Hero Units & Abilities

Hero units are the backbone of any successful campaign or skirmish in Age of Mythology: Retold. Unlike regular military units, heroes possess unique abilities, increased combat effectiveness against Myth Units, and often a higher resistance to special attacks. Mastering their deployment and leveraging their divine powers is crucial for victory.

General Hero Strategies

Anti-Myth Unit Specialists: Heroes deal bonus damage to Myth Units. Always prioritize sending your heroes to engage enemy Myth Units to quickly neutralize their threat.
Exploration & Scouting: Early game heroes, especially those with high movement speed or scouting abilities, are excellent for uncovering the map, locating resources, and identifying enemy positions.
Relic Retrieval: Many heroes are ideal for safely retrieving Relics scattered across the map. Their increased durability and anti-Myth Unit capabilities make these dangerous expeditions much safer.
Defensive Anchors: Position heroes strategically near your Town Centers or resource gathering points to deter early raids, particularly from Myth Units.
Offensive Pushes: When launching an attack, heroes should be at the forefront, targeting key enemy Myth Units or structures. Their presence can significantly boost the morale and effectiveness of your regular units.

Specific Hero Abilities & Walkthroughs

Greek Heroes

Greek heroes are renowned for their balanced combat prowess and often possess abilities that enhance their own fighting capabilities or provide crowd control.

Ajax (Achilles' Shield): Ajax, available to Zeus players, is a formidable tank. His "Achilles' Shield" ability, activated by clicking the icon above his portrait, grants him a temporary but significant boost to armor and resistance to special attacks.
- Walkthrough Step: In the "Fall of Atlantis" campaign, during the defense of the first outpost against the Minotaur wave, activate "Achilles' Shield" when Ajax is surrounded by 3-4 Minotaurs. This will allow him to absorb massive damage while your archers pick them off.
- Item Synergy: Equipping Ajax with the "Lion's Mane Helmet" (found in a hidden chest near the first fishing village in "The Serpent's Pass" mission) further increases his defensive capabilities, making him an almost unkillable front-liner.
Odysseus (Heroic Shot): Odysseus, a hero for Poseidon players, excels at ranged combat. His "Heroic Shot" ability allows him to fire a powerful arrow that deals bonus damage and can stun a single enemy unit for a short duration.
- Walkthrough Step: When facing enemy Siege Units like Catapults or Ballistae, use "Heroic Shot" to stun them, preventing them from firing while your other units close in. This is particularly effective in the "Isle of the Cyclops" mission against the Cyclops' siege weapons.
- Strategy: Prioritize using "Heroic Shot" on high-threat Myth Units like Hydras or Colossi to momentarily disable them, allowing your melee heroes and regular units to focus fire without retaliation.

Egyptian Heroes

Egyptian heroes often have abilities that support their armies, heal units, or deal area-of-effect damage.

Pharaoh (Healing Aura / Empowerment): The Pharaoh is a unique hero unit available to all Egyptian gods. They possess two key abilities: "Healing Aura," which passively heals nearby friendly units, and "Empowerment," which boosts the production speed of nearby economic buildings.
- Walkthrough Step: In the early stages of any mission, position your Pharaoh near your Town Center and Lumber Camps. Activate "Empowerment" to accelerate resource gathering and villager training, helping you reach the "Big Boomer" achievement (reach the Villager build limit) faster.
- Strategy: During large-scale battles, keep your Pharaoh slightly behind your front lines. Their "Healing Aura" can sustain your units, reducing casualties and allowing them to fight longer. This is especially vital when pushing enemy fortifications, as seen in the "Siege of Memphis" mission.
Set's Priests (Animal Conversion): While not a traditional hero, Set's Priests gain the unique "Animal Conversion" ability, allowing them to convert wild animals into powerful Myth Units like Hyenas or Crocodilians.
- Walkthrough Step: In maps with abundant wildlife, such as "The Oasis" or "Gardens of Set," send a few Priests to convert groups of Gazelles or Zebras. These converted animals act as free, early-game combat units that can harass enemy villagers or scout aggressively.
- Location Tip: Look for large herds of animals near the edges of the map. Converting them early can give you a significant economic and military advantage.

Norse Heroes

Norse heroes are typically strong melee combatants, often with abilities that enhance their own damage or provide a burst of crowd control.

Ragnorak Heroes (Berserker Rage): When a Norse player advances to the Mythic Age and chooses Ragnarok, all their existing Hersir units transform into powerful "Ragnorak Heroes." These heroes gain the "Berserker Rage" ability, significantly increasing their attack speed and damage for a short duration.
- Walkthrough Step: During a critical offensive push, especially against a Wonder or Titan Gate (aiming for "Creating a Masterpiece" or "Horror Unleashed" achievements), activate "Berserker Rage" on your Ragnorak Heroes to quickly tear through enemy defenses and units.
- Strategy: Group your Ragnorak Heroes together and activate their ability simultaneously for maximum impact. This burst damage is excellent for taking down high-health targets like enemy heroes or powerful Myth Units.
Odin's Ravens (Scouting): While not combat heroes, Odin's Ravens are unique hero-like units that provide unparalleled scouting capabilities. They are immune to most attacks and have a massive line of sight.
- Walkthrough Step: Immediately at the start of any game as Odin, send your Ravens to explore the entire map. Prioritize uncovering enemy starting locations, resource nodes, and potential Relic spawns. This early information is invaluable for planning your strategy.
- Location Tip: Use Ravens to scout ahead of your main army to identify ambushes or enemy fortifications, allowing you to adjust your attack vectors or prepare appropriate counter-units.