Macedon Shock Cavalry

Sarissa Cavalry

An early form of lance-like spear, most commonly associated with Hellenic cavalry, the xyston measured three and a half to four and a half metres in length. Consisting of an iron spear tip on a wooden shaft, the weight of the head was offset, like many Greek spears, by a bronze butt-spike. This may have helped with balance and in the hands of a skilled rider may have meant only one hand was required, as seen in the famous Alexander Mosaic from Pompeii. As most bronze alloys are heavier than iron this may have been possible, as the xyston’s balance point was towards the butt-spike. However, whether such lances were as effective when used one-handed, both in terms of force and accuracy, is debatable.

Unit Name Sarissa Cavalry

Main Unit Key Gre_Sarissa_Cav

Land Unit Key Gre_Sarissa_Cav

Naval Unit Key pel_transport

Soldiers 80

Category Cavalry

Class Shock Cavalry

Custom Battle Cost 400

Recruitment Cost 400

Upkeep Cost 70

Melee Attack 34

Weapon Damage 25

├ Melee Weapon rome_lance

├ Melee Damage Base 14

├ Melee Damage Ap 11

├ Armour Piercing No

├ Bonus vs. Large 10

├ Bonus vs Elephants 10

└ Bonus vs Infantry 0

Charge Bonus 51

Melee Defence 14

├ Base Defence 14

├ Shield none

└ Shield Defence 0

Armour 10

├ Armour cloth

├ Armour Defence 10

└ Shield Armour 0

Health 70

├ Man Entity rome_infantry_light

├ Man Health 40

├ Bonus Hit Points 10

├ Mount rome_hellenic_horse_lance_l

├ Mount Entity rome_horse_light_shock

└ Mount Health 20

Base Morale 35

Abilities

• 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.
• Hide (forest)
  This unit can hide in forests until enemy units get too close.

Strengths & Weaknesses

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

• Average charge
• Low damage but average armour penetration
• Weak in prolonged melee
• Poor morale

Requires Buildings
Lv. 0	Holosideros Barracks (greek_military_heavy_2) Level 1 Hoplite Barracks (greek_military_heavy_3) Level 2 Royal Barracks (greek_military_heavy_4) Level 3

Faction Availability
Grand Campaign	Macedon Macedonian Nobles Macedonian Secessionists