Now what

[Aikamun]

When I need cavalry for the Deep Strike role, I look for units with a speed of twenty or greater and excellent armor protection. This list does not have cavalry costing more than seventy-five gold, as I have never purchased any that costly. These are the best cavalry in the game for my needs.

T'ien C'hi was designed as a cavalry nation so has the best selection with the Heavy Horsemen, Imperial Horsemen, and Red Guard. All have shields and lances. The Heavy has a composite bow, while the Imperial Horsemen and Red Guard have hooves. Barbarian Kings theme has the Barbarian Horseman with buckler, composite bow and lance.

Pangaea has the Centaur Warrior and Cataphract. Both have shields and recuperation. The Warrior also has javelins, berserk, and stealth.

Marignon Royal Guard. Shield.

Man (and Last of the Tuatha) has the Knight with Lance, Hoof, and shield.

Vanheim has the sacred Van with glamour, hoof, javelin, and shield.

Flying units can also be used as cavalry. Good deep strike flyers include:
Vanheim's sacred Valkyrie with shield, stealth, and glamour and
Caelum's Storm Guard and Iceclad
Flyers attack differently than regular cavalry (more dispersed due to surrounding units and more vulnerable to friendly fire) and will require additional considerations for tactics.

All these units also have a basic melee weapon which I did not list.

Speed is vital for:
a) Getting to archers and casters as quickly as possible to prevent them from doing what they do best.
b) Cutting off routing units so you do not fight the same units repeatedly.
c) Minimize the time you are exposed to enemy archers and Area of Effect spells. When you are in melee, the enemy's own friendly fire works for you.

Defense and Protection are vital:
a) For tactical flexibility. Could end up fighting tough guys like commanders and pretenders, in addtion to every other type of troop.
b) Light cavalries role has always been recon and cannot survive the Dominions battlefield. One scenario is being sandwiched between routing units and those you are attacking. Lighter cavalry could not survive in these situations.

As a baseline for cost effectiveness, use similarly-equipped Independent Heavy Cavalry and Independent Knights to value your units


Aikamun

[ February 17, 2004, 05:30: Message edited by: Aikamun ]

[PvK]

Ulm (esp. Iron Faith w. blessings) and Machaka have exceptional cavalry, too.

PvK

[Graeme Dice]

Originally posted by PvK:
Ulm (esp. Iron Faith w. blessings) and Machaka have exceptional cavalry, too.

PvK

As does Golden Era Arcoscephale. Flying sacred cavalry with lances, high protection, and high hitpoints. Atlantis' cavalry is excellent underwater.

I hope I don't burst anyones bubble, but the Wind Rider of Golden Era is far from a 'best' of cavalry.

They look good with the stats, but they are worse initial combatants than Valks, though in different ways and cost twice as much while being unable to produce more than a few, not because of resources or dominion, but because of their outrageous gold cost.

They are okay with a Water 9 Blessing (which is a huge sink with no good water pretenders) and a Fire 9 Blessing (Which is more feasible because of the allowance of an initial SC) but not worth their nearly a Niefel Giant gold cost.

[ February 17, 2004, 04:40: Message edited by: Zen ]