Persian Cavalry (RTW Unit)

Persian Cavalry (RTW Unit)
Class	Horse Archers
Unit Size	160
Weaponry	Bow, Sword
Morale	8
Melee Attack	9
Ranged Attack	7
Defence	10
Charge Bonus	5
Accuracy
Range	170
Ammunition	30
Region	Global
Recruitment Cost	790
Upkeep Cost	140
Turns to Build	1
Unit Limit	N/A
Building Requirements	Warlord's Stables
Technology Requirements	N/A
Attributes	Can hide in forests

‎Persian cavalry can fight well with either bow or sword, making them valuable skirmishers and general purpose horsemen.

Overview

Persian cavalry can fight well with either bow or sword, making them valuable skirmishers and general purpose horsemen. They can trace their lineage back to the tribes of the steppes, and this tradition gives them fine skills with both the horse and the compound bow. They wear mail armour and carry swords so that they can defend themselves at need, or even carry the attack to lighter opponents, but they are primarily fine horse archers, able to ruin formations of solidly-packed enemies. A skilled commander will use these troops in cooperation with heavier cataphracts when he can, softening up an opponent with missiles before delivering an armoured punch, or beating an enemy down before driving them from the field with lighter pursuers.

Details

Persian Cavalry are horse archers than can fight in melee and are well armoured for that class. Don’t hesitate to use them as light cavalry and as horse archers, as they do well in both roles. This makes them very useful units.

Persian Cavalry should be used to soften up enemies and they can do that very well. You can have them shoot archers, they will out range unless they are long range also. You also want Persian cavalry to target the enemy cavalry and definitely enemy chariots. Persian Cavalry might be able to take on enemy light cavalry, particularly after a few volleys into them.

If you have a lot of regular Horse Archers as well as Persian Cavalry, use the long range of the Persians to target troublesome enemies from a safe distance, this can also cause those enemies to foolishly charge. Once the enemy archers and cavalry are neutralized Persian Cavalry can then get in closer to do more damage. Against infantry you want them to hit the left side or the back if possible, this ignores the enemy shield. It is good if they are firing from many directions. Once Persian Cavalry run out of arrows they can often finish off the enemy without much trouble; if the enemy is still alive have the Cataphracts and the General charge in and have the Persians nearby as support.

Persian cavalry should be very careful around Spearmen, however. They should never charge them unless they are about to break. Like practically all cavalry, they should never charge a Phalanx from the front.

Compared to Horse Archers, Persian Cavalry have higher range and far superior armour and melee skill. They are slightly slower but because of their other advantages they should replace Horse Archers once most of regions can recruit them.

Factions

Parthia