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Catafractarii are a type of shock cavalry in Total War: Attila.

Description[]

"Literally armed and armoured to the teeth, the catafractarii are an awesome power."

Having faced the deadly Parthian cataphracts at Carrhae, come off worse, and then struggled against the awesome crushing strength of the Sarmatian lancers, it wasn't long before the Roman army was tailoring its own cavalry to match, despite resisting the idea for some time. Gradually, Rome began to integrate its own versions, the catafractarii and clibinarii, into the Legions. They were probably first fielded during the reign of the Emperor Hadrian, as an auxiliary force of Gauls and Pannonians. However, despite their general success, it was the 4th century AD before catafractarii became a permanent addition to the ranks, possibly due to Macrinus' catastrophic defeat at Nisibis in AD217, by the Parthians. Covered head-to-foot in scale or mail armour, and armed with lances, it is clear that the 'iron horsemen' were the forerunners to the more familiar knights of the Medieval age.

Strength and Weaknesses[]

  • Excellent Charge Bonus
  • High Health
  • Poor Morale

Base Stats[]

Catafractarii
Unit
Number of Men: 80
Morale: 34
Bonus HP: 17
Melee Attack: 38
Melee Defense: 19
Charge Bonus: 204
Reload: 0
Ammunition: 0
Medium Infantry
Human
Hit Points: 90
Mass: 100
Medium Horse
Mount
Hit Points: 125
Mass: 440
Walk Speed: 18
Run Speed: 80
Charge Speed: 110
Charge Distance: 75

Weapons and Gear[]

Lance
Melee Weapon
Damage: 3
Armour Penetration Damage: 7
Bonus vs Infantry: 0
Bonus vs Cavalry: 10
Bonus vs Elephants: 0
Building damage: 0.033
Iron Lamellar Armour
Armour
Armour: 27

Abilities[]

Ability Attila Wedge Wedge
Target: Self Initial Recharge: 0
Active Time: N/A Recharge Time: N/A
The unit moves into a wedge-shaped attack formation.
Assemble (5s)
Form Wedge:
+10 Melee Attack
+50% Charge Speed
+15% Charge Bonus
-100% Missile Block Chance
-25% Speed


Attributes[]

Ability Attila Hide (forest) Hide (forest)
This unit can hide in forests until enemy units get too close.
Total War: Attila Roman Units
Melee Infantry Armigeri DefensoresCohorsEastern Armoured LegioElite PalatinaExploratoresHerculiani SenioresHetaireia GuardsLegioLegio ComitatensesNumeroiPalatinaPalatina GuardsPraeventoresProtectores Domestici
Spear Infantry Comitatensis SpearsCornuti SenioresEastern Auxilia PalatinaFoederati SpearsLanciarii SenioresLimitanei BorderguardsWestern Auxilia Palatina
Pike Infantry Menaulatoi
Missile Infantry Armoured SagittariiBallistariiElite BallistariiExculcatoresFunditoresLevis ArmaturaeMatiariiNoble Foederati JavelinmenRavenna Elite BallistariiSagittarii
Melee Cavalry ComesEquites DalmataeEquites PromotiExcubitores Cavalry GuardMagister MilitumScholae PalatinaeScout EquitesTagmata Cavalry
Shock Cavaly CatafractariiClibanariiContariiScholae Gentiles
Missile Cavalry Equites SagittariiImperial Dromedarii
Siege Artillery OnagerBastion OnagerLarge Onager
Field Artillery Cheiroballistra
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