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Eastern Cataphracts Kartli (Empire Divided)Kartli (Empire Divided) Shock Cavalry

Eastern Cataphracts

Nigh-on invulnerable within their armour, these warriors are a fearsome sight.

As you might expect due to its geographical origins, eastern cavalry had both Hellenic and Persian influences, with the more eastern states favouring the cataphract, where all-over heavy armour was used to protect both the rider and horse. The cataphract has its origins early in antiquity, in what is now Iran. Cataphract cavalry was designed to be a hammer in the tactical toolbox of eastern generals, penetrating enemy formations before outflanking and exploiting the resultant chaos. This was helped by the use of the wedge formation to smash through enemy lines. The Sassanids famously fielded the 'Zhayedan', a force of 10,000 strong cataphract riders, as shock troops to quickly and effectively decimate their opponents.

Eastern Cataphracts

Unit Name

Eastern Cataphracts

Main Unit Key

3c_Eas_Eastern_Cataphracts_commander

Land Unit Key

3c_Eas_Eastern_Cataphracts

Naval Unit Key

3c_pel_transport

Soldiers

80

Category

Cavalry

Class

Shock Cavalry

Custom Battle Cost

1050

Recruitment Cost

1050

Upkeep Cost

210

Melee Attack

38

Weapon Damage

25

├ Melee Weapon

rome_lance

├ Melee Damage Base

14

├ Melee Damage Ap

11

├ Armour Piercing

No

├ Bonus vs. Large

10

├ Bonus vs Elephants

10

└ Bonus vs Infantry

0

Charge Bonus

67

Melee Defence

17

├ Base Defence

17

├ Shield

none

└ Shield Defence

0

Armour

90

├ Armour

cataphract

├ Armour Defence

90

└ Shield Armour

0

Health

100

├ Man Entity

rome_infantry_very_heavy

├ Man Health

45

├ Bonus Hit Points

15

├ Mount

3c_Rom_Catafractarii_Horse

├ Mount Entity

rome_horse_very_heavy

└ Mount Health

40

Base Morale

62

Abilities

Eastern Cataphracts
  • 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.
  • 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

Transport
  • Very poor hull strength
  • Very slow speed
  • Weak ramming
Eastern Cataphracts
  • Very good charge
  • Low damage but average armour penetration
  • Heavily armoured
  • Slowest cavalry
  • Good morale