The Sassanids (Empire Divided) Shock Cavalry

Grivpanvar Cataphracts

The Grivpanvar strike fear, and a four metre lance, into the hearts of their enemies.

Grivpanvar, from the Middle Persian term for 'neck guard', were elite units that originated in the late Parthian Empire, but were fully adopted by the Sassanids. They were similar in many ways to the cataphracts - both horse and rider were heavily armoured and used as shock troops, smashing through enemy lines to soften forces for the rest to exploit. The Grivpanvar employed the Kontos; a long, wooden cavalry lance. Heliodorus claimed that the strength of the charge, combined with the length and weight of the spear, could impale two men at once.

Abilities

Grivpanvar Cataphracts

• Diamond
  The unit moves into a diamond-shaped attack formation.
  Charge bonus, melee attack
  Acceleration, melee defence

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

Grivpanvar Cataphracts

• Very good charge
• Low damage but average armour penetration
• Heavily armoured
• Slowest cavalry
• Good morale

The Sassanids (Empire Divided) Units
General (4)
1.Armoured Indian War Elephants
2.Gyan-Avspar
3.Royal Sassanian Archers
4.Zhayedan Immortals
Melee Infantry (5)
5.Daylamite Infantry
6.Hamspah Infantry
7.Immortal Infantry
8.Immortal Infantry Guard
9.Persian Light Infantry
Missile Infantry (4)
10.Anatolian Slingers
11.Kurdish Archers
12.Persian Skirmishers
13.Royal Archers
Spear Infantry (4)
14.Immortal Spear Guard
15.Immortal Spears
16.Persian Spearmen
17.Sassanian Levy Spearmen
Melee Cavalry (7)
18.Camel Spearmen
19.Daylamite Cavalry
20.Eastern Scouts
21.Elite Savaran Cavalry
22.Savaran Cavalry
23.Zhayedan Immortals
24.Zhayedan Immortals
Missile Cavalry (7)
25.Armoured Camel Archers
26.Camel Archers
27.Eastern Horse Archers
28.Eastern Horse Skirmishers
29.Persian Horse Archers
30.Royal Sassanian Archers
31.Royal Sassanian Archers
Shock Cavalry (6)
32.Camel Cataphracts
33.Grivpanvar Cataphracts
34.Gyan-Avspar
35.Gyan-Avspar
36.Pushtigban Cataphracts
37.Savaran Cataphracts
Elephant (3)
38.Armoured Indian War Elephants
39.Armoured Indian War Elephants
40.Indian War Elephants
Fixed Artillery (3)
41.Eastern Giant Ballista
42.Eastern Scorpion (Fixed)
43.Eastern Bastion Scorpion
Field Artillery (7)
44.Eastern Ballista
45.Eastern Bastion Ballista
46.Eastern Scorpion
47.Eastern Large Onager
48.Eastern Onager
49.Eastern Bastion Onager
50.Scorpion Pot Ballista
Admiral (2)
51.Assault Hexeres - Immortal Infantry
52.Missile Penteres - Kurdish Archers
Melee Ship (6)
53.Assault Dieres - Hamspah Infantry
54.Assault Hexeres - Immortal Infantry
55.Assault Hexeres - Immortal Infantry
56.Assault Tetreres - Persian Spearmen
57.Fire Pot Dieres - Hamspah Infantry
58.Assault Hexeres - Immortal Spears
Missile Ship (8)
59.Missile Penteres - Kurdish Archers
60.Missile Penteres - Kurdish Archers
61.Missile Trieres - Anatolian Slingers
62.Pursuit Trihemiolia - Persian Skirmishers
63.Raiding Hemiolia - Persian Skirmishers
64.Scorpion Penteres - Kurdish Archers
65.Scorpion Trieres - Anatolian Slingers
66.Tower Penteres - Kurdish Archers
Artillery Ship (2)
67.Artillery Penteres - Eastern Onager (Ship)
68.Light Artillery Penteres - Eastern Ballista (Ship)