Dex’s Odin Strategies
By AoL_Dexter · vanilla
Choose among seven original Age of Mythology Odin plans, including early rushes, water pressure, fast Heroic attacks, and specialized raids.
Introduction
These seven Odin strategies cover early aggression, water pressure, fast Heroic play, and specialized raids in the original Age of Mythology. Choose a plan from the map’s hunt, the opponent’s civilization, and the resources you can defend.
I. The 4:15 Rush
Use on: High hunt maps vs any Norse, Greeks (except Hades), and Ra only.
Goal: Hastily cripple your opponent's economy relative to your own and/or take their first gold mine ASAP.
Build Order
2 starting gatherers to hunt + Great Hunt + Hunting Dogs
1 gatherer to hunt
1 gatherer to gold
Ox to gold
1 gatherer to gold
1 gatherer to wood (straggler near ox)
1 dwarf to gold
1 gatherer to wood
1 dwarf to gold
3 more hunters to food (get a house up first! Temple by 2:35 latest)
1 dwarf to gold
1 dwarf to gold / 1 ox to wood (interchangeable)
Switch your 2 gatherers from gold to wood
Advance: ~3:12-3:15. Go Heimdall (unless vs Greek where you want a myth unit that doesn't die to ranged hero + Forest Fire for wood strangle). Skip eco upgrades unless going passive. Make at least 1 Hersir during transition.
Classical Age Strategy
Start with a few dwarves, then pump gatherers onto sheep (later wood) + dwarves on gold
Make 2 barracks and harass enemy economy with everything
Some TC fire is OK, but don't linger in it too long
Go after food and gold — knock down towers if they might get upgraded
If you get a big military advantage, cut their gold with TA range attacks + cavalry
Even if you can't break in, maintain superior economy through constant villager production
Tips
Ox micro in Archaic is huge — reduce walking distance constantly
Use ravens to scout enemy base, food gatherers, and gold mine location
If expecting a counter-rush, build 1 barracks first and pump Ulfsarks to help build the 2nd barracks faster
Don't build forward buildings next to forests vs Thor or Odin
Set up your temple and forward base near the side of their base where gold is located
Picking off the occasional villager while maintaining your own eco creates a winning snowball
II. The 4:10 Mediterranean (6 Ships + Hand Axe)
Use on: Mediterranean vs any god.
Goal: Quick sea control with good eco. Take the water with arrow ships.
Build Order
Ulfsark builds dock, then a house
2 starting villagers + ox to straggler tree
Great Hunt on pigs
1 gatherer to wood
2 gatherers to food (pigs)
1 gatherer to wood (next straggler tree)
1 gatherer to food
1 dwarf to gold → ox to gold → 1 dwarf to gold
5 villagers to food
1 dwarf to gold
When 6 fishing ships are made and you have 80 wood, switch straggler wood cutters to berries/chicken/hunt
Keep making fishing ships until 6 total
Advance: ~4:05-4:15. Go Freyja for Forest Fire. Combine all 11 gatherers to chop wood. Build 2nd dock ASAP, get Hand Axe.
Classical Age
Start making ships — get some villagers on gold before adding more to wood. Forest Fire their woodcutters immediately, especially vs Greek. Good eco management + steady ship production = ~11 ships by 6:00 (12 is great, 10 is OK).
Tips
vs Set: Build your first house bordering the sea, then trap your Ulfsark between house and dock to stop animal harassment
Use pigs wisely — eat one at a time so others fatten. Need ~6 pigs minimum
Scout shallowly on each side for 2 pigs per side
Build temple halfway down the map so ravens reach enemy wood faster
Micro woodcutters to use ox cart surface area efficiently (reduce bumping)
"Force drop" villagers and fishing ships when you need exactly 400 food to advance
III. The 3:52 Rush
Use on: High hunt maps vs Norse and possibly Ra.
Goal: Blazing speed. Knock opponent off hunt and/or hit their gold ASAP.
Requirements: Gold mine close to a forest (for 1 ox on both), and hunt in immediate vicinity of starting villagers.
Build Order
2 starting gatherers to hunt + Great Hunt + Hunting Dogs
1 gatherer to gold → ox to gold → 1 gatherer to gold
1 gatherer to wood (straggler near ox)
1 dwarf to gold → 1 gatherer to wood → 1 dwarf to gold
3 hunters to food (house before this! Temple by 2:15 latest)
At 80 wood: send 2 wood gatherers to herdables
1 dwarf to gold → 1 dwarf to gold
After paying for last dwarf: switch all gold workers to herdables
Then: 4 gatherers from herdables → wood, 4 dwarves from herdables → gold
Advance: ~2:50-2:55. Go Heimdall. Skip eco upgrades entirely. Make as many Hersirs as possible during transition.
Classical Age
Keep villager flow constant (some idle TC time is OK). Build 1 barracks first, then blitz their food and gold. Add 2nd barracks eventually. If executed correctly, this is one of the most devastating strategies in the game.
IV. The 6:45 Anatolia WW Fast Heroic
Use on: Anatolia, strictly vs Egyptian.
Goal: Advance to Heroic ASAP for Njord's Walking Woods, then cripple their eco.
Build Order
Ulfsark builds dock (any side), then house
2 starting villagers + ox to straggler tree
Great Hunt on sheep
1 gatherer wood → 2 gatherers food → 1 gatherer wood (forest) → 1 gatherer food
1 dwarf gold → ox gold → 1 dwarf gold
From here: make dwarves when possible, ensure enough gold for temple by 4:35
Keep making fishing ships until 9 total
Make a 3rd ox cart for sheep/boar gatherers before advancing
Target eco: 8-10 food / 4-5 wood / 5-6 gold (not counting fishing ships).
Advance: ~5:00-5:15. Go Heimdall (unless vs Isis Monuments). Skip eco upgrades initially.
Classical Age
Queue a couple villagers/dwarves to wood. Build armory with Ulfsark immediately. When resources allow, start making Hersirs and eco upgrades, but advancing to Heroic is the priority.
Heroic Age
Build barracks with Ulfsarks and Hersirs, pump Raiding Cavalry. Gather army, pick a spot for Walking Woods, and attack.
Key: Micro cavalry to kill priests and Pharaoh first — without them, enemies are defenseless against your trees
Gold block if possible to prevent more priests
Build Hill Fort near their 2nd/3rd gold or 2nd TC
Get your own 2nd TC to catch up on eco
Keep trees alive by killing heroes
Tips
Don't let the opponent lure your trees away — this kills the strategy
Consider waiting an extra minute to gather more Raiders/Huskarls for hero-killing, but don't lose the surprise factor
V. The Midgard Rush
Use on: Midgard, mainly vs Norse but adaptable.
Goal: Advance before 5:00, go all land, spam Ulfsarks, and nail their gold mine. End the game ASAP.
Tactic: Build buildings next to their TC to force the TC to auto-attack buildings instead of your units. Extremely disruptive.
VI. The GH-on-Sheep Classic Boom
Use on: Any low hunt map vs any civilization.
Goal: Maintain excellent TC production, get all eco upgrades, Great Hunt your sheep for maximum food, and dominate economically from mid-late Classical.
Get Husbandry ASAP (not Hunting Dogs)
Consider making 2 Ulfsarks to scout for more sheep
Play defensive raiding style — protect your eco above all else
Walking Woods can end the game once you have the eco advantage
VII. The Ulfsark Raid
Use on: Any map, strictly vs Poseidon.
Goal: Play a normal raiding game but make 2 barracks for Ulfsark spamming (they train fast). Research Odin's special upgrade to make Ulfsarks nearly as fast as Poseidon's Hippikons. Target their 2nd gold mine.
— AoL_Dexter