Massagetae Missile Cavalry

Steppe Horse Skirmishers

Cavalry skirmishers relied on the speed of their mounts to close quickly with an enemy, attack, and then withdraw before any counterattack. This was the main role of cavalry in supporting hoplites, harassing enemy phalanxes and skirmishers and only pursuing foes already on the run. Most used javelins, and some attacked using the 'Cantabrian circle', where riders would circle in front of an enemy, taking it in turns to throw their javelins before galloping to the rear again. A few skirmishing riders carried swords and small shields to use if forced into a melee. Thracian cavalrymen often strapped their crescent-shaped pelte shield to their backs, giving them a little protection when they withdrew, a habit that sensible neighbours would have copied.

Unit Name Steppe Horse Skirmishers

Main Unit Key Ste_Horse_Skirm

Land Unit Key Ste_Horse_Skirm

Naval Unit Key barbarian_transport_small

Soldiers 80

Category Cavalry

Class Missile Cavalry

Custom Battle Cost 390

Recruitment Cost 390

Upkeep Cost 80

Missile Damage 32

├ Missile Weapon rome_javelin

├ Projectile javelin_normal

├ Missile Damage 20

├ Missile Ap Damage 12

└ Base Reload Time 10

Accuracy 5

Range 80

Reload 18

Shots Per Minute 7

Ammunition 7

Melee Attack 9

Weapon Damage 24

├ Melee Weapon rome_shortsword

├ Melee Damage Base 20

├ Melee Damage Ap 4

├ Armour Piercing No

├ Bonus vs. Large 0

├ Bonus vs Elephants 0

└ Bonus vs Infantry 0

Charge Bonus 4

Melee Defence 13

├ Base Defence 13

├ Shield none

└ Shield Defence 0

Armour 10

├ Armour cloth

├ Armour Defence 10

└ Shield Armour 0

Health 75

├ Man Entity rome_infantry_light

├ Man Health 40

├ Bonus Hit Points 10

├ Mount rome_hellenic_horse_sword_shield_l

├ Mount Entity rome_horse_light

└ Mount Health 25

Base Morale 30

Abilities

• Cantabrian Circle
  The unit fires whilst riding in a circle.
  Harder to hit, reload skill

Attributes

• Resistant to Fatigue
  Fatigue has less of an effect on this unit.
• Hide (forest)
  This unit can hide in forests until enemy units get too close.
• Fire Whilst Moving
  This unit can fire when mounted and moving.
• Parthian Shot
  This unit can fire all around and not just in-front of itself.
• Resistant to Cold
  This unit tires less quickly in snow.

Strengths & Weaknesses

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

• Short range
• Fast rate of fire
• Fast moving
• Very good damage and armour penetration
• Large shield
• Very weak in melee
• Poor morale

Requires Buildings
Lv. 0	Horse Pens (barb_agriculture_horse_2) Level 1 Stables (barb_agriculture_horse_3) Level 2 Horse Ranch (barb_agriculture_horse_4) Level 3

Faction Availability
Grand Campaign	Dahae Khorasmii Massagetae Massagetaean Nobles Massagetaean Secessionists Thyssagetae Budini Catiaroi Nomadic Rebels Royal Scythia Royal Scythian Nobles Royal Scythian Secessionists
Imperator Augustus	Dahae (Imperator Augustus) Nomadic Rebels (Imperator Augustus)