Melee cavalry unit (Age of Empires IV)

Melee cavalry units in Age of Empires IV are a branch of cavalry units, and can be considered one of the primary types of land combat units available to all civilizations, along with ranged infantry, melee infantry, and siege engines. They have negligible range and deal melee attack, which is why they are called melee. Melee cavalry are almost always created at the Stable.

Overview

Melee cavalry can be further classified into Heavy and Light, with nearly every civilization having access to the Lancer/Knight or equivalent unique unit representing the former, and the Horseman or equivalent unique unit representing the latter. Some common characteristics between most melee cavalry are: a short default melee range between 0.29 to 0.4, a charge attack with which they engage an enemy unit, a common torch attack with which they attack buildings and ships, and a fast speed between 1.625 and 1.875 tiles per second. Both types of melee units are good against most siege engines, and the mobility of most cavalry in general makes them adept at raiding enemy Villagers and engaging only in favorable fights. There are exceptions to these rules associated with certain unique units. For example, the War Elephant is a slow melee cavalry unit that costs three population which attacks buildings using a melee attack. Most melee cavalry can be created from the Stable, but some can also be created from other buildings such as the Town Center for Scouts, or various landmarks. The Tower Elephant is the only cavalry unit which has both the melee and ranged unit types, and it additionally has neither the light cavalry nor the heavy unit type. Additionally, the Warrior Monk and Desert Raider, despite both being able to engage in melee combat, do not actually have the melee unit type, although they are covered on this page.

Despite some similarities, light melee cavalry and heavy melee cavalry also have different purposes. Light cavalry can be further divided into Horsemen (and unique equivalents) and specialty light cavalry. Horsemen are excellent counters to almost all ranged units, such as the Archer or Crossbowman, due to their high pierce armor and attack bonus. Specialty light melee cavalry typically have other bonuses, such as camel units countering other cavalry, and Fire Lancers being effective anti-building specialists. Some of these specialist units can still perform relatively well against ranged units if in low numbers, but to a lesser degree than Horsemen. Heavy melee cavalry have the highest overall health, damage, and armor in the game and can defeat most units 1-on-1, but are also the most expensive human units in the game. Almost all heavy melee cavalry do extra damage with their charge attack. Combined with their mobility, This makes them some of the most versatile and flexible units in the game if they can be afforded. They can devastate unprepared Villagers, charging in and killing them with only a few hits.

Counters

The universal counter to melee cavalry is the Spearman, due to its high bonus damage and Spearwall/Brace ability which interrupts cavalry charges. However, there are two caveats. The first is that cavalry can easily outrun Spearmen or circle around them, so they must be positioned smartly and not left to chase after cavalry fruitlessly. The second is that most heavy cavalry can actually defeat Spearmen 1-on-1. Therefore, in the late game, they should be paired with additional sources of damage such as Crossbowmen, Handcannoneers, or Ribauldequins, and used to defend these higher DPS ranged units. Light melee cavalry generally fares poorly against all heavy units, while heavy cavalry can also be countered cost-effectively by other anti-heavy units such as the Musofadi Warrior or Onna-Musha. It can also be possible to use other ranged cavalry units to some degree of effectiveness against heavy cavalry using hit-and-run tactics, but this is more of a neutral matchup than a counter, and requires very effective micromanagement to work. Camel Riders and War Elephants also have large attack bonuses vs cavalry and can counter other melee cavalry very effectively. Other camel units, such as the Camel Lancer and Camel Archer, while not having an attack bonus, can also be included among a mixed army composition comprising of other counters to further weaken enemy horse-mounted cavalry with their aura ability.

List of melee cavalry

The following list of melee cavalry compares some common unit statistics, but should not be used as a direct indicator of combat ability, since attack bonuses, abilities, or other special features which can distinguish these units from each other are not included. Neither the Warrior Monk or Jeanne d'Arc - Blast Cannon have the melee unit type, but they are more appropriately compared with other melee cavalry due to their small attack range, and since the latter is the final upgrade in the melee hero path (even referred to as 'melee monarch' in the game files).

Dark Age

Light
Name	Cost	TT	SP	HP	MA	RA	Atk	RoF	Civilizations
Scout	70 food	25	1.625	110	0	0	1	2	All except Malians
Malian Scout	90 food	15	1.625	110	0	0	1	2	Malians
Early Horseman	100 food, 20 wood	22.5	1.875	110	0	2	8	1.75	Mongols

Feudal Age

Light
Name	Cost	TT	SP	HP	MA	RA	Atk	RoF	Civilizations
Warrior Scout	90 food	15	1.75	110	0	0	7	2	Malians
Horseman	100 food, 20 wood	22.5	1.875	125	0	2	9	1.75	Most
Ghazi Raider	100 food, 30 wood	25	1.875	135	0	2	12	2	Delhi Sultanate
Sipahi	120 food, 40 wood	30	1.75	155	0	2	12	1.75	Ottomans
Gilded Horseman	200 food, 40 wood	27	1.875	250	0	2	15	1.75	Order of the Dragon
Desert Raider	80 food, 50 wood, 50 gold	30	1.625	120	5	0	13	1.375	Ayyubids
Heavy
Name	Cost	TT	SP	HP	MA	RA	Atk	RoF	Civilizations
Early Knight	140 food, 100 gold	35	1.625	190	3	3	19	1.5	Rus
Royal Knight	140 food, 100 gold	35	1.625	190	3	3	19	1.5	French, Jeanne d'Arc
Keshik	120 food, 80 gold	30	1.625	145	3	3	15	1.375	Mongols
Sofa	120 food, 60 gold	26	1.725	155	2	2	16	1.625	Malians
King	100 food, 100 gold	50	1.69	220	2	2	16	2.375	English

Castle Age

Light
Name	Cost	TT	SP	HP	MA	RA	Atk	RoF	Civilizations
Veteran Warrior Scout	90 food	15	1.875	130	0	0	9	2	Malians
Veteran Horseman	100 food, 20 wood	22.5	1.875	155	0	3	11	1.75	Most
Veteran Ghazi Raider	100 food, 30 wood	25	1.875	180	0	3	15	2	Delhi Sultanate
Veteran Sipahi	120 food, 40 wood	30	1.75	185	0	3	15	1.75	Ottomans
Veteran Gilded Horseman	200 food, 40 wood	27	1.875	310	0	3	18	1.75	Order of the Dragon
Jeanne's Rider	180 food, 20 wood	15	1.875	170	0	6	13	1.75	Jeanne d'Arc
Veteran Desert Raider	80 food, 50 wood, 50 gold	30	1.625	145	6	0	15	1.375	Ayyubids
Camel Rider	130 food, 45 wood, 45 gold	35	1.625	270	0	0	14	1.125	Abbasid Dynasty
Fire Lancer	120 food, 20 wood, 20 gold	22.5	1.625	155	0	1	11	1.625	Chinese
Warrior Monk	40 food, 200 gold	35	1.625	190	0	0	11	1.75	Rus
Tower Elephant	400 food, 600 gold	60	0.875	600	0	7	30	2.875	Delhi Sultanate
Heavy
Name	Cost	TT	SP	HP	MA	RA	Atk	RoF	Civilizations
Lancer/Knight	140 food, 100 gold	35	1.625	230	4	4	24	1.5	Most
Veteran Royal Knight	140 food, 100 gold	35	1.625	230	4	4	24	1.5	French, Jeanne d'Arc
Veteran Keshik	120 food, 80 gold	30	1.625	175	4	4	19	1.375	Mongols
Veteran Sofa	120 food, 60 gold	26	1.725	195	3	3	20	1.625	Malians
King	100 food, 100 gold	50	1.69	295	3	3	20	2.375	English
Cataphract	180 food, 150 gold	40	1.625	360	4	4	27	1.375	Byzantines
Mounted Samurai	140 food, 110 gold	35	1.625	230	4	4	24	1.5	Japanese
Camel Lancer	130 food, 110 gold	35	1.625	210	4	4	22	1.375	Ayyubids
Gilded Knight	280 food, 200 gold	42	1.625	400	5	4	36	1.25	Order of the Dragon
Jeanne d'Arc - Knight	/	/	1.625	360	4	4	16	1.5	Jeanne d'Arc
War Elephant	400 food, 350 gold	60	1	850	4	5	50 25	2.875 1.875	Delhi Sultanate

Imperial Age

Light
Name	Cost	TT	SP	HP	MA	RA	Atk	RoF	Civilizations
Elite Warrior Scout	90 food	15	1.875	155	0	0	11	2	Malians
Elite Horseman	100 food, 20 wood	22.5	1.875	180	0	5	13	1.75	Most
Elite Ghazi Raider	100 food, 30 wood	25	1.875	200	0	5	18	2	Delhi Sultanate
Elite Sipahi	120 food, 40 wood	30	1.75	220	0	5	18	1.75	Ottomans
Elite Gilded Horseman	200 food, 40 wood	27	1.875	360	0	4	20	1.75	Order of the Dragon
Jeanne's Elite Rider	180 food, 20 wood	15	1.875	205	0	7	16	1.75	Jeanne d'Arc
Elite Desert Raider	80 food, 50 wood, 50 gold	30	1.625	175	7	0	19	1.375	Ayyubids
Elite Camel Rider	130 food, 45 wood, 45 gold	35	1.625	320	0	0	16	1.125	Abbasid Dynasty
Elite Fire Lancer	120 food, 20 wood, 20 gold	22.5	1.625	180	0	3	13	1.625	Chinese
Yuan Raider	80 food, 20 wood, 20 gold	22.5	1.625	200	0	4	15	1.625	Zhu Xi's Legacy
Warrior Monk	40 food, 200 gold	35	1.625	190	0	0	11	1.75	Rus
Tower Elephant	400 food, 600 gold	60	0.875	600	0	7	30	2.875	Delhi Sultanate
Heavy
Name	Cost	TT	SP	HP	MA	RA	Atk	RoF	Civilizations
Elite Lancer/Knight	140 food, 100 gold	35	1.625	270	5	5	29	1.5	Most
Elite Royal Knight	140 food, 100 gold	35	1.625	270	5	5	29	1.5	French, Jeanne d'Arc
Elite Keshik	120 food, 80 gold	30	1.625	210	5	5	23	1.375	Mongols
Elite Sofa	120 food, 60 gold	26	1.725	230	4	4	25	1.625	Malians
King	100 food, 100 gold	50	1.69	395	4	4	25	2.375	English
Elite Cataphract	180 food, 150 gold	40	1.625	405	5	5	32	1.375	Byzantines
Elite Mounted Samurai	140 food, 110 gold	35	1.625	270	5	5	29	1.5	Japanese
Elite Camel Lancer	130 food, 110 gold	35	1.625	245	5	5	27	1.375	Ayyubids
Elite Gilded Knight	280 food, 200 gold	42	1.625	460	7	6	42	1.25	Order of the Dragon
Imperial Guard	140 food, 140 gold	35	1.625	340	10	3	28	1.625	Zhu Xi's Legacy
Jeanne d'Arc - Blast Cannon	/	/	1.625	480	5	5	40	2.125	Jeanne d'Arc
War Elephant	400 food, 350 gold	60	1	850	4	5	50 25	2.875 1.875	Delhi Sultanate

Further statistics

All melee cavalry

The following boosts benefit all melee cavalry except the Scout, which is not affected by some of boosts. The full set of bonuses affecting the Scout can be found on its unit page.

Technologies
Hit points	Biology (+25%, except French and Jeanne d'Arc) Biology Improved (+35%, Mongols) Royal Bloodlines (+35%, French and Jeanne d'Arc) Boyar's Fortitude (+20 Rus)
Attack	Non-Japanese: Bloomery (+1) Decarbonization (+1) Damascus Steel (+1) Additional Torches (+3 fire, Mongols) Additional Torches Improved: (+5 fire, Mongols) Japanese: Tatara (+1) Hizukuri (+1) Kobuse-gitae (+1) Yaki-ire (+1)
Armor	Fitted Leatherwork (+1 melee) Insulated Helm (+1 melee) Master Smiths (+1 melee) Iron Undermesh (+1 ranged) Wedge Rivets (+1 ranged) Angled Surfaces (+1 ranged)
Attack speed	Dali Horses (+20%, Zhu Xi's Legacy)
Creation speed	Military Academy (+33%); Improved: (+53%, Mongols) Advanced Academy (+25% from Military School, Ottomans)
Ability	Miltary Wing - Reinforcement (Can build Battering Rams, Siege Towers, Springalds, and Mangonels, Ayyubids)

Aura and ability enhancements
Hit points	Atabeg Supervision (+20%, Ayyubids)
Regeneration	Pilgrim Flask (25 hp/s for 6 seconds, Byzantines) Triumph (+2 hp/s while active, Byzantines) Divine Vitality (+2 hp/s out of combat, Zhu Xi's Legacy)
Attack	Improved Torch (+25% torch, requires Trapezites, Byzantines) Triumph (+4 while active, Byzantines) Inspiration Bonus (+15%, Holy Roman Empire and Order of the Dragon) Buddhist Conversion (+20% for 20 seconds, Japanese) Uma Bannerman Aura (+15%, Japanese) Siege Festival (+50% torch for 90 seconds) Kurultai Aura (+20%, Mongols) Saint's Blessing (+2, or +3 with Fervor, Rus) Divine Charge (+20%, Zhu Xi's Legacy)
Armor	Inspiration Bonus (+1 melee/ranged, Holy Roman Empire and Order of the Dragon) Defense Arrow (+2 melee and ranged for 5/10/12 seconds, depending on Whistling Arrows, Mongols) Mehter Melee Armor Drums (+2 melee, Ottomans) Mehter Ranged Armor Drums (+1 ranged, Ottomans) Saint's Blessing (+1 melee/ranged, Rus)
Attack speed	Zeal (+50% for 3 seconds, Delhi Sultanate) Network of Castles (+20%, or +30% with Network of Citadels, English) Valorous Inspiration (+35% for 20 seconds, Jeanne d'Arc) Mehter Attack Drums (+15%, Ottomans)
Line of Sight	Set up Camp (+30%, English)
Movement speed	Naval Deployment (+50% for 12 seconds after unloading from a Transport Ship, Byzantines) Triumph (+10% while active, Byzantines) Nehan Conversion (+25% for 20 seconds, Japanese) Yam Aura (+15%, Mongols) Maneuver Arrow (+33% for 5/10/12 seconds, depending on Whistling Arrows, Mongols) Mehter Speed Bonus (+15% when in formation with Mehter, requires Mehter Drums, Ottomans)
Resource cost	Keep influence (-20%, or -25% with Enlistment Incentives, French) Consecrate (-25%, Jeanne d'Arc)
Creation speed	Golden Age Tier 3 (+20%, Abbasid Dynasty and Ayyubids) Conscriptio Influence (+20% per Cistern water level, Byzantines) Supervision (+150% for Chinese; +150% for Zhu Xi's Legacy or +300% with Regional Inspection) Garrisoned Scholar (+100%, requires Efficient Production, Delhi Sultanate) Yorishiro Bonus (+150%, +25% from Town Center, Japanese) Military Festival (+100% for 90 seconds) Blacksmith/University Influence (+0%/20%/30%/40% per Age, +100% with Istanbul Observatory, Ottomans)

Civilization bonuses
Hit points	Chinese (+15% in Ming Dynasty)
Movement speed	Chinese (+15% in Yuan Dynasty)
Resource cost	Zhu Xi's Legacy (-10% in Yuan Dynasty)
Creation speed	English (+75% from The White Tower) French (+20% with School of Cavalry)

Horsemen

The following boosts specifically affect Horsemen and their unique unit equivalents: Sipahi, Ghazi Raiders, and Gilded Horsemen.

Technologies
Attack	Awl Pikes (+2, Holy Roman Empire)
Other	Expilatores (+20 gold per villager killed, Byzantines) Roar of the Dragon (Charge attack gains Area of Effect, Zhu Xi's Legacy)

Abilities
Attack speed	Fortitude (+50% for 10 seconds, along with +50% melee damage taken, Ottomans)

Lancers

The following boosts specifically affect Knights and Lancers and their unique unit equivalents: Royal Knights, Keshiks, Cataphracts, Mounted Samurai, Camel Lancers, and Gilded Knights

Technologies
Regeneration	Chivalry (1 HP/second, French and Jeanne d'Arc) Steppe Lancers (+1 hp per attack); Improved: (+2 hp per attack, Mongols)
Attack	Honed Blades (+3, Delhi Sultanate) Cantled Saddles (+7 bonus after charge, French and Jeanne d'Arc) Knight Poleaxes (+4, Rus)
Armor	Teardrop Shields (+1 melee/ranged, Byzantines) Steel Barding (+2, Holy Roman Empire)
Damage resistance	War Horses (-25% while charging, Order of the Dragon)
Attack speed	Steppe Lancers (+10%); Improved (+15%, Mongols
Movement speed	Do-maru Armor (+10% while Deflective Armor is active, Japanese)
Ability	Numeri (trampled units receive +15% damage from all sources for 12 seconds, Byzantines)
Other	Advanced Academy (Enable creation from Military School, Ottomans)

Aura and ability enhancements
Armor	Infantry Support (+3 melee/ranged, Ayyubids)
Attack speed	Golden Age: Tier 5 (+20%, Ayyubids)

Unique melee cavalry

The following boosts specifically affect unique melee cavalry that do not fit or replace one of the above two roles.

Technologies
Hit points	Armored Beasts (+25%, War Elephant) Howdahs (+30%, Tower Elephant)
Attack	Ming Dynasty (+15%, Yuan Raider and Imperial Guard)
Armor	Camel Rider Shields (+3 melee, Camel Rider) Camel Rider Barding (+2 melee/ranged, Camel Rider) Armored Beasts (+4 ranged, War Elephant) Howdahs (+4 ranged Tower Elephant)
Movement speed	Camel Handling (+15%, Camel Rider) Mahouts (+10%, War Elephant, Tower Elephant)
Ability	Camel Support (+2 melee/ranged armor to nearby infantry, Camel Rider) Spirit Way (Grants +20% attack speed and 2 hp/s regeneration to nearby units upon dying, Fire Lancer)

Aura and ability enhancements
Armor	Infantry Support (+3 melee/ranged, Desert Raider)
Attack speed	Golden Age: Tier 5 (+20%, Desert Raider)

	Units in Age of Empires IV
Common/Generic Miscellaneous Villager · Trader · Fishing Boat · Trade Ship · Transport Ship · Monk/Imam/Shaman · Monarch Melee infantry Spearman · Man-at-Arms Ranged infantry Archer · Crossbowman · Handcannoneer Melee cavalry Scout · Horseman · Lancer/Knight Siege Siege Tower · Battering Ram · Springald · Mangonel · Counterweight Trebuchet · Bombard · Ribauldequin · Culverin Military ship Archer ship: Dhow, Galley, Hunting Canoe, Junk, Light Junk, Lodya Galley Springald ship: Baghlah, Hulk, Lodya Attack Ship, War Canoe, War Cog, War Junk Incendiary ship: Demolition Ship, Explosive Dhow, Explosive Junk, Lodya Demolition Ship Warship: Baochuan, Carrack, Xebec Cheat Photon Man Unique Abbasid Dynasty Camel Rider · Camel Archer · Ghulam Ayyubids Atabeg · Bedouin Skirmisher · Bedouin Swordsman · Camel Lancer · Dervish · Desert Raider · Ghulam · Tower of the Sultan Byzantines Cataphract · Varangian Guard · Cheirosiphon · Limitanei · Dromon Chinese Imperial Official · Zhuge Nu · Palace Guard · Nest of Bees · Fire Lancer · Grenadier Delhi Sultanate Scholar · War Elephant · Tower Elephant · Sultan's Elite Tower Elephant · Ghazi Raider English Longbowman · King · Wynguard Ranger · Wynguard Footman French Royal Knight · Arbalétrier · Galleass · Cannon Holy Roman Empire Prelate · Landsknecht Japanese Atakebune · Buddhist Monk · Katana Bannerman · Mounted Samurai · Onna-Bugeisha · Onna-Musha · Ozutsu · Samurai · Shinobi · Shinto Priest · Treasure Caravan · Uma Bannerman · Yumi Ashigaru · Yumi Bannerman Jeanne d'Arc Jeanne's Champion · Jeanne's Rider · Royal Knight · Arbalétrier · Galleass · Cannon · Jeanne d'Arc [ Peasant · Woman-at-Arms · Hunter · Knight · Mounted Archer · Blast Cannon · Markswoman] Malians Donso · Musofadi Warrior · Javelin Thrower · Warrior Scout · Sofa · Freeborn Warrior · Cattle · Musofadi Gunner Mongols Khan · Mangudai · Khan's Hunter · Traction Trebuchet · Huihui Pao · Keshik Order of the Dragon Gilded Spearman · Gilded Man-at-Arms · Gilded Landsknecht · Gilded Archer · Gilded Crossbowman · Gilded Handcannoneer · Gilded Horseman · Gilded Knight · Gilded Villager · Prelate Ottomans Mehter · Sipahi · Cavalry Archer · Janissary · Great Bombard · Grand Galley Rus Lodya Fishing Boat · Warrior Monk · Horse Archer · Streltsy · Militia Zhu Xi's Legacy Imperial Official · Zhuge Nu · Palace Guard · Nest of Bees · Grenadier · Imperial Guard · Yuan Raider · Shaolin Monk