Age of Wonders 4 The Silver Seas is a naval expansion that launches on November 3, 2026. It adds the Mercantile culture with two subcultures, the Cartel and the Barony, plus two new forms called Aqualon and Sharkkin, four new tomes, pirate dwellings and a stack of ocean content. You can get it through Expansion Pass 4, which costs $49.99 and also includes Singer of Storms now and two more expansions in 2027. Paradox has not confirmed a standalone price or an exact launch hour, based on current information.
Summary: Age of Wonders 4 The Silver Seas
- Release: November 3, 2026, about three weeks from now.
- Culture: Mercantile, with Cartel (smuggling) and Barony (trade princes) subcultures that can found cities on water.
- Forms: Aqualon (near-human) and Sharkkin (monstrous), plus a Merfolk society trait.
- Tomes: Hydromancy, Piracy, the Damned and Eternal Ice.
- Price: Expansion Pass 4 is $49.99. The base game is sold separately.
- Free update: the Manta Update adds Trade Routes and naval changes, and it is in open beta on Steam.
- Roadmap: Court of the Archfey follows in Q1 2027, then Forge of the Firstborn in Q2 2027.
What Is Age of Wonders 4 The Silver Seas?
The Silver Seas is the first big expansion in Expansion Pass 4 for Age of Wonders 4, the fantasy 4X strategy game from Triumph Studios and Paradox Interactive. Instead of adding another land-bound faction, it turns the ocean into a place you settle, trade across and fight over. Paradox describes it as a way to explore oceans rich with mystery, master the tides and rule the waves.
The pitch fits a wider trend. Ocean expansions are arriving across games this month, and our guide to the Once Human Isles of Abyss ocean expansion covers a very different take on the same idea. In Age of Wonders 4, though, the sea feeds directly into your empire’s economy and magic.
To see everything Paradox has announced, check the official Silver Seas page on Paradox Interactive.
Release Date, Price and Platforms
Paradox set the release date at November 3, 2026. The pass itself went on sale on October 1, so you can buy in now and receive the expansion when it unlocks.
| Item | What we know |
|---|---|
| Silver Seas release | November 3, 2026 |
| Expansion Pass 4 price | $49.99 suggested retail in the US, available now |
| Instant unlock | Singer of Storms, included with the pass |
| PC stores for the expansion | Steam, Epic and GOG |
| Pass platforms | PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X|S |
| Base game | Required, and sold separately |
| Standalone Silver Seas price | Not confirmed in the sources we found |
| Launch hour | Not announced |
Paradox labels the pass as saving over 23%, so it is the cheaper route if you want the next three expansions. As a bonus tip, the Steam hub listed the base game at 50% off ($24.99) at the time of writing, but sales end without notice.
Mercantile Culture Features
The headline addition is the Mercantile culture, built on turning every deal, alliance and rivalry into profit. Its biggest trick is that you can place cities on both land and sea. According to the developer diary, both subcultures found cities from Water Outposts, which lets you claim spots on the map that rivals struggle to reach.
Mercantile play leans on Trade Routes, a new system that connects cities to other cities, outposts, Free Cities or rival empires once certain requirements are met. The routes themselves arrive for free in the Manta Update, while the culture is part of the paid expansion.
You choose between two subcultures:
- Cartel: these masters of information and manipulation run smuggling routes. They can open hidden Trade Routes to rival cities, even hostile ones, and turn stolen leverage into battlefield advantage.
- Barony: these wealthy trade princes and nobles command armies and place bounties on their enemies. Their unique Tier 3 structure adds Trade Route capacity and stability for each connected route.
Because the routes are central, a Mercantile empire rewards careful city placement far more than raw conquest. However, Paradox has not published full numbers for either subculture, so balance details will only be clear after launch.
Aqualon and Sharkkin Forms
Forms in Age of Wonders 4 shape what your people look like and how they fight, and you combine them with a culture, society traits and tomes. The Silver Seas adds two.
| Form | Official description |
|---|---|
| Aqualon | Near-human beings touched by the sea’s mystery, elegant and otherworldly |
| Sharkkin | Monstrous, toothy warriors forged for brutal battle beneath the waves |
The expansion also adds a society trait called Children of the Waves, which transforms your people into Merfolk. Paradox has not released form stats or racial traits yet, so any tier list you see now is guesswork. Pair these forms with the Mercantile culture and one of the new tomes if you want a fully maritime empire.
The Four New Tomes
Triumph’s Dev Diary #65 lays out each tome in detail. Here is the short version.
| Tome | Focus | Notable pieces |
|---|---|---|
| Hydromancy | Control and crowd control | Flowbinder Archer, Riptide spell, Waterbind Arrow immobilization |
| Piracy | Skirmishing and plunder | Swashbuckler, Ember Dust explosions, Rob status that steals gold |
| The Damned | Ghostfire and summons | Accursed Lamenter, Damned status that spawns Accursed Wisps |
| Eternal Ice | Freezing and sustain | Ancient Hoarfrost Manta, Chilled status, Whiteout spell that freezes water |
A few details are worth knowing. Several tomes include province improvements that can only be built on water, such as the Pirate Haven and the Accursed Grave. The Tome of Eternal Ice is a Tier IV Shadow tome that Paradox says must be earned. Its Whiteout spell turns water into ice so that all of your units can walk across it.
New World Map Content
Beyond the empire tools, the expansion fills the map with new things to find.
- Bond of the Free Captains: a new dwelling with three pirate captains, each with their own temperament and secrets. Building toward a Life Bond unlocks exclusive shops, units and stolen technologies.
- Landmarks: the Tempestuous Vortex and Armada’s Fall.
- Ancient Wonders: the Uncharted Harbor and the Pearltide Dome.
- Infestation: the Spawning Shoal.
- Magic material: Pale Tidebloom, a ghostfire-infused coastal plant.
- Creatures: Frenzied Fish Swarms, Hoarfrost Mantas, Seamares and electric Rune Crabs.
- Extras: a new Seamare mount, an interface skin, a realm template, new traits and new music by Michiel van den Bos.
Free Manta Update vs. the Paid Expansion
Many players mix these up, so here is the split. The free Manta Update is available to every owner of the base game. It adds Trade Routes, changes to naval combat, spells and skills at sea, ship customization, better water visuals and outposts on water tiles. The Manta Update has been in open beta on Steam since October 9, and you can opt in through the manta_beta branch.
The paid content stays exclusive. The Mercantile culture, the new forms, the tomes and the map content all belong to The Silver Seas. Paradox has not given a separate date for the full Manta release in the sources we found.
Expansion Pass 4 Roadmap
The pass bundles four pieces of content, and Paradox has dated all of them.
| Content | Timing | What it adds |
|---|---|---|
| Singer of Storms | Available now | A premade ruler named Mael, customization items, a Tempest Orb weapon, Storm Seamare mounts and a Tidecallers society trait |
| The Silver Seas | November 3, 2026 | Mercantile culture, two forms, four tomes, pirate dwelling, ocean content |
| Court of the Archfey | Q1 2027 | New ruler type, form, tomes and story realms, themed on illusion, deepwood spirits and seasons |
| Forge of the Firstborn | Q2 2027 | New form, story realms, tomes and a forge mechanic with living golems and custom warriors |
One practical warning from the studio: when The Silver Seas releases, the Expansion Pass 3 bundle will be removed and replaced with new packaging. If you want to complete that set, buy it before November 3. For another look at how a publisher spreads content over time, see our Dragon Ball Sparking Zero roadmap breakdown.
Age of Wonders 4 PC System Requirements
The expansion runs on the base game, and the pages we could read do not list separate specs for The Silver Seas. Third-party requirement databases list the base game as follows, so confirm the exact figures on your store page before you buy.
| Component | Minimum | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| OS | Windows 10, 64-bit | Windows 10 or 11, 64-bit |
| CPU | Intel Core i7-2700K or AMD Ryzen 5 1600X | Intel Core i7-9700K |
| Memory | 8 GB RAM | 16 GB RAM |
| GPU | Radeon HD 7870 or GeForce GTX 670 | Not confirmed in the sources we found |
| Storage | 20 GB | Not confirmed |
If you want a refresher on reading spec sheets, our Planet Zoo 2 system requirements guide shows how we break down minimum and recommended hardware.
Tips and Common Mistakes
- Buying only the base game. The pass does not include it, so you need both.
- Expecting form stats. Paradox has not shown Aqualon or Sharkkin numbers yet.
- Mixing up free and paid content. Trade Routes come free, while the Mercantile culture does not.
- Waiting too long on Expansion Pass 3. That bundle disappears when The Silver Seas launches.
- Assuming a launch hour. Paradox has only announced the date.
Conclusion
Age of Wonders 4 The Silver Seas arrives on November 3, 2026 with a Mercantile culture, two sea-themed forms, four tomes and a map full of ocean content. Expansion Pass 4 at $49.99 is the confirmed way to buy it, and two more expansions follow in 2027. Wait for hands-on details before you plan a build around the new forms.
FAQs
When is The Silver Seas released?
It launches on November 3, 2026. Paradox has not announced a launch hour.
How much does it cost?
Expansion Pass 4 costs $49.99 in the US, and it includes Singer of Storms, The Silver Seas, Court of the Archfey and Forge of the Firstborn. A standalone price is not confirmed.
What is the Mercantile culture?
It is a new culture built around trade that can found cities on water and has two subcultures: the Cartel and the Barony.
What are Aqualon and Sharkkin?
They are the two new forms. Aqualon are elegant, near-human sea folk, while Sharkkin are monstrous shark-like warriors.
Is Trade Routes part of the expansion?
No. Trade Routes arrive in the free Manta Update, which is in open beta on Steam.
What comes after The Silver Seas?
Court of the Archfey arrives in Q1 2027, followed by Forge of the Firstborn in Q2 2027.
For more updates visit: GAME SPEC
