Paladin

"Heavy and quick." - Age of Empires II Description

The Paladins are some of the strongest cavalry units in the game. Like most other cavalry, they are very agile though they cannot match the speeds of Light Cavalry and Hussars. They are effective for wiping out normal infantry and archers. However, they are susceptible to the weaknesses of all cavalry units and should be used carefully to avoid expensive mass death.

Information
"The ultimate fighting force were paladins, the cream of the cavalier class. Paladins were champions for their lords and their orders of knighthood. These men were of the highest social class and elite warriors. They often made up the personal bodyguard of a great king and were sworn to protect his life with their own."

Statistics
Cost: 60F, 75G

HP: 160

ATK: 14

Armor/Pierce Armor: 2/3

Range: 0

Speed: Fast

Upgrades: Forging, Iron Casting, Blast Furnace, Scale Barding Armor, Chain Barding Armor, Plate Barding Armor, Bloodlines, Husbandry, Conscription, Faith, Heresy, Herbal Medicine

Weaknesses: Spearman, Pikeman, Halberdier, Camel, Heavy Camel, Mameluke

Tactics
Paladin are one of the strongest and most cost-effective units, and a full team of fourty can easily decimate any ill-prepared town or army. In one on one combat, paladins can slay Pikemen and Camels, though a larger unit of Pikemen, Camels, and even precariously perched Onagers and Scorpions can easily make mincemeat out of them. Monks are also an issue, as they can convert hostile Paladins easily even with the Faith technology researched. However, if used against ordinary infantry, archers, and other unsuspecting towns, paladins dominate the field. Due to their significant presence on a battlefield, paladins should be used with caution, as one flaw in the implementation of these units could prove costly.