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Royal Cataphracts ParthiaParthia Shock Cavalry

Royal Cataphracts

Armoured like turtles, brave as lions, with lances like wasp stings…

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.

Royal Cataphracts Royal Cataphracts Royal Cataphracts Royal Cataphracts Royal Cataphracts Royal Cataphracts Royal Cataphracts Royal Cataphracts
Royal Cataphracts

Unit Name

Royal Cataphracts

Main Unit Key

Eas_Royal_Cataphracts

Land Unit Key

Eas_Royal_Cataphracts

Naval Unit Key

pel_transport

Soldiers

80

Category

Cavalry

Class

Shock Cavalry

Custom Battle Cost

1450

Recruitment Cost

1450

Upkeep Cost

200

Melee Attack

50

Weapon Damage

27

├ Melee Weapon

rome_lance_elite

├ Melee Damage Base

15

├ Melee Damage Ap

12

├ Armour Piercing

No

├ Bonus vs. Large

10

├ Bonus vs Elephants

10

└ Bonus vs Infantry

0

Charge Bonus

76

Melee Defence

23

├ Base Defence

23

├ Shield

none

└ Shield Defence

0

Armour

110

├ Armour

cataphract_elite

├ Armour Defence

110

└ Shield Armour

0

Health

120

├ Man Entity

rome_infantry_very_heavy

├ Man Health

45

├ Bonus Hit Points

20

├ Mount

cataphract_elite_horse

├ Mount Entity

rome_horse_super_heavy

└ Mount Health

55

Base Morale

65

Abilities

Royal Cataphracts
  • 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

Transport
  • Very poor hull strength
  • Very slow speed
  • Weak ramming
Royal Cataphracts
  • Very good charge
  • Low damage but average armour penetration
  • Heavily armoured
  • Slowest cavalry
  • Good morale
Requires Buildings
Royal Cataphracts Lv. 0 Nisean Stables
Nisean Stables
(east_military_stables_heavy_4)
Level 3