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The Kraken is a Heroic Age myth unit in Age of Mythology, available to Norse worshipers of Njord.

Special attack[]

Can instantly sink ships with its tentacles or grab a human unit close enough to the shoreline and throw it away, instantly killing it (similar to the Cyclops). Requires 16 seconds to recharge.

God bonuses and upgrades[]

General[]

Loki reduces favor cost by 10%.

Specific[]

  • Wrath of the Deep Wrath of the Deep (Njord): Upgrades Krakens to Trench Krakens, increasing hit points by 25%.

Strategy[]

Being the only naval myth unit with an instant kill attack, the Kraken is a very valuable addition to the Norse navy. Like most naval myth units, they train from the dock quickly so they can instantly turn the tides in naval warfare. Their large amount of hit points, speed and armor makes killing them a difficult task. The best way to kill them would be with heroes, assuming they can reach the Kraken, or other naval myth units who are immune to its special attack, including Nereids and groups of Azure Dragons. Aerial units like the Nidhogg, Phoenix, and Vermilion Bird are also great at killing Krakens, as are the two myth units with ranged instant-kill attacks: the Mummy and Medusa. Krakens deal decent damage but have a very slow attack speed, striking about every 4 seconds. They also cost a lot of food, favor and population, deal no bonus damage versus other myth units, and killing one will mean a devastating loss for a naval army.

Kraken (Special)[]

This variant of Kraken is exclusive to the Fall of the Trident campaign and only appears in Omens, its first scenario. It only differs from the Kraken in two ways: it doesn't have the key task after its name in the screen description and can also enter buildings and Transport Ships. While the first thing is probably made for differing them from regular Krakens (special ones are used in that level by Egyptian pirates), being capable to entering buildings and ships is probably there to transport them in the Pirate Ships of that level or was initially meant to do this.

Special Krakens are not normally playable. In the campaign, they only appear in the Omens scenario, only as enemies, and must be killed to win. In standard games, they are not trainable by any civilization. There is also no building or other way to spawn them. The only way to play them is spawning them in the editor maps, where their unit is available and differs from normal Krakens by being called (only in the unit editor) "Kraken - Special". If a spawned special Kraken is killed, it can't be trained again without triggers.

If a Special Kraken gains the Wrath of the Deep upgrade, their skin and their stats will turn to the Trench Kraken one, but their name will not change to "Trench Kraken". Also, their exclusive features will be kept the same, still without the key task after the name in the description and still being able to enter buildings and Transport Ships. This can obviously only be done in custom maps, by spawning Special Krakens and researching that upgrade.

Mythology[]

Scientific Name – Psychroteuthis pelagii
Size – 60,000+ thousand lbs
Diet – deep-sea fish and crustaceans

A creature from the sea so large that on the surface it was mistaken for a chain of islands, the Kraken is found in Norse mythology. Seamen were often lost when they camped on what they thought was an island, only to be drowned when swam back to the bottom of the sea. It had large tentacles and suckers with which it could seize large ships and drag them down. The Norse believed that the Kraken would rise to the surface during Ragnarok.

Trivia[]

  • Even though Krakens are naval myth units, they have also an ability which strikes ground units. This is uncommon for a naval unit.
  • The Kraken is the first Myth unit fought by the player in the campaign, excluding the Cyclops in the Tutorial.
  • Before the Extended Edition, Krakens could use their ability to sink Leviathans, as they were boats, though there is no animation when a Kraken uses the ability on a Leviathan. In the Extended Edition this no longer works.
  • The special abilities of Krakens are based on the classic Kraken appearance in mythology: a giant octopus which sinks a ship using the grip of tentacles and throws humans with them.
  • In the editor, there is an environment object called "Kraken bits", which are some remnants of Krakens like tentacles and heads. They do not seem to appear in any campaign scenarios.

Gallery[]

Myth units in Age of Mythology
GreekPortrait Greeks
ArchaicAge Archaic Age PegasusIcon Pegasus · HippocampusIcon Hippocampus
ClassicalAge Classical Age CentaurIcon Centaur · MinotaurIcon Minotaur · CyclopsIcon Cyclops
HeroicAge Heroic Age NemeanLionIcon Nemean Lion · HydraIcon Hydra · ScyllaIcon Scylla · ManticoreIcon Manticore
MythicAge Mythic Age ColossusIcon Colossus · MedusaIcon Medusa · CarcinosIcon Carcinos · ChimeraIcon Chimera
SecretsOfTheTitans Titan Age TitanGreekIcon Titan
EgyptianPortrait Egyptians
ArchaicAge Archaic Age BaboonIcon Ape of Set
ClassicalAge Classical Age AnubiteIcon Anubite · PlagueOfSerpentsIcon Serpent · PlagueOfSerpentsIcon Sea Snake · SphinxIcon Sphinx · WadjetIcon Wadjet · GazelleIcon Gazelle of Set · HyenaIcon Hyena of Set
HeroicAge Heroic Age PetsuchosIcon Petsuchos · RocIcon Roc · ScarabIcon Scarab · LeviathanIcon Leviathan · ScorpionManIcon Scorpion Man · MinionIcon Minion · GiraffeIcon Giraffe of Set · CrocodileIcon Crocodile of Set
MythicAge Mythic Age PhoenixIcon Phoenix · WarTurtleIcon War Turtle · AvengerIcon Avenger · MummyIcon Mummy · HippopotamusIcon Hippopotamus of Set · RhinocerosIcon Rhinoceros of Set
SecretsOfTheTitans Titan Age TitanEgyptianIcon Titan
NorsePortrait Norse
ArchaicAge Archaic Age RavenIcon Raven
ClassicalAge Classical Age TrollIcon Troll · ValkyrieIcon Valkyrie · EinherjarIcon Einherjar
HeroicAge Heroic Age KrakenIcon Kraken · MountainGiantIcon Mountain Giant · WalkingWoodsIcon Walking Tree · FrostGiantIcon Frost Giant · BattleBoarIcon Battle Boar
MythicAge Mythic Age JormundElverIcon Jormund Elver · FimbulwinterWolfIcon Fimbulwinter Wolf · FenrisWolfBroodIcon Fenris Wolf Brood · FireGiantIcon Fire Giant · NidhoggIcon Nidhogg
SecretsOfTheTitans Titan Age TitanNorseIcon Titan
AtlanteanPortrait Atlanteans
ClassicalAge Classical Age AutomatonIcon Automaton · PrometheanIcon Promethean (Offspring· CaladriaIcon Caladria · ServantIcon Servant · CarnivoraIcon Carnivora
HeroicAge Heroic Age NereidIcon Nereid · SatyrIcon Satyr · StymphaliaBirdIcon Stymphalian Bird · DryadIcon Dryad · BehemothIcon Behemoth
MythicAge Mythic Age HekaGigantesIcon Heka Gigantes · ManOWarIcon Man O' War · ArgusIcon Argus · LampadesIcon Lampades · TartarianSpawnIcon Tartarian Spawn
SecretsOfTheTitans Titan Age TitanAtlanteanIcon Titan
ChinesePortrait Chinese
ClassicalAge Classical Age QilinIcon Qilin · MonkeyKingIcon Monkey King · TerracottaWarriorIcon Terracotta Warrior
HeroicAge Heroic Age WarSalamanderIcon War Salamander · JiangshiIcon Jiangshi · PixiuIcon Pixiu
MythicAge Mythic Age AzureDragonIcon Azure Dragon · DragonTurtleIcon Dragon Turtle · VermilionBirdIcon Vermilion Bird · WhiteTigerIcon White Tiger · EarthDragonIcon Earth Dragon
SecretsOfTheTitans Titan Age TitanChineseIcon Titan
Other
Campaign Special-c-azure-dragon-icon Ao Kuang · Titan Gaia Icon Gaia · Titan Kronos Icon Kronos · PolarBearIcon Polaris · Titan Prometheus Icon Prometheus · AnubiteIcon Theris*
Cheat Bella icon Bella · WalkingWoodsIcon Walking Berry Bush
Scenario Editor-exclusive AoM Vulture Icon Harpy · MountainGiantIcon Santa · AoM Vulture Icon Vulture
Cut ApepIcon Apep · MinotaurIcon Golem · Griffon Icon Griffon · CyclopsIcon Trollkarien
Units in Age of Mythology
Common
Non-military Fishingshipgreekicon Fishing Ship · Transportgreekicon Transport Ship · DonkeyCaravan Caravan (Donkey · Camel · Ox · Llama · Yak)
Myth units TitanGreekIconTitanEgyptianIconTitanNorseIconTitanAtlanteanIconTitanChineseIcon Titan
GreekPortrait Greeks
Non-military AoM Villager Greek Icon Villager · Kataskoposicon Kataskopos
Infantry Hopliteiconaom Hoplite · Hypaspisticon Hypaspist · MyrmidonIcon Myrmidon (Zeus· MilitiaIcon Militia (Poseidon)
Archer Toxotesicon Toxotes · Aompeltasticon Peltast · GastraphetesIcon Gastraphetes (Hades)
Cavalry AoMHippikonIcon Hippikon · AoMProdromosIcon Prodromos · HetairoiIcon Hetairoi (Poseidon)
Siege AoMCatapultIcon Petrobolos · Helepolisicon Helepolis
Ships Triremeicon Trireme · Pentekontericon Pentekonter · Juggernauticon Juggernaut
Heroes JasonIcon Jason · TheseusIcon Theseus · AjaxIcon Ajax · OdysseusIcon Odysseus · HippolytaIcon Hippolyta · ChironIcon Chiron · PhysicianIcon Hippocrates · HeraclesIcon Heracles · AtalantaIcon Atalanta · AchillesIcon Achilles · BellephoronIcon Bellerophon · PolyphemusIcon Polyphemus · TheArgoIcon The Argo · PerseusIcon Perseus
Myth units PegasusIcon Pegasus · HippocampusIcon Hippocampus · CentaurIcon Centaur · MinotaurIcon Minotaur · CyclopsIcon Cyclops · NemeanLionIcon Nemean Lion · HydraIcon Hydra · ScyllaIcon Scylla · ManticoreIcon Manticore · ColossusIcon Colossus · MedusaIcon Medusa · CarcinosIcon Carcinos · ChimeraIcon Chimera
Other ShadeIcon Hades Shade
EgyptianPortrait Egyptians
Non-military Aomlaborericon Laborer
Infantry Aomspearmanicon Spearman · Aomaxemanicon Axeman · Aommercicon Mercenary · Khopesh Swordsman Icon Khopesh Swordsman
Archer Aomslingericon Slinger · AoMChariotArcherIcon Chariot Archer
Cavalry AoMCamelryIcon Camelry · Aomwarelephanticon War Elephant · AoMMercenaryCavalryIcon Mercenary Cavalry
Siege AoMCatapultIcon Catapult · Aomsiegetowericon Siege Tower
Ships Kebeniticon Kebenit · Ramminggalleyicon Ramming Galley · Warbargeicon War Barge
Heroes Pharaoh Icon Pharaoh · AoM Priest Icon Priest · SonOfOsirisIcon Son of Osiris
Myth units AnubiteIcon Anubite · PlagueOfSerpentsIcon Serpent / PlagueOfSerpentsIcon Sea Snake · SphinxIcon Sphinx · WadjetIcon Wadjet · PetsuchosIcon Petsuchos · RocIcon Roc · ScarabIcon Scarab · LeviathanIcon Leviathan · ScorpionManIcon Scorpion Man · MinionIcon Minion · PhoenixIcon Phoenix · WarTurtleIcon War Turtle · AvengerIcon Avenger · MummyIcon Mummy
NorsePortrait Norse
Non-military Gatherericon Gatherer · Dwarficon Dwarf · Ox cart Ox Cart
Infantry Ulfsarkicon Ulfsark · Aomthrowingaxemenicon Throwing Axeman · Aomhuskarlicon Huskarl
Archer Bogsveigir icon Bogsveigir
Cavalry AoMRaidingCavalryIcon Raiding Cavalry · Jarlicon Jarl
Siege Portableramicon Portable Ram · Ballistaicon Ballista
Ships Longboaticon Longboat · Drakkaricon Drakkar · AoMDragonshipIcon Dragon Ship
Heroes Hersiricon Hersir · Hero of Ragnarok Icon Hero of Ragnarok
Myth units RavenIcon Raven · TrollIcon Troll · ValkyrieIcon Valkyrie · EinherjarIcon Einherjar · Kraken-icon Kraken · MountainGiantIcon Mountain Giant · WalkingWoodsIcon Walking Tree · Frostgiant-icon Frost Giant · BattleBoarIcon Battle Boar · JormundElverIcon Jormund Elver · FimbulwinterIcon Fimbulwinter Wolf · FenrisWolfBroodIcon Fenris Wolf Brood · FireGiantIcon Fire Giant · NidhoggIcon Nidhogg
AtlanteanPortrait Atlanteans
Non-military Citizen icon Citizen · Oracleicon Oracle
Infantry Murmilloicon Murmillo · Katapeltesicon Katapeltes · Destroyer icon Destroyer · Fanatic icon Fanatic
Archer Arcus icon Arcus · Turmaicon Turma
Cavalry Contarius icon Contarius
Siege Cheiroballistaicon Cheiroballista · Firesiphonicon Fire Siphon · Atlantean Onager Icon Onager
Ships AoMBiremeIcon Bireme · Atlanteanfireshipicon Fireship · Siegebiremeicon Siege Bireme
Myth units AutomatonIcon Automaton · PrometheanIcon Promethean (PrometheanIcon Offspring· CaladriaIcon Caladria · ServantIcon Servant · CarnivoraIcon Carnivora · NereidIcon Nereid · SatyrIcon Satyr · StymphaliaBirdIcon Stymphalian Bird · DryadIcon Dryad · BehemothIcon Behemoth · HekaGigantesIcon Heka Gigantes · ManOWarIcon Man O' War · ArgusIcon Argus · Lampades Lampades · TartarianSpawnIcon Tartarian Spawn
ChinesePortrait Chinese
Non-military PeasantIcon Peasant
Infantry Chinese Halberdier Icon Halberdier
Archer Chu Ko Nu Icon Chu Ko Nu · Mounted Archer Icon Mounted Archer
Cavalry CataphractIcon Cataphract · General Icon General · Scout Cavalry Icon Scout Cavalry · War Chariot Icon War Chariot
Siege Fire Lance Icon Fire Lance · Sitting Tiger Icon Sitting Tiger
Ships Junk Icon Junk · Fire Ship Chinese Icon Fire Ship · Siege Junk Icon Siege Junk
Heroes AoM Monk Icon Monk · Immortal Icon Immortal
Myth units QilinIcon Qilin · MonkeyKingIcon Monkey King · TotDTerracottaWarriorIcon Terracotta Warrior · WarSalamanderIcon War Salamander · Special-c-jiangshi-icon Jiangshi · Special-c-pixiu-icon Pixiu · Special-c-azure-dragon-icon Azure Dragon · Special-c-dragon-turtle-icon Dragon Turtle · Special-c-vermilion-bird-icon Vermilion Bird · TotDWhiteTigerIcon White Tiger · Special-c-earth-dragon-icon Earth Dragon
Other (non-campaign exclusive)
Cheat units Bella icon Bella · Hippo icon Flying Purple Hippo · Aomaxemanicon Forkboy · BrownBear icon Lazer Bear · ChickenIcon Methane Chicken · WalkingWoodsIcon Walking Berry Bush
Animals Hour of Alpacas Alfred · Wolf icon Arctic Wolf · Aurochs icon Aurochs · Baboon icon Baboon · Boar icon Boar · BrownBear icon Brown Bear · Caribou Caribou · ChickenIcon Chicken · CowAOM Cow · Crocodile icon Crocodile · Crane icon Crowned Crane · Deer icon Deer · DuckAoM icon Duck · AoM Hawk Icon Bird: Eagle, Hawk, Parrot, and Vulture · ElephantAOMicon (Indian) Elephant · Elk icon Elk · GazelleAOMicon Gazelle · LionAOMicon Golden Lion · Giraffe icon Giraffe · GoatAOM Goat · AoM Vulture Icon Harpy · Hippo icon Hippopotamus · Hyena icon Hyena · LionAOMicon Lion · LizardAoM icon Lizard · Monkey icon Monkey · PandaAoM icon Panda Bear · Pig icon Pig · PolarBearIcon Polar Bear · RamAoM icon Ram · Monkey icon Relic Monkey · Rhinoceros icon Rhinoceros · ShadeIcon Shade (RM) · Ulfsarkicon Skraeling · TigerAoM icon Tiger · Walrus icon Walrus · WaterBuffalo Water Buffalo · Wolf icon Wolf · YakiconAoM Yak · Zebra icon Zebra
Scenario Editor AchillesIcon Cataphract · Wolf icon Dog · AoM Vulture Icon Harpy · Triremeicon Monkey Raft · FenrisWolfBroodIcon Ornlu · Krios icon Regent · Transportegypticon Raft · Elk icon Reindeer · MountainGiantIcon Santa · Immortal Icon Servant Chinese · AoM Vulture Icon Vulture
Cut content GreekPortrait Greeks: Oxybeles
EgyptianPortrait Egyptians: Chariot · Gaiassa
NorsePortrait Norse: Heavy Cavalry · AlVsEb1 Hirdman · Knarr · Light Cavalry
ChinesePortrait Chinese: Guandao Pikeman · Meteor Hammer · Rocket Artillery
Nature: Unicorn · Wild Camel · Nubian Goats · Wild Horse · Shore Fish · Anchovies · Musk Ox
Hidden ApepIcon Apep · Bondi Icon Bondi · MinotaurIcon Golem · Griffon Icon Griffon · Revealer · CyclopsIcon Trollkarien · Living Statue William Walrus
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