The major gods are gods in Age of Mythology. They represent the different "factions" of each culture. Every civilization has three different major gods, counting for a total of 15 with both expansions. Before a game starts, the player must choose a major god. The choice of a major god determines the kind of god powers, minor gods, and special bonuses the culture will have access to.
In random map games, any AI player will have their major god decided by the game's creator. In the single-player campaign, major gods are assigned by the scenario.
Major gods
Each culture's selection of major gods generally features a sort of "head god" of the culture's pantheon (Zeus, Ra, Odin), an "evil" or opposing character (Hades, Set, Loki) and a third, popular god (Poseidon, Isis, Thor). The Atlantean pantheon is slightly more complicated, since Kronos is portrayed in the game both as the leader of the Titans and as a renegade, power-hungry figure. Gaia in the other hand, is portrayed as a "good" character and therefore opposed to the rest of the Titans. The Chinese likewise do not fit in this scheme, as none of the three gods is portrayed as malignant.
Greeks[]
The Greek major gods are Zeus, the leader of Olympian gods and the god of thunder, Poseidon, the god of horses and the sea, and Hades, the ruler of the Underworld. Zeus focuses on infantry, heroes, and favor generation, while Poseidon boosts cavalry and water operations, and Hades watches over archers, gold and town defenses.
Zeus[]
Zeus
General[]
Bonuses
- Favor limit increased from 100 to 200
- Villagers generate favor at Temples 37.5% faster
- Starts with 15 favor
- Hoplites move 12% faster
- Infantry units deal twice as much damage to buildings
Myrmidon (elite infantry unit which is strong against most Egyptian and Norse units, but weak against archers and other Greek units)
Unique technology
Olympic Parentage (Heroes receive extra HP)
God power
- Bolt (a lightning bolt that kills a single enemy unit)
Minor gods[]
Heroes[]
Classical Age
Heroic Age
Mythic Age
Poseidon[]
Poseidon
General[]
Bonuses
- Gains a Hippocampus (free naval scout that respawns if killed) at the Dock when a Temple is built
- Gains Militia (weak melee units) if buildings are destroyed by the enemy
- Using a Market costs only 10% instead of 30%
- Cavalry units cost 10% less to train
- Stables cost 25% less to build
- Special naval hero, The Argo, can be recruited at the Dock
Unique units
- Hetairoi (special cavalry unit that is strong against buildings, archers and siege weapons)
Unique technology
- Lord of Horses (cavalry units have +4 on Line of Sight)
God power
- Lure (a mysterious stone that attracts wild animals around it for Villagers to hunt)
Minor gods[]
Heroes[]
Classical Age
Heroic Age
Mythic Age
- Polyphemus
- The Argo (naval hero)
Hades[]
Hades
General[]
Bonuses
- 20% chance that a fallen soldier will return as a Shade (undead melee fighter) at the Temple
- Buildings have 25% more hit points and 20% higher attack
- Archers have 10% higher attack
Unique units
- Gastraphetes (archer unit that is strong against buildings and infantry)
Unique technology
- Vaults of Erebus (gives a slow, steady flow of gold)
God power
- Sentinels (places four archer statues on a selected Town Center to defend it with a ranged attack)
Minor gods[]
Heroes[]
Classical Age
Heroic Age
Mythic Age
Egyptians[]
The Egyptian major gods are Ra, the god of sun, Isis, the mother god of protection, and Set, the god of desert and chaos. Ra's specialty lies in Priests and empowering. Isis focuses on technology and protection. Set's field of interests include using wild animals as allies and speed.
Ra[]
Ra
General[]
Bonuses
- Priests can also empower buildings, but at a rate of 15% instead of 20%
- Pharaohs empower at a rate of 25% instead of 20%
- Camelry and Chariot Archers have 12% (22% in The Titans) more health and move 10% faster
- Monuments cost 25% less and have 20% more health
Unique technology
- Skin of the Rhino (Laborers have 30% higher armor and 10% higher attack)
God power
- Rain (increases the effectiveness of Farms and Fishing Ships for a short amount of time)
Minor gods[]
Heroes[]
- Pharaoh
- Priest
- Secondary Pharaoh (with the New Kingdom from Osiris researched)
- Son of Osiris (through the god power from Osiris)
Isis[]
Isis
General[]
Bonuses
- Monuments create a protective shield against god powers
- All technologies cost 10% less food, wood, and gold
- Town Centers give additional +3 to population cap
- Priests summon Obelisks 60% faster and they cost 33% less
Unique technology
- Flood of the Nile (produces a slow trickle of food)
God power
- Prosperity (temporarily doubles the gold gathering rate)
Minor gods[]
Heroes[]
- Pharaoh
- Priest
- Secondary Pharaoh (with the New Kingdom from Osiris researched)
- Son of Osiris (through the god power from Osiris)
Set[]
Set
General[]
Bonuses
- Priests can convert wild animals to fight for the player
- Pharaoh can summon wild animals at a cost
- A group of loyal animals will appear at the Temple each time the player advances to the next Age
- Migdol Strongholds cost 25% less
- Slingers and Chariot Archers are trained 20% faster
- Slingers have 10% more health and 10% higher hack armor
Unique technology
- Feral (converted animals have more health, armor, and attack)
God power
- Vision (reveals a large area of map for 10 seconds)
Minor gods[]
Heroes[]
Norse[]
The Norse major gods are Odin, the king of the gods and god of war, Thor, the god of thunder, and Loki, the trickster god. Odin focuses on warriors and hunters, while Thor specializes in Dwarves and smithing and Loki on speed and mobility.
Odin[]
Odin
General[]
Bonuses
- Hunters gather food 10% faster (note that this feature exists only from version 1.02 onwards)
- Gains two Raven scouts when advancing to the Classical Age that respawn when they are killed
- Human soldiers slowly regenerate health
- Huskarls, Ballistae, and Portable Rams have 20% more hit points
- Jarls have 10% more hit points
Unique technology
- Lone Wanderer (Ulfsarks move 10% faster)
God power
- Great Hunt (multiplies targeted wild animals)
Minor gods[]
Heroes[]
- Hersir
- Hero of Ragnarok (through the god power from Baldr)
Thor[]
Thor
General[]
Bonuses
- Starts with two Dwarves instead of two Gatherers
- Dwarves cost less gold and gather food and wood faster than regular Dwarves
- Armory replaced by Dwarven Foundry, which is available early on and has unique upgrades
- Armor and weapon upgrades cost less
Unique technology
- Pig Sticker (Gatherers do more damage against wild animals and hunt faster)
God power
- Dwarven Mine (spawns a special gold mine)
Minor gods[]
Heroes[]
- Hersir
- Hero of Ragnarok (through the god power from Baldr)
Loki[]
Loki
General[]
Bonuses
- Hersirs may summon myth units during battle
- Hersirs move 10% faster
- Myth units cost 10% less favor to create
- Longhouse units train 10% faster
- Ox Carts move 50% faster and cost 50% less, but have 25% lower health
Unique technology
- Eyes in the Forest (infantry have +3 on Line of Sight)
God power
- Spy (grants the Line of Sight of a targeted enemy unit)
Minor gods[]
Heroes[]
Atlanteans[]
The Atlanteans, available in The Titans, worship Titans which function as the Atlantean gods. The Atlantean major gods are Kronos, the god of time, Gaia, Mother Nature, and Oranos, the god of sky.
Kronos[]
Kronos
General[]
Bonuses
- Can timeshift buildings anywhere on the map within Line of Sight
- Siege weapons and myth units are cheaper
Unique technology
God power
- Deconstruction (deconstructs an enemy building)
Minor gods[]
Heroes[]
- Can convert any units into heroes
Gaia[]
Gaia
General[]
Bonuses
- All buildings create special Lush terrain around them that prevents enemies from building on it
- Buildings slowly regenerate hit points
- Fishing Ships and Caravans are cheaper and more durable
- Economic researches are cheaper
Unique technology
God power
- Gaia Forest (creates a magical forest out of nowhere)
Minor gods[]
Heroes[]
- Can convert any units into heroes
Oranos[]
Oranos
General[]
Bonuses
- Can build Sky Passages for instant transportation across the map
- Shares visibility to all settlements with allies
- Human military units move faster
Unique technology
- Safe Passage (Sky Passages are cheaper, have more Line of Sight and receive a ranged attack)
God power
- Shockwave (stuns enemy units for a short period of time)
Minor gods[]
Heroes[]
- Can convert any units into heroes
Chinese[]
The Chinese major gods are Fu Xi, the Heavenly Sovereign, Nü Wa, the Earthly Sovereign, and Shennong, the Human Sovereign. They are available in Tale of the Dragon.
Fu Xi[]
Fu Xi
General[]
Bonuses
- Can use Blessed Construction to speed up building construction
- Buildings cost 20% less wood
- All eight Immortals can be trained from the Archaic Age
- Unit line upgrades 20% cheaper
Unique technology
- Domestication (increases Peasant gather rate for herdables, Berry Bushes, Chickens, and Ducks)
God power
- Year of the Goat (spawns a herd of Goats at a selected location; spawns more Goats if used in later Ages)
Minor gods[]
Heroes[]
Nü Wa[]
Nü Wa
General[]
Bonuses
- Gardens generate favor faster and provide +1 population
- All human units are 10% cheaper
- Markets can be built in the Classical Age
Unique technology
- Acupuncture (Peasants regenerate)
God power
- Recreation (revives fallen Workers)
Minor gods[]
Heroes[]
Shennong[]
Shennong
General[]
Bonuses
- Monks can convert myth unit and heal faster
- Siege weapons deal more damage
- Wall upgrades are cheaper
Unique technology
- Wheelbarrow (Peasants carry more resources)
God power
- Timber Harvest (Peasants gather wood twice as fast for a short amount of time)
