Like all strategy games, Age of Mythology: Retold requires you to juggle several different resources to ensure your civilisation flourishes. One of these, and probably the most important for building an empire, is food. But which type is best to focus on, and what gives you the quickest results? Our complete guide explains all this and more!
Food Complete Guide
There are a few different sources of food income in Age of Mythology: Retold, and each one differs in terms of potential upgrades and income speeds. Figuring out which ones to prioritise can be difficult, but hopefully, our guide can make it easier for you.
Hunting
Hunting is probably the most standard source of food income in the game, and so is a good idea to focus on in the early game. Since it gives a flat rate of 1 food per second, it’s the fastest source of food without needing any upgrades. In addition, there is more variation as several different kinds of animals can be hunted.
However, some people may be wary about hunting very often, as it means leaving your home base. So, to be able to prioritise hunting, make sure you upgrade your defences.
It’s also important to remember that the animals you hunt will rot at a rate of 0.2 food per second after they’ve been killed, so be sure to take that into consideration!
Berries
Berry bushes are another great source of food income, as they are often found right in your own base, meaning less walking time and no danger. They can be harvested for a rate of 0.8 food per second, and don’t rot – so no worries!
Herdables & Chicken
Goats, pigs, and cows all fall under the category of herdables. The flat rate (without upgrades) can be harvested for 0.9 food per second. However, there are a few extra benefits: for one, they fatten over time (at a rate of 0.25 per second), so it’s a good idea to wait until your other sources have depleted before harvesting.
Second, you can unlock the husbandry technology in the Archaic Age which gives more food and faster fattening. After unlocking this, herdables will give 0.99 food per second and fatten at a rate of 25% more per second.
Chickens use the exact same rates as herdables, including with the husbandry tech. So, considering the benefit, it’s a good idea to unlock the husbandry technology before you start harvesting your animals.
Farming
Farming is another very standard form of food income in Age of Mythology: Retold, and gives 0.7 food per second without any upgrades. However, there are three upgrades that can be unlocked for farms, and each one gives extra food per minute. Note that they have to be unlocked in order!
First, the plow, unlocked in the Classical Age, results in 0.77 food per second. Then, irrigation (Heroic Age) leads to 0.84 food per second. Finally, flood control, which is available in the Mythic Age, lets you end up with 0.91 food per second.
A slight drawback to farming is that you do have to buy and build your farms before you can start using them, but once they’re there, they’ll stay. Farms do not deplete their resources, meaning they can provide you with a constant source of food income.
Fishing
Although the flat rate for fishing is fairly low at 0.5 food per second, putting focus on fishing is a great idea as later upgrades lead to incredible food income rates.
First of all, the Purse Seinetechnology from the Heroic Age will give you 0.88 food per second. Secondly, and most incredibly, the Mythic Age’s Salt Amphora technology gives an income rate of 1.25 food per second. It also allows your fishing boats to carry an extra 25 more food.
Keeping an eye on these different food sources and ensuring you always have enough for what you need to build may be difficult, but it’s all part of the fun in Age of Mythology: Retold!
Avid and unapologetic obsessor of all games fantasy, simulation, and open-world. Currently unhealthily dependent on Baldur's Gate 3, with open-ended plans to return to previous Sims, Skyrim, and Stardew Valley addictions. Also enjoys reading, writing, and sleeping (when not in front of a computer screen).