Update 18.56738 just landed for Age of Mythology: Retold, and it significantly reshapes how players engage with the game's PvE content. While the patch notes are extensive, the headline feature here is a massive overhaul to the Gauntlet mode that bleeds into the rest of the game. World's Edge isn't just tweaking numbers; they are unlocking mode-exclusive mechanics for wider use.
Gauntlet Mechanics Go Global
The biggest shake-up in this patch is the liberation of Gauntlet mechanics. Previously, features like Chaos Events, Player Blessings, and specific Enemy AI Team blessings were locked strictly to the Gauntlet ecosystem. With this update, these modifiers are now available as optional toggles in both Singleplayer and Multiplayer lobbies.
For the casual community or those who enjoy "comp stomps," this is a major win. You can now inject the unpredictability of Gauntlet runs—random meteor showers, sudden resource injections, or enemy buffs—into standard skirmishes. It fundamentally changes the rhythm of a match, forcing players to react to board-state changes rather than just executing a perfect build order.
New Missions and Japanese Mythology
The mission pool is getting a serious injection of variety. The developers have added 133 new missions to the Gauntlet pools. Crucially, these new scenarios feature Japanese Major Gods and utilize new Japanese maps. This expands the tactical variety immensely, as players will now have to contend with divine powers and myth units from the Japanese pantheon, requiring different counter-play strategies than the standard Greek, Norse, Atlantean, or Egyptian lineups.
Favor Stash and Economy Changes
Progression is getting a tweak with new ways to earn currency. The update introduces Daily Celestial Challenges, which serve as a new source for the Favor Stash currency. If you're grinding for specific unlocks or items, this daily loop provides a more consistent income stream than purely relying on match completions. Alongside this, new items have been added to the Stash, giving you something fresh to spend that currency on.
How has Co-op changed?
Co-op players often struggle with tracking progress, and this patch addresses that friction. The update includes several quality-of-life improvements specifically for cooperative play, most notably better badge availability. The navigation flow upon mission completion has also been smoothed out, meaning less time staring at menus and more time queuing up the next scenario.
This update pushes Age of Mythology: Retold further toward being a sandbox for mythical warfare rather than just a rigid competitive RTS. By letting players customize their lobbies with Chaos modifiers, the developers are handing over the keys to the game engine's more volatile fun.