In most scenarios each side has a leader plus at least one other hero. Additional heroes can be recruited in a number of ways: Some heroes may seek out certain players and offer their services. Other heroes may simply wander the land looking for a player who can offer them the right amount of money. Others reside in inns, telling their tales of battle until finally hired by a player.

Like all units in Age of Wonders, heroes gain experience with each victorious battle. With each experience level gained, heroes are awarded ability points that can be used to increase their basic stats or learn new abilities. There are no limiting hero "classes." The player can hand-tailor his heroes or hire mercenaries that resemble warriors, rangers, wizards, priests, necromancers, druids, rogues, "jacks of all trades," or any combination of these archetypes.

In multiplayer games, players have the option to use hero-leaders or defenseless leaders. In most cases, a scenario is over when a player's leader is killed. Turning the hero-leaders option on or off creates different strategic goals for even greater replay value.

Heroes play an even more pivotal role in the single-player campaign, as the main characters are hero-leaders who develop throughout the course of the game. In addition, the player recruits additional heroes throughout the campaign to fight in the final conflict at the Valley of Storms.