Myth Units

Understanding Myth Units in AoM: Retold

Myth units are the signature feature of Age of Mythology: Retold that distinguishes it most sharply from other Age of Empires games. Rather than simply training larger armies of the same units, players accumulate favor through civilization-specific mechanics and spend it on powerful supernatural creatures from their pantheon's mythology. A well-deployed myth unit can shatter an entire formation of human soldiers, but a single hero can cut it down with ease. This three-way interaction — humans beaten by myth units, myth units beaten by heroes, heroes produced constantly to manage the threat — creates a constant tension that shapes every engagement.

Myth Unit Acquisition and Favor

Myth units require favor to train, and favor is one of the most carefully managed resources in competitive AoM play. Greeks generate favor by having villagers worship at temples — each worshipping villager means one fewer gatherer working on food, wood, or gold. Norse generate favor through combat, incentivizing aggressive play. Egyptians generate favor passively from monuments, making them the most passive favor generation of the original three civilizations. Atlanteans generate favor from their citizen-workers, tying it to overall population and productivity.

Most myth units become available in Classical Age (the second age), with more powerful options unlocking in Heroic and Mythic Ages. The myth unit you receive depends on which minor god you chose when advancing to that age, making god path planning and myth unit access intrinsically linked. Choosing Ares as a Greek minor god in Classical Age unlocks the Cyclops — a feared unit that can hurl enemy soldiers — while choosing Athena unlocks the Minotaur, an infantry killer with massive attack.

Notable Greek Myth Units

The Centaur (Hermes) is a ranged cavalry myth unit that can hit-and-run effectively, dealing strong damage while maintaining mobility. The Minotaur (Athena) is built for direct combat against infantry formations — its charge attack stuns and kills soldier clusters. The Cyclops (Ares) stands out for its unique throw ability, launching enemy units across the battlefield and dealing area damage on landing. The Medusa (Poseidon) petrifies enemies into stone statues on kill, turning their own units into obstacles or defensive structures. The Hydra (Dionysus) regenerates heads as it kills — the more heads it has accumulated, the more attacks it makes simultaneously, making it terrifying in prolonged melee. The Colossus (Hephaestus) is a massive war machine that deals enormous area-of-effect damage to buildings and armies alike.

Notable Egyptian Myth Units

Egyptian myth units often have unusual special abilities tied to their mythological origins. The Anubite (Anubis) is a fast infantry unit with a powerful jump attack. The Sphinx (Bast) is a ranged myth unit that fires bolts with area damage. The Wadjet (Ptah) spits a projectile that deals lingering damage. The Scorpion Man (Nephthys) poisons enemies with each attack, dealing damage over time in addition to direct damage. The Mummy (Osiris) is one of the most strategically interesting: human soldiers killed by a Mummy are converted into slave units fighting for the Egyptian player. The Phoenix (Thoth) can be reborn from its own ashes when killed, requiring a hero to finish it permanently by destroying the ash pile.

Notable Norse Myth Units

Norse myth units reflect the brutal, combat-oriented nature of Norse mythology. The Einherjar (Freyja) are fallen warriors returned as undead soldiers — steady melee fighters with good hit points. The Troll (Forseti) is a regenerating brute that becomes more dangerous when allowed to outlast its opponents. The Valkyrie (Freyja) is a winged healer that restores the HP of friendly units around it, providing critical sustain in prolonged battles. The Battle Boar (Bragi) is a fast cavalry myth unit suited for raiding. The Frost Giant (Skadi) freezes nearby enemies, immobilizing them temporarily for devastating combo potential. The Mountain Giant (Thor) is a late-game siege unit that destroys buildings with extraordinary efficiency.

Countering Myth Units

The universal counter to all myth units is heroes. Heroes deal four times their base damage against myth units and take significantly reduced damage in return. The challenge lies in having enough heroes available at the right moment — Greek players must train from the Town Center and manage a limited roster, while Norse players must have Hersirs in the field. When a dangerous myth unit like a Colossus or Mountain Giant appears, immediately move all available heroes toward it and micro them to focus fire. Do not send human soldiers alone against myth units; they will die extremely inefficiently.

Some myth units have specific counters beyond heroes. The Phoenix cannot be permanently killed unless someone destroys its ash pile — leaving it alone allows it to respawn. The Mummy converts units it kills, so it should be engaged by disposable units or heroes rather than your best infantry. The Hydra grows stronger with each kill, so eliminating it quickly with hero focus fire before it accumulates heads is essential.