best byz cav?

**Palandiell** · January 19, 2012, 01:10 PM

which unit is the best cav unit for the byz? the catraphakte or the latinkon? the catraphakte has +1 armor, but the latinkon has +2 on charge bonus AND an extra trait.

which one would you prefer?

**Nazgûl Killer** · January 19, 2012, 01:21 PM

I like the Latinkon more. Not due to their stats, but rather because I just love how they look

**PrestigeX** · January 19, 2012, 01:25 PM

Latinkon is a little more manuevourable IMO, where as the Kataphract they're like a slow heavy tank -- heavy armor, heavy horse armor, maces, -- they just plough into the enemy.

Latinkon is a little better on the repeated charge and out flanking. So it depends on your play style with Heavy Cav's

**diez** · January 19, 2012, 01:28 PM

Still,the Katafraktoi have one more huge advantage.Their secondary weapon,is an armor-piercing mace,which gives them an edge in the melee fighting.But as you mentioned Latinkon have better charge.I tend to use more,both of them for different roles.Katafraktoi are mostly used against other cavalry and specificly hold the line during the cavalry melee.Latinkon,can destroy nearly every infantry unit with a straight on charge,or I use them to charge the enemy cavalry from behind during the melee with the Katafraktoi.

**Aeratus** · January 19, 2012, 02:01 PM

Kataphract is better when it comes to fighting because of the armor-piercing maces, and higher armor. It also be better at charging because it has an Eastern Armored Horse, which has a higher mass than the Latinkon's heavy horse (and although the Latinkon has a higher charge bonus, I believe that the charge bonus stat makes almost no difference in vanilla).

However, Latinkon is faster, which is a huge advantage. So maybe Latinkon is better because of the speed.

**Palandiell** · January 19, 2012, 02:56 PM

question: do they pull out their own secondary weapon, or do I command them to?

**CavalryCmdr** · January 19, 2012, 05:17 PM

They pull it out automatically in prolonged melee, when they are 'fighting' instead of 'charging'

Personally I like the Vardariotai better then either of them, one of the best cavalry in vanilla imho, ofcourse I've a tendancy for hit-and-run light cavalry tactics.

**Bringer Of Storms** · January 19, 2012, 10:05 PM

Originally Posted by CavalryCmdr

They pull it out automatically in prolonged melee, when they are 'fighting' instead of 'charging'

Personally I like the Vardariotai better then either of them, one of the best cavalry in vanilla imho, ofcourse I've a tendancy for hit-and-run light cavalry tactics.

Yes, the Vardariotai are ridiculous. With just a few units of them, you can do amazing things. Like rout 600 something spearmen with two units of them. But if I had to stay on topic. Cataphracts are my preferred cavalry.

**Palandiell** · January 20, 2012, 03:14 AM

thanks guys for the info

the vardortai are in my mind the best archer cav unit in the game. just unbelievable strong and fast.

dont the byz have one of the best late on rosters? just amazing cav units and once you guy the latinkon soldiers and the varangian guard with the greek archers, you just cannot lose. mongols are about to come, so lets see how I will do against em

**Aeratus** · January 20, 2012, 08:36 AM

Actually, I would say that Byzantines definitely have one of the worst late game roster in Vanilla.

First, their cavalry doesn't compare to those of other factions.

Then, they have no gunpowder units at all.

Their top infantry is also substandard compared to other factions. The Dismounted Latinkon is only as good as the DFK, meaning that they are worse than any faction that has a DCK (which is most catholic faction) or the muslim factions that have Hashashim. Meanwhile, the Varangian Guard is a poor unit in vanilla due to the bugged 2h animation.

The Vardariotai is the only top unit they have in a particular class. But I think the polish Strzelcy is better.

**~~PlPs~~** · January 20, 2012, 09:52 AM

Vardariotai is the one of the best cavalry units in the game and the best of Byzantine army IMO.

**Aeratus** · January 20, 2012, 12:05 PM

I believe the infantry units better than what the Byzantines produce are: Dismounted Chivalric Knight (and units that are the same, including Armored Swordsman, Dismounted Norman Knight, and Dismounted Polish Knight), Hashashim, Venetian Heavy Infantry, and Dismounted Christian Guard.