Wartales: Knights of Fardensa Expansion Launches December 9 Alongside Free Mounted Combat Update
Since the earliest days of Early Access, mercenary captains in Wartales have shared one persistent frustration: watching their warhorses act purely as pack mules or passive support animals on the battlefield. French developer Shiro Games is finally answering its community’s biggest request with a dual release slated for December 9, 2026 on PC (via Steam and GOG): the paid Wartales: Knights of Fardensa expansion alongside a massive free update introducing full mounted combat for everyone.
Just days after the tactical RPG appeared among the 9 titles leaving the subscription catalog on October 31, Shiro Games has also launched a public Steam Open Beta running through November 18, letting PC players test the new Horseman Mastery class and horse breeding mechanics ahead of next month’s launch.
Horseman Mastery Class, Lances, and Breeding: Inside the Free Major Update
You will not need to buy the expansion to put your mercenaries in the saddle. Shiro Games confirmed that mounted combat, horse breeding, and armor customization are arriving free for all base game owners on December 9. At the core of the overhaul is the Horseman Mastery Class, a secondary progression path available to every mercenary alongside their existing class.
Pairing a Horseman with a mount allows them to wield lances and build Momentum through movement across the tactical grid to deal devastating charge damage. However, riders must actively manage their Stability gauge when facing pike-wielding or heavy enemy units capable of unhorsing them. Once dismounted, a mercenary immediately transitions back to fighting on foot with their original class skills.
- Horseman Progression & Free Gear: Progress through 4 Mastery Tiers by completing class challenges, with 3 Horseman specializations, 1 horse specialization, 6 lances, 1 horse armor set, and 4 saddle accessories included in the free patch.
- Stables & Genetic Horse Breeding: New stables at Trading Posts allow companies to breed horses to pass down inherited traits, combine matching traits for a chance to upgrade their level, and customize mount coat patterns.
- Equipment Transmog & Dyeing: The free update adds 4 color options for craftable armor and helmets, alongside Stamps (which preserve armor and helmet skills) and Patterns (which transfer statistics between gear pieces).
Steam players can jump into the Open Beta right now until November 18 by right-clicking Wartales in their Steam Library, selecting Properties, opening the Betas tab, and choosing the Open Beta branch. Shiro Games strongly advises backing up your local save directory at SteamsteamappscommonWartalessave before opting in.
Knights of Fardensa Expansion: Renaissance Intrigue, Chivalric Trials, and 6 Legendary Horses
Launching simultaneously and joining our December 2026 video game release calendar, the paid Knights of Fardensa expansion takes mercenary companies to a vibrant new province inspired by Renaissance Florence. As detailed on the official Wartales: Knights of Fardensa Steam page, Fardensa’s fertile orchards and colorful estates are ruled by the powerful Ald Hertogg family through a strict monopoly on trade and warhorses.
That grip on the island is fracturing: stolen mounts are being smuggled to the continent, and the lesser noble houses have forged an uneasy rebellion. Across a two-act political campaign, players will investigate a murder, defend or sabotage a major construction site, infiltrate a heavily fortified estate, and decide the fate of a ruined dynasty. Your choices dictate whether you champion the rebel houses or secretly serve the Ald Hertoggs in the final battle for Fardensa.
Beyond noble politics, an ancient order guards the true origin of Fardensa’s steeds. Following clues in a mysterious tome through a series of chivalric trials (protecting the downtrodden, hunting outlaws, recovering a knight’s lost blade, and taming a mythic steed) unlocks the official Knight character title.
| Content Category | Free Major Update (All Players) | Knights of Fardensa Expansion (Paid DLC) |
|---|---|---|
| Region & Storyline | Stables added to existing Trading Posts | Fardensa region, 2-act campaign, path to Knighthood, 1 summonable and recruitable legendary character |
| Horseman & Mounts | Horseman Mastery class (4 tiers), horse breeding, 3 Horseman & 1 horse specializations | 6 legendary horses, 2 extra Horseman & 2 extra horse specializations, 2 Camp tools |
| Mounted Arsenal | 6 lances, 1 horse armor, 4 saddle accessories | 5 additional lances, 1 Legendary horse armor, 2 horse armors, 11 saddle accessories |
| Challenges & Gear | 4 craftable armor colors, skill Stamps, and stat-transfer Patterns | Regional boss, Arena champion, Tomb of the Ancients, 7 weapons, 4 helmets, 1 shield, 2 oils, 6 accessories, 6 cooking recipes |
My Take
I have to give Shiro Games real credit for how they split this release. Plenty of studios would have locked mounted combat and horse breeding strictly behind the expansion paywall to force an upgrade. Giving every base game player the Horseman Mastery class, six lances, stable breeding, and full armor stat transfers for free fixes the biggest gameplay blind spot Wartales has had since 1.0. Better yet, tying cavalry charges to a Stability bar that can leave your rider unhorsed and fighting on foot ensures mounted units add tactical tension rather than turning every skirmish into an effortless steamroll.
SEO consultant for over 20 years and digital entrepreneur, Charles "Grimtag" is the founder of Pro-Gamer.gg, Retrocharting.com, and Gamescharting.com. A competitive gamer, streamer, and retro game collector, he has worked in the video game industry for over 15 years, notably as a consultant for leading game price comparison platforms. Passionate about real-time performance data and gaming technology, he analyzes competitive esports, gaming hardware benchmarks, and creator workflows on Pro-Gamer.gg with an authentic player perspective.
