"Age of Empires Mobile Introduces Mercenary Troops System"

Ever dreamed of witnessing Joan of Arc leading Roman Centurions into battle, or Hannibal Barca commanding Japanese Samurai to sack Rome? With the latest update to Age of Empires Mobile, these scenarios can become a reality thanks to the brand new Mercenary Troops system.

Once you reach level 26, you'll unlock the Mercenary Camp structure, enabling you to contract and recruit powerful units that are typically exclusive to other factions. This system not only allows you to field diverse units but also offers unlockable technology to enhance these mercenaries further. To kick things off, you can secure your first mercenaries for free through a new event that's currently live.

The Mercenary Troops system introduces a variety of units, including Byzantine Cataphracts, Swiss Pikemen, Persian Immortals, Indian Battle Elephants, Roman Centurions, Egyptian Chariot Archers, Japanese Samurai, and Korean Archers. Each of these units comes with technology upgrades that amplify their already impressive battlefield capabilities.

Blood MoneyThe introduction of the Mercenary Troops system evokes memories of Total War, where players could overwhelm their enemies with hired swords, reminiscent of games like Rome: Total War and Medieval II. However, this addition might be divisive. Some players might feel it disrupts the game's balance, likening it to a "marmite addition."

The effectiveness of the Mercenary Troops system will ultimately be determined by player feedback and experience. There's also the potential for future additions, such as custom units like the historical Landsknechts. Only time will tell how these developments unfold.

For those looking to dive into the game, our guides can help you get started. Check out our tier list of all Age of Empires Mobile heroes, ranked by power, to discover which heroes are worth unlocking and which ones to avoid.