Drepanephora Armata
(Scythed Chariots)The terror of a thundering charge, with flashing blades, is often enough to un-man opponents.
Heavy scythed chariots developed during the Greco-Persian Wars as a response to armoured infantry and the phalanx. Although many cultures used them, the original idea was probably Persian or Indian. Others took up the idea, and Mithridates VI of Pontus had some success using scythed chariots against Bithynia during the Battle of the River Amnias in 89BC, at the start of the First Mithridatic War. They relied on their momentum and axle-mounted blades to break enemy lines, creating weak points to be exploited by cavalry. Even if the chariot horses instinctively veered off at the last moment, the long axle blades would carve an opening. If any still stood, there was a good chance confusion and panic in the survivors would set in. Both the horses and drivers eventually had quite heavy armour, reminiscent of later cataphract cavalry. When fighting against scythed chariots, the simplest thing to do was open ranks and allow them to pass through, before quickly closing up again. However, the introduction of the long sarissa countered their effectiveness somewhat better.
Unit Name Drepanephora Armata |
Main Unit Key Gre_Scythed_Chariots |
Land Unit Key Gre_Scythed_Chariots |
Naval Unit Key pel_transport |
Soldiers 36 |
Category Cavalry |
Class Chariot |
Custom Battle Cost 2000 |
Recruitment Cost 2000 |
Upkeep Cost 500 |
15 |
├ Missile Weapon javelin3 |
├ Projectile javelin3 |
├ Missile Damage 15 |
├ Missile Ap Damage 0 |
└ Base Reload Time 9 |
Accuracy 25 |
Range 90 |
Reload 40 |
Shots Per Minute 11 |
Ammunition 15 |
Melee Attack 40 |
10 |
├ Melee Weapon scythe |
├ Weapon Damage 10 |
├ Weapon Deadliness 0 |
├ Armour Piercing No |
├ Bonus vs. Cavalry 0 |
├ Bonus vs. Elephants 0 |
└ Bonus vs Infantry 0 |
Charge Bonus 44 |
33 |
├ Base Defence 17 |
├ Shield none |
└ Shield Defence 16 |
28 |
├ Armour carm14 |
├ Armour Defence 28 |
└ Shield Armour 0 |
20 |
├ Man Entity heavy_heavy |
├ Man Health 20 |
├ Bonus Hit Points 0 |
├ Mount rome_scythed_chariot_horse |
├ Mount Entity rome_horse_very_heavy |
└ Mount Health 0 |
Base Morale 55 |
Abilities
Drepanephora Armata- Stamina (poor)
Governs how fast the unit tires and restores fatigue, and is dependent on type of unit, weight and approach to combat.
Attributes
- Improved Stamina
This unit type has an improvement on the base stamina stat. - Hide (forest)
This unit can hide in forests until enemy units get too close. - Fire Whilst Moving
This unit can fire when mounted and moving. - Parthian Shot
This unit can fire all around and not just in-front of itself. - Resistant to Heat
This unit tires less quickly in the desert.
Strengths & Weaknesses
Transport- Very poor hull strength
- Very slow speed
- Weak ramming
- Fast moving
- Very good charge
- Average in melee
- Good morale
Requires Buildings | |
---|---|
Lv. 0 |
Heavy Horse Studs
(rom_EASTERN_stables_heavy_2) Level 1
Royal Stables
(rom_EASTERN_stables_heavy_3) Level 2 |
Lv. 1 |
Nisean Stables
(rom_EASTERN_stables_heavy_4) Level 3 |
Faction Availability | |
---|---|
Grand Campaign | |
Imperator Augustus | |
Macedonian Wars |