Ever dreamed of witnessing Joan of Arc leading Roman Centurions into battle, or Hannibal Barca deploying Japanese Samurai to conquer Rome? With the latest update to Age of Empires Mobile, you can turn these dreams into reality thanks to the new Mercenary Troops system.
Once you reach level 26, you'll unlock the Mercenary Camp, a new structure that lets you hire and recruit powerful units typically exclusive to other factions. Not only can you enlist these warriors, but you can also unlock and upgrade technology to boost their combat effectiveness. Plus, you have the chance to secure your first mercenaries at no cost through a new event that's currently live.
The Mercenary Troops system introduces a variety of units to your arsenal, including Byzantine Cataphracts, Swiss Pikemen, Persian Immortals, Indian Battle Elephants, Roman Centurions, Egyptian Chariot Archers, Japanese Samurai, and Korean Archers. Each of these units comes with its own set of technologies that can further enhance their already impressive battlefield capabilities.

The new Mercenary Troops system evokes memories of Total War games, where I fondly recall overwhelming foes with mercenary forces in titles like Rome: Total War and Medieval II. However, this addition might stir mixed feelings among players, as it could potentially disrupt the game's balance. We'll have to see how it plays out now that players have access to these new units. Who knows? Maybe we'll even see historically-inspired custom units like the Landsknechts introduced in future updates. Only time will tell.
For those looking to dive into the game and need guidance on which heroes to unlock, be sure to check out our comprehensive guides for Age of Empires Mobile. Our tier list ranks all heroes by power, helping you determine who's worth your time and who might not make the cut.
