For the Napoleon: Total War unit, see Deli Horsemen (Napoleon: Total War).
Deli Horsemen are a type of missile cavalry in Empire: Total War.
Description[]
These extravagantly attired light cavalry are an extremely useful force for any general.
Easily recognisable by their distinctive animal skins and feathered shields, these troops are recruited from many peoples. They have an ethos of personal, rather than collective, bravery. The animal skins worn include wolf, leopard and bear pelts, and their winged shields are enhanced by attaching bird feathers to them. They are armed with scimitars, and these can cause terrible slashing wounds in hand-to-hand combat. The task of the scouts, though, is to avoid combat, seek out the enemy and return with news.
Historically, Deli infantry men and cavalry were irregular troops, and deli horsemen would often find employment guarding caravans and important dignitaries.
General Information[]
Deli Horsemen are the Ottoman Empire's only missile cavalry. This makes them similar to Light Dragoons; however, they can be obtained much earlier, cannot dismount, and are fewer in number.
Deli Horsemen's ability to fire while in the saddle makes them a potent harassing force, useful for wearing down slower or distracted troops. However, they are vulnerable in a prolonged melee, and they suffer from having an extremely limited pool of ammo. If they can fire off a volley while charging this can make the charge much more effective.