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โ€œ Counter cavalry. Infantry only good against cavalry. โ€
—In-game description

The Hirdman is a Norse Classical Age infantry unit in Age of Mythology: Retold that can be trained at the Longhouse. It serves as a counter-cavalry unit. Like other Norse foot soldiers, Hirdmen can build and repair buildings.

The release version of the Hirdman is conceptually similar to the Bondi, which was cut twice, once for the base game, and once for Tale of the Dragon

Special ability[]

  • Nature's Eyes (Passive, requires Eyes in the Forest): Animals and natural objects within the unit's Line of Sight reveal their surroundings (30-tile radius) for 6 seconds.

Further statistics[]

Strengths and weaknesses[]

Strengths and weaknesses
Strong vs. Cavalry
Weak vs. Archer, Axeman, Hypaspist, Throwing Axeman, Cheiroballista

Upgrades[]

Age Upgrade Upgrades to Cost Effect
Classical Age Medium Infantry Medium Hirdman 150 food, 150 gold
20 seconds
+10% hit points, +10% damage, +1 Line of Sight
Heavy Infantry Heavy Hirdman 300 food, 300 gold
30 seconds
+15% hit points, +15% damage, +1 Line of Sight
Champion Infantry Champion Hirdman 500 food, 400 gold
40 seconds
+20% hit points, +20% damage, +1 Line of Sight

God bonuses[]

  • Odin: Regenerate 0.4 hit points per second.
  • Freyr: Repairs buildings for free.
  • Loki: +10% damage multipliers. Damaging enemies can spawn myth units. Constructs buildings +10% faster.

General technologies[]

Myth technologies[]

Relics[]

Tactics[]

Hirdmen serve as hard counters to cavalry units, and so they can be used to repel early cavalry raids or even kill any unsuspecting Kataskopoi who dare to venture within the vicinity of the player's base. In groups, Hirdmen can take down even War Elephants. They are also decent against most siege weapons, but are weak against everything else, most notably ranged soldiers. Likewise, counter-infantry units like Hypaspists, Axemen, and Throwing Axemen will also destroy them easily. However, having a lot of different available myth technologies granted to them, Hirdmen can be useful when massed. Loki's Hirdmen do extra damage against cavalry and can spawn myth units in battle, while Odin's Hirdmen regenerate hit points over time, and Freyr's Hirdmen can repair buildings for free.

Forseti makes Hirdmen faster and more resistant to hack damage, while Heimdall allows them to be trained more quickly, and Ullr gives them a movement speed along with a passive short burst of speed after standing still. Bragi makes Hirdmen even stronger against their main targets, cavalry, while Vidar provides a hit point bonus and a small damage bonus versus heroes.

In comparison to the Berserk, Hirdmen cost less food, but more gold. Hirdmen also are stronger against cavalry and have a slightly longer attack range, but Berserks are better against a lot of unit types while also having better pierce armor, higher attack speed, and shorter training time. Hence, Hirdmen are best used against players massing a lot of cavalry or War Elephants.

Changelog[]

Retold[]

Immortal Pillars[]

History[]

โ€œ The Norse Hirdman wields a spear and is effective against cavalry.

A Viking Age Scandinavian chieftain's power was centered on his personal warband, or hird. This body of retainers served as a household guard in the direct employ of the chieftain, who was responsible with providing them with the wealth, status, and leadership that earned their loyalty. In later centuries, the hirdmen constituted a court of magnates to whom a king delegated power, property, and administrative responsibilities.
โ€
—In-game help section

Beta unit[]

The Hirdman was a Norse infantry unit in some alpha and beta versions of Age of Mythology.

The Hirdman was the original Norse heavy infantry before being replaced by the Huskarl. It functioned much like the other swordsman/mainline infantry as a good-all round infantry unit, similar to the Militia line from Age of Empires II.

The Hirdman was also intended to be upgraded into a hero version of itself called the Hersir before the units were divided and the Hirdman became a Huskarl.

A detailed look at the unit's history is available here.

Trivia[]

  • Hirdmen were the nucleus of informal personal companion bodyguards of a lord or ruler. They were essentially Elite Huskarls, and are mentioned many times in Norse Sagas. As per law codices by the time of the reign of Haakon IV, they had become more of a Men-at-Arms, thus becoming formalised as the court household.
  • The texture map for the Hirdman, is located in the Multiplayer Alpha textures.bar file, under "Infantry N Hirdman Map".
  • "Hirdman" means the same as "Huskarl".

Gallery[]

Units in Age of Mythology
Common
Non-military Fishing Ship ยท Transport Ship ยท Caravan ( Donkey ยท Camel ยท Ox ยท Llama ยท Mechanical Ox)
Myth units Titan
Heroes Regent
Greeks
Non-military Villager ยท Kataskopos
Infantry Hoplite ยท Hypaspist ยท Myrmidon (Zeus) ยท Militia (Poseidon)
Ranged soldiers Toxotes ยท Peltast ยท Gastraphetoros (Hades)
Cavalry Hippeus ยท Prodromos ยท Hetairos (Poseidon)
Siege weapons Petrobolos ยท Helepolis
Ships Trireme ยท Pentekonter ยท Juggernaut
Heroes Hippocrates (Removed)
Zeus : Jason ยท Odysseus ยท Heracles ยท Bellerophon
Poseidon : Theseus ยท Atalanta ยท Hippolyta ยท Polyphemus
Hades : Ajax ยท Achilles ยท Chiron ยท Perseus
Aphrodite : The Argo
Myth units Pegasus ยท Hippocampus ยท Shade of Hades ยท Centaur ยท Minotaur ยท Cyclops ยท Scylla ยท Nemean Lion ยท Hydra ยท Manticore ยท Carcinos ยท Colossus ยท Medusa ยท Chimera
Egyptians
Non-military Laborer
Infantry Spearman ยท Axeman ยท Mercenary ยท Khopesh Swordsman (Removed)
Ranged soldiers Slinger ยท Chariot Archer
Cavalry Camel Rider ยท War Elephant ยท Mercenary Cavalry
Siege weapons Catapult ยท Siege Tower
Ships Kebenit ยท Ramming Galley ยท War Barge ยท Lost Ship
Heroes Pharaoh ยท Priest ยท Son of Osiris
Myth units Anubite ยท Sphinx ยท Wadjet ยท Leviathan ยท Petsuchos ยท Roc ยท Scarab ยท Scorpion Man ยท Minion ยท War Turtle ยท Phoenix ยท Phoenix Egg ยท Avenger ยท Mummy
Animals Baboon of Set ยท Gazelle of Set ยท Hyena of Set ยท Giraffe of Set ยท Crocodile of Set ยท Hippopotamus of Set ยท Rhinoceros of Set ยท Elephant of Set ยท Serpent ยท Sea Snake
Norse
Non-military Gatherer ยท Dwarf ยท Ox Cart
Infantry Berserk ยท Throwing Axeman ยท Hirdman ยท Huskarl
Ranged soldiers Bogsveigir (Removed)
Cavalry Raiding Cavalry ยท Jarl
Siege weapons Portable Ram ยท Ballista
Ships Longboat ยท Dreki ยท Dragon Ship
Heroes Hersir ยท Godi ยท Hero of Ragnarok ยท Gullinbursti
Myth units Raven ยท Troll ยท Valkyrie ยท Einheri ยท Draugr ยท Kraken ยท Mountain Giant ยท Walking Woods ยท Frost Giant ยท Battle Boar ยท Rock Giant ยท Jormun Elver ยท Fimbulwinter Wolf ยท Fenris Wolf Brood ยท Fire Giant ยท Fafnir ยท Nidhogg
Atlanteans
Non-military Citizen ยท Oracle
Infantry Murmillo ยท Katapeltes ยท Destroyer ยท Fanatic
Ranged soldiers Arcus ยท Turma
Cavalry Contarius
Siege weapons Cheiroballista ยท Fire Siphon ยท Onager (Removed)
Ships Bireme ยท Fire Ship ยท Siege Bireme
Myth units Automaton ยท Spider egg ยท Promethean ( Promethean Offspringยท Caladria ยท Servant ยท Carnivora ยท Nereid ยท Satyr ยท Stymphalian Bird ยท Dryad ยท Behemoth ยท Man O' War ยท Centimanus ยท Argus ยท Lampades ยท Tartarian Spawn
Chinese (Immortal Pillars)
Non-military Peasant ยท Kuafu ยท Sky Lantern ยท Clay Peasant (Nรผwa)
Infantry Dao Swordsman ยท Ge Halberdier ยท Tiger Cavalry (Dismounted)
Ranged soldiers Chu Ko Nu ยท Fire Archer ยท Wuzu Javelineer
Cavalry Terracotta Rider ยท Tiger Cavalry ยท White Horse Cavalry
Siege weapons Siege Crossbow ยท Axe Cart
Ships Doujian ยท Mengchong ยท Louchuan
Heroes Pioneer ยท Sage ยท Jiang Ziya ยท Yang Jian (Fuxi) ยท Nezha (Fuxi) ยท Li Jing (Nรผwa) ยท Kuafu (Hero) (Nรผwa) ยท Wen Zhong (Shennong)
Myth units Qilin ยท Yazi ยท Qiongqi ยท Chiwen ยท Baihu ยท Pixiu ยท Fei ยท Taotie ยท Taowu ยท Xuanwu ยท Zhuque ยท Qinglong ยท Hundun ยท Yinglong
Removed in Retold
Chinese (Tale of the Dragon)
Non-military Peasant ยท Yak Caravan
Infantry Halberdier
Ranged soldiers Chu Ko Nu ยท Mounted Archer
Cavalry Cataphract ยท General ยท Scout Cavalry ยท War Chariot
Siege weapons Fire Lance ยท Sitting Tiger
Ships Junk ยท Fire Ship ยท Siege Junk
Heroes Monk ยท Immortal
Myth units Qilin ยท Monkey King ยท Terracotta Warrior ยท War Salamander ยท Jiangshi ยท Pixiu ยท Azure Dragon ยท Dragon Turtle ยท Vermilion Bird ยท White Tiger ยท Earth Dragon
Other (non-campaign exclusive)
Cheat units Bella ยท Flying Purple Hippo ยท Forkboy ยท Lazer Bear ยท Methane Chicken ยท Walking Berry Bush
Animals Alfred ยท Arctic Wolf ยท Aurochs ยท Baboon ยท Bear ยท Black Bear ยท Boar ยท Caribou ยท Chicken ยท Cow ยท Crocodile ยท Crowned Crane ยท Deer ยท Bird: Hawk, Flying Red Crowned Crane, Vulture ยท Elephant ยท Elk ยท Gazelle ยท Golden Lion ยท Giraffe ยท Goat ยท Golden Pheasant ยท Harpy ยท Hippopotamus ยท Hyena ยท Lion ยท Monkey ยท Panda ยท Pig ยท Polar Bear ยท Red Crowned Crane ยท Relic Monkey ยท Rhinoceros ยท Serpent (Predator) ยท Shade (RM) ยท Walrus ยท Water Buffalo ยท Wolf ยท Zebra
Removed in Retold: Bird: Eagle, Parrot ยท Duck ยท Elephant (Indian) ยท Lizard ยท Panda Bear ยท Ram ยท Tiger ยท Yak
Scenario Editor Bow Cavalry ยท Dog ยท Harpy ยท Horse ยท Monkey Raft ยท Ornlu ยท Priest (SPC) ยท Qing Rider ยท Raft ยท Reindeer ยท Santa ยท Testing Dummy ยท Valkyrie Horse ยท Vulture
Cut Greeks: Cataphract ยท Oxybeles
Egyptians: Chariot ยท Gaiassa
Norse: Knarr
Chinese: Guandao Pikeman ยท Meteor Hammer ยท Rocket Artillery
Nature: Unicorn ยท Wild Camel ยท Nubian Goat ยท Wild Horse ยท Shore Fish ยท Anchovies ยท Musk Ox
Hidden Apep ยท Bondi ยท Golem ยท Griffon ยท Recognizer ยท Revealer ยท Trollkarien ยท William Walrus