Ever dreamed of witnessing Joan of Arc leading Roman Centurions into battle, or Hannibal Barca deploying Japanese Samurai to sack Rome? With the latest update to Age of Empires Mobile, your dreams can become a reality thanks to the new Mercenary Troops system.

Starting at level 26, players will unlock the Mercenary Camp, a new structure that allows you to contract and recruit powerful units typically unavailable to your faction. Not only can you hire these mercenaries, but you can also unlock and upgrade technology to enhance their capabilities on the battlefield. To sweeten the deal, you can secure your first mercenaries for free through a new event that's currently live.

The Mercenary Troops system introduces a diverse range of units, including 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 unlockable technology to further boost their already impressive battlefield prowess.

The new system evokes memories of Total War games, where overwhelming foes with hired swords was a thrilling strategy. However, opinions may vary on this addition, as some might feel it disrupts the game's balance. Only time will tell how well the Mercenary Troops system is received by the player community. There's even potential for future additions like the historical Landsknechts, but for now, we'll have to wait and see.

If you're eager to dive into the game and need guidance on the best heroes to unlock, check out our comprehensive guides for Age of Empires Mobile. Our tier list ranks all heroes by power, helping you distinguish the top performers from the rest.