Frozenheim isn’t just another city builder—it’s a tactical Viking survival experience that marries strategic resource management with real-time combat. If you’re launching into this cold and beautiful world for the first time, this guide will walk you through the critical first steps to get your settlement off the ground and keep your warriors breathing.

1. Don’t Be Afraid to Adjust Game Settings

Before the game even begins, there’s a powerful opportunity that many newcomers skip: customizing your starting conditions. Frozenheim offers a surprisingly rich range of settings that can significantly smooth the early-game experience. You can adjust resource retrieval rates, increase your starting supplies, limit enemy attack waves, and even start with additional units.

If you’re learning the ropes, take advantage of these settings. Set the resource retrieval to full, increase starting resources, and reduce the number of attack waves. There’s no shame in easing the challenge for your first few games. The game has a steep curve, and you’ll learn faster when you’re not overwhelmed from the start.

2. Pause Early, Plan Often

Once you enter the game, pause it immediately. You’re not under pressure yet, and pausing allows you to explore the UI, review the controls, and plan your opening moves. This isn’t just good advice—it’s critical. Frozenheim rewards foresight, and early mistakes can snowball quickly.

Use the time to familiarize yourself with the control settings. For instance, did you know you can rotate buildings? Or snap back to your town center with a hotkey? Many of these small tools are only discoverable through the settings menu, and they can give you a real edge.

3. Utilize Scouts Carefully

You begin with scouts—your eyes and ears in the wilderness. Switch their stance to defensive immediately. Scouts are fragile, and you can’t afford to lose them early. They have a critical early-game ability called Vision, which sends out an eagle to reveal hidden terrain. Use this liberally to avoid wandering into wolves or hostile warriors.

Be deliberate in their movement. Right-clicking to set their destination is fine, but always confirm their path is clear. Fog of war can hide nasty surprises, and your scouts may reroute dangerously if their original path is blocked. When in doubt, pause, send out an eagle, and proceed only if the area is clear.

4. Wood Is Life: Start With a Woodcutter’s Hut

The first building you should construct is a Woodcutter’s Hut. But there’s a twist: it needs to be close to your homestead (called Giles Homestead). Not only will this speed up construction, but the resources gathered will be delivered faster. Early resource efficiency can mean the difference between life and death.

Assign the maximum number of workers. Wood is the backbone of your early expansion—you’ll need it for virtually every structure.

5. Train for Defense: The Training Hall

Once the Woodcutter’s Hut is running, your next goal should be a Training Hall. But to build it, you must first produce wood. Once built, the hall lets you recruit units—but don’t expect to start building armies immediately. Most units require resources like skins and stone.

That’s where your Collector’s Guild comes in. Prioritize building it near a stone deposit rather than iron—stone is used more heavily in early development. Only once stone production is stable should you consider mining iron.

6. Food and Population: A Two-Pronged Approach

With stone secured, it’s time to focus on food. Build a Hunter’s Hut near visible deer herds or wildlife. Assign workers as soon as it’s done. This structure not only provides food but also furs—essential for unit recruitment.

Simultaneously, start expanding your population by building houses. One house brings in two villagers. Aim to construct at least three houses early to unlock six new workers. These workers will form the backbone of your economy and military.

7. Your First Warriors

Once you gather enough skins from hunting, recruit your first unit—Axemen. Unlike scouts, these units are durable and strong enough to withstand attacks. Keep them on defensive stance for now to guard your town.

Early mistakes can cost you everything, so it’s better to defend well before you think about expanding too far or sending scouts on long journeys.

8. Fisherman’s Hut and Economic Scaling

Food will only become more important. After the Hunter’s Hut, build a Fisherman’s Hut near a water source. Assign workers immediately. To keep the economic engine running, assign all remaining villagers to work at the Giles Homestead. This ensures a steady stream of incoming resources.

9. The Bloomery and Town Hall Upgrade

The first major milestone is upgrading your Giles Homestead. You’ll need steel to do it, which requires a Bloomery and a supply of Bog Iron. Build your Bloomery near the homestead, and don’t forget to assign workers.

But steel production requires iron, which comes from a Collector’s Guild placed near an iron deposit. This is an easy thing to forget—don’t make the same mistake. Without it, your Bloomery can’t function.

Once everything is in place, steel will start rolling in. When you have enough, an icon will appear over your Homestead. Click it, and you’ll initiate the upgrade.

10. Emergency Defenses and Militia

If you’re attacked before your army is ready, don’t panic. Your Homestead can spawn emergency militia units using the Mobilization feature. These aren’t as powerful as trained warriors, but they might just hold off an attack long enough to keep your settlement alive.

Final Thoughts

Frozenheim rewards patience, planning, and adaptability. From setting up your first woodcutter’s hut to upgrading your town center, each step matters. This beginner phase isn’t just about survival—it’s about building the momentum for a thriving, self-sustaining Viking village.

Now that you know the essentials, sharpen your axe, steady your nerves, and lead your clan with wisdom. Whether you build a peaceful haven or a war-ready stronghold, your journey starts here.