Quote Originally Posted by Atraphoenix View Post
basically

light cavalry:

Ups;

+ speed
+ maneuver
+ flexibility
+ price
+ chasing down routers
+ fatigue
+ some have incredible charge points

Downs:

- no horse armor
- lesser attack rating
- horrible melee
- no match for heavy cavalry
- lesser morale
- lesser discipline

Heavy cavalry:

Ups;

+wonderful melee
+armor
+great morale and discipline
+battle changing charges
+also their model look cool :-)

Downs:

- speed
- maneuver (for AI mostly)
- flexibility (For AI mostly)
- price
- fatigue
- no match against elite (even levy) infantry (It is demoralizing to test pandadapoi phalangites against cataphracts, if you face catas with them they have no chance; I always use them for cavalry hunter unit thanks to their wonderful AP exes. I hate to confess but pandadapoi phalangites can rout grivpandar with axes and without hold position order of course controlled by player; they are better cavalry hunter than pezhetairoi)
- Only limited factions have elite worthy cavalries.


P.S. Do not forget AI is dumb so I am sure you have experienced many times AI generals/heavy cavalries loves charging phalanx from front. That is why I use alex, at least AI tries to outflank me with its cavalry.
I can down lots of heavy infantry with heavy cav. Just pull out right after you charge home. Don't wait till they finish the charge. Once the initial plow finishes, pullout before you lose anyone(else) and set up for another charge. What helps is to run around the back of their line before charging to demoralize the enemy. This makes them scared. Once they are worried about their flanks, ATTACK! then retreat, set up. ATTACK!, retreat, setup, ATTACK, retreat, rest, ATTACK! if you even get to that 4th charge, you are either doing something wrong, or you're doomed to lose.