Harpy

This article is about the unit in the PC game. For the unit in the handheld video game, see Harpy (Age of Empires: Mythologies).

Harpy appearance

The Harpy (Ancient Greek: ἅρπυια/harpyia) is a monster seen in Age of Mythology. They are female avian creatures with the face of a woman and green plumage, who live exclusively in the Greek underworld Erebus, Hades' realm.

Overview

They are flying, unselectable units that cannot be attacked, yet can be killed, mainly by Son of Osiris' lightning attacks and Hera's Lightning Storm. Essentially, they replace Vultures and Hawks as decorative "birds", as they are completely harmless, despite looking monstrous.

If a Harpy is killed, she falls straight to the ground. Harpies produce no sound, other than the beating of their wings.

Campaign unit

Harpy
Unit information
Introduced in	Age of Mythology: Retold - Immortal Pillars
Type	Flying unit
Internal name	Harpy (SPC)
Statistics
Hit points	30
Speed	4.00
Line of Sight	14
Hack armor	20%
Pierce armor	60%
Crush armor	80%

After the Harpy Scout's removal in Retold, a new version of the Harpy, named Harpy (SPC) in the Scenario Editor, was added in Immortal Pillars. It is a player-controllable flying unit, but not a myth unit. It is featured in the expansion's campaign.

Harpy Scout

Harpy
Unit information
Introduced in	Age of Mythology
Removed in	Retold
Type	Flying unit Myth unit
Internal name	Harpy Scout
Statistics
Hit points	50
Speed	4.00
Line of Sight	[What?]
Hack armor	20%
Pierce armor	60%
Crush armor	99%

“

Myth unit. Flying Scout. Has no attack. Can only be attacked by ranged units.

”

The Harpy was a Scenario Editor-exclusive myth unit in Age of Mythology, which differed from the wild Harpy, as it could be controlled by a player and used for gaining Line of Sight. It could not attack, but could be attacked by ranged units and damaged by god powers. Its attributes were identical to the Vulture scout, which was another Scenario Editor unit. It was removed in Retold.

Campaign appearances

Harpies appear exclusively in two maps: River Styx and Erebus, both in the Greek underworld. Apart from that, they make their appearance in Fall of the Trident scenarios that feature the Underworld, such as Strangers.

In Immortal Pillars, Harpies make a return in the Pillars of the Gods scenario Shattered Underworlds, where the player must be careful not to get spotted by the patrolling Harpies in the Greek underworld. If the player is spotted, the Harpies will summon Cerberus to kill the player's troops.

Trivia

• While Harpies are harmless in-game, in Greek mythology they were fierce creatures, known for carrying evildoers to the Furies in order to be punished.
• Harpies were originally intended to be units for Hades, as a unique mythical scout (like Pegasus for Zeus, and Hippocampus for Poseidon), but were eventually cut for unknown reasons.
• In the Scenario Editor, the first time the Harpy's attack animation is played, that Harpy will produce a giant explosion. The reason for that is unknown.
• Despite being a Scenario Editor unit, the Harpy (SPC) uses the Animals of Set's dialogue lines.

Gallery

Closeup of a Harpy in Retold

A Harpy appearing on the Erebus random map

Concept art of the Harpy

A player controlled Harpy

The Harpy icon

The icon in Retold

	Myth units in Age of Mythology
Greeks Archaic Age Pegasus · Hippocampus · Shade of Hades Classical Age Centaur · Minotaur · Cyclops Heroic Age Nemean Lion · Hydra · Scylla · Manticore Mythic Age Colossus · Medusa · Carcinos · Chimera Egyptians Classical Age Anubite · Sphinx · Wadjet Heroic Age Petsuchos · Roc · Scarab · Leviathan · Scorpion Man · Minion · Lost Ship Mythic Age Phoenix ( Phoenix Egg) · War Turtle · Avenger · Mummy Norse Archaic Age Raven Classical Age Troll · Valkyrie · Einheri · Draugr Heroic Age Kraken · Mountain Giant · Walking Woods · Frost Giant · Battle Boar · Rock Giant Mythic Age Jormun Elver · Fimbulwinter Wolf · Fenris Wolf Brood · Fire Giant · Nidhogg · Fafnir Atlanteans Classical Age Automaton · Spider egg · Promethean ( Promethean Offspring) · Caladria · Servant · Carnivora Heroic Age Nereid · Satyr · Stymphalian Bird · Dryad · Behemoth Mythic Age Centimanus · Man O' War · Argus · Lampades · Tartarian Spawn Chinese (Immortal Pillars) Classical Age Qilin · Yazi · Qiongqi Heroic Age Baihu · Taowu · Taotie · Pixiu · Fei · Chiwen Mythic Age Hundun · Zhuque · Qinglong · Xuanwu · Yinglong Removed in Retold Chinese (Tale of the Dragon) Classical Age Qilin · Monkey King · Terracotta Warrior Heroic Age War Salamander · Jiangshi · Pixiu Mythic Age Azure Dragon · Dragon Turtle · Vermilion Bird · White Tiger · Earth Dragon Other Common Titan Campaign Ao Kuang · Gaia · Kronos · Prometheus · Theris* · Chiyou Cheat Bella · Walking Berry Bush Scenario Editor-exclusive Harpy · Santa · Vulture Cut Apep · Golem · Griffon · Trollkarien Hidden William Walrus