Left Panel
menu
HomeHome / Total War: Attila / Mercenaries / Auxilia Contarii
Auxilia Contarii Mercenaries Shock Cavalry

Auxilia Contarii

Contarii are heavily armoured shock troops, forming Rome’s elite heavy cavalry force.

Although the Roman Empire was responsible for countless military advances during its tenure, it couldn’t realistically claim to be responsible for them all. The cataphracts of Parthia – the shock cavalry of the ancient age, armoured from head-to-toe and wielding lances - devastated the Legions at Carrhae in 53BC and again at Nisibis in AD217. This, in combination with the increasing number of incursions by steppe nomads, who also fielded heavy lancers, caused the Roman army to begin modelling its own tactics around similarly heavy cavalry. Thus were formed the 'equites catafractarii' in several variants to fulfil specific functions on the battlefield, such as clibinarii and contarii, heavy horsemen armed with lances. The lance used was a deadly weapon; known as a ‘contus’, it was a long, thrusting spear that probably required the use of both hands. To wield such a weapon whilst simultaneously handling a horse on the charge must have taken great skill, proving that contarii were exceptional mounted soldiers.

Auxilia Contarii

Unit Name

Auxilia Contarii

Main Unit Key

att_merc_rom_contarii

Land Unit Key

att_merc_rom_contarii

Naval Unit Key

att_cor_light_rom

Soldiers

80

Category

Cavalry

Class

Shock Cavalry

Custom Battle Cost

325

Recruitment Cost

325

Upkeep Cost

265

Melee Attack

21

Melee Damage

10

├ Melee Weapon

att_lance

├ Melee Base Damage

3

├ Armour-piercing Damage

7

├ Armour Piercing

No

├ Attack Against Cavalry

10

├ Attack Against Elephants

0

└ Attack Against Infantry

0

Charge Bonus

201

Melee Defence

2

├ Base Defence

2

├ Shield

att_none

└ Shield Defence

0

Armour

25

├ Armour

att_leather_very_heavy

├ Armour Defence

25

└ Shield Armour

0

Health

205

├ Man Entity

att_infantry_medium

├ Man Health

90

├ Bonus Hit Points

5

├ Mount

att_rom_contarii_horse

├ Mount Entity

att_horse_light

└ Mount Health

110

Morale

32

Abilities

No Ability

Attributes

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

Strengths & Weaknesses

No Strengths and Weaknesses