Irene

How to Use Irene

Players who pick Irene typically commit to a focused economy strategy from the opening, since the advisor's bonus (storehouse upgrades cost 55% less) compounds with every related upgrade and tech research.

The opportunity cost matters: every advisor slot you commit to Irene is one you cannot give to a flex pick. Make sure your build order can absorb the bonus throughput.

Players coming back to Age of Empires Online will find Irene still relevant in current meta builds, especially those leaning into the economy archetype.

Unlocking Irene

Most new players obtain Irene during their first major faction quest sequence; it's part of the standard rotation kit.

Name Origin

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

Recommended Companions

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

• Sappho (Epic, Age III) — Academy upgrades cost 50% less
• Odysseus (Epic, Age I) — Barracks cost 15% less
• Onesiphoros (Common, Age III) — Advancing to Golden Age costs 20% less

Similar Uncommon Picks

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

• Pamphilos — Age III, combat focused
• Hyginus — Age II, military focused
• Deverell — Age IV, military focused
• Philon — Age I, construction focused
• Bes — Age II, construction focused

When Age I Matters

Age I in Age of Empires Online represents the Tool Age — your earliest economic bootstrapping phase. Advisor bonuses here shape opening tempo more than late-game outcomes.