New Mercenary Troops System Added to Age of Empires Mobile

Ever dreamed of seeing Joan of Arc leading Roman Centurions into battle? Or perhaps Hannibal Barca deploying Japanese Samurai to sack Rome? With the latest update to Age of Empires Mobile, your wildest historical mashups can become a reality thanks to the new Mercenary Troops system.

Once you hit level 26, you'll unlock the Mercenary Camp structure, which is your gateway to contracting and recruiting powerful new units. Not only can you bring these warriors into your ranks, but you'll also have the opportunity to unlock and upgrade technology that boosts their already impressive battlefield prowess. And the best part? You can secure your first batch of mercenaries for free through a new event that's currently live.

The lineup of Mercenary units includes 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 its own tech upgrades that will enhance their formidable abilities even further.

The new Mercenary Troops system evokes memories of Total War for me, reminiscent of overwhelming foes with a horde of hired swords in games like Rome: Total War and Medieval II. However, this addition might be a bit divisive. Some players might feel it disrupts the game's balance. Only time will tell how this system plays out in the hands of the community. Who knows? We might even see unique units like the historical Landsknechts offered down the line.

If you're eager to dive into the game and want a quick guide on the best heroes to unlock, check out our tier list of all Age of Empires Mobile heroes, ranked by power. It will give you a clear idea of which heroes are worth your time and resources.