Armoured Cavalry

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In game[edit | edit source]

Hvycav WBI.png
Armoured Cavalry — Vital statistics

Heavy cavalry, with powerful attack, exceptional armour, but far more limited mobility compared to more agile medium cavalry or horse archers.

Prereq: Build time HP LOS Attack Attack speed Movement
speed
Upgrade of Upgrades to
Military Level 1: Census Military
16.3s
(245t)
245 6 19 2.3s
(35t)
30 Basic unit

Alani Badarai l Cataphract l Grivpanvar l Clibanarius

Cost Created from Armour Weapon range Specialty
Base Ramp Pop
Metal.png: 60;
Wealth.jpg: 50
Metal.png: 1;
Wealth.jpg: 1
1 Stable.png 4 Melee
  • Moderate attack bonus versus buildings.
  • Poor turn speed.
Roundle qmt.png Roundel carthage.png Roundel illyria.png Xiongnü Rounder bharat new.png Roundel persia.png Roundel dacia.png

Armoured Cavalry - in essence, early Cataphracts in WBI 2. However, it doesn't have as much armour as later units, nor does it have the splash damage, charge or anti-armour capability of later units such as Clibanarii. Later iterations of this unit usually sacrifice their HP for more armour and attack bonuses, making them more deadly in combat.

See also[edit | edit source]

Notes[edit | edit source]

This unit was originally registered as "Cataphract" in Hong's original version.

History[edit | edit source]

Heavy cavalry was distinguished from other cavalry by equipment and battlefield role. It was considered heavy because the warriors and horses usually wore some metal armor, including breastplates, helmets, and greaves. The horses were also oversized to more easily carry an armored man and to intimidate foes. While most cavalry acted as skirmishers and scouts on the battlefield, heavy cavalry was a shock weapon, held back for the proper moment to charge into enemy formations and ride them down.

Heavy cavalry was rare in antiquity because the saddle and stirrup had not yet been invented. It took an exceptional rider to ride into a shock battle and use a lance effectively. The most famous heavy cavalry of the time were the Companion cavalry of Alexander the Great, recruited from horsemen born on the plains of Thessaly and Macedon. Part of their devastating success in battle against the Persians may have been due to the novelty of their wedge-shaped charges, unprecedented at that time.