Armenia Shock Cavalry

Royal Cataphracts

The Iranians and Persians pioneered armoured cavalry and the Seleucids were the first western, Hellenised power to see their merit for battle. Antiochus III, 223-187BC, used cataphracts to great effect at Panium in 200BC. His Egyptian enemies, led by Skopas of Aetolia, placed cavalry on the army's flanks to shield the infantry in the centre. A single charge from Antiochus’ cataphracts entirely scattered the Egyptian horse, exposing the Egyptian infantry's flanks and rear. They were unable to defend themselves against the next mighty charge; the entire Egyptian army broke, and Skopas fled to Sidon. This retreat marked the end of Ptolemaic rule in Judea.

Unit Name Royal Cataphracts

Main Unit Key Eas_Royal_Cataphracts

Land Unit Key Eas_Royal_Cataphracts

Naval Unit Key persian_transport

Soldiers 90

Category Cavalry

Class Shock Cavalry

Custom Battle Cost 1100

Recruitment Cost 1100

Upkeep Cost 100

Melee Attack 37

Weapon Damage 34

├ Melee Weapon rome_lance_elite

├ Melee Damage Base 18

├ Melee Damage Ap 16

├ Armour Piercing No

├ Bonus vs. Large 10

├ Bonus vs Elephants 13

└ Bonus vs Infantry 0

Charge Bonus 70

Melee Defence 27

├ Base Defence 27

├ Shield none

└ Shield Defence 0

Armour 110

├ Armour cataphract_elite

├ Armour Defence 110

└ Shield Armour 0

Health 150

├ Man Entity rome_infantry_very_heavy

├ Man Health 60

├ Bonus Hit Points 20

├ Mount cataphract_elite_horse

├ Mount Entity rome_horse_super_heavy

└ Mount Health 70

Base Morale 65

Abilities

• Diamond
  The unit moves into a diamond-shaped attack formation.
  Charge bonus, melee attack
  Acceleration, melee defence
• Trample
  Charges are more effective for an extended time.
  Charge bonus
  Exertion: fatigue

Attributes

• Disciplined
  This unit does not suffer a morale penalty when the general dies. It can also rally after routing more often.
• Encourage
  This unit provides a morale bonus to nearby allies.
• Hide (forest)
  This unit can hide in forests until enemy units get too close.
• Resistant to Heat
  This unit tires less quickly in the desert.

Strengths & Weaknesses

• Very poor hull strength
• Very slow speed
• Weak ramming

• Very good charge
• Low damage but average armour penetration
• Heavily armoured
• Slowest cavalry
• Good morale

Requires Buildings
Lv. 1	Nisean Stables (east_military_stables_heavy_4) Level 3

Faction Availability
Grand Campaign	Armenia Armenian Nobles Parthia Parthian Nobles
Imperator Augustus	Armenia (Imperator Augustus) Armenian Nobles (Imperator Augustus) Parthia (Imperator Augustus) Parthian Nobles (Imperator Augustus)