Sassanid Pretenders (Empire Divided) Shock Cavalry

Gyan-Avspar

The Pushtigban were the bodyguard elite, drawn from the ranks of the cataphracts, devoted to the protection of the Sassanid king. They typically guarded the royal capital, acting as a final line of defence against invaders. Amongst them were the Gyan-avspar, the 'sacrificers of their lives', known as the best of the Pushtigban, they were willing to give their lives in the name of their king, as they did with gusto during the Roman Emperor Julian's invasion of Persia. Fittingly, the royal bodyguards disappeared as an official unit with the death of Yazdegerd, the last Sassanid king, truly dying with their royal charge.

Unit Name Gyan-Avspar

Main Unit Key 3c_Sas_Gyan_Avspar

Land Unit Key 3c_Sas_Gyan_Avspar

Naval Unit Key 3c_pel_transport

Soldiers 80

Category Cavalry

Class Shock Cavalry

Custom Battle Cost 1520

Recruitment Cost 1520

Upkeep Cost 305

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 38

├ Base Defence 28

├ Shield small_round

└ Shield Defence 10

Armour 115

├ Armour cataphract_elite

├ Armour Defence 110

└ Shield Armour 5

Health 105

├ Man Entity rome_infantry_very_heavy

├ Man Health 45

├ Bonus Hit Points 20

├ Mount 3c_Sas_Cataphract_Horse_Full

├ Mount Entity rome_horse_very_heavy

└ Mount Health 40

Base Morale 65

Abilities

• 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

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

• Very good charge
• Low damage but average armour penetration
• Heavily armoured
• Slowest cavalry
• Good morale

Faction Availability
Empire Divided	The Sassanids (Empire Divided) Sassanid Pretenders (Empire Divided) Sassanid Secessionists (Empire Divided)