Favourite Cavalry Units

[Quintus.JC]

Just like to ask what's everyone's fave Cavarly unit. There are many out there. (but consider the recuritment price, upkeep, morale and all the other attributes.......)

[Caius]

I personally love the Barbarian bodyguards.

[Charge]

Praetorians are uber ones...Bodyguards just O.O: two times assaulted Arretium with full stack gallic army, and both battles was completely won by 3 roman generals which stood like wall on the street.

[Gaius Scribonius Curio]

I'm a romantic. I prefer Cataphracts.

[Quirinus]

Arr, I personally don't like cataphracts much. Way too slow, in addition to being really high-tier and a b*tch to maintain. I'd take elite infantry over cataphracts any day.


I have two favourite cavalry units-- the basic Horse Archer and the Long Shield Cavalry of Carthage (and Numidia). I like them for two different-- indeed, opposite reasons.

The horse archer unit looks unremarkable, but its sheer killing power from afar is awesome. Aside from having a decent damage stat, the horse archer has loads of ammo. In melee the horse archer will get mowed over by pretty much any other unit, but since they are fast as hell, that isn't usually a problem. Personally, I find it very gratifying to take an infantry army to pieces with minimal or no casualties.

Being fast also has an additional advantage-- they are excellent for running down routing troops.

They are also cheap and low-tier, meaning it's possible to train hordes of these wily bastards.



As for the Long Shield Cavalry unit, I have to say, the main reason I like it is because it looks cool as hell-- everything from the eponymous long shields they carry to their nice helmet decoration to their light-coloured steeds. Also, it's not too shabby in action, especially when up against the Romans' pathetic cavalry.

[Phoenix]

Cataphracts are my favorite since they have AP maces and excellent armor.

[guineawolf]

me too,also favor cataphracts excellent armor and outlook,and gothic cavalry too!!!

I favor gothic cavalry becoz their excellent morale and fighting capability!

[mrdun]

I just don't like equites, even with upgrades. PLaying as r=Rome early on I recruit Barbarain cav or just use my generals body guard if none are availiable. Plus I like the valour/ scarred traits the general gets.

[Fate]

I love Numidian cavalry, is it easily the best skirmisher cavalry in game .
And then the Glorious HA's provided by Armenia, they kick ass aswell, and coming in close third is Scythian HA Mercs.

As for Melee Cavalry, im not too sure, long shiled cavalry are pretty damn good, as are cataphracts, but the upkeep is too damned high.

[Omanes Alexandrapolites]

When it comes to cavalry, I find the Armenian Cataphract Archers to be fairly dynamic. Although they don't have exceptionally low purchase costs/upkeep they combine strong abilities in both melee and ranged combat. This removes the weakness of the typical horse archer - once the units arrow's have run out its fairly vulnerable.

Of course, like any Cataphract its fairly slow. This allows certain faster cavalry units to catch it up fairly quickly (although most fast cavalry units are too weak to stand up to its melee blows). It also makes it not quite as well adapted at chasing down routers as other lighter units, which results in other units being required for that purpose.

Sadly one of their key problems is their lack of availability - Armenia only. Pontus and Parthia I think can get their hands on a fairly medium Horse Archer (Persian Cavalry), but it doesn't have the strength and versatility of the powerful Cataphract Archer.

[Quintus.JC]

recurit horse archers in masses and they'll make it hell for enemy infantry, personally never played Parthia for long but the Hunnic horse archers were really useful. and their cheep cost and upkeep means money won't be a problem.

[Hound of Ulster]

the Parthian combo of Horse Archers and Cataphracts.

weaken the infantry with arrows and disrupt thier formation, then hit the isolated infantry units with the iron fist of the Azadvan.

also effective as the Sassinsids, but with Clibnarii cataphract archers as a bonus.

The Sassinsid general's bodyguards are also superb.

[Quintus.JC]

Armoured Roman Generals and Armoured Eastern Generals are easily the best cavalry in the game.

[_OctavianAugustus_]

Yes, yes Roman Armoured Generals are the best!
Also Catapracth, Praetorians and in some case Companions...

[Caeser The III]

i like to go with Cataphracts and equites

[Quirinus]

I just don't like equites, even with upgrades. PLaying as r=Rome early on I recruit Barbarain cav or just use my generals body guard if none are availiable. Plus I like the valour/ scarred traits the general gets.

But don't the Barbarian Cav Mercs have even crappier stats than the Roman Equites?

I find Equites to be.... okay, but only as a supplement to the General's Bodyguard.

[mrdun]

But don't the Barbarian Cav Mercs have even crappier stats than the Roman Equites?

I find Equites to be.... okay, but only as a supplement to the General's Bodyguard.

They are better attackers/ more realistic. Equites seem to die rather quickly also IMO

[Quintus.JC]

They are better attackers/ more realistic. Equites seem to die rather quickly also IMO

Clump Equites together in masses and they seems to make fine flankers. early on 3 units of Equites grouped together could rout a unit with 1 single charge.

[Quirinus]

Yah, but then again the same is true for most non-cataphract cavalry anyway.

[Quintus.JC]

cosidering all the attribes Legionary cavalry seems to have a good stats. although the Romans were given too good cavalry, which isn't true compared with history books.

[mrdun]

Is the Thracian bodyguard one of the worst on the game, that isn't reaistic if it is true.

[Charge]

Is the Thracian bodyguard one of the worst on the game, that isn't reaistic if it is true.

early is greek bodyguard, that one is of course BS, you surprised? Generals aren't meant to be best cavalry btw, those stupid 2hp is just awful....

[Barbarian]

Heavy cavalry: Roman general's bodyguard. I once routed 1500-2000 gauls with 45 of them.

Light cavalry: Numidian light cavalry/mercenaries. Cheap, fast moving. Their range is not large, but their javelins do good damage, so they can even win horse archers.

[mrdun]

early is greek bodyguard, that one is of course BS, you surprised? Generals aren't meant to be best cavalry btw, those stupid 2hp is just awful....

I did not know that the Greeks bodyguard was the worst, quite suprising.

45

!!! 45! thats a lot of family

[Omanes Alexandrapolites]

Is the Thracian bodyguard one of the worst on the game, that isn't reaistic if it is true.

Their bodyguard unit(s) are equal with to those of other Greek nations - "Greek Bodyguard" (pre-marian) and "Armored Greek Bodyguard" (post-marian). I do believe that all pre-marian bodyguards, with the exception of chariot bodyguards/missile cavalry bodyguards, have equal armor, attack and defense skill stats. Likewise, so do post-marian bodyguards.

****

early is greek bodyguard, that one is of course BS, you surprised? Generals aren't meant to be best cavalry btw, those stupid 2hp is just awful....

I'm sorry, yet I have to disagree with that Charge. I find general's bodyguards to be exceptionally good units both on the charge and in prolonged melee combat. Having two hitpoints, when compared with many other units single hitpoint, is one of the key reasons for the units seemingly powerful nature and its survivability in combat. This often results in them being one of the best heavy cavalry units available for many factions, its only weakness being its fairly slow speed (for a cavalry unit) and its low number of containing troops.

[mrdun]

spartans have two hitpoints don't they?

[Charge]

I'm sorry, yet I have to disagree with that Charge. I find general's bodyguards to be exceptionally good units both on the charge and in prolonged melee combat. Having two hitpoints, when compared with many other units single hitpoint, is one of the key reasons for the units seemingly powerful nature and its survivability in combat. This often results in them being one of the best heavy cavalry units available for many factions, its only weakness being its fairly slow speed (for a cavalry unit) and its low number of containing troops.

Omanes, I mean generals shouldnt be as a backbone, but they are with vanilla stats. You can freely take 3-4 family members, especially heir or FL, and they will beat quite easily even full stack of low-end to medium infantry, and heal all casualities soon enough - how is that possible in reality? no to mention multiple hp's are unrealistic, having 3hp translates in ability to survive after 2 very powerful javelins throwed right into naked target (multiple hp's and 'berserker' morale (animations) are the things which I hate in EDU)

[GamblerTuba]

Yes, the Spartans have 2 hit points.

My favorite BI cavalry so far are the Clibinarii Imortals (Sassanid Generals) They are amazing for early game units and you just keep getting more and more. It almost seems cheap having a general unit that has a nice ranged attack and devastating melee. They do not have the greatest speed but i try to think of them like elephants or fast infantry instead of cavalry.

[Punicus]

For the money you spend on them in comparison to their effectiveness... I'd go with Long Shield Cavalry. But overall favorite, I have to go with Cataphracts.

[Omanes Alexandrapolites]

Omanes, I mean generals shouldnt be as a backbone, but they are with vanilla stats. You can freely take 3-4 family members, especially heir or FL, and they will beat quite easily even full stack of low-end to medium infantry, and heal all casualities soon enough - how is that possible in reality? no to mention multiple hp's are unrealistic, having 3hp translates in ability to survive after 2 very powerful javelins throwed right into naked target (multiple hp's and 'berserker' morale (animations) are the things which I hate in EDU)

Sorry Charge - I completely misunderstood you there

I do understand your point though, and do, in a way, agree with you. Although I can find a certain level of rational in general's units regenerating troops over time, I do feel that they are a little too dominating on the battlefield and probably would have been better to play with toned down by a fairly large amount in all areas.