World's Edge and Forgotten Empires rebuilt the 2002 Ensemble Studios strategy game and shipped it on 4 September 2024, keeping the Greek, Egyptian, Norse and Atlantean pantheons and rewriting the parts that had aged badly. The largest change is that god powers are no longer single use: the first cast is free and every reuse costs favor on a ramping scale, so Bolt at 75 favor becomes a tool rather than a one time trick. Freyr joined the Norse as a fourth major god, and the Immortal Pillars expansion on 4 March 2025 added the Chinese pantheon with Fuxi, Nuwa and Shennong plus a nine level campaign called Pillars of the Gods. Each pantheon generates favor by a completely different method, which is what makes the matchups feel unlike any other real time strategy game.
Choosing the right build shapes your entire experience. This guide breaks down every option: what they're good at, what they struggle with, and which one matches your playstyle. For optimized builds with full gear sets, see our builds guide.
Quick Comparison
| Build | Tier | Playstyle | Best Equipment | Beginner Friendly? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greek | A | Balanced | Minotaur | Yes |
| Egyptian | A | Balanced | Medusa | Yes |
| Norse | A | Balanced | Anubite | Yes |
| Atlantean | A | Balanced | Frost Giant | Yes |
| Chinese | A | Balanced | Behemoth | Yes |
New player? Start with Egyptian. See our beginner's guide for why.
Greek
Greek is a strong option in Age of Mythology: Retold.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | A |
| Playstyle | Balanced approach |
| Best Equipment | Minotaur |
| Stat Priority | Balanced stats |
| Core Gear | Best available |
| Key Mechanic | Reusable god powers with ramping favor costs |
Strengths
- Highest overall performance across all content types
- Solid all-around choice
- Pairs well with Minotaur
Weaknesses
- Popular choice, competition for resources
- Needs specific gear to reach full potential
Recommended Progression
- Start in Anatolia to learn Greek-specific mechanics
- Focus on Reusable god powers with ramping favor costs. It's this build's primary system
- Prioritize Minotaur as your first major upgrade
- See our full Greek build guide for the optimal gear progression
Egyptian
Egyptian is a strong option in Age of Mythology: Retold.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | A |
| Playstyle | Balanced approach |
| Best Equipment | Medusa |
| Stat Priority | Balanced stats |
| Core Gear | Best available |
| Key Mechanic | Five pantheons with separate favor economies |
Strengths
- Most versatile, adapts to any situation
- Solid all-around choice
- Pairs well with Medusa
Weaknesses
- Lower peak damage than S-tier options
- Needs specific gear to reach full potential
Recommended Progression
- Start in Anatolia to learn Egyptian-specific mechanics
- Focus on Five pantheons with separate favor economies. It's this build's primary system
- Prioritize Medusa as your first major upgrade
- See our full Egyptian build guide for the optimal gear progression
Norse
Norse is a strong option in Age of Mythology: Retold.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | A |
| Playstyle | Balanced approach |
| Best Equipment | Anubite |
| Stat Priority | Balanced stats |
| Core Gear | Best available |
| Key Mechanic | Minor god picks at every age up |
Strengths
- Best survivability for learning hard content
- Solid all-around choice
- Pairs well with Anubite
Weaknesses
- Slower progression speed
- Needs specific gear to reach full potential
Recommended Progression
- Start in Anatolia to learn Norse-specific mechanics
- Focus on Minor god picks at every age up. It's this build's primary system
- Prioritize Anubite as your first major upgrade
- See our full Norse build guide for the optimal gear progression
Atlantean
Atlantean is a strong option in Age of Mythology: Retold.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | A |
| Playstyle | Balanced approach |
| Best Equipment | Frost Giant |
| Stat Priority | Balanced stats |
| Core Gear | Best available |
| Key Mechanic | Myth units countered by heroes |
Strengths
- Excellent in group and cooperative content
- Solid all-around choice
- Pairs well with Frost Giant
Weaknesses
- Less effective solo
- Requires deep game knowledge to use effectively
Recommended Progression
- Start in Anatolia to learn Atlantean-specific mechanics
- Focus on Myth units countered by heroes. It's this build's primary system
- Prioritize Frost Giant as your first major upgrade
- See our full Atlantean build guide for the optimal gear progression
Chinese
Chinese is a strong option in Age of Mythology: Retold.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | A |
| Playstyle | Balanced approach |
| Best Equipment | Behemoth |
| Stat Priority | Balanced stats |
| Core Gear | Best available |
| Key Mechanic | Titan Gate and the Mythic Age endgame |
Strengths
- Highest skill ceiling with unique mechanics
- Solid all-around choice
- Pairs well with Behemoth
Weaknesses
- Steep learning curve, punishing mistakes
- Requires deep game knowledge to use effectively
Recommended Progression
- Start in Anatolia to learn Chinese-specific mechanics
- Focus on Titan Gate and the Mythic Age endgame. It's this build's primary system
- Prioritize Behemoth as your first major upgrade
- See our full Chinese build guide for the optimal gear progression
Which Build Should You Pick?
For Beginners
Egyptian is the clear winner. It's forgiving, teaches core mechanics, and remains competitive into endgame. Follow our beginner's guide for the best first-session experience.
For Maximum Performance
Greek is the top pick once you understand the game's mechanics. Pair it with Minotaur for the strongest overall setup.
For a Challenge
Chinese offers the highest skill ceiling. It's punishing when misplayed but incredibly rewarding when mastered. Only recommended after you've completed the game with another build.
For Group Play
Atlantean shines in cooperative content with utility and team support capabilities.
More Age of Mythology: Retold Guides
- Age of Mythology: Retold Age of Mythology: Retold Overview
- Age of Mythology: Retold Best Builds
- Age of Mythology: Retold Tier List
- Age of Mythology: Retold Walkthrough
- Age of Mythology: Retold Beginner's Guide
- Age of Mythology: Retold Tips & Tricks
- Age of Mythology: Retold Weapons Guide
- Age of Mythology: Retold Combat Guide
- Age of Mythology: Retold Boss Guide
- Age of Mythology: Retold Maps & Locations
- Age of Mythology: Retold Crafting Guide
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