Niefelheim, the Land of Eternal Frost, was once the home of the frost giants. The Rimtursar, primordial giants of godlike powers, were the undisputed rulers of the world until a God of Thunder hunted and slew them. The giants of Jotunheim are the descendants of the Rimtursar. From the cold glaciers in Niefelheim, frost giants have emerged anew. These Niefel Giants are not nearly as powerful as their ancestors, but they are stronger by far than the giants of later ages. Giants are immensely strong and resilient, and the Jotuns are even stronger and tougher than other giant races. They are almost impervious to the cold of winter, but thunder and lightning still recognize their old quarry and the giants of the land greatly fear the wielders of lightning bolts. Niefelheim is ruled by several Jarls who rarely join forces. Gygjas, old and wicked hags, serve the Niefel giants with sorcerous advice. The people of Niefelheim prefer to live in very cold provinces. The icy winds of Niefelheim cause the cold climate to expand beyond the Dominion of the Pretender God.

"[Niefelheim] 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.

Niefelheim, Muspelheim, Jotunheim, and Utgård are part of the history of a single nation through the ages. 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

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Magic Access	Alt. Access	Unit Summary	Core Abilities	Buildings
4 (Rare 5) 3 (Rare 4) 3 2 (Rare 3) 1 (Rare 2) 1 (Rare 2) 2	Hero 33233 3332 Summons 423 243 432 432 (req. 43)	Giant Infantry and Skinshifters Niefel Giants	Cold Resistance Shock Vulnerability Snow Move	Giant Forts Forts reduce cold scale deaths by 2 steps

Capitol Gems: 42

Cold Limit + 2
Prefers Cold Scale + 3

: Cold Resistance (15), Shock Vulnerability (5), Snow Move

• Seith Curse (Thaumaturgy 5)
  11 and 3
  Commentary here.
• Illwinter (Blood 6)
  35 and 120
  Commentary here.

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

No native access. 5 can Bind Heliophagus for 1 in 4 4.

8 can Bind Demon Lord for 2 in 6 of at least 4.

No native access except for the hero, Tjatse - Abductor, who, in his Great Eagle form, has 4.

53 can cast Ghost Ship Armada for a 1 in 3 chance of 2.

41 can cast Ether Gate for a 1 in 4 chance of 1.

14 can cast Faerie Court not in Cold for a 1 in 3 1 and in Cold for a 1 in 2 1.

8 can Bind Demon Lord for 1 in 6 of 5.

4 Niefel Jarl (1 in 3) is the strongest recruitable Water mage available.

No native access. 31 can cast Hidden in the Snow for a ~7 in 8 chance of 1.

14 can cast Faerie Court not in Cold for a 1 in 3 1 and in Cold for a 1 in 2 1.

3 can cast Forest Troll Tribe for a 1 in 4 1.

5 can cast Awaken Treelord for a 1 in 3 stationary 1.

8 can Bind Demon Lord for 1 in 6 of 4.

Gygja 2 has ~1 in 25 chance, 1 has ~9 in 25 chance. The 2 Gygja can create a Starshine Skullcap, and, with Blood boosters may be able to forge the unique The Oath Rod of Kurgi, and then the unique The Trapped Dreams of Hruvur. Missing any of the unique boosters or starting with an 1 Gygja will necessitate empowering.

The hero, Angerboda - Great Hag, has 3, can natively forge the unique The Oath Rod of Kurgi. With a Starshine Skullcap and a Gossamer Veil, both of which it can create itself, it can create the unique The Trapped Dreams of Hruvur.

8 can Bind Demon Lord for 1 in 6 4.

Increasing Death requires luck when it comes to Gygjas. Although, a 3 Niefel Jarl (1 in 3) is much more likely to occur than a 3 Gygja (~1 in 25), and so is the one to use to actually climb the path, the Gygja has useful crosspaths while the Niefel Jarl doesn't. The Gygja only requires 22 (~2 in 25) for the unique The Black Book of Secrets. A Death booster is easier to get than a Blood booster.

The hero, Angerboda - Great Hag, removes the luck and empowerments required to climb Death.

2 Gygja (~1 in 25) or 1 (~9 in 25) is the only Nature recruitable. With Blood boosters, it can create an Armor of Twisting Thorns. With a 11 Gygja (1 in 25) and two Nature boosters, (Thistle Mace and another Armor of Twisting Thorns), it can create a Moonvine Bracelet. Nature is a difficult climb.

The hero, Angerboda - Great Hag, can forge many of the Nature boosters natively. They aren't even unique.

8 can Bind Demon Lord for 1 in 6 of 4.

3 Gygja (~1 in 25) can start the climb, but still needs a level of empowerment to get the unique Tome of Legends. Getting the unique The Trapped Dreams of Hruvur, a 21 Gygja (~1 in 25) will need both a Gossamer Veil, The Trapped Dreams of Hruvur, and three Astral boosters.

The hero, Angerboda - Great Hag, can forge both a Gossamer Veil and a Starshine Skullcap, which allows it to possibly create the unique The Trapped Dreams of Hruvur. This gets it to 5 and creating the unique Tome of Legends.

8 can Bind Demon Lord for 3 in 6 of at least 4.

3 Jotun Skratti (1 in 4) starts at the key level, which makes the climb easy. A Gygja with the right crosspaths can help make the other Blood boosters.

The hero, Angerboda - Great Hag, also starts at 3 and also has the crosspaths to make the other Blood boosters.

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 • Atlantis • R'lyeh • Erytheia