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{{for|unit in [[Age of Empires]]|the similar unit in [[Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings|Age of Empires II]]|Cataphract (Age of Empires II)}}
 
{{for|unit in [[Age of Empires]]|the similar unit in [[Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings|Age of Empires II]]|Cataphract (Age of Empires II)}}
  +
{{Infobox unit
{{AoEUnits
 
|Image = CataphractIconAoE1.jpg
 
 
|Name = Cataphract
 
|Name = Cataphract
  +
|Image = <tabber>Definitive= [[File:CataphractDE.png]]|-|Original= [[File:CataphractIconAoE1.jpg]]</tabber>
|Age = Iron Age
 
|Building = Stable (Age of Empires){{!}}Stable
+
|Type = [[Cavalry units (Age of Empires)|Cavalry]]
  +
|Age = [[File:IronAgeIcon.jpg|22px]] [[Iron Age]]
|Type = [[Cavalry]]
 
  +
|Building = [[File:Stableiconaoe1.png|22px]] [[Stable (Age of Empires)|Stable]]
 
|Food = 70
 
|Food = 70
 
|Gold = 80
 
|Gold = 80
  +
|TrainTime = 40 seconds
|Hit Points = {{tt|220|180 before the Definitive Edition}}
 
  +
|HP = {{tt|240|180 before the Definitive Edition, 200 before CU9, 220 before update 38862}}
 
|Attack = 12
 
|Attack = 12
|Armour = {{tt|4|3 before Definitive Edition}}
+
|AttackBonus = +{{tt|7|5 before update 38862}} vs infantry
 
|ROF = 1.5
|Pierce Armour = {{tt|2|0 before Definitive Edition}}
+
|Armor = {{tt|5|3 before the Definitive Edition, 4 before update 38862}}
|Rof = 1.5
 
 
|PierceArmor = {{tt|2|1 before the Definitive Edition}}
|Los = 4
 
 
|Speed = 2
 
|Speed = 2
|Train = 40 seconds
+
|LOS = 4
|Upgraded From = {{1icons|Heavy Cavalry}}
+
|UpFrom = {{1icons|Heavy Cavalry}}
 
}}
 
}}
The '''Cataphract''' is the upgrade of the [[Heavy Cavalry (Age of Empires)|Heavy Cavalry]] in ''[[Age of Empires]]''. It is the strongest hand cavalry in the game besides hero units. To upgrade the Heavy Cavalry to a Cataphract, {{tt|{{Resources|food = 1,600}}|2,000 before the Definitive Edition}} and {{tt|{{Resources|gold = 750}}|850 gold before the Definitive Edition}} is required after [[Metallurgy]] is researched. Only a certain number of civilizations have the ability to train this unit. Cataphract deals +5 damage bonus against all melee infantry units except for [[Academy]] units.
+
The '''Cataphract''' is the upgrade of the [[Heavy Cavalry (Age of Empires)|Heavy Cavalry]] in ''[[Age of Empires]]''. It is the strongest hand cavalry in the game besides hero units. To upgrade the Heavy Cavalry to a Cataphract, {{tt|{{Resources|food = 1,600}}|2,000 before the Definitive Edition}} and {{tt|{{Resources|gold = 600}}|850 gold before the Definitive Edition, 750 gold before update 38862}} is required after [[Metallurgy]] is researched. Only a certain number of civilizations have the ability to train this unit. Cataphract deals +5 damage bonus against all melee infantry units except for [[Academy]] units.
  +
== Availability ==
 
== Strategy ==
 
While a somewhat handy unit just by itself, the cost of the upgrade is so ridiculously high that many players find it pointless to research, as it generally does not pay off. In Death Matches, Cataphracts are considered to be a good way for non-chariot civilizations to take on [[Catapult (Age of Empires)|Catapults]].
 
 
== Upgrades ==
 
=== Tool Age ===
 
* {{1icons|Toolworking}}: increases attack by 2
 
* {{1icons|Leather Armor Cavalry}}: increases armor by 2
 
 
=== Bronze Age ===
 
* {{1icons|Nobility}}: increases HP by 15%
 
* {{1icons|Metalworking}}: increases attack by 2
 
* {{1icons|Scale Armor Cavalry}}: increases armor by 2
 
 
=== Iron Age ===
 
* {{1icons|Metallurgy}}: increases attack by 3
 
* {{1icons|Chain Mail Cavalry}}: increases armor by 2
 
 
{{-}}
 
{{Stable TechTree (Age of Empires)}}
 
 
== Civilizations ==
 
 
The Cataphract is a unit available only to some civilizations.
 
The Cataphract is a unit available only to some civilizations.
{|border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" class="article-table" style="width: 300px; height: 300px;"
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{| class="article-table" style="width: 300px; height: 300px;" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1" border="0"
 
|+Unit availability
 
|+Unit availability
 
|-
 
|-
!scope="col"|Available
+
! scope="col" |Available
!scope="col"|Unavailable
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! scope="col" |Unavailable
 
|-
 
|-
|style="vertical-align: top;"|
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| style="vertical-align: top;" |
 
* [[Assyrians]]
 
* [[Assyrians]]
 
* [[Choson]]
 
* [[Choson]]
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* [[Shang]]
 
* [[Shang]]
 
* [[Yamato]]
 
* [[Yamato]]
|style="vertical-align: top;"|
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| style="vertical-align: top;" |
 
* [[Babylonians]]
 
* [[Babylonians]]
 
* [[Carthaginians]]
 
* [[Carthaginians]]
* [[Greeks (Age of Empires)|Greeks]]
 
 
* [[Egyptians (Age of Empires)|Egyptians]]
 
* [[Egyptians (Age of Empires)|Egyptians]]
 
* [[Greeks (Age of Empires)|Greeks]]
 
* [[Hittites]]
 
* [[Hittites]]
 
* [[Minoans]]
 
* [[Minoans]]
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* [[Sumerians]]
 
* [[Sumerians]]
 
|}
 
|}
  +
 
== Strategy ==
 
While a somewhat handy unit just by itself, the cost of the upgrade is so ridiculously high that many players find it pointless to research, as it generally does not pay off. In Death Matches, Cataphracts are considered to be a good way for non-chariot civilizations to take on [[Catapult (Age of Empires)|Catapults]].
  +
 
== Upgrades ==
 
=== Tool Age ===
 
* {{1icons|Toolworking}}: increases attack by 2
 
* {{1icons|Leather Armor Cavalry}}: increases armor by 2
  +
 
=== Bronze Age ===
 
* {{1icons|Nobility}}: increases HP by 15%
 
* {{1icons|Metalworking}}: increases attack by 2
 
* {{1icons|Scale Armor Cavalry}}: increases armor by 2
  +
 
=== Iron Age ===
 
* {{1icons|Metallurgy}}: increases attack by 3
 
* {{1icons|Chain Mail Cavalry}}: increases armor by 2
  +
 
{{-}}
 
{{Stable TechTree (Age of Empires)}}
   
 
== Civilization bonuses ==
 
== Civilization bonuses ==
* [[Macedonians]]: Cataphracts have +2 [[Line of Sight]] and are four times resistant to conversion.
+
* [[Macedonians]]: Cataphracts have +2 [[Line of Sight]] and are four times more resistant to conversion.
* [[Yamato]]: Cataphracts cost 25% less resources.
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* [[Yamato]]: Cataphracts are {{tt|15%|30% before The Rise of Rome, 25% in the Rise of Rome, 20% before update 38862}} cheaper.
   
 
== Changelog ==
 
== Changelog ==
  +
=== ''Age of Empires'' ===
  +
* Cataphracts have 180 hit points, 3 armor, 1 pierce armor, +5 attack vs infantry, and cost {{resources|food = 2,000}} and {{resources|gold = 850}} to upgrade.
  +
 
=== ''Definitive Edition'' ===
 
=== ''Definitive Edition'' ===
*+20 HP, +1 armor, +1 pierce armor; upgrade cost to 1600F, 750G (previously 2000F, 850G).
+
* Cataphracts have 200 hit points, 4 armor, 1 pierce armor, and cost {{resources|food = 1,600}} and {{resources|gold = 750}} to upgrade.
*After [[Update 9 (Age of Empires: Definitive Edition)|CU9]], All cavalry line units (Cavalry, Heavy Cavalry and Cataphract) got +1 pierce armor. Cataphract also got +20 HP
+
* With [[Update 9 (Age of Empires: Definitive Edition)|CU9]], Cataphracts have 220 hit points and 2 pierce armor.
  +
* With [[update 38862]], Cataphracts have 240 hit points, 5 armor, +7 attack vs infantry, and cost {{resources|food = 1,600}} and {{resources|gold = 600}} to upgrade.
  +
  +
== Trivia ==
  +
* All East Asian civilizations have access to the Cataphract.
  +
** This in-game availability is historically accurate for the [[Shang|Chinese]] (chariots drawn by armoured horses were mentioned in [[wikipedia:Shijing|Shijing]] and heavy cavalry were deployed during the [[wikipedia:Han dynasty|Han dynasty]]) and [[Choson|Koreans]] (4th-century Goguryeo murals featured cataphracts) yet historically inaccurate for [[Yamato|Japanese]], as haniwa statues of only unarmored horses, not armored horses, were found. Japanese horse-armours weren't attested until the Edo period.
  +
* The Assyrians, Macedonians and Persians are the the only Middle Eastern, Roman and Central Asian civilizations that have access to them, respectively, and none of the Mediterranean ones have access to them.
   
 
== History ==
 
== History ==
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== Gallery ==
 
== Gallery ==
<gallery>
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<gallery widths="185">
cataoe1.jpg|A group of Cataphracts. They have the same appearance as the Heavy Cavalry.
+
Cataoe1.jpg|A group of Cataphracts. They have the same appearance as the Heavy Cavalry.
AOE 1 HEAVY CAVALRY and CATAPHRACT.jpg|A Cataphract in the ''[[Age of Empires: Definitive Edition|Definitive Edition]]''
+
AOE 1 HEAVY CAVALRY and CATAPHRACT.jpg|A Cataphract in the ''[[Age of Empires: Definitive Edition|Definitive Edition]]''.
  +
Cataphract.jpg|A Cataphract, as it appears in the ''[[Age of Empires: Definitive Edition|Definitive Edition]]''.
 
</gallery>
 
</gallery>
  +
  +
== Video ==
  +
[[File:CATAPHRACT vs EVERY UNIT - Age of Empires- Definitive Edition|thumb|left|335 px]]
   
 
{{-}}
 
{{-}}

Revision as of 15:37, 7 June 2021

Info icon
This article is about the unit in Age of Empires. For the similar unit in Age of Empires II, see Cataphract (Age of Empires II).

The Cataphract is the upgrade of the Heavy Cavalry in Age of Empires. It is the strongest hand cavalry in the game besides hero units. To upgrade the Heavy Cavalry to a Cataphract, 1,600 food and 600 gold is required after Metallurgy is researched. Only a certain number of civilizations have the ability to train this unit. Cataphract deals +5 damage bonus against all melee infantry units except for Academy units.

Availability

The Cataphract is a unit available only to some civilizations.

Unit availability
Available Unavailable

Strategy

While a somewhat handy unit just by itself, the cost of the upgrade is so ridiculously high that many players find it pointless to research, as it generally does not pay off. In Death Matches, Cataphracts are considered to be a good way for non-chariot civilizations to take on Catapults.

Upgrades

Tool Age

Bronze Age

Iron Age

Template:Stable TechTree (Age of Empires)

Civilization bonuses

Changelog

Age of Empires

  • Cataphracts have 180 hit points, 3 armor, 1 pierce armor, +5 attack vs infantry, and cost 2,000 food and 850 gold to upgrade.

Definitive Edition

  • Cataphracts have 200 hit points, 4 armor, 1 pierce armor, and cost 1,600 food and 750 gold to upgrade.
  • With CU9, Cataphracts have 220 hit points and 2 pierce armor.
  • With update 38862, Cataphracts have 240 hit points, 5 armor, +7 attack vs infantry, and cost 1,600 food and 600 gold to upgrade.

Trivia

  • All East Asian civilizations have access to the Cataphract.
    • This in-game availability is historically accurate for the Chinese (chariots drawn by armoured horses were mentioned in Shijing and heavy cavalry were deployed during the Han dynasty) and Koreans (4th-century Goguryeo murals featured cataphracts) yet historically inaccurate for Japanese, as haniwa statues of only unarmored horses, not armored horses, were found. Japanese horse-armours weren't attested until the Edo period.
  • The Assyrians, Macedonians and Persians are the the only Middle Eastern, Roman and Central Asian civilizations that have access to them, respectively, and none of the Mediterranean ones have access to them.

History

The cataphract was an improvement on ancient heavy cavalry represented by Alexander the Great’s Companions. The Companions wore only helmets, greaves, and cuirass (breastplate). Cataphracts wore chain mail that covered more of the body and often armored their horses partially also. This gave greater protection against arrows and hand-to-hand weapons. Cataphracts were very expensive to equip, however, and appeared in the armies of only the most warlike and wealthy cultures.

Gallery

Video

CATAPHRACT_vs_EVERY_UNIT_-_Age_of_Empires-_Definitive_Edition

CATAPHRACT vs EVERY UNIT - Age of Empires- Definitive Edition

Units in Age of Empires
CivilianReturnofrome female villager icon Villager · Returnofrome trade cart icon Trade Cart
OtherAoE2 DE priest icon Priest · Slinger-0 Slinger · Returnofrome artifact icon Artifact
Civilian ship1 Fishing Boat Fishing Boat · 2 Fishing Ship Fishing Ship
3 Trade Boat Trade Boat · 4 Merchant Ship Merchant Ship
InfantryClubman Clubman · AxemanAoEDE Axeman
Short Swordsman Short Swordsman · Broad Swordsman Broad Swordsman · AoE nuRoR Long Swordsman icon Long Swordsmen · Returnofrome legionary icon Legionary
HopliteDE Hoplite · AoE nuRoR Phalangite icon Phalangite · Returnofrome centurion icon Centurion
ArcherBowman aoe1de Bowman
Improved Bowman22 Improved Bowman · Composite Bowman Composite Bowman
Chariot Archer111 Chariot Archer
Horse Archer Horse Archer · Returnofrome heavy horse archer icon Heavy Horse Archer
EAICON DE Elephant Archer
CavalryScout-0 Scout
ChariotDE Chariot · ScytheDE Scythe Chariot
Cavalry111 Cavalry · Returnofrome heavy cavalry icon Heavy Cavalry · Returnofrome cataphract icon Cataphract
War ElephantDE War Elephant · Returnofrome armored elephant icon Armored Elephant
Camel RiderDE Camel Rider
SiegeStone ThrowerDE Stone Thrower · CatapultDE Catapult · Returnofrome heavy catapult icon Heavy Catapult
BallistaDE Ballista · Returnofrome helepolis icon Helepolis
War Ship7 Scout Ship Scout Ship · 8 War Galley War Galley · 9 Trireme Trireme
Catapult Trireme Catapult Trireme · Returnofrome juggernaut icon Juggernaut
10 Fire Galley Fire Galley
5 Light Transport Light Transport · 6 Heavy Transport Heavy Transport
Scenario Editor-only units
Short Swordsman Chieftain · Donkey caravan aoe2DE Donkey · Clubman Explorer · Returnofrome heavy cavalry icon General · AoE2 DE priest icon High Priest · Returnofrome horse icon Horse · HeavyCavalryDE Mercenary (removed) · Penguin aoe2DE Penguin · AoE2 DE priest icon Pharaoh · 5 Light Transport Raft · Returnofrome artifact icon War Chest