EB cavalry

[Callicles]

Some observations after several Pontic Campaigns

(1) Cavalry charges work best against a unit that is either stationary or moving towards the cavalry. When the target is running away from the charge, the force of the impact isn't as strong, and then they will turn and engage the cavalry in melee. The goal is to send the men flying; indeed, in many ways this is the cavalry's most effective weapon.

(2) To send men flying, your horses need to have the energy and will to smash will all their force into a wall of men. This means that cavalry charges work best when the cavalry unit is Fresh or Warmed up. It is very difficult to get the proper impact effects if your horses are tired. Don't ask them to charge long distances, and avoid long melee with cavalry or infantry. Cavalry seems to tire quickly when engaged.

(3) Formula: charge and retreat, charge and retreat, charge and retreat to a very safe distance and rest. When I say charge and retreat, I mean instantly; do not keep your cavalry in the fray for longer than a few seconds (especially if you have light cavalry). If you have multiple cavalry units, and you are trying to take down a phalanx, time it so the cavalry alternate when they hit, each time smashing into the rear or sides as the Phalanx is turning to face the other horses.

(4) Almost always, the second best method is to charge two cavalry units into both flanks of one unit simultaneously.

(5) But the best overall tactic, is to use all of these methods when the infantry units you've targeted are engaged with your infantry, and their focus is to the front and have no idea that soon heavy horse will be smashing into their rear.

(6) As for cavalry v. cavalry, the best strategy I have is to keep a unit of light infantry near my cavalry (extremely light, skirmishers, are perfect, but lgiht spears are better). If you charge your cavalry in to theirs, then its a roll of the dice because cavalry clashes are wars of attrition. You need to change the odds. Surrounding the enemy horses from the rear with light infantry does the trick. Also, this way if your cavalry are taking it badly and need to leave, your infantry can screen as they exit. A few moments of rest, and a subsequent charge into the occupied enemy cavalry (like above in (3)) can do the trick.