The Sassanids (Empire Divided) Melee Cavalry

Zhayedan Immortals

The 'Ten Thousand Immortals' were a military force of elite infantry divisions within the Achaemenid Empire, acting as both an imperial guard and an expeditionary army during the Persian conquests. They were so named for always numbering exactly ten thousand - if any man died or fell ill, he was immediately replaced; in this way the unit never 'died'. Herodotus describes them as “magnificently” equipped, glittering in gold and dressed in the finest armour. The Immortals were also afforded the best food and treatment befitting of their elite status. They famously fought at the Battle of Thermopylae, outflanking the redoubtable Spartans and ultimately securing victory. Although the unit died with the Achaemenids, it was revived much later under the Sassanids, helping to legitimise Sassanid rule as inheritors of Persian power.

Unit Name Zhayedan Immortals

Main Unit Key 3c_Sas_Zhayedan_Immortals

Land Unit Key 3c_Sas_Zhayedan_Immortals

Naval Unit Key 3c_pel_transport

Soldiers 80

Category Cavalry

Class Melee Cavalry

Custom Battle Cost 1280

Recruitment Cost 1280

Upkeep Cost 255

Melee Attack 49

Weapon Damage 29

├ Melee Weapon rome_spear_cav_elite

├ Melee Damage Base 24

├ Melee Damage Ap 5

├ Armour Piercing No

├ Bonus vs. Large 15

├ Bonus vs Elephants 15

└ Bonus vs Infantry 0

Charge Bonus 43

Melee Defence 38

├ Base Defence 23

├ Shield hoplite_cav

└ Shield Defence 15

Armour 95

├ Armour scale_elite

├ Armour Defence 60

└ Shield Armour 35

Health 105

├ Man Entity rome_infantry_very_heavy

├ Man Health 45

├ Bonus Hit Points 20

├ Mount 3c_Sas_Cataphract_Horse_Officer

├ Mount Entity rome_horse_very_heavy

└ Mount Health 40

Base Morale 70

Abilities

• Diamond
  The unit moves into a diamond-shaped attack formation.
  Charge bonus, melee attack
  Acceleration, melee defence
• Steady
  Improves the unit's ability to endure enemy charges.
  Armour, melee defence
  Exertion: fatigue

Attributes

• 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

• Very poor hull strength
• Very slow speed
• Weak ramming

• Very good attack
• Average defence
• Low damage but average armour penetration
• Good morale

Faction Availability
Empire Divided	The Sassanids (Empire Divided) Sassanid Pretenders (Empire Divided) Sassanid Secessionists (Empire Divided)