If the Minoans are all about trading and thalassocracy, then the Achaeans are about military and cultural might. While they do share some units with the Minoans, the most visible being the Longship, it is however there that the similarities end for the Achaeans, for this faction is not one inclined toward isolation in the middle of the sea, but is rather dedicated toward land power, and developing the intellectual and cultural infrastructure to maintain it.

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Two units in the Achaean roster stand out - mainly, the Argive Spearmen and the Pirate Chieftain with the former being a mainstream super-heavy unit, and the other being a mercenary heavy spear unit. Argive Spearmen are veritable chariot-killers - any chariot that gets within the reach of their pikes is usually as good as gone. Argive Pirate Chieftains, while not as powerful as true Argive Spearmen, however work as a cheaper and weaker form of Hypaspist - they are able to defend against cavalry attacks whilst assaulting enemy installations. Yet such units require vast amounts of Wealth and other resources which is where the Achaeans have trouble maintaining themselves. It would seem, then, that historic practice is the best way forward - ally with a weaker but richer faction that lacks proper armoured units to get by. In which case, factions such as the Egyptians, Minoans, Europeans and even the Babylonians could well be ideal allies, who can feed you with tribute to keep your units alive. Alternatively, Longships can be used to bypass enemy fleets, for use as raiders against coastal installations, destroying Farms and other buildings in order to help boost your resource stockpiles as part of a prelude to a massive boom.

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