Civilization Strengths & Weaknesses

Civilization Strengths & Weaknesses

Understanding the unique advantages and disadvantages of each civilization is paramount to mastering Age of Mythology: Retold. This section provides a detailed breakdown to help you select your deity and formulate winning strategies from the very first Age.

Greek Civilizations

Zeus

• Strengths:
  • Powerful Heroes: Zeus's Heroes (e.g., Achilles, Odysseus) are exceptionally strong, benefiting from increased attack and armor. They excel at countering Myth Units and can often hold their own against multiple regular units. Prioritize training them early from your Town Center or Temple.
  • Faster Favor Generation: Zeus generates Favor at a 25% faster rate than other civilizations, allowing quicker access to powerful Myth Units and God Powers. Focus on building Temples early to maximize this advantage.
  • Lightning Bolt God Power: This devastating God Power instantly kills almost any single unit, making it invaluable for eliminating enemy Heroes, Myth Units, or even a critical siege engine. Save it for high-value targets.
  • Cheaper Military Units: All human military units are 10% cheaper, enabling larger armies earlier in the game. Combine this with fast Favor generation for a strong early-to-mid game push.
• Weaknesses:
  • Vulnerable to Early Raids: While strong offensively, Zeus lacks specific defensive bonuses. An aggressive early rush from an Egyptian or Norse player can catch you off guard. Ensure adequate scouting and early walling with Palisades around your resource drops.
  • Reliance on Heroes: If your Heroes are consistently picked off, Zeus's army can lose a significant portion of its anti-Myth Unit capability. Protect them with regular units and retreat them when low on health.
  • Limited Economic Bonuses: Unlike some other civilizations, Zeus doesn't have direct economic boosts to resource gathering or building construction. You'll need to focus on standard economic practices: build Villagers consistently and establish multiple Farms and Lumber Camps.

Poseidon

• Strengths:
  • Strong Naval Presence: Poseidon receives significant bonuses to naval units, including cheaper ships and the ability for fishing boats to generate a small amount of Favor. Dominate the seas by building Docks early and massing Triremes and Siege Ships.
  • Hippocampus Scout: This unique Myth Unit is available from the Archaic Age and is an excellent, fast scout that can explore water and land. Use it to find enemy settlements and resource locations quickly.
  • Lure God Power: The Lure creates a resource-rich area, providing a significant boost to your early economy. Place it strategically near your Town Center or a new resource patch to accelerate your gathering.
  • Militia Units: When a building is destroyed, a free Militia unit spawns. While not individually powerful, these can be a nuisance to attackers and provide a small defensive buffer.
• Weaknesses:
  • Less Potent Land Army: While not inherently weak, Poseidon's land units don't receive the same direct combat bonuses as Zeus or Hades. You'll need to rely more on unit composition and tactical engagements.
  • Dependence on Water Maps: On maps with limited water, many of Poseidon's core strengths are diminished. Adapt your strategy to focus on land-based units and economic growth if water is scarce.
  • Slower Favor Generation: Poseidon's base Favor generation is standard, meaning you won't have the same rapid access to Myth Units as Zeus. Plan your Myth Unit production carefully.

Hades

• Strengths:
  • Strong Defensive Structures: Hades' buildings have increased health and armor, making them more resilient to attack. Fortify your base with Walls and Towers to create an impenetrable defense.
  • Free Ancestor Myth Unit: When a building is destroyed, there's a chance a free Ancestor Myth Unit will spawn, providing a small but persistent defensive force. This synergizes well with his building health bonus.
  • Shade Myth Units: Hades can train Shade Myth Units from his Temple, which are powerful and cost no Favor. These are excellent for early aggression or bolstering your defensive lines.
  • Hades' Vault God Power: This God Power allows you to instantly gain a large amount of gold, providing a crucial economic boost for late-game unit production or technology upgrades.
• Weaknesses:
  • Slower Offensive Push: Hades' focus on defense means his early-game offensive capabilities are not as strong as Zeus or even Poseidon. You'll need to build up a substantial army before launching a major attack.
  • Less Mobile Army: Without specific speed bonuses, Hades' army can feel slower to maneuver across the map. Plan your engagements carefully and avoid getting caught out of position.
  • Standard Favor Generation: Like Poseidon, Hades generates Favor at a normal rate. Prioritize your Myth Unit choices to make the most of your available Favor.

Egyptian Civilizations

Ra

• Strengths:
  • Powerful Priests: Ra's Priests are stronger, faster, and can empower buildings to increase their production speed. Use them to boost your Town Centers for faster Villager production or Military Academies for quicker unit output.
  • Cheaper Monuments: Ra's Monuments are cheaper and stronger, allowing for faster Favor generation. Build them early and protect them.
  • Rain God Power: This God Power significantly increases the gathering rate of all your farms, providing a massive economic boost in the mid-to-late game. Research Irrigation and Plow technologies to maximize its effect.
  • Chariot Archers: Ra's unique Chariot Archers are excellent ranged units, combining speed with good attack. Mass them for hit-and-run tactics and flanking maneuvers.
• Weaknesses:
  • Slower Initial Favor: While Monuments are cheaper, Ra's early Favor generation can feel slower than Zeus's. You'll need to actively build and protect your Monuments.
  • Vulnerable to Hero Rushes: While Priests are strong, they are not as combat-oriented as Greek Heroes. An early Hero rush can be problematic if you haven't built enough military units.
  • Reliance on Farm Economy: While Rain is powerful, if your farms are destroyed or you're unable to establish a strong farming economy, Ra's economic potential can be hampered.

Isis

• Strengths:
  • Protection from God Powers: Isis's Town Centers and Monuments are immune to enemy God Powers, making them incredibly resilient. This is a huge advantage against aggressive God Powers like Lightning Bolt or Meteor.
  • Faster Economic Upgrades: Isis's economic technologies are cheaper, allowing you to reach higher gathering rates and efficiencies faster. Prioritize upgrades like Hand Axe, Pickaxe, and Hunting Dogs.
  • Prosperity God Power: This God Power grants a large amount of all resources, providing a flexible economic boost. Use it to jumpstart your economy or recover from a resource deficit.
  • Pharaoh Empowerment: Isis's Pharaoh can empower all buildings within a radius, not just one, making him incredibly efficient for boosting production or research. Keep him active and protected.
• Weaknesses:
  • Standard Military Units: Isis doesn't receive direct combat bonuses for her military units, meaning you'll need to rely on good unit composition and numbers.
  • Less Offensive God Powers: Compared to other civilizations, Isis's God Powers are more focused on economy and defense, offering fewer direct offensive options.
  • Vulnerable to Early Aggression: While protected from God Powers, Isis's early game can be vulnerable to sustained military pressure before her economic advantages fully kick in.

Set

• Strengths:
  • Animal Control: Set's Pharaoh can convert wild animals to his side, providing an early food source and even a small defensive force. Use this to quickly gather food and scout.
  • Spawn Animals God Power: This God Power allows you to summon powerful animals (e.g., Hyenas, Lions) to attack enemy units or scout. Excellent for early harassment or bolstering your army.
  • Stronger Migdol Strongholds: Set's Migdol Strongholds are more powerful and can train unique Myth Units. Build them strategically to defend key areas and produce powerful units.
  • Desert Wind God Power: This God Power creates a sandstorm that slows and damages enemy units, providing excellent crowd control in large engagements.
• Weaknesses:
  • Reliance on Wild Animals: If the map has limited wild animals, Set's early food advantage is diminished. Adapt by focusing on farming or fishing.
  • Slower Favor Generation: Set's Favor generation is standard, and his Myth Units can be expensive. Prioritize which Myth Units you need most.
  • Less Direct Economic Bonuses: Unlike Ra or Isis, Set doesn't have direct economic gathering bonuses. You'll need to manage your economy efficiently through standard means.

Norse Civilizations

Odin

• Strengths:
  • Faster Human Unit Healing: All human units heal slowly over time, reducing the need for costly healing Myth Units or retreating to Town Centers. This allows for more sustained aggression.
  • Ravens for Scouting: Odin receives two free Ravens at the start of the game, which are excellent, fast scouts. Use them to quickly uncover the map and locate enemy settlements and resources.
  • Great Hunt God Power: This God Power creates a large number of huntable animals, providing a massive early food boost. Use it to accelerate your economy and reach higher Ages faster.
  • Faster Gathering from Hunting: Odin's Gatherers are more efficient at hunting, further enhancing his early food economy.
• Weaknesses:
  • No Walls: Norse civilizations cannot build walls, making them more vulnerable to raids and direct attacks. You'll need to rely on aggressive unit production and tactical positioning.
  • Reliance on Hunting: If hunting resources are scarce on the map, Odin's early food advantage is significantly reduced. Adapt by focusing on farming or fishing.
  • Standard Favor Generation: Odin's Favor generation is standard, requiring careful management of your Myth Unit choices.

Thor

• Strengths:
  • Dwarves for Gold: Thor's Dwarves are more efficient at gathering gold and can build Dwarf Gold Mines, providing a consistent and strong gold income. Prioritize training Dwarves and establishing multiple mines.
  • Dwarven Armory: Thor starts with a free Dwarven Armory, allowing immediate access to military upgrades. Research Copper Shields and Copper Weapons early.
  • Dwarven Mine God Power: This God Power creates a rich gold mine, providing a massive gold boost. Use it to fund expensive late-game units and technologies.
  • Stronger Ulfsarks: Thor's Ulfsarks (basic infantry) are stronger and cheaper, making them excellent for early aggression and holding the line.
• Weaknesses:
  • No Walls: Like all Norse, Thor cannot build walls, requiring constant vigilance against enemy attacks.
  • Less Focus on Food: While strong in gold, Thor doesn't have specific food gathering bonuses, meaning you'll need to balance your economy carefully.
  • Vulnerable to Early Raids: Despite stronger Ulfsarks, Thor can be vulnerable to early raids if his gold mines are exposed or his army is not well-positioned.

Loki

• Strengths:
  • Myth Unit Spawns: Loki's Hersir (Hero units) have a chance to summon a free Myth Unit when engaging in combat. This can create a powerful and unpredictable army. Mass Hersir and engage in frequent skirmishes.
  • Auto-Empowering Buildings: Loki's Gathering Sites (e.g., Lumber Camps, Mining Camps) automatically empower themselves, increasing gathering rates without needing a Jarl or Pharaoh.
  • Swarm God Power: This God Power summons a swarm of Spiders to attack enemy units or buildings, providing excellent early harassment or defensive support.
  • Cheaper Myth Units: Loki's Myth Units are slightly cheaper, allowing for a larger Myth Unit presence in his army.
• Weaknesses:
  • No Walls: As a Norse civilization, Loki cannot build walls, making base defense more challenging.
  • Unpredictable Myth Unit Spawns: While powerful, the random nature of Myth Unit spawns means you can't always rely on getting specific units when needed.
  • Reliance on Hersir: If your Hersir are consistently targeted and killed, Loki's ability to generate free Myth Units is severely hampered. Protect them with other military units.