Greek Major Gods

Greek Major Gods

In Age of Mythology: Retold, your choice of Major God at the outset of each game fundamentally shapes your strategy, unit composition, and available God Powers. The Greek pantheon offers a balanced yet distinct set of playstyles, catering to aggressive rushes, economic booms, and defensive fortifications. Understanding the nuances of each Major God is crucial for mastering the game.

Zeus: The King of the Gods

Focus: Zeus is the quintessential offensive Greek god, excelling in myth unit combat and direct damage. His playstyle encourages aggressive pushes and leveraging powerful, high-cost units to overwhelm opponents.

• Unique Bonuses:
  • Favor Generation: Zeus generates Favor 25% faster than other Greek gods. This allows for quicker access to powerful Myth Units and God Powers.
  • Hoplite Bonus: All Hoplites trained under Zeus gain a +10% attack bonus, making them even more formidable in early and mid-game engagements.
  • Myth Unit Discount: Myth Units trained from the Temple cost 10% less Favor, further enhancing his myth unit focus.
  • Lightning Bolt God Power: This iconic God Power instantly kills any single enemy unit (excluding Titans and some specific heroes). It's incredibly versatile, used to eliminate key enemy Myth Units, Heroes, or even siege weapons that threaten your advance.
• Favored Units & Strategies:
  • Hoplites: With their bonus, Zeus's Hoplites are excellent frontline units, especially when paired with Myth Units.
  • Myth Units: Zeus thrives on a strong Myth Unit presence. Early Minotaurs can be devastating, while later game Colossi and Hydras can turn the tide of battle. Prioritize getting a Temple up quickly to start generating Favor and training these units.
  • Offensive Play: Zeus is best played aggressively. Use your faster Favor generation to field Myth Units early and push your advantage. The Lightning Bolt can be used defensively to save a critical unit or offensively to remove a stubborn defender.
  • Countering: Be wary of massed archers or units with pierce damage bonuses, as many Greek Myth Units are vulnerable to pierce attacks.
• Strategic Implications: Zeus is ideal for players who enjoy direct confrontation and leveraging powerful individual units. His early game can be very strong, but requires careful management of resources and unit composition to maintain momentum.

Poseidon: The God of the Sea and Earthquakes

Focus: Poseidon offers a more balanced approach, blending strong cavalry with economic advantages and unique defensive capabilities. He's excellent for players who prefer a flexible strategy, adapting to both land and sea battles.

• Unique Bonuses:
  • Starting Villager: Poseidon starts with an additional Villager, providing an immediate economic boost and faster resource gathering in the early game.
  • Hippocampus Scout: Instead of a standard scout, Poseidon starts with a Hippocampus, a fast aquatic scout that can explore water maps efficiently.
  • Militia from Destroyed Buildings: When a building is destroyed (either yours or an enemy's), a free Militia unit spawns. This provides a constant trickle of free units, especially useful in prolonged engagements or when defending against raids.
  • Lure God Power: This God Power summons a Lure, a magical fishing spot that attracts animals to its vicinity. This is an invaluable economic tool, allowing you to quickly gather food from a concentrated source, especially useful in the early game or when food sources are scarce.
• Favored Units & Strategies:
  • Cavalry (Hippikons): Poseidon's cavalry units are particularly strong due to their overall synergy with his economic bonuses. Massed Hippikons can be a formidable force.
  • Naval Dominance: With the Hippocampus and access to powerful naval units, Poseidon can excel on water maps, controlling fishing spots and raiding enemy coastal settlements.
  • Economic Boom: The extra starting Villager and the Lure God Power allow Poseidon to achieve a faster economic boom, translating into more resources for unit production and upgrades.
  • Defensive Flexibility: The Militia spawning from destroyed buildings can be a nuisance for attackers, providing a constant, albeit small, defensive force.
• Strategic Implications: Poseidon is a versatile choice for players who value economic strength and adaptable strategies. He can transition smoothly between land and sea warfare and can recover from setbacks more easily due to his economic advantages. His Lure God Power is one of the strongest economic powers in the game.

Hades: The Lord of the Underworld

Focus: Hades is the master of defense and attrition, specializing in fortified positions, powerful ranged units, and the ability to summon spectral warriors. His playstyle is geared towards holding ground, outlasting opponents, and launching powerful counter-attacks.

• Unique Bonuses:
  • Stronger Buildings: All of Hades' buildings have 25% more hit points, making them significantly more resilient to attack and harder to destroy. This is a massive defensive advantage.
  • Shade Units: When a human unit dies near a Hades Temple or Town Center, there's a chance a free Shade unit will spawn. These spectral warriors are excellent for harassing enemies or bolstering defensive lines.
  • Underworld Passage God Power: This God Power creates two linked Underworld Passages anywhere on the map. Units can instantly travel between these passages, allowing for rapid redeployment, surprise attacks, or quick retreats.
  • Archer Bonus: All Archers trained under Hades gain a +10% attack bonus, making them highly effective ranged damage dealers.
• Favored Units & Strategies:
  • Archers (Toxotes): With their attack bonus, Hades' Toxotes are incredibly potent. Massed archers behind fortified walls are a cornerstone of his defense.
  • Defensive Structures: Leverage the increased HP of your buildings. Build strong walls, towers, and fortresses to create impregnable positions.
  • Shades: While not individually powerful, the constant trickle of Shades can wear down enemy forces and provide a useful distraction.
  • Underworld Passages: This is Hades' most strategically impactful God Power. Use it to bypass enemy defenses, launch surprise attacks on vulnerable economic centers, or quickly reinforce a threatened front line. It can also be used to escape dangerous situations.
• Strategic Implications: Hades is the ideal choice for defensive players who enjoy turtling and outmaneuvering opponents through strategic positioning. His strong buildings and powerful archers make him a formidable opponent to assault directly. The Underworld Passage adds a layer of tactical depth, allowing for dynamic shifts in battle. Be mindful of siege units, as even Hades' strong buildings can fall to concentrated siege fire.