Best Army Builds for Age of Empires Mobile

Age of Empires Mobile offers a variety of troop types and heroes, allowing players to craft powerful armies whether they’re playing for free or spending a bit. This guide breaks down the best army builds for each troop type Swordsmen, Pikemen, Cavalry, and Archers covering both free-to-play and low-spender options. We’ll also explain key hero mechanics to help you maximize your army’s potential.

Understanding Hero Mechanics

Heroes are the backbone of your army in Age of Empires Mobile. Their power grows through leveling, ranking, gear, talents, and skills. Here’s a quick rundown:

• Leveling: Use XP tomes or battle tribes to level up heroes.

• Ranking: Increase a hero’s rank by collecting their medals. Rank 1 costs 20 medals, Rank 3 needs 100, and Rank 5 requires 600. Ranks 1, 3, and 5 often unlock unique abilities, while 2 and 4 give smaller stat boosts. For most heroes, Rank 3 is a solid stopping point for free-to-play players.

• Gear: Unlocked via the Smithy as your city progresses, gear boosts hero stats.

• Talents: Automatically gained as heroes level up, these enhance specific abilities.

• Skills: Each hero has four skills. The first two are unique, while the last two are customizable. The first skill, the Commander Skill, only activates if the hero is in the first slot of your army (marked by a red Commander Banner).

Synergy is key. Heroes with the same military specialty (e.g., Warrior) gain a 20% attribute bonus with two matching heroes or 30% with three. Matching troop types (e.g., all Swordsmen) adds a 15% bonus. Build around these synergies for maximum impact.

Swordsman Builds

Free-to-Play Swordsman Build

• Josephine: Available at the start, she’s a solid Warrior/Swordsman hero.

• Hammurabi: Earned on day seven of the 7-day login event. You can get more medals through Tavern recruits (golden recruitments only for Legendaries).

• King Derek: Obtained via the Giant’s Roar event, a periodic event that’s free to access.

This trio shares the Warrior specialty and Swordsman troop type, unlocking both synergy bonuses. Josephine can be replaced later with Triana, a support hero from the Legendary Advent wheel event. She’s accessible with just 20 spins (5 free over 5 days, plus 15 paid with Empire Coins). Her Rank 1 ability (20 medals) boosts recovery rate by 40%, making her a great addition. The final lineup would be King Derek (primary), Hammurabi, and Triana.

Low-Spender Swordsman Build

• Mamuto: Unlocked through VIP bundles (VIP 1-6, under $50 for Rank 3). His Rank 3 gives a 30% skill damage bonus and 50% boost to his signature skill.

• King Derek: Still free from Giant’s Roar.

• Triana: From the Legendary Advent event.

Mamuto is the primary commander, with King Derek and Triana as secondaries. Later, consider Yodit, another Warrior/Swordsman from the Legendary Advent event. Her signature skill adds deterrence stacks (up to 4, or 6 at Rank 5), boosting might and granting a chance for 1-second damage immunity. A Mamuto-Yodit-Triana lineup is powerful but requires planning, as Yodit appears later in server progression.

Pikeman Builds

Free-to-Play Pikeman Build

• Joan of Arc: Unlocked during the tutorial, with more medals from Tavern summons and the Battlefield Survivor mode (survive 12 minutes, defeat the boss for 10 medals).

• Darius the Great: Gained on day two of the 7-day login event.

• Richard: From the Legendary Advent wheel (20 spins to unlock).

Richard is the primary commander, dealing might damage to three enemies and scaling with Mark of the Lion Heart stacks. His Rank 1 (20 medals) boosts counterattack damage by 50%, making him a powerhouse. Joan and Darius are both Warrior/Pikemen, ensuring synergy. Later, replace Darius with Boudica (Legendary Advent event, available later in server progression) for a stronger Richard-Joan-Boudica lineup.

Low-Spender Pikeman Build

• Richard: Still the primary commander.

• Leonitis: Unlocked for as low as $1, with Rank 1 boosting his Unyielding Soul skill’s counterattack damage by 15%. Rank 3 increases trigger chance by 4%.

• Joan of Arc or Barbarossa: Barbarossa is available via the daily bundle or premium Kingdom’s Horde battle pass ($15 option). Eventually, replace either with Boudica.

This build leverages Richard and Leonitis’ counterattack synergy, punishing swarm tactics. Barbarossa is a solid low-spender choice until Boudica becomes available.

Cavalry Builds

Free-to-Play Cavalry Build

• Guan Yu: Obtained via Tavern summons, a Warrior/Cavalry hero focused on critical strikes.

• Darius the Great: Free from day two login.

• Attila: Unlocked with 20 spins in the Legendary Advent event.

Cavalry excel at speed (90 base movement vs. 75 for others), ideal for flanking or navigating terrain. Guan Yu’s critical strike focus pairs with Attila’s double attacks, increasing crit chances. Later, replace Darius with Ronnie (from Kingdom’s Horde or daily purchases), who boosts normal attack damage for stronger crits.

Low-Spender Cavalry Build

• Lu Bu: Available later in server progression, he’s the primary commander with a five-target AOE skill (100 rage) and critical strike boosts.

• Guan Yu: Second-in-command, enhancing crits.

• Attila: Third slot for double attacks.

Lu Bu’s AOE damage and crit synergy with Guan Yu make this build devastating. Ronnie can replace Attila for even more normal attack damage, but Lu Bu’s arrival is key to unlocking Cavalry’s potential.

Archer Builds

Free-to-Play Archer Build

• Josephine: Starter hero, also an Archer.

• King Derek: From Giant’s Roar, doubles as an Archer.

• Attila: From Legendary Advent.

Josephine and King Derek deal might damage, with King Derek’s root debuff increasing might damage taken by enemies, benefiting allies. Attila’s double attacks synergize with Josephine’s signature skill. This lineup is versatile, as both Josephine and King Derek can pivot to Swordsmen if needed.

Low-Spender Archer Build

• Mulan: Unlocked for $1, her rapid-fire might damage scales with normal attacks.

• Attila: For double attacks.

• Josephine or King Derek: Depending on your other armies.

Mulan’s synergy with Attila is excellent, as his extra attacks boost her damage. Later, add Bellevue (Legendary Advent, available later) as the primary commander, pairing her with Mulan and Attila for a powerful Warrior/Archer build. Note that Attila’s use here conflicts with the Cavalry build, so plan your investments.

Key Tips

• Focus on Synergy: Always match troop types and military specialties for attribute bonuses.

• Rank Strategically: Rank 3 is often enough for free-to-play players, offering most of a hero’s value for 180 medals total (10 to summon, 170 for ranks).

• Avoid Epic Heroes: They lack the stats for high-level PvP or PvE. Use them only as temporary fillers matching your troop type and specialty.

• Save Empire Coins: Legendary Advent events guarantee heroes like Richard, Attila, Triana, Yodit, Boudica, and Bellevue with 20 spins.

• Plan for Progression: Heroes like Boudica, Yodit, Lu Bu, and Bellevue appear later, so prioritize early-game heroes like Josephine, King Derek, and Joan of Arc.

These builds should set you up for success in Age of Empires Mobile, whether you’re playing for free or spending a little. Focus on synergy, rank strategically, and save for key events to build a formidable army.