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This article is about the unit in Age of Empires II: The Conquerors. For the unit in Age of Empires III, see Hussar (Age of Empires III). |
| “ | Fast cavalry for scouting and raiding. Resistant to conversion. | ” |
| —Age of Empires II description | ||
The Hussar is a light cavalry unit in Age of Empires II: The Conquerors that can be upgraded from the Light Cavalry at the Stable once the Imperial Age is reached. They are fast, have decent pierce armor and high Line of Sight, as well as an innate resistance to conversion and an attack bonus against Monks.
Availability chart[]
 Available |  Unavailable
|
|---|---|
- - means that the civilization cannot fully upgrade its Hussars. The technologies being considered here are Blast Furnace, Plate Barding Armor, and Bloodlines.
- + means that the civilization has civilization/team bonuses or a unique technology that benefits the combat strength of the Hussar.
- ✝ means that the civilization has access to the alternate Winged Hussar upgrade.
Tactics[]
The Hussar upgrade's main advantage is the extra 15 hit points after upgrading, but there are other important combat differences not displayed in-game. Firstly, Hussars have a higher attack bonus of 12 against Monks, 2 more than Light Cavalry's bonus of 10. Secondly, Hussars have a slightly higher attacking speed, attacking once every 1.9 seconds instead of every 2 seconds for Light Cavalry. Due to their faster attack, a Hussar without Bloodlines can defeat a Light Cavalry with Bloodlines, despite having a 5 hit point disadvantage. However, the steep cost of the upgrade means that it should only be researched after all the Blacksmith upgrades, and even then, should only be obtained if the Hussar will be frequently utilized.
It is easy to overlook the Scout Cavalry line's usefulness due to its poor combat. However, the Hussar has a high movement speed and cheap cost, both of which make it very useful. Hussars can be used to raid an enemy's economy and they can defend against attacks from siege weapons or Monks. Hussars are the mainstays of some cavalry civilizations when gold is scarce or depleted. Because of their food-only cost, they are considered "trash units", and as such, they become especially important in the late game when the players must rely on their wood and food economies. They form a classic tactical rock-paper-scissors with other trash units by countering Elite Skirmishers and being countered by Halberdiers. Of the three, the Hussar is the most versatile as it can also counter siege and perform raids.
A preferred army composition involving Hussars is to pair them with mounted archers. Since Hussars only cost food, precious gold can be invested in archers and siege weapons to create a mobile and devastating force. The Hussar's role in this composition mainly consists of neutralizing Elite Skirmishers, siege equipment, and Monks. They can also act as cheap cannon fodder to engage and block infantry, heavy cavalry, and Heavy Camel Riders, while the archers pick them off safely, using the cover.
Best civilizations[]
Berbers: With a 20% discount on Stable units, the Berbers have the second cheapest Hussars in the game, costing only 64 food. They are usually paired with the Camel Archer to cover each other's weaknesses, making for a dangerous army.- Bulgarians: With a 50% food discount for Blacksmith technologies, and also all being researched 80% faster, plus having the Stirrups technology to boost the attack speed by 33%, the Bulgarians get, by far, the strongest Hussars (but not Light Cavalry unit in general) in melee combat, resulting in a powerful cavalry unit to fend off other units much better than other Hussars.
- Burmese: Their Hussars are some of the most effective against archers, thanks to the Manipur Cavalry technology, which grants all cavalry units +4 attack against archers. As a result, they can kill most archers in one less hit.
- Cumans: Despite lacking Husbandry, the Cumans have the fastest Hussars in the game, thanks to their civilization bonus which makes all cavalry move 15% faster. They have also the most easily massed Hussar once Steppe Husbandry is researched, which makes them train 100% faster. They are key units for the Cumans, especially when paired with the already fast-moving and fast-trained Cuman Cavalry Archers, but more particularly with the Kipchak, resulting in a very deadly mobile army.
- Georgians: They have among the most tactical Hussars in the game, as they take 15% less damage from higher ground than regular Hussars and regenerate 15 hit points per minute, giving them a key durability. After researching Aznauri Cavalry, they take 15% less population space, helping massing them even when reaching the population limit.
- Magyars: They have the third cheapest Hussars in the game, costing only 68 food, thanks to the 15% discount for the Scout Cavalry line. They also have the attack upgrades for free, saving a sizable number of resources. They are common to use with their exceptional Cavalry Archers, especially in the late Imperial Age. Despite having great Hussars, the Magyars may prefer their unique unit, which performs almost the role, but better. However, as the unit requires a Castle to be created, the standard Hussar might have to be used regardless.
- Mongols: They have the most resistant Hussars in melee combat, alongside Tatars, as they get 30% extra hit points thanks to their civilization bonus. However, the lack of Plate Barding Armor means they are also weaker at taking arrow fire. Despite this, they are common to use with their powerful Mangudais, especially in the late Imperial Age.
- Tatars: They have the most armored Hussars, thanks to the Silk Armor technology which increases melee and pierce armor by 1 each. They also deal 20% more damage from higher ground than regular Hussars at higher ground. Combined with the armored Tatar Cavalry Archers, the Tatar Hussars are a tough force to fight off, and they excel at raiding and taking down archers. Combined with the Lithuanian Winged Hussar, the Tatar Hussar and the Tatar Steppe Lancer have the most melee armor for any light cavalry unit. The Mongols and Tatars have among the best light cavalry units to take fights in melee combat, however, they still are outperformed by both Polish and Lithuanian Winged Hussars, as well the Bulgarian Hussars with Stirrups.
- Turks: They have the most practical and usable Hussars in the game, thanks to the free Light Cavalry and Hussar upgrades. They also get +1 pierce armor, making them even better at raiding. Turks are heavily dependent on Hussars, as they cannot upgrade their Skirmishers, so end up very prone to archer civilizations, which Hussars can make up for. Like the Tatars, the Turks have also very resistant Cavalry Archers, resulting in an appealing combination. The Turks and the Tatars have the best light cavalry unit to use against archers, even surpassing their Burmese counterparts.
Further statistics[]
| Unit strengths and weaknesses | |
|---|---|
| Strong vs. | Archers, siege weapons, and Monks |
| Weak vs. | Infantry, Cavalry, Genoese Crossbowmen |
| Technologies | |
| Hit points |  Bloodlines (+20)
|
| Attack |  Forging (+1) Iron Casting (+1) Blast Furnace (+2) Manipur Cavalry (+4 against archers, Burmese only)
|
| Armor |  Scale Barding Armor (+1/+1) Chain Barding Armor (+1/+1) Plate Barding Armor (+1/+2) Silk Armor (+1/+1, Tatars only)
|
| Conversion resistance |  Devotion (+1 min, +1 max) Faith (+4 min, +4 max) Heresy (die upon getting converted)
|
| Attack speed | Stirrups (+33% attack speed, Bulgarians only)
|
| Movement speed |  Husbandry (+10%)
|
| Resource cost | Kshatriyas (-25% food, Gurjaras only)
|
| Creation speed |  Conscription (+33%) Steppe Husbandry (+100%, Cumans only)
|
| Other |  Aznauri Cavalry (-15% population space, Georgians only)
|
Civilization bonuses[]
- Berbers: Hussars are 20% cheaper.
- Bulgarians: Blacksmith upgrades that benefit Hussars cost -50% food.
- Burgundians: Researching Husbandry is 50% cheaper.
- Burmese: Researching Devotion and Faith is 50% cheaper.
- Celts: Hussars can convert herdable animals even if enemy units are next to them.
- Cumans: Hussars move 15% faster.
- Georgians: Hussars regenerate 15 hit points per minute. Hussars receive -20% (-40% instead of -25%) damage on higher elevations.
- Gurjaras: Hussars deal +40% bonus damage.[note 1]
- Magyars: Forging, Iron Casting, and Blast Furnace are free. Hussars are 15% cheaper.
- Mongols: Hussars have +30% hit points.
- Spanish: Blacksmith upgrades that benefit Hussars cost no gold. Researching technologies that benefit Hussars provides 20 gold each.
- Tatars: Hussars deal +20% damage (+50% instead of +25%) from elevations.
- Turks: Hussars have +1 pierce armor.
Team bonuses[]
- Bulgarians: Blacksmith upgrades are researched 80% faster.
- Hindustanis: Hussar have +2 attack against standard buildings.
- Huns: Hussars are created 20% faster. Researching Bloodlines and Husbandry is 20% faster.
- Lithuanians: Researching Heresy, Devotion, and Faith is 20% faster.
- Mongols: Hussars have +2 Line of Sight.
- Poles: Hussars have +1 attack vs archers.
- Portuguese: Upgrades that benefit Hussars are researched 25% faster.
- Teutons: Hussars are more resistant to conversion.
Changelog[]
The Forgotten[]
The African Kingdoms[]
- Italians: Hussars added to the technology tree.
Rise of the Rajas[]
- Burmese: Initially, Manipur Cavalry gives Hussars +6 attack against buildings. With patch 5.3, the bonus is spread over the two building classes (building and standard building) equally.
- Khmer: Cannot train Hussars.
- Magyars: With patch 5.5, Hussars are 15% cheaper.
Definitive Edition[]
- With update 37650, the Hussar's attack animation is shorter (1.89 → 1.35 sec). While this situationally affects damage (first attack is inflicted slightly faster), it allows it to chase units better.
- Bulgarians: With update 42848, Blacksmith upgrades that benefit Hussars cost -50% food.
- Bulgarians (team bonus): Initially, Blacksmiths work 50% faster. With update 42848, they work 80% faster.
- Burmese: With update 37650, Manipur Cavalry gives Hussars +6 attack against standard buildings and no damage against buildings.
- Cumans: Initially, Hussars moved 10% faster and had access to Husbandry, and Steppe Husbandry increased their creation speed by 400%. With update 34055, they move 15% faster but lost access to Husbandry, and with update 36202, Steppe Husbandry increases their creation speed by 100%.
- Indians: With update 42848, Hussars have +2 pierce armor. Indians lose access to Plate Barding Armor.
- Khmer: Hussar added to their technology tree.
- Lithuanians: Can train Hussars. Initially, Hussars gained +1 attack for each garrisoned Relic, up to +5. With update 34055, this bonus no longer affects Hussars.
- Tatars: Initially, researching Silk Armor gives Hussars +0/+1 armor. With update 42848, researching Silk Armor gives Hussars +1/+1 armor.
- Turks: With update 42848, Hussars have +1 pierce armor.
Dawn of the Dukes[]
- Burmese: With update 56005, Manipur Cavalry gives Hussars +5 attack against archers.
- Lithuanians: With update 51737, they lost access to Hussars, which were replaced with Winged Hussars.
Dynasties of India[]
- Gurjaras: Initially, mounted units had +50% bonus damage, so their Hussars had additional +6 attack vs Monks. With update 66692, the bonus was reduced to +40%, so their Hussars have additional +5 attack vs Monks.
The Mountain Royals[]
- Persians: With update 95810, Hussars get 5 gold for each military unit killed. With update 99311, this bonus is removed.
Heroes[]
There is one hero in the game with the appearance of a Hussar:
History[]
| “ | In the 15th century the Hungarians deployed a corps of light cavalry soldiers that came to be known as Hussars. They were excellent horsemen, trained to ride from their youth on the grasslands of the Hungarian plain. They wore brightly colored uniforms that gave them added dash and distinction. On the march they scouted and raided as needed. In an emergency they could charge in battle, but were usually too lightly armed and armored to engage heavy cavalry or infantry. They were especially useful after an enemy routed and had become disorganized because the fast Hussar could easily run over and cut down the undisciplined troops. The bright uniforms and dashing demeanor were very attractive to other nations and Hussars were prominent in later armies, especially during the Napoleonic era. A British Hussar unit was deployed in the Korean War, although it was fighting in tanks by that time. | ” |
| —Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings manual | ||
Trivia[]
- The appearance of the Hussars, while not entirely anachronistic, is incorrect, as they resemble Polish Winged Hussars, a soldier unique to the Renaissance Polish Army. The term 'Hussar' is also entirely unique to Eastern-Central European ethnicities (Serbs, Magyars, Poles, etc.), and is not suitable for Western European (among whom Celtic Irish Hobelars emerged), Byzantine, Middle Eastern, or Asian civilizations. A more correct & encompassing term would be simply Elite Light Cavalry.
- The Polish Winged Hussar was seen as a heavy cavalry unit instead of a light cavalry unit; however, the Eastern European Hussars (also called Huszars) were meant for raiding.
- His icon shows him holding his sword in his left hand, while he holds it in his right hand in-game.
- Hussars were generally available to civilizations with gold bonuses in The Conquerors, such as the Spanish or Turks. They were not generally available to civilizations with food or farm bonuses.
- With 118 HP, the Mongol Hussar has the highest hit points among all trash units.
- With Stirrups, the Bulgarian Hussar is the second fastest-attacking cavalry unit in the game, with a reload time of 1.43, only behind of the Bulgarian Cavalier with 1.35.
- At the release of the Definitive Edition, all newly introduced civilizations could fully upgrade their Hussars and got either a bonus or unique technology to benefit their combat strength. However, the Cumans lost Husbandry (though they still have the fastest Hussars in the game due to their civilization bonus giving them +15% speed) and Lithuanian Hussars no longer benefit from the Relic attack bonus. In Dawn of the Dukes, Lithuanians lost access to the Hussar, which was replaced by the Winged Hussar.
- With all 5 Relics collected, Lithuanian Hussars had the highest attack of all trash units, with 16 attack.
- As of Dynasties of India, with a speed of 1.74, the Cuman Hussar is the second fastest fully upgraded land unit in the game, only behind the Shrivamsha Rider.
- Before update 37650, researching Hussar came with a slight disadvantage as the unit itself received almost a 1 second (0.95 sec) attack delay – in comparison with 0.7 seconds of a Scout / Light Cavalry unit and 0.5 seconds of a Spearman-line unit. This meant that a melee unit that a Hussar engaged would always deal the initial blow, given it had targeted the engaging Hussar. It also slightly limited the raiding and micro capabilities of the Hussar.
- Most civilizations with Hussar will lose against Malian Light Cavalry when all technologies are researched.
- Neither of the two civilizations introduced in Dawn of the Dukes have access to the Hussar, though the Poles have their unique Winged Hussar.
- Of the civilizations that have access to the Hussar, but lack Bloodlines, most of them also lack access to at least one Imperial Age Blacksmith upgrade to them. The Byzantines lack Blast Furnace, while the Celts and Ethiopians lack Plate Barding Armor. The Koreans have the worst Hussars, as they lack all three common upgrades.[note 2] The Burgundians introduced in Lords of the West are the only civilization that have access to all upgrades for their Hussars except Bloodlines.
- The Mongols and the Gurjaras are the only civilizations with bonuses for Hussars, but not having fully upgraded Hussars. The Cumans are excluded because their civilization bonus covers the missing technology Husbandry.
Gallery[]
The Scout Cavalry line in the HD Edition, with the Hussar being the third from the left
The Scout Cavalry line, with the Hussar on the top-right
A group of Hussars in the Definitive Edition
Original render
Hussars can protect slow units like War Elephants from enemy Monks.
