Building Order & Early Game Strategy

A strong early game is paramount to victory in Age of Mythology: Retold. This guide outlines a robust building order and strategic considerations to get you off to a flying start, focusing on efficient resource gathering and rapid advancement.

Initial Villager Assignments (Archaic Age)

Upon starting a match, your initial Villagers are your most crucial asset. Prioritize resource collection to fuel your early economy and unit production.

First 3 Villagers: Immediately assign these to hunt nearby animals (e.g., deer, boar). Hunting provides the fastest food income in the early game.
Next 2 Villagers: Send these to gather wood. Wood is essential for constructing early buildings like the Temple and additional Houses.
Next Villager (6th): This Villager should begin constructing your first House to increase your population cap. Place it strategically near your Town Center but not blocking future building sites.
Next Villager (7th): Once the House is started, send this Villager to gather food from hunting.

Building Order & Resource Management

Efficient building placement and timely construction are key to maintaining momentum.

Town Center (Starting): Your initial Town Center is your economic hub. Continuously train Villagers from here until you reach approximately 10-12 Villagers on food.
House (1st): Built by your 6th Villager. Ensure you always have enough Houses to support your growing population. Aim to build a second House as soon as your population approaches its cap.
Temple: As soon as you have 50 Wood, task a Villager to build a Temple. This is critical for advancing to the Classical Age and selecting your first minor god. Place it in a secure location, preferably near your Town Center.
Lumber Camp: Once you have 5-6 Villagers on wood, build a Lumber Camp near a dense forest. This significantly improves wood gathering efficiency.
Mining Camp: After establishing a steady food and wood income, typically around 8-10 minutes into the game, build a Mining Camp near a gold mine. Gold is vital for military units and further age advancements.

Scouting & Exploration

Your starting Scout unit is invaluable for early game intelligence.

Initial Scout Path: Send your Scout in a wide circle around your Town Center. Prioritize locating additional food sources (hunting grounds, berry bushes), gold mines, and potential enemy Town Centers.
Relic Hunting: Keep an eye out for Relics. These provide powerful passive bonuses when garrisoned in a Temple.
Enemy Reconnaissance: Once you've secured your immediate area, use your Scout to locate your opponent's base. Understanding their god choice and early build order can inform your counter-strategy.

Advancing to the Classical Age

The transition to the Classical Age is a critical early game milestone.

Requirements: To advance, you need 800 Food and 500 Gold, and a Temple constructed.
Timing: Aim to advance to the Classical Age as soon as your resources allow, typically around the 5-7 minute mark. Delaying this advancement can put you at a significant disadvantage.
God Selection: Your choice of minor god in the Classical Age is crucial and depends on your overall strategy and the god you chose in the Archaic Age. Consider whether you need economic boosts, military units, or specific Myth Powers.

Early Military Considerations

While the Archaic Age focuses on economy, don't neglect early defense.

Myth Unit Production: Once your Temple is complete, consider training an early Myth Unit if your chosen god offers a strong one (e.g., a Minotaur for Zeus). These can be excellent for early map control and defense.
Barracks (Classical Age): Upon reaching the Classical Age, your first military building should typically be a Barracks (or equivalent for your chosen civilization). Start training basic military units to defend your base and potentially raid your opponent.