The Mahout Lancers cost considerable resources and population, but have a high hand attack with good area effect, and a huge number of hit points. They are most easily compared to the French Cuirassier. The Mahout Lancer is a durable heavy cavalry unit that is good against non-heavy infantry such as archers, and artillery, much like other units of the same class.
Unlike the Spanish Lancer, it is not as effective against heavy infantry, but it can slay many before dying. Furthermore, unlike most other cavalry, Mahout Lancers have a high siege damage, as their elephants can ram over buildings, which makes them decent building killers in absence of artillery. The Indian Two and Three Mahout Lancer cards available in the Fortress Age may be worth adding to a deck. They also have elephant combat cards that increase hit points and damage.
Unlike the elephant cavalry in Age of Empires II, they are not slow. They have the same speed as some other heavy cavalry units, which is faster than infantry. The only drawback is its high cost and population slots, but if used properly, it can be very cost effective. Mansabdar units trained at the Charminar Gate also boost the attack and hit points of Mahout Lancers by 10%. This aura is very weak in comparison to Unction for any players wishing to use aura effects.
Note: Elephant population can be decreased by a single point through use of the Professional HandlersHome City Card, although the Mansabdar Mahout's population cost is only reduced to 13 as per the card's effect.
While Mahouts are incredibly powerful, they do suffer from a few weaknesses. Firstly they take an enormous amount of population. As they actually have a lower base damage than Hussars or Cuirassiers, they can struggle vs an equal population of most units, with the exception of the units they hard counter. Secondly, they are very poor vs Villagers, having a negative multiplier despite their underwhelming base damage. For perspective, a single Honoured Steppe Rider has a higher damage vs a single villager. In late stages of the game, Mahouts should primarily be replaced with either Sowars, consulate cavalry (Gardeners, Gendarmes, etc), or Jat Lancers.
Countering Mahouts in the earlier stages of the Fortress age can be quite difficult due to their exceptional hitpoints (similar to a Mameluke shipment). A mixture of heavy cavalry and either heavy infantry or ranged cavalry will most likely be required to take them down.
Note:Trample Mode does nothing except slow the unit down; it does not increase area or reduce damage, and is entirely useless.
Mansabdar Mahout[]
“
Inspires all nearby Mahout Lancers. Heavy hand cavalry that does wide area damage. Exceptionally deadly against archers and skirmishers.
”
—In-game description
The Mansabdar Mahout is a stronger version of the Mahout Lancer that can be trained from the Charminar Gate wonder. As a Mansabdar unit, the Mansabdar Mahout has twice the hit points of a Mahout Lancer and Imperial Service that increases the hit points and damage of nearby Mahout Lancers, but are two times more expensive.
Special ability[]
Imperial Service (passive): The Mansabdar Mahout increases the hit points and damage of Mahout Lancers in a radius of 24 around them by 10%.
Unit all melee attack damage +15%; Rajput hand attack damage +20% instead, +1 Hindu Villager
2 Mahout Lancers
Delivers 2 Mahout Lancers, +1 Hindu Villager; costs 350 food
4 Mahout Lancers
Delivers 4 Mahout Lancers, +1 Hindu Villager; costs 1,000 food
3 Mahout Lancers
Delivers 3 Mahout Lancers, +1 Hindu Villager; costs 1,000 food
Elephant Combat
Elephant hit points and damage +20%, +1 Hindu Villager
Professional Handlers
Mahout Lancer, Howdah, and Flail Elephant population cost -1; Siege Elephant population cost -2, +1 Hindu Villager
Tame Elephants
Elephant cost and train time -10%, +1 Hindu Villager
Mughal Elephant Armors
Mahout Lancer and Howdah hand resistance +10%, Flail Elephant siege resistance +10%, Siege Elephant ranged resistance +10%, +1 Hindu Villager; costs 500 wood, 500 coin
TEAM Shivaji's Tactics
Unit hit points and damage +5%
Riding School
Cavalry train time -40%; Cuirassier, Oprichnik, and Hakkapelit train time -35% instead; Gatling Camel train time -20% instead, +1 Hindu Villager
Foreign Trading Companies
Adds 0.75 to export trickle rate; banner army export cost -15%; Indian unit cost +2.5% (Hindu Villager, Fishing Boat, and Sacred Cow cost +5% instead), +1 Hindu Villager
Grazing
Camel (except Gatling Camels) auto gather food 0.05; elephant auto gather wood 0.1; Sacred Cow auto gather coin 0.075, +1 Hindu Villager
With update 20322, Mansabdar Mahout Lancers cost 7 population.
With update 13.27885, Mahout Lancers have 20 damage and 3 Area of Effect in trample mode.
History[]
“
Mahout is the traditional name for one who trains and handles a domesticated elephant, a practice that has occurred for more than 3,000 years. In Hindu culture, elephants were highly respected as a manifestation of the elephant god Ganesh, the god of good luck. Having elephants participate in a festival or procession was required for every celebratory occasion, and being the mahout who cared for a great elephant on such an occasion was a great honor.
Often considered the natural predecessor of the modern-day tank, the elephant brought many unique elements to its role as a battlefield unit. Early successes had more to do with surprise and intimidation than battlefield effectiveness. Enemy horses or camels, whether frightened by the beast's smell, or overwhelmed by its sheer size, proved powerless against the elephant. It trampled oncoming waves of infantry and knocked riders from their mounts, scattering ranks and causing general confusion. It had a similar effect on the human enemy, terrifying many men to the point of panic. Yet, as armies became more accustomed to fighting elephants in battle, the methods of how to defeat them became evident.
The most famous event involving a triumph over elephants occurred in 1398, when the Mongol conqueror Timur invaded India to overthrow the Delhi Sultanate. At a loss for how to fight back against the Indian's elephants, Timur prayed to Allah for guidance. Then, according to legend, he attached straw to the backs of the camels in his army and sent them out to fight. When the camels neared the elephants, Timur had his men ignite the straw. The sight of the stampeding, flaming camels spooked the elephants so badly that they ended up crushing many Indian troops in their rush to escape.
”
Gallery[]
An in-game (Disciplined) Mahout Lancer
An in game Honored/Exalted Mahout Lancer
An in game Mansabdar Mahout Lancer
In-game (Disciplined) Mahout Lancer in the Definitive Edition
In-game Honored/Exalted Mahout Lancer in the Definitive Edition
In-game Mansabdar Mahout Lancer in the Definitive Edition
Note: Elephant population can be decreased by a single point through use of the Professional Handlers Home City Card, although the Mansabdar Mahout's population cost is only reduced to 13 as per the card's effect.
Honored Mahout
Exalted Mahout
Cavalry Cuirass (+10%)
Comanche Horse Breeding (+10%)
Cree Tanning (+5%)
Gadaa System (+5%; Ethiopians only)
Navajo Weaving (+5%)
Tar Kilns (+5%)
Yoga (+5%)
Crushing Force (+15% hand attack; Indians only)
Wind Horses (-10% Rate of Fire)
Sudanese Quilted Armor (+10% hand resistance)
Pancerni (+10% ranged resistance)
Apache Endurance (+5%)
Comanche Mustangs (+5%)
Town Watch (+3)
Good Will Agreements (-15%, -1 population; Ethiopians only)
Cheyenne Horse Trading (-40%)
Mass Cavalry (-35%)
Terror Charge (-20%; Indians only)
Immigrants (-10%)
Shaman Drums (-10%)
Strangers' Quarters (-10%; Ethiopians only)
Jagiellonian Legacy (delivers 1/2/3 Mahout Lancers if Charminar Gate was built for the Indians to reach the Fortress/Industrial/Imperial Age respectively)
Meritocracy (-20% upgrade cost)
Ignatian Spirituality
Feudal Armies
TEAM Hand Cavalry Attack
TEAM Cavalry Attack
Dravidian Martial Arts
2 Mahout Lancers
4 Mahout Lancers
3 Mahout Lancers
Elephant Combat
Professional Handlers
Tame Elephants
Mughal Elephant Armors
TEAM Shivaji's Tactics
Riding School
Foreign Trading Companies
Grazing
TEAM Sengoku
TEAM Mustangs
TEAM Knights of the Round Table
TEAM Mariachi
TEAM Kamchatka Expeditions
TEAM Spanish Inquisition
TEAM Cavalry Scouts
