First steps Field notes / 03
HearthHold tribes: Romans, Teutons, Egyptians or Chinese?
Compare HearthHold’s four tribes by playstyle, understand their different strengths, and choose a kingdom that matches how you like to play.
The quick answer
HearthHold has four tribes: Romans, Teutons, Egyptians and Chinese. Romans favour balanced development, Teutons suit an aggressive style, Egyptians emphasise economy and defense, and Chinese favour research and technology. Choose for the decisions you enjoy, then inspect the current tribe details in the game.
A practical tribe comparison
| Tribe | Strategic identity | A good fit if you enjoy |
|---|---|---|
| Romans | Balanced development and strong foundations | Building a well-rounded kingdom |
| Teutons | Aggression and raiding | Taking initiative and actively managing armies |
| Egyptians | Economy and defense | Supporting growth with a resilient resource base |
| Chinese | Research and technology | Planning upgrades and longer-term development |
Current distinguishing bonuses include 10% cheaper Roman building and field upgrades, 15% faster Teuton infantry training, 10% extra Egyptian grain production and 20% faster Chinese research. Chinese technology studies also cost 10% fewer resources; troop unlock prices are unchanged. These are playstyle summaries, not a ranking. Every tribe still needs an economy, useful buildings, sensible troop choices and coordination. Your decisions and the situation around your town matter.
Choose your routine, not just your favourite portrait
Think about how you want to spend a session. Do you prefer developing a town steadily, planning an expedition, optimising income or working toward a research goal? That preference is a better starting point than choosing whichever tribe someone calls strongest.
Aggression also requires attention. An active raiding style involves choosing destinations, assessing risk and reviewing results. A development-focused style still needs awareness of neighbours and defense. No tribe removes the need to manage your kingdom.
Why there is no universal best tribe
A tribe that suits one player may be a poor fit for another player's schedule or alliance role. The value of an advantage depends on whether you use it. A research-oriented plan needs priorities, and an economy-oriented plan needs a reason for its spending.
Use this decision sequence: choose your preferred routine, inspect the current tribe description, consider how you want to help an alliance, then begin with the first-session guide. Avoid delaying your first town while chasing a supposedly perfect ranking.
HearthHold is in beta. Balance values can change, so confirm precise bonuses in the live game rather than relying on an old percentage quoted in a guide.
Common questions
How many tribes can I choose from in HearthHold?
There are four: Romans, Teutons, Egyptians and Chinese.
Which HearthHold tribe is best for beginners?
Choose the playstyle you want to learn. Romans offer a balanced identity, while the other tribes support different preferences. None removes the need to understand resources, buildings and defense.
Written for the current beta and checked against the game's mechanics on 25 October 2026. Balance and availability can change. The live game shows current costs, requirements and effects.
About these guides
