Overview
The Chinese excel at expansion, constructing magnificent cities across the map. Each building extends Favored Land, generating Favor and granting powerful bonuses based on the chosen God. The larger the empire, the more divinely powerful the Chinese become.
Two worker types fuel this growth: the Peasant and the Kuafu. Peasants are less efficient than other cultures’ Villagers but are supported by the Kuafu, powerful giants who excel at constructing buildings.
Military Buildings can be enhanced with Towers or Training Yards, providing defensive or offensive advantages. While lacking early cavalry, China excels at siege with powerful Chu Ko Nu and siege weapons from the Machine Workshop. Each Town Center can also summon Terracotta Riders once for emergency defense.
Chinese heroes are trained at the Imperial Academy. Pioneers scout and deploy Sky Lanterns, Sages are much stronger and can heal allies and charm enemies. At the peak are legendary demigod heroes, unique to each God, who possess devastating abilities.
Major Gods
Fuxi
Fuxi is one of the Three Divine Sovereigns in ancient Chinese mythology. His kingdom is centered in the modern day Renzu temple, where he is still celebrated today.
Focus: Human Soldiers and Heroes.
God Power – The Peach Blossom Spring: Target a location to create the Peach Blossom Spring, whose resource stockpile grows overtime. The Peach Blossom Spring’s resources are gathered very quickly, but it’s stockpile stops growing once a villager starts gathering from it.
- God Blessing: Ying and Yang. Fuxi grants alternating bonuses, which swap every four minutes:
- Yin: Peasants and Kuafus gather 10% faster.
- Yang: Human soldiers and siege weapons +10% damage.
- On Favored Land: Buildings research 300% faster and Military Camp/Machine Workshop additions cost -50%.
- Gains access to Nezha in the Classical Age, an additional legendary hero that gets stronger each age.
Nüwa
Nüwa is the primary Chinese goddess, known for molding humans by hand from yellow clay – this achievement earned her the title the ‘Great Mother of Humans’.
Focus: Peasants, Kuafus, and Defense.
God Power – Creation: Target a location to create a number of Clay Peasants that last for a couple of minutes. Spawns more Peasants in later ages.
- God Blessing: Creators Auspice: Nüwa reduces Peasant cost and improves building hitpoints as you earn Favor.
- On Favored Land: Foundations automatically construct.
- Buildings spread Favored Land +1 range further.
- Cavalry +10% hitpoints.
Shennong
Shennong is also known as the ‘Divine Farmer’ or the ‘Divine Husbandman.’ He taught humans agriculture, invented agricultural tools, discovered the uses of medicinal herbs and tea, and contributed to the domestication of plants and animals
Focus: Farming, Myth Units, and Healing
God Power – Prosperous Seeds: Target 2 Farms to sow the seeds of prosperity. They will produce food faster, heal nearby villagers, and make friendly units on them invisible.
- God Blessing: Gift of Beasts: Shennong summons myth units from the next Age at your Temple for free as you earn Favor.
- On Favored Land: Myth units recover 5 hitpoints per second.
- Farms are available in the Archaic Age and build instantly.
- Plow, Irrigation and Flood Control are researched instantly for free in their respective ages.
Fuxi
Fuxi is one of the Three Divine Sovereigns in ancient Chinese mythology. His kingdom is centered in the modern day Renzu temple, where he is still celebrated today.
Focus: Human Soldiers and Heroes.
God Power – The Peach Blossom Spring: Target a location to create the Peach Blossom Spring, whose resource stockpile grows overtime. The Peach Blossom Spring’s resources are gathered very quickly, but it’s stockpile stops growing once a villager starts gathering from it.
- God Blessing: Ying and Yang. Fuxi grants alternating bonuses, which swap every four minutes:
- Yin: Peasants and Kuafus gather 10% faster.
- Yang: Human soldiers and siege weapons +10% damage.
- On Favored Land: Buildings research 300% faster and Military Camp/Machine Workshop additions cost -50%.
- Gains access to Nezha in the Classical Age, an additional legendary hero that gets stronger each age.
Nüwa
Nüwa is the primary Chinese goddess, known for molding humans by hand from yellow clay – this achievement earned her the title the ‘Great Mother of Humans’.
Focus: Peasants, Kuafus, and Defense.
God Power – Creation: Target a location to create a number of Clay Peasants that last for a couple of minutes. Spawns more Peasants in later ages.
- God Blessing: Creators Auspice: Nüwa reduces Peasant cost and improves building hitpoints as you earn Favor.
- On Favored Land: Foundations automatically construct.
- Buildings spread Favored Land +1 range further.
- Cavalry +10% hitpoints.
Shennong
Shennong is also known as the ‘Divine Farmer’ or the ‘Divine Husbandman.’ He taught humans agriculture, invented agricultural tools, discovered the uses of medicinal herbs and tea, and contributed to the domestication of plants and animals
Focus: Farming, Myth Units, and Healing
God Power – Prosperous Seeds: Target 2 Farms to sow the seeds of prosperity. They will produce food faster, heal nearby villagers, and make friendly units on them invisible.
- God Blessing: Gift of Beasts: Shennong summons myth units from the next Age at your Temple for free as you earn Favor.
- On Favored Land: Myth units recover 5 hitpoints per second.
- Farms are available in the Archaic Age and build instantly.
- Plow, Irrigation and Flood Control are researched instantly for free in their respective ages.
Minor Gods Spotlight
Chiyou
God of chaos and War
Focus: Military and looting.
Myth Unit: Yazi.
God Power – Lightning Weapons: Target a location to conduct lightning into the weapons of all of your human soldiers and ships, granting their attacks a chance to stun enemies
Rushou
God of gold and autumn.
Focus: Infantry and Trade.
Myth Unit: Baihu.
God Power – Fei Beasts: Target a location to spawn poisonous Fei Beats that spread infection to enemies.
Zhurong
God of fire and summer.
Focus: Myth Units and farming.
Myth Unit: Zhuque.
God Power – Blazing Prairie: Target a location to open the heavens and set the world on fire. Everything will burn.
Chiyou
God of chaos and War
Focus: Military and looting.
Myth Unit: Yazi.
God Power – Lightning Weapons: Target a location to conduct lightning into the weapons of all of your human soldiers and ships, granting their attacks a chance to stun enemies
Rushou
God of gold and autumn.
Focus: Infantry and Trade.
Myth Unit: Baihu.
God Power – Fei Beasts: Target a location to spawn poisonous Fei Beats that spread infection to enemies.
Zhurong
God of fire and summer.
Focus: Myth Units and farming.
Myth Unit: Zhuque.
God Power – Blazing Prairie: Target a location to open the heavens and set the world on fire. Everything will burn.
Myth Unit Spotlight
Qilin
Qilin is a mythical creature with a body resembling that of a horse with a horn on its head. It is said that its appearance heralds a golden age or the arrival of a sage, making it a symbol of good fortune in China. Although the Qilin’s description may resemble that of unicorns in other mythologies, the giraffes from Africa presented to Chinese emperors were referred to as Qilin. In fact, in Japanese, both giraffes and Qilin are still called ‘Kirin’ to this day.
- Heals nearby units. Good against human soldiers and other myth units.
Baihu
Báihǔ is a white tiger beast representing the direction of the West and the autumn season in ancient Chinese mythology. Báihǔ also symbolizes loyalty and righteousness; he is known as a god of war who oversees weapons and battles. In legends, Báihǔ often appears as a bringer of justice, punishing evil and promoting goodness and order.
- Can send units flying with powerful strikes. Good against human soldiers.
Taotie
One of the ‘Four Perils’ or ‘Four Great Malevolent Beasts’ in Chinese legend, Tāotiè has an appearance similar to that of a sheep and symbolizes unending greed. Tāotiè’s insatiable appetite makes it a symbol of war and slaughter.
- Gains extra strength as it devours human soldiers with it’s special ability. Good against human soldiers.
Human Unit Spotlight
Chu Ko Nu
The Chu Ko Nu (or Zhuge Nu) repeating crossbow was known for its simple design and incredible rate of fire. It held a magazine of roughly 10 bolts which it shot in succession, and was operated by grasping the stock in the left hand and working the lever with the right. In that swift movement, a bolt would drop into place, the string would be drawn, and then the bolt would be fired, with another bolt dropping in to take its place. The weapon was specifically designed to fire rapidly into groups of enemy troops at relatively close range, and did not have the power to be effective over longer distances. The Chu Ko Nu is first attested in the 4th century BCE, when it was used in combat during the Warring States Period. However, legend holds that it was invented by the renowned ancient Chinese military strategist Zhuge Liang.
- Ranged soldier. Versatile Chinese crossbowman with a rapid-fire attack.
Dao Swordsman
The Chinese Dao Swordsman is an inexpensive, fast-training unit whose armor makes it thrive in combined arms forces. Historically, these infantrymen were predominately conscripted soldiers between the ages of 23 and 56. Chinese armies were famous for their size – commanders could swiftly mobilize and logistically support vast numbers of men to carry out military campaigns. On one occasion, Wang Mang levied 300,000 men to suppress a rebellion against his new regime in 9 CE, and the Chinese also deployed several hundred thousand infantrymen (alongside 50,000 cavalrymen) against the Xiongnu in 119 BCE.
- Slow but durable Chinese infantry. Decent vs. everything.
Tiger Cavalry
The Tiger Cavalry (sometimes also called Tiger-Leopard Cavalry) were the most formidable cavalry unit during the Three Kingdoms period in China (220-280 CE) and the years of strife leading up to it. This unit was established by the powerful warlord Cao Cao, whose son would later go on to establish the Wei kingdom. Cao Cao selected the best warriors from his family and his most loyal subordinates to form this elite unit. The Tiger Cavalry served not only as bodyguards and shock troops in battle but also as special forces for long-range raids. When required, these troops could dismount and operate as elite infantry, particularly in roles such as bodyguards or during siege warfare.
- Elite, heavily armoured cavalry who dismounts and fights on when felled. Good against cavalry and ranged soldiers.
Wonder Age
Chinese Unique Building
Each pantheon in Age of Mythology: Retold has the ability to construct one unique building, it’s Wonder of the World. Wonders are expensive and take a long time to build but mark a pantheon as one of outstanding achievement. Building a Wonder counts significant points towards your pantheon’s score, and may result in a win, depending on the victory conditions for a game.
Constructing a Wonder advances the pantheon to the Wonder Age, where the Gods will reward you with great world ending power.
- Favor: +1 Favor per second.
- God Powers: -50% cost and -90% cooldown.
- Myth Unit and Titan: +50% Attack Damage and Hitpoints.
- Myth Units and Titans: +15% Speed.
- Titan Gate: Can be rebuild every 10 minutes.