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This article is about the unit in Age of Mythology. For the unit in Age of Empires, see Medusa (Age of Empires). For the unit in Age of Empires: Mythologies, see Medusa (Age of Empires: Mythologies).

Ranged myth unit that petrifies most units at range. Good against human soldiers.
—In-game description

Myth unit. Petrifies most units at range.
—In-game description

The Medusa (plural: Medusai) is a Mythic Age Greek myth unit, trainable by players worshiping the minor god Hera.

Ability[]

  • Petrification (Charged): Turns human units or myth units (but not Titans, Qilin (Tale of the Dragon version), wild animals, and Animals of Set*) at range of 16 to stone for 8 seconds and deals ​400 Divine Attack divine damage. Units turned into stone are stunned and have -30% hack, -30% pierce, and +30% crush vulnerability. Does not affect flying units. Recharge time: 20 seconds.*
  • Solar Flare (Passive, requires Sun Ray): Projectiles reveal the area around where they land. (since Retold)

Further statistics[]

God bonuses[]

General technologies[]

  • Ballistics: fires more accurately at moving enemy targets. (since Retold)
  • Burning Pitch: +3 damage multiplier against buildings.

Myth technologies[]

Specific[]

  • Face of the Gorgon: Upgrades Medusai to Medusa Matriarchs, granting +5 ability and ranged attack range, and -25% ability recharge time.*

General[]

Age bonuses[]

  • Wonder Age: +100% hit points, +100% damage, +20% speed.

Relics[]

Strategy[]

Medusai have a powerful ranged attack. Their special attack turns its target to stone, inflicting 400 damage regardless of resistances. The petrification effect wears off after eight seconds if the petrified unit survives. While a unit is petrified, it becomes immobile and is more vulnerable to crush damage, but less vulnerable to hack and pierce damage. This ability's effectiveness is maximized when used on the most powerful or expensive units, including strong or durable myth units like the Mummy or Rock Giant. Due to this, the Medusa is best micro-managed and supported by other units in combat, rather than being left to her own devices. This special attack does not work on heroes, wild animals, Animals of Set, or airborne units like the Phoenix, but can be used against naval myth units like the Kraken or Man O' War.

Medusa inflicts a low amount of crush damage, which makes her slightly effective at demolishing enemy buildings, but not as effective as in the original game. For this reason, it is best to create a small or medium group of Medusai, with siege weapons additionally acting as support, if they are to be used to destroy buildings. This is made easier with Zeus' bonus of making all his myth units take up one less population slot. As with other myth units, Medusai get a bonus attack against other myth units, but ultimately fall easily to heroes, who will slay them easily while also enjoying immunity to their Petrification ability.

As noted above, the Medusa can use her special attack against naval myth units, helping turn the tide in a naval battle close to the shore. Tougher myth units like the Kraken and War Turtle may hope to survive at least one petrification before eventually falling if petrified at full health. However, the Medusa should be protected against The Argo, which will easily kill her. Likewise, the Medusa can also use her special attack to protect fragile units (e.g. siege weapons) against powerful human soldiers like the Egyptian War Elephant.

Medusai have a powerful ranged attack. Their special attack turns one targeted enemy to stone. This ability is best used on the most powerful or expensive units. Due to this, the Medusa myth unit is best micro-managed in combat, rather than being left to her own devices. This special attack does not work against heroes, but can be used on animals - in the case of the latter, it is best used on animals that provide a lot of food, such as Elephants, to prevent enemies from hunting these animals for food, or Set Priests from converting these animals.

Though non-siege units with ranged attacks commonly tend not to be effective at destroying buildings, the crush damage dealt by Medusa's ranged attack makes her surprisingly effective. Like all myth units, the Medusa gets bonus damage against human units and can even take on other myth units, but are countered by heroes and airborne units, especially the Vermilion Bird and Phoenix, which the Medusa cannot turn to stone.

The Medusa can also be used near the water to protect friendly Docks and ships from powerful naval or amphibious myth units like the Dragon Turtle, Azure Dragon, or Kraken, as she can petrify naval myth units, instantly eliminating them. She should still be kept out of the range of The Argo, though, as it will easily defeat her.

Changelog[]

Age of Mythology[]

  • Medusai have 360 hit points, 10 range, ​15 Pierce Attackpierce / ​12.5 Crush Attackcrush attack, 18 Line of Sight, cost 250 gold, 40 favor, and take 5 population.
  • Petrify instantly kills its target and can be used on wild animals or Animals of Set. It also has a damage multiplier of ×8 vs. human soldiers, villagers, hunt, and myth units.

The Titans[]

  • Medusai cost 32 favor and have a damage multiplier of ×2 multiplier vs. myth units and ×0.25 vs heroes. Petrify now only grants a ×2 multiplier vs myth units and ×0.25 vs. heroes.

Extended Edition[]

Tale of the Dragon[]

Retold[]

  • Medusai have 500 hit points, 16 range, 16 Line of Sight, deal ​35 Pierce Attackpierce / ​5 Crush Attackcrush damage, cost 250 wood, 24 favor, and take 4 population.
  • Petrify deals ​400 Divine Attack divine damage and turns its target to stone, stunning them and giving -30% hack, -30% pierce, +30% crush vulnerability for 8 seconds. It can no longer be used on wild animals or Animals of Set.
  • Medusai gain +100% hit points, +100% attack, and +20% speed in the Wonder Age.

Mythology[]

Scientific name -- Gorgon chrysaorus
Size -- 7' tall
Diet -- carnivore, largely humans

Medusa was one of three sisters known as the Gorgons, children of sea gods with live sea snakes for hair, scaly necks, boar-like tusks, golden hands, and bronze wings. One tale is that Medusa was once a beautiful maid who boasted of being more beautiful than Athena, who turned her into a monster so ugly that those who gazed upon her were turned to stone. She was killed by Perseus, with the help of Athena and Hermes. From her blood was created the winged horse, Pegasus. Her head was used as a weapon to kill the sea monster Cetus and then the head was mounted on Athena's shield.
—In-game help section

Trivia[]

  • The icon and in-game appearance (including the "Petrifying Attack" animation) of the Medusa unit are based on the depiction of Medusa in the 1981 film "Clash of the Titans". The classical depiction of Medusa has been a woman with snake hair (and no lamia body).
  • Medusa is the name of a specific creature. A more accurate name for the generic monster would have been Gorgon, as mentioned in the mythology section.

Gallery[]

Video[]

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