Hersir

Template:Infobox unitsThe Hersir is the regular Norse hero unit in Age of Mythology, available in the Archaic Age once a Temple has been built. Like other heroes, Hersirs are strong against myth units and can pick up Relics. In addition, Hersirs earn double favor in combat and generate a trickle of 0.6 favor per minute each just by being alive.

Attack Bonuses

• Myth Units: x6
• Animals of Set: x3
• Archaic Age: x0.3

God Bonuses and Upgrades

Specific

Loki's Hersirs move 10% faster. They can also summon random Norse myth units in battle, once enough favor has been earned.

• Hall of Thanes (Forseti) increases hit points by 10% and speed by 25%.

General

• Copper Weapons, Bronze Weapons, and Iron Weapons increase attack by 10%.
• Hammer of the Gods (Thor) increases attack by 10%.
• Copper Mail, Bronze Mail, and Iron Mail decrease hack vulnerability by 15%.
• Meteoric Iron Mail (Thor) decreases hack vulnerability by 10%.
• Copper Shields, Bronze Shields, and Iron Shields decrease pierce vulnerability by 15%.
• Dragonscale Shields (Thor) decreases pierce vulnerability by 10%.
• Levy Longhouse and Conscript Longhouse decrease training time at the Longhouse by 20%.

Strategy

Hersirs have an average attack and armor. They excel in two areas – defeating myth units and generating favor. Norse players find generating favor more difficult than those of other cultures, so the extra favor Hersirs generate is very important. Both the double favor and accumulated favor effects become more noticeable when Hersirs are massed. In combat, Hersirs are strong against myth units, and, as they generate lots of favor while fighting them, can help their player to create his own myth units in retaliation. However, because they are slow-moving melee units, Hersirs are rather less effective against ranged myth units. Furthermore, they are mediocre against human soldiers and therefore not cost-effective at combating them. Loki's Hersirs move faster and can summon random myth units when in combat, making them even more useful, particularly at early raiding.

As Jarls also have an attack bonus against myth units and are quite versatile, some players might want to field them instead of Hersirs. However, as they are Heroes, Hersirs have two crucial advantages over Jarls: they are immune to myth units' special attacks, and all myth units have an attack penalty against them.

Like Pharaohs, each Hersir has a name instead of their info box reading "Hersir (Hero)". Their names are unique and often vaingloriously comical.

History

The commanders of the Viking raids were not the kings or jarls, but chieftains of middle rank called hersir. These were independent landowners comparable to medieval knights in wealth and influence. A hersir had better equipment than most of his warriors, including perhaps chain mail and the ownership of his own longboat and horse (though like any good Viking, he would still dismount to fight).

Possible Hersir Names

First Part: Agnar, An, Alfr, Alvi, Ari, Arinbjorn, Arngeir, Arngrim, Arnfinn, Asgeirr, Askell, Asvald, Bard, Baror, Bersi, Borkr, Bjarni, Bjorn, Brand, Brandr, Cairn, Canute, Dar, Einarr, Eirik, Egill, Engli, Eyvindr, Erik, Eyvind, Finnr, Floki, Fromund, Geirmundr, Geirr, Geri, Gisli, Gizzur, Gjafvaldr, Glumr, Gorm, Grmir, Gunnarr, Guomundr, Hak, Halbjorn, Halfdan, Hallvard, Hamal, Hamundr, Harald, Harek, Hedinn, Helgi, Henrik, Herbjorn, Herjolfr, Hildir, Hogni, Hrani, Hrolf, Ivarr, Jimmy, Jon, Jorund, Kalf, Ketil, Kheldar, Klaengr, Knut, Kolbeinn, Kolli, Kollr, Lambi, Magnus, Moldof, Mursi, Njall, Oddr, Olaf, Orlyg, Ormr, Ornolf, Osvald, Ozurr, Poror, Prondir, Ragi, Ragnvald, Refr, Runolf, Saemund, Siegfried, Sigmundr, Sigurd, Sigvat, Skeggi, Skomlr, Slode, Snorri, Sokkolf, Solvi, Surt, Sven, Thangbrand, Thjodoft, Thorod, Thorgest, Thorvald, Thrain, Throst, Torfi, Torix, Tryfing, Ulf, Valgaror, Vali, Vifil, Vigfus, Vika, Waltheof

Middle Part: Aesir, Axe, Bear, Berg, Biscuit, Blade, Blood, Blue, Boar, Board, Bone, Cage, Cave, Cheese, Code, Coffee, Death, Dragon, Dwarf, Eel, Elk, Fjord, Flame, Flour, Forge, Fork, Fox, Frost, Furnace, Goat, God, Gold, Granite, Griffon, Grim, Haggis, Hall, Hamarr, Helm, Horn, Horse, House, Huskarl, Ice, Iceberg, Jarl, Kelp, Kettle, Kraken, Lake, Long, Mace, Maelstrom, Mail, Mammoth, Man, Many, Mead, Mountain, Noun, Oath, Owl, Pain, Peak, Pot, Rat, Raven, Red, Refreshingbeverage, Ring, Rock, Root, Rune, Salmon, Sap, Sea, Shield, Ship, Sky, Slush, Smoke, Snow, Spear, Squid, Steam, Stone, Swine, Three, Tongue, Torch, Tree, Troll, Ulfsark, Unsightly, Valkyrie, Wave, White, Woman, Worm, Wyvern

Last Part: Admirer, Arm, Back, Baker, Basher, Beard, Bearer, Bender, Blade, Blender, Blood, Boiler, Bone, Boot, Borer, Born, Bow, Breaker, Breeder, Bringer, Brow, Builder, Chaser, Chiller, Collar, Counter, Clubber, Curser, Dancer, Dottir, Dreamer, Drinker, Drowner, Ear, Eater, Face, Fearer, Foot, Friend, Fury, Gorer, Grim, Grinder, Grower, Growth, Hacker, Hall, Ham, Hammer, Hand, Hands, Head, Hilt, Hunter, Killer, Leg, Licker, Liker, Lost, Lover, Masher, Mender, Minder, Miner, Mocker, Monger, Neck, Rage, Rhyme, Rider, Ringer, Roarer, Roller, Sailor, Screamer, Sequel, Server, Shield, Shoe, Singer, Skinner, Slinger, Slugger, Smasher, Sniffer, Stinker, Sucker, Sword, Tail, Tamer, Taster, Thigh, Tongue, Tracker, Washer, Wielder, Wing, Wisher, Wrath

Trivia

• Though they do get countered by Counter-Infantry, Hersirs themselves are not classified as infantry. Thus they don't benefit from Infantry-Line-Updates or relics like Gaia's Book of Knowledge increasing damage against Titans.
• Hersirs were originally unique Norse upgrades for the Hirdman, essentially a heroised version of themselves.
• Comically, Hersirs will die angrily, in contrast to other unit deaths, which are either in surprise, shock or neutral.

Gallery

Hersir in-game

Hersir standing in grass

Hersir dying angrily on tundra terrain