Hermolaos

Hermolaos in Practice

Players who pick Hermolaos typically commit to a focused military strategy from the opening, since the advisor's bonus (cavalry units train 15% faster) compounds with every related upgrade and tech research.

Pair this advisor with a strong economic civilization so the bonus throughput isn't bottlenecked by resource shortages or population cap pressure.

Treat Hermolaos as a build-defining choice rather than a flex pick — that's where the advisor delivers its full value.

Where to Get Hermolaos

Hermolaos is a tier-2 acquisition — accessible once you've cleared the main Vanity Age questline and have a few mid-tier booster pack pulls behind you.

Age II Context

Age II advisors often define your opening rotation in competitive ladder play. Smart slot allocation at this tier separates polished players from improvisers.

Greek Heritage

Lore-wise, Hermolaos aligns with the Greek cultural sphere (Hellenic city-state era), one of the named factions playable in Age of Empires Online.

Epic-Tier Alternatives

If you want Epic-tier alternatives that take your build in a different direction than Hermolaos, these advisors offer distinct strategic angles:

• Leonnorios — Age I, combat focused
• Tycho — Age IV, construction focused
• Bolgios — Age III, construction focused
• Sohrab — Age III, combat focused
• Sappho — Age III, economy focused

Stacking Partners

Within the military archetype, several advisors layer cleanly with Hermolaos. Players running a focused military build often rotate one of these as a second slot:

• Heron (Epic, Age II) — Cavalry units see 50% farther
• Matius (Uncommon, Age III) — Somatophylax Veteran can be trained at the Fortress
• Medias (Rare, Age IV) — Helepolis Master can be trained at the Fortress