Overview
The Japanese are sophisticated in the ways of warfare, culminating in their Bushidō system. As they hone their skills through battle, they unlock human solider upgrades for free and at earlier times than other cultures. Alongside this, their chosen God grants an increasingly powerful bonus for each tier of Bushidō achieved.
At the heart of Japan’s might lies the Dojo, a building which specializes in training elite infantry. These units have powerful abilities to rival those of Myth Units and are especially adept at earning Bushidō for their clan. Dojo units benefit from one final upgrade beyond Champion, unlocked only through Bushidō, allowing them to out-class their rivals at later stages of battle.
A diverse roster of units is available, including a different hero from each human production building. This flexibility provides options when dealing with troublesome Kami, be it Bushi archers who stave off flying threats or brave Onna-musha who dispatch demons at close-quarters.
All the while, this deadliness is tempered with a deep appreciation of the natural world. Miko priestesses tend to peaceful Shrines, sanctuaries that earn Favor faster the more resources they are near.
Major Gods
Amaterasu
Goddess of the Sun
Focus: Economy and Samurai
God Power – Solar Shield: Target a unit to make it temporarily nearly invulnerable.
Tsukuyomi
God of the Moon
Focus: Technology, Shinobi, and Cavalry.
God Power – New Moon: Target a building to obtain all currently available technologies there for free and cause military units to train faster for a short duration.
Susanoo
God of Chaos and Storms
Focus: Myth Units and God Powers
God Power- Kusanagi: Target a location for Susanoo to cast down his sword, Kusanagi. The sword damages nearby enemies and summons a riptide that blasts them skyward.
Amaterasu
Goddess of the Sun
Focus: Economy and Samurai
God Power – Solar Shield: Target a unit to make it temporarily nearly invulnerable.
Tsukuyomi
God of the Moon
Focus: Technology, Shinobi, and Cavalry.
God Power – New Moon: Target a building to obtain all currently available technologies there for free and cause military units to train faster for a short duration.
Susanoo
God of Chaos and Storms
Focus: Myth Units and God Powers
God Power- Kusanagi: Target a location for Susanoo to cast down his sword, Kusanagi. The sword damages nearby enemies and summons a riptide that blasts them skyward.
Minor Gods Spotlight
Ame-no-Uzume
Goddess of Dawn and the Arts
Focus: Miko and Infantry
Myth Unit: Kamaitachi
God Power: Goshinboku
Target a location to summon a Goshinboku tree. The tree’s blessing resurrects the owner’s myth units as they fall in combat
Fujin
God of the Wind
Focus: Cavalry and Myth Units
Myth Unit: Oni
God Power: Smiting Gust
Target a direction in which to unleash an immense gust of wind, blasting military units across the map.
Takemikazuchi
God of Swords and Conquest
Focus: Samurai and infantry
Myth Unit: Asura
God Power: Divine Slash
Target a path of destruction. Takemikazuchi will cleave the earth with a colossal katana slash, inflicting massive damage to units and stunning any survivors.
Ame-no-Uzume
Goddess of Dawn and the Arts
Focus: Miko and Infantry
Myth Unit: Kamaitachi
God Power: Goshinboku
Target a location to summon a Goshinboku tree. The tree’s blessing resurrects the owner’s myth units as they fall in combat
Fujin
God of the Wind
Focus: Cavalry and Myth Units
Myth Unit: Oni
God Power: Smiting Gust
Target a direction in which to unleash an immense gust of wind, blasting military units across the map.
Takemikazuchi
God of Swords and Conquest
Focus: Samurai and infantry
Myth Unit: Asura
God Power: Divine Slash
Target a path of destruction. Takemikazuchi will cleave the earth with a colossal katana slash, inflicting massive damage to units and stunning any survivors.
Myth Unit Spotlight
Jorogumo
The Jorogumo is a yōkai that is a spider-human hybrid: sometimes she appears as a beautiful woman, and sometimes she can transform into a spider. Jorogumos can command webs and smaller spiders to do their bidding. They typically appear in Japanese mythology as temptress figures: one such example is the Jorogumo who was mistress of the Jōren Falls of Izu. Legends about her tell of a beautiful woman that would try to ensnare men with webs at Jōren Falls and drag them to their doom.
- A spider-woman hybrid with piercing limbs
- Good against human soldiers
Oni
Onis are gigantic, demonic, ogre-like beasts with red skin and horns. They are typically depicted wearing tiger-print loincloths, symbolizing their wild nature. In their clawed hands, Onis often wield a tetsubō – a heavy, spiked club – which they use to batter and punish sinners sent to hell. Onis are not confined to hell; they are also believed to inhabit the earth. However, they can be banished from earth on the second day of the second month during Setsubun, a traditional Japanese festival. This day features a ritual called mamemaki, in which people throw beans to ward off Onis and bad luck.
- Can enter a rampaging berserk state
- Good against buildings and decent against human soldiers
Human Unit Spotlight
Samurai
Perhaps the most iconic military figures in Japanese history, the samurai were a powerful warrior class in feudal Japan. Governed by a strict code of honor – bushidō, or “the way of the warrior” – these elite fighters aspired to live disciplined, moral lives. The samurai first emerged during the Heian period but rose to prominence in the 12th century, as political power shifted away from the emperor and toward powerful regional clans.\n\nAmong the many legendary samurai, the most famous is likely Miyamoto Musashi, who lived during the late 16th and early 17th centuries. Renowned for his unmatched swordsmanship, Musashi famously dueled his rival Sasaki Kojirō in 1612, defeating him with a wooden sword he had made from an oar.
- Good against whatever it can reach
Shinobi
Shinobi no mono, or “those who sneak,” were Japanese spies who emerged during the Sengoku Period. More commonly known as ninja in popular culture, shinobi were masters of concealment and deception. They would disguise themselves to gather intelligence, taking on the appearance of anything from a common villager to a komusō (a wandering flute-playing monk), or even something as unexpected as a pile of firewood. Although espionage was typically their primary role, shinobi also served as ruthless assassins. Operating under the cover of night and clad in dark clothing, they were tasked with eliminating the political enemies of those they served. In combat, they often wielded a katana, the iconic single-edged, two-handed sword, but are also famed for improvised weapons and projectiles such as the kusarigama and shuriken.
- Good against ranged soldiers and buildings
Wonder Age
Japanese Unique Building
Each pantheon in Age of Mythology: Retold has the ability to construct one unique building, it’s Wonder of the World. Wonders are expensive and take a long time to build but mark a pantheon as one of outstanding achievement. Building a Wonder counts significant points towards your pantheon’s score, and may result in a win, depending on the victory conditions for a game.
Constructing a Wonder advances the pantheon to the Wonder Age, where the Gods will reward you with great world ending power:
- Increased Favor generation.
- Cheaper God Powers and faster Cooldowns.
- Increased Myth Unit and Titan Attack Damage and Hitpoints.
- Increased Myth Units and Titans Speed.
- Titan Gate: Can be rebuilt multiple times.