Myth of Empires is an ancient Chinese-themed open-world survival MMO focused on building an empire through territorial conquest, NPC army management, and siege warfare. Unlike typical survival games, you recruit and command AI soldiers who defend your territory, patrol borders, and fight in organized formations during sieges. The horse breeding system produces progressively better mounts across generations, and PvP revolves around scheduled territory wars where clans attack each other's fortified positions with siege equipment. The setting spans diverse biomes from bamboo forests to snow mountains.
Starting Myth of Empires can feel overwhelming. This guide tells you exactly what to focus on during your first hours so you don't waste time on things that don't matter yet.
What Kind of Game Is This?
Myth of Empires is a survival game built around territory control and NPC army management. The core loop involves mastering these systems to progress through increasingly challenging content.
What to expect: Time investment in learning mechanics, experimentation, and gradual mastery. The game rewards patience and knowledge.
Choosing Your First Build
| Build | Beginner Rating | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Warlord | Good (but demanding) | Lead NPC formations in sieges, personally fight on the front line, coordinate territory assaults. |
| Horse Archer | Good (but demanding) | Ride at full speed, fire arrows at pursuers, kite infantry formations, raid undefended territories. |
| Siege Engineer | Excellent for beginners | Build siege equipment before assaults, operate trebuchets during territory wars, design defensible fortifications. |
| Diplomat Trader | Situational | Establish trade routes between territories, negotiate alliances, fund clan military operations through commerce. |
| Castle Builder | Excellent for beginners | Design multi-layered defenses, build walls with overlapping tower coverage, place traps and chokepoints. |
Our recommendation: Start with Horse Archer. Mounted ranged combat build that excels in open-field PvP. A bred warhorse + composite bow lets you kite infantry endlessly. Hit-and-run tactics make you nearly uncatchable. The most feared PvP build in open territory.
Avoid Castle Builder as your first pick. Architecture-focused build that designs and constructs clan fortifications.
First Session Step-by-Step
Step 1: Learn territory control
Clans place Clan Banners to claim territory hexes. Each hex has a vulnerability window during which it can be attacked. Controlling territory grants resource bonuses and taxation rights. Losing your banner means losing the hex — territory wars are the PvP endgame.
This is the foundation. Spend your first 15-30 minutes getting comfortable with how territory control works before worrying about anything else.
Step 2: Head to Central Plains
The starting region with flat terrain ideal for farming and horse breeding. Low-level resources and wildlife. Contested territory due to its accessibility — expect PvP from established clans claiming the area.
Clear the main content here before moving on. Everything teaches fundamentals you'll need later.
Step 3: Get Your First Upgrade
Look for Composite Bow — it's the most accessible early upgrade. The best ranged weapon with 110 damage per arrow and 80m effective range. Draw time is 1.5 seconds for a full-power shot. Mounted fire accuracy is reduced by 30% without the Horse Archery skill. Arrows are craftable in bulk.
Step 4: Understand NPC army management
Recruit NPC soldiers from taverns and assign them to squads with formations. Soldiers level up through combat and can be equipped with crafted armor and weapons. A well-equipped NPC army of 50+ soldiers is essential for territory defense and siege assaults.
This is the system most new players overlook. Invest time here early — it pays off throughout the entire game.
Step 5: Push to Bamboo Forest
Dense forest region with bamboo resources for advanced crafting. Harder to navigate on horseback but easier to defend due to limited sightlines. Contains wild boar and deer for hunting. Good defensive territory location.
Essential Mechanics Explained
territory control
Clans place Clan Banners to claim territory hexes. Each hex has a vulnerability window during which it can be attacked. Controlling territory grants resource bonuses and taxation rights. Losing your banner means losing the hex — territory wars are the PvP endgame.
NPC army management
Recruit NPC soldiers from taverns and assign them to squads with formations. Soldiers level up through combat and can be equipped with crafted armor and weapons. A well-equipped NPC army of 50+ soldiers is essential for territory defense and siege assaults.
horse breeding
Capture wild horses and breed them at stables. Offspring inherit stats from parents with random variation. Selective breeding across generations produces warhorses with superior speed, stamina, and health. Mounted combat with a bred warhorse dominates open-field PvP.
siege warfare
Territory attacks involve siege equipment — battering rams, trebuchets, and siege towers. Defenders use walls, towers, and boiling oil. Siege timing is scheduled within vulnerability windows, giving defenders time to prepare. Coordinated multi-clan assaults create massive battles.
skill-based progression
Character progression uses a skill point system across combat, crafting, building, and social trees. Skills unlock recipes and abilities. Respec is available but costly. Specializing in one area makes you dependent on clan members for other functions.
Common Beginner Mistakes
1. Building a large undefended base before recruiting NPC soldiers — raiders target weak bases and take everything before you can respond
2. Investing in copper-tier equipment for PvP when iron tier is vastly superior — rush iron technology before engaging in territory wars
3. Neglecting horse breeding because wild horses seem good enough — a 3rd-generation bred warhorse outperforms wild horses by 40-50% in all stats
4. Claiming too many territories without the army to defend them — each territory requires defenders during vulnerability windows
5. Solo-playing on PvP servers without joining a clan — the game's territory and siege systems are fundamentally designed for group play
First 5 Hours Checklist
- Understand territory control and NPC army management
- Choose Horse Archer as starting build
- Clear Central Plains main content
- Acquire Composite Bow or equivalent upgrade
- Reach Bamboo Forest
- Recruit 10 NPC soldiers before building your first permanent base. Undefended bases get raided within hours on PvP servers.
- Horse breeding follows genetics: breed your two fastest horses together for offspring with 10-20% speed improvement. Track stats across generations.
Tips for New Players
- Recruit 10 NPC soldiers before building your first permanent base. Undefended bases get raided within hours on PvP servers.
- Horse breeding follows genetics: breed your two fastest horses together for offspring with 10-20% speed improvement. Track stats across generations.
- Iron armor reduces incoming damage by 60% compared to copper's 30%. The jump from copper to iron tier is the biggest power spike in the game.
- Territory vulnerability windows last 2 hours. Time your attacks for when the defender's timezone is sleeping — off-hours attacks face less resistance.
- NPC soldiers in shield formation reduce incoming arrow damage by 80%. Always form up before approaching enemy walls during sieges.
- Trebuchets have a 150m range that outranges defensive towers. Position them behind your front line and focus fire on gate sections.
- The halberd's overhead attack (heavy attack) ignores shield blocks. Use it against shield-wielding defenders and players.
- Trading between regions with different resources is the fastest gold generation. Buy iron cheaply in Snow Mountains and sell it in Central Plains.
- Place multiple Clan Banners in different hexes but concentrate defenses on 2-3 core territories. Spread-out territory is indefensible.
- The repeating crossbow from wall towers kills NPC soldiers in 2 bursts. Stack 5+ crossbow towers covering each gate approach.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Myth of Empires PvP only?
No, PvE servers exist where territory warfare is cooperative against NPC factions. The PvE experience focuses on base building, horse breeding, NPC management, and exploration. PvP servers are the full experience with player-versus-player territory wars.
How does it compare to Conan Exiles?
Similar survival base, but Myth of Empires adds deeper NPC army management, horse breeding, and organized territory warfare. Combat is more formation-based (armies vs armies) rather than Conan's individual player-focused combat. The Chinese historical setting is unique.
Can I play solo?
Technically yes, but the game heavily favors clans. Solo players can recruit NPC armies and build small territories on PvE servers. On PvP servers, solo players will struggle against organized clans. Private servers with small groups are the best solo-friendly option.
What's the server wipe schedule?
Official servers wipe on a seasonal basis (roughly every 2-3 months). Private servers set their own schedules. Wipes reset all progression, encouraging fresh territorial competition each season.
What to Read Next
- Myth of Empires Builds — Optimize your build once you've learned the basics
- Myth of Empires Walkthrough — Full progression path
- Myth of Empires Tips — Advanced strategies for when you're ready
