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, this fantasy becomes reality thanks to the new Mercenary Troops system.

Upon reaching level 26, players will unlock the Mercenary Camp structure, which enables them to contract and recruit powerful units typically unavailable to their faction. Not only can you enlist these formidable warriors, but you can also unlock and upgrade technology to enhance their abilities further. To get started, you can secure your first mercenaries for free through a new event that's currently live.

The update introduces a variety of Mercenary 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 its own tech upgrades to bolster their already impressive battlefield prowess.

Blood Money - The new Mercenary troops system evokes memories of Total War games for many players, reminiscing about overwhelming foes with mercenaries in classics like Rome: Total War and Medieval II. While this addition might stir debate over balance, its impact on gameplay remains to be seen. Will we eventually see custom units like the historical Landsknechts? Only time will tell.

As players get their hands on the Mercenary troop system, its effectiveness and reception will become clearer. In the meantime, if you're looking to dive into the game and need guidance on which heroes to unlock, our comprehensive guides and tier list for Age of Empires Mobile will help you determine which heroes are worth your time and resources.