How to Convert Animals with Priests in AoM Retold

I didn’t play much of the original Age of Mythology, so many of the game’s features are completely new to me. One interesting feature is the ability for priests to convert animals, which is only available if you choose the god Set from the Egyptian civilization. With Set’s priests, you can take control of neutral wild animals on the map and use them in different ways, such as for scouting or even combat.

Unlike other civilizations in AoM Retold, the Egyptians (with Set) can convert a variety of wild animals, including predators like lions and crocodiles, which can strengthen your army early in the game. Here’s how you can convert animals:

1. Select your priest (there’s no need to build a Temple, as you start the game with Set’s civilization already having a Pharaoh, a monkey, and a priest).
   
2. Roam around your Village Center to find a wild animal (gazelles, lions, crocodiles, hyenas, rhinoceroses, boars, and others).
   
3. Right-click on the animal or press W from the dashboard to begin the conversion.
   
4. Wait for the conversion to complete.
   
5. Now, you can use your animals for scouting or attacking.
   

Important Tip: If you’re familiar with Age of Empires, you might assume that using multiple priests will speed up conversions. However, that’s not the case in Age of Mythology. Only one priest can convert an animal at a time, so assign one priest per animal.

In the image above, you can see my little army of converted animals. And below, you can see them in action.

I’ve noticed that opponents are often caught off guard when you show up in the early game with an army of converted animals. It might be worth considering a build order that incorporates this tactic—just a thought!