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One of the most fascinating gods inAge of Mythology: Retoldis Gaia, part of the Atlantean pantheon. As one of the oldest deities, she represents the earth and nature, and plays the role of the mother of many gods and titans. In the game’s campaign mode, Gaia’s side opposes Kronos.
Gaia is a god who will support you economically, and remember that a strong economy leads to success. Her Lush ability, while small, is important for protecting your units. If you’re ready, we’ve prepared some strategy tips for this powerful goddess.
Gaia Overview
Gaia is one of the Atlantean gods, with a focus on economy and buildings. While her abilities are not offensive, it would be wrong to say they aren’t highly useful and advantageous.
As known, Atlantean gods can promote their human units to Heroes. One of Gaia’s features is that the cost toconvert your Citizens into Heroes is 25 percent cheaper.These Hero Citizens are stat-wise superior to their normal counterparts, making them more effective in tasks like hunting.
One of Gaia’s greatest benefits is the ability tolearn Economic Guild upgrades one age earlier, giving you a significant economic advantage over your opponents. Keep in mind that economic superiority means better armies and more research upgrades, putting you several steps ahead of your enemies.
Additionally, Gaia allows you to completeall Economic Guild upgrades at a 30 percent discount, making you economically stronger than other gods.
Another unique feature of Gaia is Lush. Town Centers, Manors, Economic Guilds, and Markets that you build will grow Lush around them. This Lush serves as a defensive feature,healing all friendly units and buildings within its areaby one hitpoint per second.
Gaia’s research upgrades include Channels, which is linked to Lush. This upgrade increases the movement speed of units by 15 percent when they move over Lush.
Her god power is Gaia Forest, a non-offensive ability. Gaia Forestcreates trees in the selected area, though they don’t appear instantly and take some time to grow. However, you’re able to use this god power multiple times. The trees in Gaia Forest are different from regular ones, asCitizens gathering wood from them do so at a faster rate.
Minor God Choices
Gaia’s minor god choices are all valuable, but it’s essential to assess the battlefield, enemy units, and your own army’s weaknesses when making decisions. In general, you can gain substantial regeneration depending on your choices. In the final age, Hekate is a strong choice for myth units, while Atlas is ideal for human units.
Description
Oceanus
If you want to take your healing abilities a step further, Oceanus is a great choice. Defensively, you’ll gain superiority over your enemies. With Caladrias and Servants, you’ll boost your effectiveness both on land and in naval battles. Servants areparticularly useful on water-heavy maps, as they can heal your ships. However, Oceanus is not ideal for offensive myth units, but Gaia’s defensive features and solid economy will compensate for this. Additionally,Carnivora is excellent for stopping early raidsand protecting your docks, but it becomes less effective in later stages if the enemy has plenty of ranged units.
Leto
Leto’s god power isn’t overly powerful. Spider Lair requires setting it up before the enemy arrives, but even then, they might not walk into the trap. On the other hand,Automatons are highly effective myth unitsin the early and mid-game due to their self-repair and ability to revive fallen Automatons. You can make them even more tanky with the Hephaestus' Revenge upgrade, which increases their healing capabilities. Additionally, Volcanic Forgemakes both Automatons and human units more defensive.
Theia
If you chose Oceanus in the previous age, Thea can fill the gap for offensive myth units. Both Dryads from Hesperides Tree and Stymphalian Birds are highly effective. Moreover, sincethese two myth units are trained with wood, they won’t be a strain on your economy. Gaia Forest god power and your ability to complete economic upgrades early and cheaplymake this a synergistic choice.To strengthen your naval force, the Daughters of Sea upgrade is also highly practical, making your Nereids deadlier.
Rheia
Traitor god power is particularly frustrating for your enemies, as it converts a key enemy unit to your side. If you’re planning a big assault in the Heroic Age, Behemoths are perfect for the task, asthey are incredibly tanky myth units.With Horns of Consecration, you may further boost your already strong economy if the game is expected to last. On maps where naval battles are unavoidable, the Daktyloi upgrade allows you to heal your ships, but if you’ve already chosen Oceanus, your Servants will take care of that.
Hekate
Tartarian Gate can completely turn the tideif it catches the enemy off guard, potentially wiping out their army. However, you need to place it far from your own units, as the hellhounds that spawn from the gate will also attack your army. Lampades are powerful myth units, particularly against large groups and strong enemy units. With the Asper Blood upgrade, you can cause severe losses to the enemy byturning human units into chickens.Mythic Rejuvenation gives regeneration to your myth units. If you already have units with regeneration from previous minor god choices, this upgrade will enhance that ability even further.
Atlas
Atlas is also an excellent choice. Implode deals massive damage to enemy units and buildings while also scattering their forces. However, you must keep your units away from it, as they can also be sucked in by the implosion. You should use this power in crowded areas. Argus is a myth unitwith an instant kill special attack, making it highly effective. If you’ve chosen Atlas tostrengthen Palace units, you’ll benefit from good research upgrades like Devotees of Atlas and Titan Shield, whichmake Fanatics and Destroyers more effective.
General Tips
There’s No Harm In Playing Defensively Up To A Certain Point
Due to Gaia’s strong economy and Lush, playing defensively won’t be too punishing for you.Prioritize researching Economic Guild upgradesas early as possible. Sinceyou get these upgrades 30 percent cheaper, it’s easier to stay ahead of your opponents economically. However, if you focus solely on economy, you may get worn down by enemy attacks.
If you chose Oceanus in the Classical Age, two Caladrias and about ten infantry units should suffice for defense. It’s also beneficial to get the Bite of the Shark research upgrade early. If you went with Leto, be sure to place Spider Lairs in key locations and include a significant number of Automatons in your army.
From the third age onward, your god choices become more effective, allowing you to launch powerful raids on your opponent.
Use Lush Effectively And Over A Large Area
As time passes, Lush will grow around your Economic Guilds and Manors, healing your units and buildings within its area. To maximize Lush’s benefits,avoid placing manors too closetogether.Instead, spread them out so that most of your city will be covered by Lush. With the Channels upgrade, your units will also move faster on Lush.
No Need To Save Gaia Forest For Too Late
Since you can use this god power multiple times, there’s no need to save it until the late game. Trees created by Gaia Forestcontain more wood than regular trees, and your citizens will gather wood from them faster. On maps like Muspelheim and Erebus, where trees are scarce, this god power will give you a significant economic advantage.
