Massagetae Shock Cavalry

Saka Cataphracts

The Saka, as they were called by the Persians, were a steppe people who lived and died by their horsemanship. As in all warrior societies, the heaviest armour was reserved for use by the nobility of the tribes, and Saka nobility could be deadly indeed. As a people, they showed little inclination to bow to any outsider. In 512BC, King Darius the Great attempted to subdue the Saka, and marched into their steppe lands. It did him little good. The tribes avoided open battle, and raided whenever and wherever they pleased. Alexander the Great, almost two centuries later, eventually lured the Saka into battle at Jaxartes in 329BC. Even though Alexander won, he recognised that he could not tame them and released all his Saka prisoners in exchange for an oath to end their depredations. The Saka kept their word.

Unit Name Saka Cataphracts

Main Unit Key Ste_Saka_Cataphracts

Land Unit Key Ste_Saka_Cataphracts

Naval Unit Key barbarian_transport

Soldiers 90

Category Cavalry

Class Shock Cavalry

Custom Battle Cost 1050

Recruitment Cost 1050

Upkeep Cost 100

Melee Attack 55

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 71

Melee Defence 46

├ Base Defence 46

├ Shield none

└ Shield Defence 0

Armour 90

├ Armour cataphract

├ Armour Defence 90

└ 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

• Trample
  Charges are more effective for an extended time.
  Charge bonus
  Exertion: fatigue

Attributes

• Expert Charge Defence
  This unit’s melee attack and damage are increased against charging enemies.
• 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 Cold
  This unit tires less quickly in snow.

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	Bronze Furnace (barb_artisan_bronze_4) Level 3

Faction Availability
Grand Campaign	Dahae Khorasmii Massagetae Massagetaean Nobles Thyssagetae Dahae Khorasmii Massagetae Massagetaean Nobles Thyssagetae
Imperator Augustus	Dahae (Imperator Augustus) Dahae (Imperator Augustus)