Firefly Studios has shared some new gameplay deep dives revealing new units and AI characters in Stronghold Crusader: Definitive Edition.

“Bringing the new units to life in Crusader: DE was both a challenge and a blast. With most of the original assets missing, everything had to be rebuilt from the foundations,” said Darrin Horbal, Senior Graphic Designer in a press release. “This gave me the chance to refine the animations and push for smoother movement, clearer silhouettes, and stronger visual storytelling. The Heavy Camel was especially fun (and tricky), but there’s nothing more satisfying than watching these characters charge across the battlefield, fully animated and game-ready.”

Here’s a rundown on the new details, plus the gameplay deep dives on new units and AI characters:

Units are the foundation of any good RTS combat system, being the building blocks for your ultimate military force. On top of the original troop types present in the first game, Crusader: DE aims to offer players an entirely new arsenal of warriors, each equipped with specialised gear for every challenge in the long march to victory. These new units were carefully based on the weapons and strategies of the historical Bedouin Arab tribes that have been present in the Middle East as early as 6000 BCE.

Bedouin societies are masters at surviving in the unforgiving desert environment, making highly resourceful use of the items and raw materials at their disposal. The development of these units was driven by the aim of creating the level of strategic depth that players have come to expect of the Stronghold series. From the skilled Sappers that are adept at demolishing structures and the pyromaniac Ambushers that drown their enemies in righteous fire, to the brutish, burly Eunuchs dual wielding scimitars and the life-saving medical wisdom of the Healers, players’ only limit would be their own crafty imagination.

Stronghold Crusader: Definitive Edition not only elevates the original content that players loved but will bolster the whole package with entirely fresh mission scenarios, units and, of course, AI characters.

These four new characters serve as opponents for players to fully test their strategic depth against and bring the total of characters in Crusader DE to a whopping 20 (!) Lords. Each of these new lords has been designed to embody a unique tactical and cultural aspect of the ancient world:

• The Kahin is a cold and ruthless priestess of a desert sect. Her mission is to preserve the sanctity of the desert and to kill all those that violate it. As a Bedouin-based AI with a balanced playstyle revolving around Eunuchs and Heavy Camels, she ranks medium on the difficulty scale.
• The Sentinel is a stalwart titan of the Templar Order, a creature so bred for battle that he’s never been seen without his helmet. He employs a deadly cocktail of units including the crippling crossbowmen, marauding macemen and the brand new Demolishers. Being harder to counter than other AI opponents, he ranks medium-to-high difficulty wise.
• Then there’s the Nomad, a confident Bedouin warrior whose protection spreads to whatever land he calls his home. Taking after his wandering lifestyle, he utilises Light Camels and Skirmishers to rush his opponents and catch them off guard. A good opponent for those who are looking for a rapid and relentless skirmish match, he ranks lower on the difficulty scale.
• Last but not least is the Jewel, kin of long-standing Stronghold character Sir Longarm and a character who first appeared in Stronghold: Definitive Edition. A veritable force of nature in her own right, she bulldozes enemies using legions of tanky knights and swordsmen, only preferring to move out after amassing sufficient forces. As such, she sits high on the difficulty scale – a true challenge for anyone brave enough to face her.

Stronghold Crusader: Definitive Edition is in development for Windows PC (via Steam) and is set to launch on July 15th.