Exploring Arena of Gods in Age of Mythology: Retold

Age of Mythology: Retold showcases an epic campaign that captures the essence of the game. The adventures of Arkantos, the allies he recruits, the formidable foes he encounters, and the formidable gods that back them all contribute to making this strategy game truly memorable.

If you loved the campaign, you must check out the Arena of Gods mode. This mode offers a fresh take with its distinctive mechanics and engaging gameplay, all woven together with a captivating narrative. Even though Arkantos isn’t the lead character here, you will be commanding someone very close to him. This guide collects everything you’ll need to know before jumping into Arena of Gods!

Understanding Arena of Gods

Arena of Gods is one of the playable modes in Age of Mythology: Retold. It starts with a narrative flair reminiscent of the Campaign. In this mode, you take control of Kastor, the son of the campaign’s hero, Arkantos. Working alongside Gaia, Kastor seeks to thwart Kronos.

In this mode, players will encounter various levels, with the first four serving as tutorials designed to help you grasp the game mechanics. Subsequent levels have interconnections, indicated by the lines connecting circular level icons.

These levels are marked as A and B, but you aren’t restricted to choosing just one. If you complete Level A, you can also attempt Level B afterward. Early on, the Gaia AI will assist you, but in later levels, you’ll need to face one or more challengers alone.

Furthermore, after selecting a level, you have the option to use the ‘Invite Player’ button to invite a friend to join you in Arena of Gods. Each level comes with three difficulty settings: Standard, Hard, and Extreme.

In Arena of Gods, you don’t select a main god. Instead, you must use the god assigned to you. In the early levels, you’ll primarily play as Gaia, while later on, you can expect to command different gods.

Map Features

Unlike typical matches, the maps in Arena of Gods contain special features, such as frozen units scattered throughout. These units can be unlocked by your character, Kastor. To liberate them, simply move Kastor next to them.

However, you cannot immediately add these units to your roster because certain requirements must be met—like advancing to the third age, demolishing ten enemy structures, or collecting 1,000 gold.

Once you meet the criteria to free the frozen units, you will be notified on-screen, with their locations highlighted on the map.

What Are World Twisters?

World Twisters are unique events specific to Arena of Gods. These events influence you, your allies, and your adversaries. Each level features one World Twister, and adjusting your strategy to accommodate these events can greatly benefit you; ignoring them may lead to disadvantages.

For instance, a World Twist named ‘Freyja’s Second Ride’ generates infantry units after cavalry units perish, but increases the cost of cavalry. Before entering a level, you can view the World Twisters in the upper corners of the screen. Another World Twist, ‘Gaia’s Remnants of Atlantis’, appears in every level and enables Kastor to free the frozen units.

Understanding Blessings

Upon completing a level, you will earn one or more Blessings as rewards. While most Blessings provide passive abilities, some are active powers that you must activate manually. You can check the Blessing reward for a level at the top center of the screen. Once you’ve chosen a level, you can allocate up to three Blessings to Kastor.

There are several types of Blessings:

• Simple: Provides a passive ability.
• Fine: Enhances a passive ability with the same name.
• Heroic: Further upgrades a Fine-tier passive ability with the same name.
• Eternal: These abilities don’t undergo upgrades. Some are active rather than passive and require manual activation.

Complete List of Blessings

Here’s the full list of Blessings you can find in the game: