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HomeHome / Total War: Rome II / Palmyra (Empire Divided) / Units / Imperial Palmyrene Cataphracts
Imperial Palmyrene Cataphracts Palmyra (Empire Divided)Palmyra (Empire Divided) Shock Cavalry

Imperial Palmyrene Cataphracts

The strongest and most well-equipped riders, carrying the pride of Palmyra.

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.

Imperial Palmyrene Cataphracts

Unit Name

Imperial Palmyrene Cataphracts

Main Unit Key

3c_Pal_Imperial_Palmyrene_Cataphracts

Land Unit Key

3c_Pal_Imperial_Palmyrene_Cataphracts

Naval Unit Key

3c_pel_transport

Soldiers

80

Category

Cavalry

Class

Shock Cavalry

Custom Battle Cost

1460

Recruitment Cost

1460

Upkeep Cost

290

Melee Attack

48

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

80

Melee Defence

22

├ Base Defence

22

├ Shield

none

└ Shield Defence

0

Armour

110

├ Armour

cataphract_elite

├ Armour Defence

110

└ Shield Armour

0

Health

105

├ Man Entity

rome_infantry_very_heavy

├ Man Health

45

├ Bonus Hit Points

20

├ Mount

3c_Rom_Catafractarii_Horse

├ Mount Entity

rome_horse_very_heavy

└ Mount Health

40

Base Morale

60

Abilities

Imperial Palmyrene 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.
  • Encourage
    This unit provides a morale bonus to nearby allies.
  • 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
Imperial Palmyrene Cataphracts
  • Very good charge
  • Low damage but average armour penetration
  • Heavily armoured
  • Slowest cavalry
  • Good morale
Requires Buildings
Imperial Palmyrene Cataphracts Lv. 0 Cavalry Barracks
Cavalry Barracks
(3c_rome_military_cavalry_4)
Level 3
Garrison Buildings
Imperial Palmyrene Cataphracts x 1 Cavalry Barracks
Cavalry Barracks
(3c_rome_military_cavalry_4)
Level 3