“ | Target near enemy soldiers to turn several of their units into Pigs. | ” |
—In-game description |
Curse is a Greek Heroic Age god power in Age of Mythology that is available to worshipers of Aphrodite. When invoked, it transforms a number of enemy units (except workers*, heroes, and Titans) in the targeted area into Pigs. It transforms units of total value up to 800 resources.
Effect[]
Curse transforms human soldiers, siege weapons, land myth units, and Animals of Set in an area of 30 into Pigs. At least one unit is guaranteed to be transformed into a Pig. Two or more units may be transformed into Pigs, provided that their combined resource cost is 800 or less (with 1 favor being worth 10 other resources). Each Pig is created with a food reserve equal to 50 + the total resource cost of the transformed unit (excluding the favor cost). When transforming into Pigs, the Curse prioritizes wounded units (these wounds are retained after transformation).
Curse transforms human soldiers and workers in an area of 30 into Pigs. At least three units are guaranteed to be transformed into Pigs. Four or more units (but no more than nine) may be transformed into Pigs, provided that their current total hit points are 800 or less. Each Pig is created with a food reserve of 50. When transforming units into Pigs, the Curse gives priority to wounded units (these wounds disappear after transformation). Workers count four times towards the hit point limit.
Further statistics[]
Age bonuses[]
Wonder Age: -75% recharge cooldown and recast favor cost
Relic bonuses[]
Hekate's Torches: -10% recharge cooldown and recast favor cost.
Strategy[]
The number of converted units is based on hit points, so more weak or injured units and fewer tough units will be converted. Curse is effective at thinning out an enemy force, and if the Pigs are captured, it provides an extra food source. It can be used both offensively and defensively.
In Retold, the number of units converted is based on their resource cost. However, as previously, priority is given to wounded units. In addition, the cost of the units will be added to the current amount of food of the Pigs, making the god power economically beneficial for its user.
Changelog[]
Age of Mythology[]
- Curse can only transform human soldiers and workers. The number of transformed units is based on total hit points (no more than 800).
- Each Pig starts with 50 food and full hit points.
Retold[]
- Curse can also transform myth units, siege weapons, and Animals of Set. It can no longer transform workers. The number of transformed units is based on total resource cost (no more than 850).
- Each Pig starts with 50 food + resource cost of the transformed unit. Transformed Pigs retain any hit point losses previously suffered by the target units.
- With update 17.30764, the maximum total resource value of transformed units is reduced from 850 to 800.
Trivia[]

Valkyrie Change transforming Murmillos
- There are six campaign-exclusive variants of this god power that transforms enemies into myth units instead of transforming them into Pigs. Caladrius Change transforms enemies into Valkyries, Hydra Change transforms enemies into Hydras, Manticore Change transforms enemies into Manticores, Chimera Change transforms enemies into Chimerai, Nemean Change transforms enemies into Nemean Lions, and Cyclops Change transforms enemies to Cyclopes. These variants are used as parts of triggers in the Mount Olympus scenario and can be obtained by the player in the Scenario Editor.
- The fact that the god power that transforms enemies into Valkyries is called Caladrius Change seems to suggest that it was intended to transform units into Caladriae at some point in development, but was changed, probably due to the fact that Caladriae are flying units and would allow the player to explore unwanted areas of the map.