With Battle for Greece, the Chronicles series established a well-deserved reputation for epic campaign content, with widespread praise for its writing and voice acting, innovative level design, historical authenticity, beautiful maps, and characterful cutscenes.

A tough act to follow – but Chronicles: Alexander the Great takes the series to a whole new level. With every piece of feedback carefully analyzed, this globe-spanning sequel expands and refines everything you loved in Battle for Greece, improves in key areas, and introduces a host of new innovations.

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Chronicles: Alexander the Great is available for pre-order now on Steam, Microsoft Store, or Xbox with 15% off for a limited time!

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*Chronicles: Alexander the Great will be available for purchase on PlayStation 5 at launch day, October 14th.

An Epic Story

Whereas Battle for Greece covered the stories of multiple characters across a vast span of time,  Alexander the Great focuses on a single titular character. The result is a character study of far greater depth than has ever been attempted in the Age franchise, with a complex protagonist who grows and changes over the course of the adventure.

The geographical scope of the campaign is extraordinary: you’ll begin with Alexander as a young prince, fighting alongside his father to secure Greece and the territories surrounding the Kingdom of Macedon. From these rocky lands, you’ll invade the vast Persian Empire, fighting battles and besieging cities along the coast of Asia Minor and into the Levant. Then, strike into the Persian heartland to bring the Achaemenid King of Kings to heel; found a city in the distant Fergana Valley; experience the Punjab in monsoon season; traverse the rivers of India and embark on a voyage of discovery along the Persian Gulf.

All this is brought to life with the top-quality writing, voice acting, and cinematic presentation you’ve come to expect from Chronicles. The immersion is heightened with unique music playlists for every scenario, including 13 new and original tracks!

Innovative Gameplay

The amazing variety of locations and peoples you’ll encounter will certainly keep you on your toes in this campaign – but so too will the innovative and varied level designs. A key part of the Chronicles design philosophy is experimentation, and Alexander the Great is packed with one-of-a-kind experiences.

You’ll experience Alexander’s incredible siege of Tyre, a city perched upon an offshore island, by building and defending a vast causeway that stretches across the sea. You’ll construct the remote city of Alexandria Eschate in a fascinating scenario that plays like a city-builder game, ordering the construction of districts and generating resources from the settled population. You’ll recreate the voyage of Nearchos, sailing along the Persian Gulf with a Flagship which can train units, gathering supplies and discovering treasures along the way.

Improving on Battle for Greece

Chronicles is a project firmly rooted in the Age of Empires community – it was based on a beloved mod, and created by a team of community veterans including the creators of the invaluable CaptureAge tool. The feedback of the community has also been vital in guiding the development of Alexander the Great, with this sequel introducing a host of improvements.

Difficulty balancing is one key area of progress. Chronicles: Alexander the Great will have five difficulty levels, and each has been carefully calibrated to its target audience. Multiple large-scale difficulty tests, each with a wide range of players, were used to refine the balance of every level.

Alexander the Great also allows players to enjoy the game in more varied ways: for instance, the use of time pressure has been minimized to let players conquer at their own pace. The unique and varied level design style which characterizes Chronicles has been retained, while also ensuring that most scenarios allow players to fully explore the classic base building and resource gathering gameplay which are central to Age of Empires.

Get ready for a campaign experience like no other.

Pre-Order Now!

Chronicles: Alexander the Great is available for pre-order now on Steam, Microsoft Store, or Xbox with 15% off for a limited time!

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*Chronicles: Alexander the Great will be available for purchase on PlayStation 5 at launch day, October 14th.

In Japanese myth, yokai are supernatural beings of dubious nature that could be variously called demons, monsters, or spirits, and in Age of Mythology: Retold – Heavenly Spear, we sought to bring that world to life.

Part I of the previous installment explored myth units of the Archaic and Classical Ages, as well as the water myth units. Next up are the units of later Ages: a winged sword master, a respawning being of pure death, and even a bird who drops wretches into battle!

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Pre-order – Heavenly Spear on Steam, Microsoft Store, and Xbox for a 15% discount!
Heavenly Spear will be available on PlayStation 5 on release day, September 30th.

Remember, if you purchased he Age of Mythology: Retold Premium Edition, you’ll have access to Heavenly Spear on launch!

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Tengu

Tengu is available in the Heroic Age to followers of Hachiman.

Mythical creatures are often the result of attempts to explain the unexpected or the peculiar. In Japan, if rocks fall unexpectedly on a mountain trail or you hear mysterious laughter in the distance, you may have encountered a Tengu.

These creatures are large birds of prey that resemble humans with wings, red faces, and long noses. In some myths, they are mischievous or even demonic, while others present them as noble ascetics and guardians of the mountains. In the latter depictions, Tengu wear the distinctive garb of Japanese mountain hermits. They are also associated with war and swordsmanship, with many stories telling of legendary figures having been taught by Tengu. The Tengu are led by their king Sōjōbō who appears in Japanese art, festivals, and popular culture to this day.

In Heavenly Spear, Tengu are skilled swordsmen who use their wings to leap into battle, jumping over any units or obstacles in their way. Upon landing, they gain increased attack and armor for a few moments, enabling them to quickly dispatch their foes. Tengu are great for softening up an enemy formation and for quick raids.

Hachiman’s Ascetic Practices technology increases the distance of Tengu’s Martial Strike ability and the attack and armor bonuses.

Raiju

Raiju is available in the Heroic Age to followers of Raijin (that’s easy to remember!).

In Japanese, Raiju translates to ‘thunder beast’—and yes, that’s the name of my future metal album! These creatures are the embodiment of lightning in animal form. Usually depicted as white-blue wolves, they are companions of Raijin, the Shinto god of lightning. They are said to ride lightning bolts and cause destruction wherever they land. You heard that right: lighting wolves riding lighting bolts—that’s my album cover right there.

One of the more unusual stories is that Raiju like to curl up in human navels, which leads to superstitious people covering up their belly buttons during storms. Okay, not everything about Raiju is thrillingly thunderous!

In Heavenly Spear, Raiju are wolves who emanate lighting. They are melee fighters with a Storm Roar ability. When cast, the Raiju roars and unleashes a field of lightning in every direction, damaging and stunning nearby enemies. This makes the Raiju a great area of effect option.

Raijin’s Thunderous Presence technology increases the movement speed and attack of Raiju.

Oni

Oni is available in the Heroic Age to followers of Fujin.

In Japanese mythology, a particularly wicked human may become an Oni when they die. Oni are large and scary ogres who dwell in caves and are known for their extreme strength and taste for humans. They wear loincloths of tiger pelts and wield giant, iron clubs. Although Oni appear in many diverse stories, they are always presented as villains. Interestingly, Oni can be different colors with each color having their own unique traits.

The Oni is one of the larger myth units in Age of Mythology: Retold, and yet, the Oni’s club is somehow even taller than they are! With high hit points and attack, the Oni is a melee fighter you want to avoid, and is even stronger against buildings! But if some club-wielding giants smashing through your base is a bit too Norse Mountain Giant-y for you, the Oni has a distinctive special ability. Rampage causes the Oni to enter a blind rage, increasing attack and attack speed at the cost of reduced armor. Prudent use of the Rampage ability can mean the difference between victory and defeat.

Fujin’s Deadly Rage technology improves Oni attack and armor.

Shinigami

Shinigami is available in the Mythic Age to followers of Watatsumi.

Some of us have strong personal interests: cooking, sports, embroidery. Sometimes, these interests consume us even to our own detriment (just ask our poor callused fingers!). Likewise, the Shinigami has its own strong interest. Death. It likes death.

In Japanese mythology, Shinigami are spirits of the dead who lurk near the recently deceased and haunt anyone who comes near. Menacingly, they invite and lure humans to their deaths. Legends of Shinigami were said to explain the propensity for violence to invite more violence and for death to be followed by more death.

In Heavenly Spear, the Shinigami is a ranged unit who floats eerily just above the ground and can unleash a Terrifying Shout, causing nearby enemy units to flee in panic.

We also wanted to make the Shinigami unique and reflect the rich mythos of this unusual being. Based on the idea of Shinigami reflecting the observation that death is often followed by more death, this myth unit doesn’t exactly die like other units do. Its first form is corporeal but when defeated, it respawns at the Temple in a shadowy Revenant form that’s even stronger. With Watatsumi’s Eternal Haunting technology researched, it will spawn a third time: its most powerful Vengeful form.

Not even death can keep this personification of death away from… death. We’ll stick with embroidery as our passion—callused fingers and all.

Onmoraki

Onmoraki is available in the Mythic Age to followers of Okuninushi.

Imagine you are a priest. You aren’t particularly pious in your duties and you cut corners. One night, while you sleep, you hear your own voice scolding you. You awake and in the shadows you see a black-feathered bird with a ghastly human face. You run away in fear and the bird vanishes.

Many of the Japanese yokai serve a purpose: they punish humans for wickedness or impiety. The Onmoraki teaches a lesson to impious priests, in particular. This bird appears at temples and is said to be the result of improperly buried corpses. It has a high, shrill cry and can imitate the voice of its victim. A creepy nightmare bird that nags you with your own voice—I think I’ll be pious now!

In Heavenly Spear, the Onmoraki is a flying unit with a disturbing special ability. It summons an army of Wretches, reanimated corpses who claw at enemies, but have a finite lifespan. The Onmoraki is great for flying to the edge of a base and unleashing Wretches into your enemy’s economy.

Okuninushi’s Restless Army technology improves the movement speed of both Onmoraki and their Wretches, and causes the Onmoraki ability to spawn more Wretches.

Asura

Asura is available in the Mythic Age to followers of Takemikazuchi.

The religious history of Japan is complex with Shintoism and Buddhism influencing each other on the islands. The Asura originates from Hinduism and Buddhism, but has its own unique features in Japanese culture. In Japan, the Asura is a fearsome demon god with three faces and six arms, each carrying a separate weapon. The being is the personification of war and is ruled by the most intense passions: wrath, violence, jealousy, and greed.

In Heavenly Spear, the Asura is what you would expect from a late game powerhouse that represents the embodiment of war. It towers over most units while holding weapons and fire balls in its arms. When it attacks, it swings its arms against the ground, cracking the earth and unleashing a wave of fire. The Asura has a secondary passive attack called Blazing Jealousy: it unleashes fire balls that fly toward enemy units around the Asura. If there’s any weakness at all to this war-like demi-god, it is its slow movement speed.

Takemikazuchi’s Burning Malevolence technology causes Asura to attack faster and activate their passive ability more frequently.

Yamata no Orochi

The myth units are really cool, you say, but that’s not why I’m here: I want to hear about the Titan! To that, we say: great! The Japanese Titan is our most unique Titan yet!

In Japanese mythology, the Yamata no Orochi is an eight-headed giant serpent who was defeated by the god Susanoo through clever use of eight tubs of the Japanese drink sake. After slaying the beast, Susanoo discovered a sword in its tail. This “Grass-cutting Sword” remains one of the three Imperial Regalia of Japan seen only by the Emperor and certain Shinto priests. I’ll say that again: an eight-headed giant serpent was defeated by a god through imbibing sake and in its tail was a sword that is still used for imperial coronations to this day. Isn’t Japanese mythology wonderful?

So where does that leave the Yamata no Orochi in Heavenly Spear? Our previous Titans in Age of Mythology: Retold were humanoid: they all had two legs, two arms, and a head—sometimes in the places you would expect. To reflect the clearly very different body composition of this Japanese mythical serpent, we had to deviate from that tradition. Instead, the Japanese Titan has a serpent’s form. It slithers into battle and then lunges with all eight of its heads. When idle, these heads even interact with each other. After all, they each have a mind of their own and the two in the front don’t exactly like each other (check out the idle animations to see what we mean!).

There are many more myth units introduced in Heavenly Spear inspired by Japanese mythology. Check out our previous installment on the myth units of the Archaic and Classical Ages HERE. You can try out the Tengu, Shinigami, Yamata no Orochi, and more in Age of Mythology Retold – Heavenly Spear, available September 30th!

Pre-order Now!

Pre-order – Heavenly Spear now on Steam, Microsoft Store, and Xbox for a 15% discount!
Heavenly Spear will be available on PlayStation 5 release day, September 30th.

Remember, if you purchased he Age of Mythology: Retold Premium Edition, you’ll have access to Heavenly Spear on launch!

Steam

Microsoft Store

Xbox

In Age of Mythology: Retold – Heavenly Spear, we wanted to bring the exciting world of Japanese mythology to life. In Japanese myth, yokai are supernatural beings of dubious nature that could be variously called demons, monsters, or spirits—although none of these terms fully capture the variety and uniqueness of these creatures. For the Heavenly Spear expansion, we tapped into this rich folklore of yokai as inspiration for our Japanese Myth units.

Today, we’re introducing the Myth units available in the Archaic and Classical Ages, as well as the two Japanese water Myth units. Let’s explore the rich world of many-tailed foxes, heads on flaming wheels, and even a dangerous spider woman!

Pre-order Now!

Pre-order Heavenly Spear on Steam, Microsoft Store, and Xbox for a 15% discount!
Heavenly Spear will be available on PlayStation 5 on release day, September 30th.

Remember, if you purchased he Age of Mythology: Retold Premium Edition, you’ll have access to Heavenly Spear on launch!

Steam

Microsoft Store

Xbox

Kitsune

Kitsune is the first Myth unit, available in the Archaic Age to all Japanese major gods.

In a cuteness contest, the Kitsune wins the gold among yokai. In Japanese mythology, Kitsune resemble foxes and are associated with intelligence. Some are servants of the goddess Inari Okami and are known for giving wisdom to pious humans. Others, like their wild counterparts, delight in mischief and pranks. Kitsune are known to shapeshift and bewitch humans, although they usually do so for good purposes: to punish the greedy, the wicked, and the boastful. In some stories, Kitsune shapeshift into beautiful women and become “fox-wives” to unwitting men.

In Heavenly Spear, the Kitsune is your initial explorer unit, appearing at the Town Center at the start of a match. It resembles a furry white fox with three fluffy tails. As this adorable critter bounds through the map, try not to be distracted – there’s a game to win!

But the Kitsune is more than just an explorer and furry-tailed cutie pie. Although its attacks do minimal damage—look at its cute little mouth!—the Kitsune increases the movement speed of nearby friendly units. A Japanese army supported by Kitsune is capable of quickly moving into battle, or retreating. As Japanese armies tend to be smaller but stronger, Kitsune can help you gain a tactical edge through speed.

Inari Okami’s Wisdom of Nine technology upgrades Kitsune to Nine-Tailed Kitsune with more hitpoints, greater line of sight, and a more powerful movement speed aura. It also gives your Kitsune nine tails—that’s a must-research technology in our book!

Kamaitachi

Kamaitachi is available in the Classical Age to followers of Ame-no-Uzume.

The Kamaitachi seems almost as cute as the Kitsune: a slinky, furry weasel running around your base. Then you notice it has giant, razor-like sickles at its front paws!

In Japanese mythology, Kamaitachi arrive on dust storms or wintry winds and strike their victims with their blades. Interestingly, these attacks are never fatal as the Kamaitachi heals the wounds as quickly as they came. This leaves the unfortunate victim a bit scratched and dazed but otherwise fine; much as a particularly biting winter wind may do.

Inspired by these stories, the Kamaitachi in Heavenly Spear is a melee unit with a Blade Whirl special ability. When activated, the Kamaitachi whirls in a dust-filled circle, inflicting damage to any units around the weasel. Unlike the Kamaitachi of myth, however, these wounds linger, causing additional damage to their victim over time. This makes the Kamaitachi a great Myth unit to send into enemy formations to weaken them for subsequent attacks.

Ame-no-Uzume’s Wind Sickles technology enhances Kamaitachi attack.

Wanyudo

Wanyudo is available in the Classical Age to followers of Minakatatomi.

The Wanyudo is one of the strangest yokai—and has a backstory as unsettling as its appearance. It is a man’s head trapped inside the spokes of a flaming ox-wheel. What? You thought Japanese mythology was just cute foxes? This absolutely “metal” yokai is said to be the soul of an evil lord, condemned to constant suffering for past crimes. Roving the world, the Wanyudo has one purpose: to inflict pain on the wicked to achieve its own redemption.

In Heavenly Spear, the Wanyudo is unmistakable. Its flaming wheel rotates frantically as the tongue-wagging head seeks yet another victim. When attacking, it launches a stream of fire, setting units ablaze and inflicting additional damage over time. As if seeing a flaming head in a wheel wasn’t enough of a signal to stay away!

Minakatatomi’s Condemned Soul technology increases the damage and area of effect of the Wanyudo’s attack.

Jorogumo

Jorogumo is available in the Classical Age to followers of Inari Okami.

In Japanese mythology, the Jorogumo is a spider-woman with cunning intelligence who preys on foolish young men. The Jorogumo, also known as the “entangling bride,” shapeshifts into a beautiful woman to lure her prey. Once the unwitting young man is in her grasp, she ensnares him in powerful silken threads and weakens him with a powerful venom.

In Heavenly Spear, the Jorogumo joins the Medusa as one of Age of Mythology: Retold’s most unsettling femme fatales. She appears as a well-dressed woman carrying a lantern—almost normal until you notice her eight, long spider-legs emerging from her back.

The Jorogumo’s attack is as frightening as her appearance. She grabs enemies who get too close and quickly spins them around in her spider legs while stabbing them full of holes. Satisfied, she then discards the unfortunate enemy as quickly as she seized them.

Inari Okami’s Deadly Snare technology causes Jorogumo to inflict additional poison damage over time, reflecting the Jorogumo’s venomous attack.

Honengyo

Honengyo is a water unit available to all Japanese gods in the Heroic Age.

In Japanese mythology, the Honengyo is a fish or amphibian-like yokai that lives in deep rivers. It has dark scales, razor-sharp dorsal fins, and mirror-like eyes. Despite its fearsome appearance, the creature is considered good luck for Japanese fishermen and an omen of a prosperous fishing season. The Honengyo may have originated though sightings of giant salamanders and is a possible inspiration for the famous Japanese movie monster Godzilla.

In Heavenly Spear, the Honengyo is the first of two Japanese water Myth units. It has a special ability that makes it an underwater battering ram, adept at taking on groups of enemy ships. When activated, the Honengyo dives beneath the surface and rapidly swims along a targeted path, damaging units above. On resurfacing at the end of its path, it launches enemy ships into the air.

Umibozu

Umibozu is a water unit available to all Japanese gods in the Mythic Age.

Okay, we said the Wanyudo was strange and unsettling. But the Umibozu is the alien-like creep hiding in the darkest corners of your worst nightmares.

In Japanese mythology, the Umibozu is said to be the spirit of a drowned monk seeking vengeance. It is a mysterious giant yokai who emerges suddenly from the ocean depths to capsize ships before sinking away as quickly as it came. The Umibozu’s shape varies in Japanese stories: from jellyfish-like to serpentine to an unnatural, inky-black humanoid with large, round eyes.

The latter interpretation was our inspiration in Heavenly Spear. The Umibozu is a lumbering giant whose gelatinous form is filled with speckles of stars. It can walk on both land and water, but has a special ability that allows it to transcend both mediums. Like the mythological Umibozu that appears suddenly out of the ocean, the Umibozu in Heavenly Spear can instantly teleport to any body of water. It then bursts unexpectedly from the depths and attacks the surprised sailors. I think I’ll stay on land now.

There are many more Myth units introduced in Heavenly Spear inspired by Japanese mythology. You can try out the Kitsune, Jorogumo, Umibozu, and more in Age of Mythology: Retold – Heavenly Spear, launching on September 30th.

Pre-order Now!

Pre-order Heavenly Spear now on Steam, Microsoft Store, and Xbox for a 15% discount!
Heavenly Spear will be available on PlayStation 5 release day, September 30th.

Remember, if you purchased Age of Mythology: Retold Premium Edition, you’ll have access to Heavenly Spear on launch!

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Microsoft Store

Xbox

In Age of Mythology: Retold – Immortal Pillars, our goal was to create compelling gameplay that is authentic to Chinese mythology. Last time, we explored the Chinese Myth units inspired by the Four Perils, a collection of warped and malevolent beings. Now let’s jump into more about the Four Auspicious Beasts, noble guardians associated with the elements.

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Immortal Pillars is available for pre-order now on Steam, Microsoft Store, and Xbox! Coming March 4th!

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Microsoft Store

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*Age of Mythology: Retold Premium Edition Owners

Already own the Age of Mythology: Retold Premium Edition? Immortal Pillars is yours at no additional cost – jump in and play on day one! 

Baihu

Baihu is the first of the Four Auspicious Beasts, available in the Heroic Age to followers of Rushou. 

Tigers are native to China so it’s not surprising that they would feature prominently in Chinese mythology. Baihu, also known as the ‘white tiger,’ is the second tiger-inspired Myth unit in Immortal Pillars. While the Qiongqi is a flying tiger, Baihu appears more conventional, but has his own unique aspects. 

In Chinese mythology, Baihu is associated with the direction of the west, the color white, metal, and autumn. He symbolizes loyalty and righteousness, and oversees honorable battles. In legends, Baihu appears as a bringer of justice, punishing evil and promoting goodness and order. 

In Immortal Pillars, Baihu is a powerful melee Myth unit comparable to the Greek Nemean Lion, but with additional attack and faster movement speed. This twin-tailed feline’s special ability is called Sweeping Maul. When activated, Baihu leaps toward an enemy, immobilizing it and dealing a series of rapid attacks. In addition, other enemy units near the Baihu’s landing zone are thrown aside. This makes Baihu a potent disrupter of enemy formations. It is wise to open an attack with one or more Baihu, then follow up with Rushou’s potent human units reinforced with Divine Judgement and Gilded Shields. These two technologies benefit Rushou’s infantry. 

Xuanwu

Xuanwu is the second of the Four Auspicious Beasts, available in the Mythic Age. As a water unit, it is available to all Chinese gods. 

Xuanwu knows the power of friendship: it is not one but two units, joined together and inseparable. Xuanwu is a giant black tortoise intertwined with a slithering snake that has hitched a ride on its shell. Together, the two reptiles form a potent partnership. 

In Chinese mythology, Xuanwu is associated with the north, winter, and the element water. Due to the tortoise’s long lifespan and the serpent’s regular shedding of its skin, Xuanwu is a symbol of longevity. With its high armor and hit points, Xuanwu will be one of the longest-living units in Immortal Pillars. 

As well as being two inseparable reptiles, Xuanwu is unique in another way: it is an amphibious unit, capable of crossing both land and water. This dual role makes Xuanwu one of the most potent Myth units in the game, strong against both land units and ships. The Xuanwu is most at home in water, however, and moves much more quickly across the depths than it does on land. 

Xuanwu’s special ability comes from its snake half. Venomous Spit is a ranged blast of venom that continues to damage its victim over time. Capable of moving on both land and water, well-armored, and with a melee attack and ranged special ability, Xuanwu is one of the most versatile units in Immortal Pillars. 

If only every unit were two powerful units joined together! Imagine a Minotaur who rides Pegasus or Anubites jumping off the backs of Scarabs. One can dream. With Xuanwu in Immortal Pillars, you don’t have to. 

Qinglong

Qinglong is the third of the Four Auspicious Beasts, available in the Mythic Age to followers of Gonggong. 

Dragons are a persistent symbol of Chinese culture. Unlike European dragons who were feared and respected, but generally considered ill-omens, Chinese dragons were associated with emperors, prosperity, and good luck. In Chinese mythology, there are many dragons, each associated with different elements. Dragons are also recognized as one of the animals in the Chinese zodiac. There are two dragons in Immortal Pillars, Qinglong and Yinglong.  

The Qinglong, or ‘Azure Dragon,’ is the guardian of the east and is associated with spring and the element wood. Along with Baihu, Qinglong is considered one of the main protector creatures. Because spring symbolizes the beginning of a new year, Qinglong is also associated with good fortune and prosperity. 

In Immortal Pillars, Qinglong is a serpentine flying dragon who floats over the battlefield. It gracefully twists and turns its body when idle. When attacking, it shoots bursts of water that damage units. Its special ability unleashes a torrent of water damaging all units in the target area. While nothing in Chinese mythology indicates this, I’d like to think of Qinglong as a bit of a germophobe. Qinglong is just a little too eager to make sure everyone gets a shower. 

Being a flying unit, Qinglong is vulnerable only to ranged units. It can fly over obstacles and attack from unexpected directions, though its slender body makes it not the sturdiest of Myth units. 

Zhuque

Zhuque is the fourth of the Four Auspicious Beasts, available in the Mythic Age to followers of Zhurong. 

In Chinese mythology, Zhuque is a fiery bird associated with the south, summer, the color red, and fire. In legends, it is also a symbol for the sun. Zhuque is also known as the ‘Vermillion Bird.’ Vermillion is a reddish-orange color similar to the color of a tomato. A flaming tomato of death and destruction. 

At first glance, Zhuque may resemble the Egyptian Phoenix, a similarly fiery bird. Zhuque is distinguishable, however, by its long neck, glowing white eyes, and distinctive three tails. While the Phoenix rains fire down on its enemies, the Zhuque has the patience of an ancient sage. It takes its time to gather spiritual fire with its wings and then casts a fiery whirlwind below, scorching enemies and knocking them away. It pays to take one’s time.  

As a protector like the other Auspicious Beasts, Zhuque has a special ability that supports friendly units. When cast, it temporarily shields itself and nearby friendly units with a fiery shield, boosting armor values. Zhurong also provides Zhuque with the Song of Midsummer technology. When researched, it grants Zhuque an additional special ability called Healing Descent. When cast, Zhuque descends to the ground, curls its wings closed and heals rapidly. The Phoenix must die to resurrect; Zhuque doesn’t plan to die… ever. 

These abilities and its devastating flying attack make Zhuque one of the most powerful Myth units in the game in the hands of a skilled player. 

There are many other Myth units introduced in Immortal Pillars inspired by Chinese mythology. If you haven’t already seen our breakdown of the Four Perils, be sure to check it out here: The Four Perils of the Immortal Pillars. You can try out Baihu, Xuanwu, Qinglong, Zhuque, or each of the Four Perils in Age of Mythology: Retold – Immortal Pillars available March 4th. 

Pre-Order Age of Mythology: Retold – Immortal Pillars Now!

Immortal Pillars is now available for pre-order on Steam, Microsoft Store, and Xbox – releasing March 4th!

In Age of Mythology: Retold – Immortal Pillars, our goal was to create compelling gameplay that is authentic to Chinese mythology. To do this, we sought Chinese designers, artists, and experts in Chinese mythology. Together with the teams at Virtuos Shanghai, Forgotten Empires, and Tantalus, we strived to create a well-researched bestiary of unique and incredible units.

With the upcoming Immortal Pillars DLC, most Chinese Myth units are inspired by the Four Perils, a collection of warped and malevolent beings, and the Four Auspicious Beasts, noble guardians associated with the elements. Today, we’re introducing the “evil” four of the Myth units available in Immortal Pillars.

Pre-Order Now!

Immortal Pillars is available for pre-order now on Steam, Microsoft Store, Xbox! Coming March 4th!

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Microsoft Store

Xbox

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*Age of Mythology: Retold Premium Edition Owners

Already own the Age of Mythology: Retold Premium Edition? Immortal Pillars is yours at no additional cost – jump in and play on day one! 

Qiongqi

Qiongqi is the first of the Four Perils, available in the Classical Age to followers of Houtu. 

In designing the Myth units of Immortal Pillars, we wanted them to be authentic to mythology, foster unique gameplay, and be cool. We’re lucky when the mythology makes that easy for us. Some combinations go really well together and tigers and wings are one of the all-time greats. With Qiongqi, we instantly had everything we wanted.

The Qiongqi is a 260kg mass of muscle, teeth, and claws, and in it’s upgraded form it even has a horn and saber teeth half-a-meter-long!  In Chinese mythology, the Qiongqi understands human language and has a warped sense of justice. It enjoys arbitrating human disputes by devouring the righteous party and rewarding the wicked. In Chinese, Qiongqi translates to ‘distressingly strange’ or ‘thoroughly odd’—and we agree! The mythology sounds incredible, but what could we do with this unit in-game?

In Immortal Pillars, the Qiongqi is a formidable unit with a fast attack tempered by slow movement speed on the ground. What the Qiongqi lacks in mobility on four legs, it makes up for it in the air – capable of flight to overcome obstacles.

The Qiongqi is perfect for early game raids against enemy bases, easily able to retreat by flying away from unfavorable situations. With this style of gameplay, Qiongqi are likely to find themselves behind enemy lines and outnumbered. Houtu grants the Sinister Defiance upgrade, increasing their armor for each nearby enemy unit, further increasing their survivability.

When the Qiongqi is around, nowhere is safe. As you battle the Chinese, watch out for Qiongqi flying in behind your base! 

Taotie 

Taotie is the second of the Four Perils, available in the Heroic Age to followers of Nüba. 

We always want to push ourselves in Age of Mythology: Retold, and do things we’ve never done before. In learning about Taotie, we realized we’ve never had a unit that actually eats units before. Yup – eats them whole. In Chinese mythology, Taotie isn’t the most nuanced of the Four Perils: it really just eats things – and will keep devouring until it is killed. 

In Immortal Pillars, we wanted Taotie to do a bit more than eat – also showing off its past meals. Like the Greek Hydra that gains heads as it fights, the Taotie grows larger as it devours, eventually reaching absurd sizes. This size increase comes with an even greater attack statistic.

As fantastic as an army of giant Taotie are, that’s not all it brings to the table! The Taotie’s special ability is fuelled by the humans it consumes. When activated, the Taotie releases a fiery blast, scorching any enemies unlucky to be caught in its path. Each release, reducing it’s size and attack statistic.

Taowu 

Taowu is the third of the Four Perils, available in the Heroic Age to followers of Goumang. 

In Chinese mythology, Taowu is described as having a human-like face, being covered in dog fur, and having a long tail. It is famous for its stubbornness and pride bordering on reckless obstinance. Compared to a peril who eats the righteous and another who eats everything, Taowu really doesn’t sound that bad. 

In Immortal Pillars, Taowu is a sturdy, slow-moving unit strong against buildings. It is the Chinese answer to the Egyptian Scarab or the Atlantean Behemoth, but with a twist. The Taowu’s Charge special ability increases its speed for a short time, knocking enemy units out of its path. This makes Taowu perfect for clearing the way into an enemy base. 

Hundun

Hundun is the fourth of the Four Perils, available in the Mythic Age to followers of Huangdi. 

Mythology is filled with strange creatures: a serpent-haired woman whose gaze turns people to stone. A lion with a goat’s head, and a snake’s head for a tail. As far as strange creatures go, Chinese mythology delivers with the Hundun. 

The Hundun is a faceless, six-legged, four-winged creature of pure chaos. It is associated with the primordial void before creation. In some stories, Hundun is a villainous son of the Yellow Emperor, banished along with the other perils. This inspired its unlikely association in-game with the revered Huangdi. 

The incredibly unique appearance and fascinating mythology aside, how could such an unusual creature translate into fun gameplay? As a late game unit, we wanted the Hundun to feel almost like you’re cheating for a moment. We want players that face Hundun to say, “Wait, what? How did you do that?”

Hundun boasts two special abilities that chaotically shape battlefields in your favor. The first ability, Chaotic Fear, causes enemy units to flee in random directions. If that isn’t enough, its second ability, Banish, sends all units within a conical area into a void. They blink out of existence for a few moments, and return battered, by unseen forces.

There you have it: the Four Perils and the Chinese mythology that inspired some of the many new Chinese myth units. Try out Qiongqi, Taotie, Taowu, and Hundun for yourself in Age of Mythology: Retold – Immortal Pillars – coming March 4th!

Pre-Order Age of Mythology: Retold – Immortal Pillars Now!

Immortal Pillars is now available for pre-order on Steam, Microsoft Store, Xbox – releasing March 4th!