For Honor Adding New Hero 7 Years After Launch

gamerant.com:

Ubisoft has just revealed the first glimpse of the Varangian Guard, the upcoming addition to For Honor’s fearsome roster of warriors. The surprise trailer features the heavily armored Hero, who will be joining the fray to fight alongside their Viking brethren in For Honor's next update on February 1.

While many games feature noble knights in shining armor, For Honor threw the history books out of the window when it was released in 2017. Pitching players in furious battles between Samurai, Vikings, and European knights, For Honor's precise and punishing multiplayer combat has earned its well-deserved reputation as one of the best medieval fighting games released in recent years. Although the game will celebrate its seventh birthday in February, it still receives regular content updates and boasts a modest but dedicated player base. The new Hero character will arrive in the second part of the game’s Year 7, Season 4 update, which has so far centered around a Viking tale of Treason and Betrayal.

The official trailer teases the first glance of this surprise new Hero. Emerging from the frozen fog of war, the Varangian Guard lets out a bloodcurdling war cry before charging headlong into battle equipped with a large kite shield and one-handed ax. Joining the battle on the side of the Vikings, the Varangian Guard will be the 33rd playable Hero available in For Honor’s varied roster, which features both historical characters and cameos from other Ubisoft titles.

Hailing from Scandinavia and the Rus, these elite warriors historically served as the personal bodyguards of the Byzantine Emperors between the 10th and 14th centuries. Renowned for their ferocity in battle and unwavering loyalty to the Emperor, the Varangian Guards turned the tide of many battles. In the trailer, the Varangian Guard's design is inspired by this unlikely fusion of Norse and Byzantine cultures, with the Hero’s lamellar-styled armor and plumed helmet contrasting the traditional Viking weaponry.

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