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HomeHome / Divide et Impera / Syrakousai (Hannibal at the Gates) / Units / Xystophoroi
Xystophoroi Syrakousai (Hannibal at the Gates)Syrakousai (Hannibal at the Gates) Shock Cavalry

Xystophoroi

(Heavy Lancers)

These lancers have a strong charge, and can break enemies quickly.

The early Greek cavalry took roughly the same form throughout the city-states, being comprised of citizens able to afford and maintain a horse. After the Greco-Persian Wars, city-states such as Athens founded more permanent cavalry funded by annual grants. Right through the Peloponnesian War however, this volunteer cavalry continued to be few in numbers, and was used principally to chase skirmishers and fleeing hoplites. It was not that cavalry were ineffectual in Greek warfare, as shown by the Theban victory at the Battle of Delium in 424BC, but until this time they had been underused and lacked the numbers to make a decisive impact. Often wearing a metal helm and a mailed cuirass reaching down to their knees, they were equipped with a long sword and a spear, usable as both a lance and a javelin. However, a lack of saddle and stirrups, unused by the Greeks of the time, made them relatively easy to knock from horseback.

Xystophoroi

Unit Name

Xystophoroi

Main Unit Key

Gre_Hippeus_Lancers

Land Unit Key

Gre_Hippeus_Lancers

Naval Unit Key

pel_transport

Soldiers

100

Category

Cavalry

Class

Shock Cavalry

Custom Battle Cost

1969

Recruitment Cost

1969

Upkeep Cost

394

Melee Attack

33

Weapon Damage

9

├ Melee Weapon

lance3

├ Weapon Damage

9

├ Weapon Deadliness

0

├ Armour Piercing

No

├ Bonus vs. Cavalry

0

├ Bonus vs. Elephants

0

└ Bonus vs Infantry

2

Charge Bonus

31

Melee Defence

38

├ Base Defence

22

├ Shield

none

└ Shield Defence

16

Armour

20

├ Armour

carm10

├ Armour Defence

20

└ Shield Armour

0

Health

20

├ Man Entity

heavy_heavy

├ Man Health

20

├ Bonus Hit Points

0

├ Mount

greek_elite_horse_lance

├ Mount Entity

rome_horse_super_heavy

└ Mount Health

0

Base Morale

65

Abilities

Xystophoroi
  • Stamina (poor)
    Governs how fast the unit tires and restores fatigue, and is dependent on type of unit, weight and approach to combat.
  • Flying Wedge
    The unit assumes a wedge formation that increases charge speed and bonus

Attributes

  • Fire Whilst Moving
    This unit can fire when mounted and moving.
  • 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

Transport
  • Very poor hull strength
  • Very slow speed
  • Weak ramming
Xystophoroi
  • Very good charge
  • Low damage but average armour penetration
  • Weak in prolonged melee
  • Good morale
Requires Buildings
Xystophoroi Lv. 0 Hoplite Barracks
Hoplite Barracks
(rom_HELLENIC_military_main_heavy_3)
Level 2
Xystophoroi Lv. 1 Royal Barracks
Royal Barracks
(rom_HELLENIC_military_main_heavy_4)
Level 3