Lure

Lure is a Greek god power in Age of Mythology that is available to worshipers of Poseidon, as well as the name of the building sprung by this god power. When Lure is invoked, a stone engraved with a trident rune emerges from the earth, along with 3/4/6/10/15 Chickens in the Archaic/Classical/Heroic/Mythic/Wonder Ages respectively. The stone attracts huntable and herdable animals in the local area. Once the number of animals attracted reached a total of 1,000 food, the Lure ceases to act as an attractor, but remains a drop-off site for food and can research Granary technologies, thus serving as a free substitute for Granary in the early game.

Building

"Food drop site. Mysterious glyphs attract all nearby wild animals, for a time."
In-game description

The Lure is created where the god power is invoked. It is a relatively fragile building that can be targeted and destroyed by enemies to deny its utility. It attracts wild animals and unclaimed livestock, and serves as a Granary.

Technologies & Relic Bonuses

Relic Bonuses

Image	Name	Description
	Blanket of Empress Zoe	-10% crush vulnerability
	Head of Orpheus	+8 Line of Sight
	Nose of the Sphinx	+15% hit points

General Technologies

Image	Name	Description
	Masons	+15% hit points and -5% crush vulnerability
	Architects	+20% hit points and -5% crush vulnerability
	Signal Fires	+6 Line of Sight
	Carrier Pigeons	+6 Line of Sight

Research Technologies

Below listed technologies are available to be researched through the Lure building.

	Survival Equipment
	Husbandry
	Plow
	Irrigation
	Flood Control

Gameplay

Lure is very useful in the early game, as it effectively guarantees the player good hunting. Given that hunting is the fastest source of food, and is therefore prioritized over other sources, Lure is widely considered the best economic Archaic Age god power.

It also provides a drop site for food (free on the first use), so Villagers do not have to travel far while harvesting, reducing lost resources from decay. Additionally, each time that Lure is invoked, it spawns some Chickens near the stone, providing additional food even after hunting has been depleted. It can also research all Granary technologies, saving the player wood and construction time for a Granary in the early game.

It is best to scout and capture all the herdables around the player's starting base before invoking Lure so that the 1,000 food capacity is not wasted on herdables, which harvest slower than huntables, and which the player would have picked up anyway.

An added bonus is that some of the animals attracted may come from the enemy's side of the map, effectively denying them food while giving it to the player.

Lure is less effective on island maps, particularly Islands, where the landmasses are smaller, as animals cannot cross water, so it can only attract the animals on the player's starting island.

Mythology

"This stone is irresistible to animals of all kinds -- predators and prey alike. Poseidon's Lure, for a time, will cause animals to draw near, very convenient for hunting. It expires after it has attracted a set amount of Food."
In-game compendium