Ever dreamed of witnessing Joan of Arc commanding Roman Centurions into battle, or Hannibal Barca deploying Japanese Samurai to conquer Rome? With the latest update to Age of Empires Mobile, your dreams can become reality through the innovative Mercenary Troops system.
Unlocking at level 26, this new system introduces the Mercenary Camp, a structure that enables you to contract and recruit powerful units typically unavailable to your chosen faction. Not only can you enlist these mercenaries, but you can also unlock and upgrade technology to enhance their combat prowess. Plus, you can claim your first mercenaries for free through an exciting new event that's currently live.
The lineup of Mercenary units includes 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 specialized tech that can amplify their already impressive battlefield capabilities.

The Mercenary Troops system evokes memories of the Total War series, particularly the thrill of overwhelming foes with a horde of hired swords in games like Rome: Total War and Medieval II. However, this feature might polarize players, as some might view it as a disruption to the game's balance. Only time will tell how it's received by the community. There's even speculation about future additions like historical units such as the Landsknechts.
For those eager to dive into the world of Age of Empires Mobile, our comprehensive guides can help you get started. Check out our tier list of all Age of Empires Mobile heroes, ranked by their power levels, to discover which heroes are worth unlocking and which ones you might want to pass on.