Technology Tree & Research Costs
Mastering the Technology Tree in Age of Mythology: Retold is paramount for achieving victory, whether you're pushing for an early rush or planning a late-game economic boom. This section details the various research options available, their costs, and strategic considerations for their implementation.
Each civilization has access to a core set of technologies, with unique advancements tied to their chosen Major Gods and Minor Gods. Understanding these distinctions and prioritizing your research is key to adapting to different match-ups and map types.
General Research Principles
- Economic Technologies: These are often the most impactful early-game investments. Prioritize them to ensure a steady resource income.
- Military Technologies: Crucial for unit effectiveness. Research these to counter enemy compositions or bolster your own.
- Mythic Technologies: Unlocked through Minor God choices, these offer powerful, often game-changing, bonuses.
- Age Advancement: Progressing through the Ages (Archaic, Classical, Heroic, Mythic) unlocks new units, buildings, and technologies. This is a fundamental part of your overall strategy.
Research Locations
Technologies are researched from specific buildings. Knowing where to find them is the first step:
- Town Center: Primarily for Age advancements and some basic economic upgrades.
- Storehouse: Economic upgrades related to gathering rates (e.g., Hand Axe, Pickaxe).
- Military Buildings:
- Barracks: Infantry upgrades.
- Archery Range: Archer upgrades.
- Stable: Cavalry upgrades.
- Siege Workshop: Siege unit upgrades.
- Temple: Myth unit upgrades and some civilization-specific religious technologies.
- Dock: Naval unit upgrades and fishing boat improvements.
- Armory: General unit attack, armor, and shield upgrades.
- Market: Trade route efficiency and caravan upgrades.
- Wonder: While not for research, constructing this is a victory condition that requires significant resource investment.
Key Economic Technologies & Costs
Early economic research can snowball into a significant advantage. Here’s a breakdown of essential upgrades:
| Technology Name | Building | Cost (Food/Wood/Gold/Favor) | Effect | Strategic Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hand Axe | Storehouse | 50F / 25W | +10% Wood gathering rate. | Essential early game. Research as soon as possible, especially if wood-heavy units are planned. |
| Pickaxe | Storehouse | 50F / 25G | +10% Gold gathering rate. | Prioritize if you have accessible gold mines or plan for gold-intensive units. |
| Hunting Dogs | Town Center | 50F | +10% Hunting gathering rate. | Crucial for early food income, especially on maps with abundant huntables. |
| Shaft Mine | Storehouse | 100F / 50G | +10% Gold gathering rate (additional). | Follows Pickaxe, further boosting gold income. |
| Bow Saw | Storehouse | 100F / 50W | +10% Wood gathering rate (additional). | Follows Hand Axe, further boosting wood income. |
| Plow | Storehouse | 100F / 50W | +10% Farming gathering rate. | Important for sustained food income once huntables deplete. |
| Caravan | Market | 100F / 100G | Trade units generate more gold. | Late game economic boost, especially on larger maps with distant trade routes. |
Military Technologies & Costs (General)
These upgrades apply broadly to unit types. Specific civilization and god powers will offer further unique military advancements.
| Technology Name | Building | Cost (Food/Wood/Gold/Favor) | Effect | Strategic Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Copper Weapons | Armory | 100F / 100G | +10% Attack for all human units. | Fundamental damage boost. Research early Heroic Age. |
| Copper Shields | Armory | 100F / 100W | +10% Pierce Armor for all human units. | Important against archer-heavy armies. |
| Copper Mail | Armory | 100F / 100W | +10% Hack Armor for all human units. | Essential against infantry and cavalry. |
| Iron Weapons | Armory | 200F / 200G | +10% Attack for all human units (additional). | Mythic Age upgrade, significant power spike. |
| Iron Shields | Armory | 200F / 200W | +10% Pierce Armor for all human units (additional). | Further defense against ranged threats. |
| Iron Mail | Armory | 200F / 200W | +10% Hack Armor for all human units (additional). | Further defense against melee threats. |
God-Specific Technologies
Each Major and Minor God offers unique technologies that can drastically alter your strategy. These are researched at the Temple or specific God-related buildings. For example:
- Zeus (Major God):
- Olympic Parentage (Temple): 200F / 20F - Reduces Favor cost of Myth Units by 10%. Crucial for a myth unit heavy strategy.
- Ares (Minor God - Classical Age):
- Phobos' Axe (Barracks): 150F / 15F - +10% attack for all infantry. Excellent for early infantry pushes.
- Isis (Major God):
- Prosperity (Town Center): 200F / 200G - Increases gold income from all sources by 10%. A powerful economic boost, especially in longer games.
- Bastet (Minor God - Classical Age):
- Feline Prowess (Temple): 150F / 15F - Increases the speed of all feline myth units (e.g., Sphinxes).
Always review the technologies offered by your chosen gods. They often provide the most significant strategic advantages and can define your army composition and economic focus.
Strategic Research Paths
Your research path should be dynamic and adapt to the game state. Here are some common strategies:
- Early Aggression: Focus on military upgrades for your chosen early units (e.g., Phobos' Axe for Greek infantry, Slingers for Egyptian rush). Economic upgrades like Hunting Dogs are still vital to sustain unit production.
- Booming Economy: Prioritize all economic upgrades (Hand Axe, Pickaxe, Hunting Dogs, Plow, Shaft Mine, Bow Saw). This sets you up for a powerful late-game army, but leaves you vulnerable to early attacks.
- Myth Unit Focus: Choose gods that enhance myth units (e.g., Zeus, Hades, Ra). Research their specific myth unit upgrades and ensure a steady Favor income.
- Defensive Play: Invest in defensive structures (Fortified Town Centers, Walls) and their respective upgrades (e.g., Masonry, Architecture). Military armor upgrades (Copper Shields, Copper Mail) are also crucial.
Remember to scout your opponent to understand their chosen civilization and gods, allowing you to tailor your research to counter their strengths and exploit their weaknesses.