Antigonidai Shock Cavalry

Sarissaphoroi

An early form of lance-like spear, most commonly associated with Hellenic cavalry, the xyston measured three and a half to four and a half metres in length. Consisting of an iron spear tip on a wooden shaft, the weight of the head was offset, like many Greek spears, by a bronze butt-spike. This may have helped with balance and in the hands of a skilled rider may have meant only one hand was required, as seen in the famous Alexander Mosaic from Pompeii. As most bronze alloys are heavier than iron this may have been possible, as the xyston’s balance point was towards the butt-spike. However, whether such lances were as effective when used one-handed, both in terms of force and accuracy, is debatable.

Unit Name Sarissaphoroi

Main Unit Key Gre_Sarissa_Cav

Land Unit Key Gre_Sarissa_Cav

Naval Unit Key pel_transport

Soldiers 120

Category Cavalry

Class Shock Cavalry

Custom Battle Cost 1496

Recruitment Cost 1496

Upkeep Cost 299

Melee Attack 33

Weapon Damage 9

├ Melee Weapon lance2

├ 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 35

├ Base Defence 19

├ Shield none

└ Shield Defence 16

Armour 6

├ Armour carm2

├ Armour Defence 6

└ Shield Armour 0

Health 20

├ Man Entity medium_light

├ Man Health 20

├ Bonus Hit Points 0

├ Mount rome_hellenic_horse_lance_l

├ Mount Entity rome_horse_light_shock

└ Mount Health 0

Base Morale 45

Abilities

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

Strengths & Weaknesses

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

• Average charge
• Low damage but average armour penetration
• Weak in prolonged melee
• Poor morale

Requires Buildings
Lv. 0	Muster Field (rom_HELLENIC_military_main_1) Level 0 Holosideros Barracks (rom_HELLENIC_military_main_heavy_2) Level 1 Hoplite Barracks (rom_HELLENIC_military_main_heavy_3) Level 2
Lv. 1	Royal Barracks (rom_HELLENIC_military_main_heavy_4) Level 3

Faction Availability
Grand Campaign	Antigonidai Antigonid Nobles
Macedonian Wars	Makedonian Rivals (Macedonian Wars) Kingdom of Makedon (Macedonian Wars) Makedonian Rebels (Macedonian Wars)