Epirus Shock Cavalry

Hellenic Royal Cavalry

Heroes to a man, these royal cavalry always act appropriately.

The Hellenistic kings who succeeded Alexander recruited their royal cavalry guard in the image of Alexander’s famed Companion cavalry. Similarly equipped, they carried the Macedonian 'xyston' lance, a two-handed thrusting spear of around four metres in length. They led their royal cavalry in the same heroic style as Alexander, setting an example at the head of the charge. Whilst besieging Sparta in 272 BC, Pyrrhus of Epirus learned of the death of his son. Channelling his grief and anger, he charged his cavalry headlong into a unit of elite Spartan infantry. Toppled from his horse, Pyrrhus fought hand-to-hand against the odds and survived to tell the tale. This approach to frontline combat meant he was held in great regard by his men, but eventually led to his death. Caught in melee in the narrow streets of Argos, where he had come to curb unrest, Pyrrhus was stunned by a tile thrown from a roof and then beheaded by an Argive soldier before he could recover.

Abilities

Hellenic Royal Cavalry

• Diamond
  The unit moves into a diamond-shaped attack formation.
  Charge bonus, melee attack
  Acceleration, melee defence

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.

Strengths & Weaknesses

Transport

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

Hellenic Royal Cavalry

• Very good charge
• Low damage but average armour penetration
• Weak in prolonged melee
• Good morale

Epirus Units
General (2)
1.Hellenic Royal Cavalry
2.Hellenic Royal Guard
Melee Infantry (3)
3.Mob
4.Royal Peltasts
5.Illyrian Levies
Missile Infantry (5)
6.Agrianian Axemen
7.Archers
8.Javelinmen
9.Peltasts
10.Slingers
Pike Infantry (3)
11.Levy Pikemen
12.Pikemen
13.Hellenic Royal Guard
Spear Infantry (4)
14.Citizen Hoplites
15.Hoplites
16.Militia Hoplites
17.Thureos Spears
Melee Cavalry (2)
18.Aspis Companion Cavalry
19.Citizen Cavalry
Missile Cavalry (2)
20.Skirmisher Cavalry
21.Tarantine Cavalry
Shock Cavalry (2)
22.Hellenic Royal Cavalry
23.Thessalian Cavalry
Fixed Artillery (4)
24.Greek Giant Ballista
25.Greek Polybolos
26.Greek Bastion Scorpion
27.Greek Scorpion (Fixed)
Field Artillery (7)
28.Greek Bastion Ballista
29.Greek Ballista
30.Greek Beehive Onager
31.Greek Scorpion
32.Greek Heavy Onager
33.Greek Bastion Onager
34.Greek Onager
Special (1)
35.Molossian Dogs
Admiral (3)
36.Assault Hexeres - Agrianian Axemen
37.Scorpion Trieres - Slingers
38.Assault Tetreres - Thureos Spears
Melee Ship (4)
39.Assault Hexeres - Agrianian Axemen
40.Fire Pot Dieres - Peltasts
41.Assault Dieres - Peltasts
42.Assault Tetreres - Thureos Spears
Missile Ship (7)
43.Scorpion Penteres - Archers
44.Tower Penteres - Archers
45.Missile Penteres - Archers
46.Raiding Hemiolia - Javelinmen
47.Pursuit Trihemiolia - Javelinmen
48.Scorpion Trieres - Slingers
49.Missile Trieres - Slingers
Artillery Ship (2)
50.Light Artillery Penteres - Greek Ballista (Ship)
51.Artillery Penteres - Greek Onager (Ship)