Hero unit (Age of Empires: The Age of Kings)

Hero units are famous historical figures who lead each of the five civilizations. They are also the main characters of the five campaigns. Each hero has impressive stats, and they also have special abilities they can activate once per turn called hero powers. These hero powers have a variety of effects to damage enemies, heal allies, buff units, or add economic bonuses. Each age, heroes have their stats improved, allowing them to stay competitive against all other units.

If a hero is defeated in combat, they can be retrained at a Church starting in the Castle Age, and the price increases in the Imperial Age. Usually if the hero falls in a campaign, the scenario ends in defeat.

Britons

Richard the Lionhearted

Historical years- 1157 to 1199 C.E.

Richard the first of England, better known as "the Lionhearted" due to his bravery in combat, is the civilization hero for the Britons. Historically, Richard fought extensively against Saladin, and their struggle is the focus of two of the campaigns. Keeping with his crusader theme, Richard has a retinue of Knights Templar (without the zeal skill), making him the only hero to have a mercenary for his personal retinue. Richard is highly skilled in combat and has many impressive abilities, including the ability to extend the firing range of archers. Richard is a horse cavalry hero unit, making him weak against Pikemen and Camels (including Saladin).

Stats

• Age: 1-4
• Type: Cavalry
• Retinue soliders: Knights Templar
• Food cost: N/A ---> N/A--->750--->1000
• Gold cost: N/A ---> N/A--->750--->1000
• Health: 100
• Movement: 10
• Attack: 200--->250--->300-->350
• Defense: 280--->320--->360--->400
• Sight: 7
• Attack range: 1
• Attack bonus: -50% damage to buildings, +33 damage to infantry, +33 damage to ranged units.

Special abilities

• Plains Charge- When fighting on plains or plains road terrain (not plains hills), this unit will add 33% to its attack power. If the opposing unit also has plains charge activate, then both effects are cancelled. Please note, the tile of the battle is considered to be the one the unit getting attacked is currently standing on.

Hero Powers

• Reckless and Fierce- Enemy units directly adjacent or diagonal lose 20 health.
• Superb Leader- Friendly units in sight gain +25% attack.
• Recruit for the Cause- All units trained today are -20 food and -20 gold cheaper to train. This skill is only usable when the hero is standing on a town center.
• Firing Line- All Ranged (archer) units in sight gain +1 range for that turn.

Franks

Joan of Arc

Historical years- 1412 to 1431 C.E.

Joan of Arc was a peasant girl who became a semi-legendary inspirational leader for the French during the Hundred year war and is the Frankish civilization hero. Joan is the only female unit in the entire game. Joan is an infantry type hero and has no special unit abilities, like plains charge or first-strike like the other heroes, but she makes up for this with incredible stats. Joan also has some powerful damaging and healing hero abilities.

Stats

• Age: 1-4
• Type: Infantry
• Retinue soldiers: European Champions
• Food cost: N/A ---> N/A--->750--->1000
• Gold cost: N/A ---> N/A--->750--->1000
• Health: 100
• Movement: 7
• Attack: 200--->250--->300-->350
• Defense: 350--->400--->450--->500
• Sight: 7
• Attack range: 1
• Attack bonus: +33 damage to siege, +33 damage to buildings.

Special abilities- Not applicable for this unit

Hero Powers

• Inspiration- This unit and adjacent units gain 20 health
• Divine Purpose- All friendly units gain 5 health
• Blinding Faith- All enemy units within sight have their defence reduced by -25% for one turn
• Weakened Resolve- Adjacent or diagonal enemy units lose -25 health.

Saracens

Saladin

Historical years- 1137 to 1193 C.E

Saladin, Sultan of Egypt and leader of the Muslim forces during the time of the second and third crusades, is the civilization hero for the Saracens. Saladin is essentially a hero version of the Mameluke unit, which means he gets a bonus while fighting over desert terrain and against horses (including Richard the Lionhearted). He is a powerful unit and has some useful offensive and economic powers.

Stats

• Age: 1-4
• Type: Cavalry
• Retinue soliders: Elite Mamelukes
• Food cost: N/A ---> N/A--->750--->1000
• Gold cost: N/A ---> N/A--->750--->1000
• Health: 100
• Movement: 10
• Attack: 180--->225--->270-->315
• Defense: 280--->320--->360--->450
• Sight: 7
• Attack range: 1
• Attack bonus: -50% damage to buildings, +33 damage to infantry, +33 damage to ranged units.

Special abilities

• Desert Charge- When fighting on desert or desert road terrain (not desert hills), this unit will add 33% to its attack. If the opposing unit also has desert charge activate, then both effects are cancelled. Please note, the tile of the battle is considered to be the one the unit getting attacked is currently standing on.
• Scares Horses- this unit does 33% damage to horse cavalry. This does affect horse archers.

Hero Powers

• Benefactor- Adds 100 gold to the player. This skill is only usable when the hero is standing on a town center.
• Rain of Arrows- Friendly ranged (archer) units in sight gain +33% attack.
• Aura of Invincibility- Friendly units in sight gain +33% defence.
• Hit and Run- Adjacent friendly units gain +2 movement and +25% attack

Mongols

Genghis Khan

Historical years: 1162-1227 C.E

Often regarded as one of the greatest conquerors in history, the Mongol chief originally named Temüjin, became known as Genghis Khan meaning "Supreme ruler" of the new Mongol Empire. Genghis Khan is an essentially an improved Mongol Mangudia unit which gives him the powerful first strike ability. His hero powers focus on movement, research, and siege warfare. His nomadic travel adds +5 movement, which can greatly help with moving an army quickly or help Villagers cross mountains for Gold Mines in a single turn. One interesting note about Genghis Khan is that he does not improve stats in the imperial age like other heroes. This is probably due to a technical issue rather than for hero balancing.

Stats

• Age: 1-4
• Type: Archer
• Retinue soliders: Elite Mangudai
• Food cost: N/A ---> N/A--->750--->1000
• Gold cost: N/A ---> N/A--->750--->1000
• Health: 100
• Movement: 10
• Attack: 140--->175--->245-->245
• Defense: 245--->280--->350--->350
• Sight: 7
• Attack range: 2
• Attack bonus: -50% damage to buildings

Special abilities

• First Strike- When being attacked, this unit will inflict their regular attack damage before their opponent can attack. If both units have first-strike, they both cancel out and combat continues as normal.

Hero Powers

• Patron of the arts- Today's research costs -50 food and -50 gold less. This skill is only usable when the hero is standing on a town center.
• Nomadic Travel- Adjacent and diagonal friendly units gain +5 movement
• Overwhelming Siege- Friendly units in sight gain +33% attack against buildings.
• Mongol Terror- Enemy units in sight have their defence reduced by -25%.

Japanese

Minamoto Yoshitsune

Historical years: 1159-1189 C.E.

The Japanese civilization hero is Yoshitune who was a general of the Minamoto clan and is regarded as one of the greatest warriors and commanders in Japanese history. Although Yoshitune himself rides a horse, he is part of a unit of pikemen meaning he is especially effective in defensive positions or against cavalry. His powers improve economic raiding, recruitment, combat and can heal himself and others.

At the end of his campaign, the game says that according to folklore, that Minamoto didn't die, but he instead went to Mongolia and became Genghis Khan (which is the very next campaign). This folk story does not actually exist anywhere in Asia and was proven to just be a publicity stunt made by academics in 1879.

Stats

• Age: 1-4
• Type: Infantry
• Retinue soldiers: Japanese Elite Pikemen
• Food cost: N/A ---> N/A--->750--->1000
• Gold cost: N/A ---> N/A--->750--->1000
• Health: 100
• Movement: 7
• Attack: 160--->200--->240-->280
• Defense: 315--->360--->405--->450
• Sight: 7
• Attack range: 1
• Attack bonus: +33 damage to siege, +33 damage to buildings.

Special abilities

• Anti-Cavalry: While fighting cavalry, this unit gets a +83% attack and defence bonus and gains the first strike skill

Hero Powers

• Pillage- All friendly units gain +50% attack to mills, mines and farms.
• Warrior Code- Today's units costs -20 food and -20 gold less to hire. This skill is only usable when the hero is standing on a town center.
• Minamoto's Guard- Adjacent friendly units gain +33% attack and defence.
• Inspiring General- This unit and adjacent units each gain +15 health.

Trivia

All heroes except Joan of Arc are from the 12th century. These heroes were all alive at the same time between 1162 and 1189 C.E and they were all actively fighting in wars at the same time for a period of 6 years between 1180 and 1185 C.E.

Richard the Lionhearted and Saladin serve as each other's final boss in the final scenarios of their respective campaigns. Although technically Minamoto Yoshitsune and Ghengis Khan do not meet, a renamed version of both these heroes serve as each other's final boss. The final boss of Minamoto Yoshitsune's campaign is Kublai Khan (who uses the same unit as Ghengis Khan) and Ghengis Khan must face Takezaki (who uses the same model as Minamoto Yoshitsune).

Minamoto Yoshitsune and Ghengis Khan share the same final scenario (the invasion of Japan) and Richard and Saladin share the same final two scenarios, but with Saladin capturing Jerusalem before Richard, and Richard fighting in the battle of Arsuf first.