Key Norse Units
The Norse civilization in Age of Mythology: Retold boasts a diverse and aggressive unit roster, emphasizing strong infantry, powerful myth units, and unique economic advantages. Mastering these units is crucial for any aspiring Jarl looking to dominate the battlefield. This section provides a comprehensive overview of key Norse units, detailing their strengths, weaknesses, strategic applications, and optimal counters.
Human Units
- Ulfsark:
- Role: The foundational Norse infantry unit. Ulfsarks are cheap, quick to train, and possess a unique ability to construct buildings, making them incredibly versatile in the early game.
- Strengths: Excellent against archers due to their high pierce armor. Their building capability allows for rapid expansion and forward base construction, pressuring opponents early. They are also decent against other infantry in large numbers.
- Weaknesses: Vulnerable to cavalry and siege units. Their attack is relatively low against heavily armored units.
- Strategic Use: Essential for early game rushes and map control. Use them to quickly establish new settlements, build military academies, and harass enemy villagers. In combat, massed Ulfsarks can overwhelm archer lines.
- Counters: Cavalry (especially Hippikons or Chariots), siege weapons (Catapults, Ballistae).
- Throwing Axeman:
- Role: Ranged infantry, unique for their short-range, high-damage axe throws.
- Strengths: Highly effective against other infantry units, particularly those with low pierce armor. They deal bonus damage to buildings, making them useful for early pushes.
- Weaknesses: Extremely vulnerable to cavalry and archers due to their low pierce armor and relatively short range compared to traditional archers.
- Strategic Use: Form the core of many Norse armies, especially when facing infantry-heavy civilizations. Position them behind Ulfsarks or Huskarls to protect them from cavalry. Use them to quickly dismantle enemy barracks and other production buildings.
- Counters: Cavalry (Hippikons, Chariots), archers (Toxotes, Slingers), and other ranged units.
- Huskarl:
- Role: Heavy infantry, serving as the Norse's primary anti-archer and anti-building unit.
- Strengths: Possess very high pierce armor, making them incredibly resilient against archers and towers. They also deal significant bonus damage to buildings.
- Weaknesses: Vulnerable to cavalry and other heavy infantry. Their movement speed is average.
- Strategic Use: Essential for pushing into enemy bases and soaking up arrow fire. Pair them with Throwing Axemen to protect the Axemen from enemy infantry, while the Huskarls tank archer damage. Upgrade their armor and attack to make them formidable siege units.
- Counters: Cavalry (especially Paladins or Cataphracts), heavy infantry (Hopites, Legionaries).
- Raiding Cavalry:
- Role: Fast, light cavalry unit, excellent for harassment and economic disruption.
- Strengths: High speed allows them to quickly raid enemy villagers and undefended resource points. They are effective against archers and siege units due to their mobility and bonus damage.
- Weaknesses: Vulnerable to spearmen and heavy infantry. They have relatively low armor.
- Strategic Use: Crucial for early and mid-game aggression. Send small groups to harass enemy gold miners or woodcutters, forcing your opponent to divert resources to defense. Use them to flank enemy armies and target vulnerable ranged units or siege engines.
- Counters: Spearmen (Peltasts, Pikemen), heavy infantry (Hoplites, Legionaries).
- Jarl:
- Role: Powerful, elite cavalry unit available in the Heroic Age.
- Strengths: High attack and armor, making them strong against most unit types, especially other cavalry and myth units. They are also effective against buildings.
- Weaknesses: Expensive and slow to train. Vulnerable to spearmen and massed heavy infantry.
- Strategic Use: A late-game powerhouse. Jarls can lead charges, break through enemy lines, and provide significant damage output. They are excellent for countering enemy cavalry and myth units. Combine them with Huskarls and Throwing Axemen for a balanced and powerful army.
- Counters: Spearmen (Peltasts, Pikemen), massed heavy infantry.
Myth Units
- Valkyrie:
- Role: A unique healing myth unit that also possesses strong combat capabilities.
- Strengths: Can heal friendly human and myth units, significantly increasing the longevity of your army. They are also surprisingly effective fighters, especially against other myth units.
- Weaknesses: Vulnerable to archers and heroes. They are relatively expensive for a healing unit.
- Strategic Use: Essential for sustained pushes and defending against attrition. Keep Valkyries protected behind your main army, allowing them to heal damaged units. Their combat prowess means they can also contribute to the fight when necessary, particularly against enemy myth units.
- Counters: Archers (Toxotes, Slingers), heroes.
- Frost Giant:
- Role: A powerful, slow-moving myth unit capable of freezing enemies.
- Strengths: Their special attack freezes enemy units, rendering them immobile and vulnerable to attack. They have high health and attack, making them formidable in direct combat, especially against other myth units and buildings.
- Weaknesses: Very slow movement speed makes them susceptible to being kited. Vulnerable to heroes and ranged units.
- Strategic Use: Use Frost Giants to lock down key enemy units, such as powerful myth units or siege engines, allowing your other units to focus fire. They are excellent for breaking through defensive lines and pushing into enemy bases. Protect them with human units to mitigate their slow speed.
- Counters: Heroes, archers (Toxotes, Slingers), units with high mobility that can kite them.
- Mountain Giant:
- Role: A colossal myth unit with immense health and a powerful area-of-effect attack.
- Strengths: Extremely high health and armor, making them incredibly tanky. Their stomp attack deals damage to multiple nearby units, making them devastating against massed infantry. They are also highly effective against buildings.
- Weaknesses: Very slow and expensive. Highly vulnerable to heroes and ranged units that can kite them.
- Strategic Use: A late-game siege and anti-infantry powerhouse. Use Mountain Giants to spearhead assaults on heavily fortified positions or to break through large formations of enemy infantry. Their sheer presence can intimidate opponents. Ensure they are well-supported by other units to protect them from heroes and ranged attacks.
- Counters: Heroes, massed archers, units with high mobility.
