

The Black Book of Secrets Unique
11 Galderman (1 in 8) +
22 The hero, Vanlade - Vanadrott

How to win as the nation. Feel free to use the following sections, or delete them, or change them.

Different expansion options.

Early game options.

Mid game options.

Late game options.

What are the nation's weaknesses?

Add links to guides or other overviews for this nation here.

Nations
Early Ages	Arcoscephale • Ermor • Ulm • Pyrène, • Marverni • Sauromatia • T'ien Ch'i • Machaka • Mictlan • Abysia • Caelum • C'tis • Pangaea • Agartha • Tir na n'Og • Fomoria • Vanheim • Helheim • Niefelheim • Muspelheim • Rus • Kailasa • Lanka • Yomi • Hinnom • Ur • Berytos • Xibalba • Mekone • Ubar • Atlantis • R'lyeh • Pelagia • Oceania • Therodos
Middle Ages	Arcoscephale • Ermor • Sceleria • Pythium • Man • Eriu • Ulm • Pyrène • Marignon • Mictlan • T'ien Ch'i • Machaka • Agartha • Abysia • Caelum • C'tis • Pangaea • Asphodel • Vanheim • Jotunheim • Nidavangr • Vanarus • Bandar Log • Shinuyama • Ashdod • Uruk • Nazca • Xibalba • Phlegra • Phaeacia • Ind • Na'ba • Atlantis • R'lyeh • Pelagia • Oceania • Ys
Late Ages	Arcoscephale • Pythium • Lemuria • Man • Ulm • Marignon • Mictlan • T'ien Ch'i • Jomon • Agartha • Abysia • Caelum • C'tis • Pangaea • Midgård • Utgård • Bogarus • Patala • Gath • Ragha • Xibalba • Phlegra • Vaettiheim • Feminie • Piconye • Andramania • Pyrène • Atlantis • R'lyeh • Erytheia