| “ | Gain bonus damage for 3 seconds after charging. Effective against most units. | ” |
| —Age of Empires IV description | ||
The Royal Knight is the unique heavy melee cavalry unit of the French and Jeanne d'Arc in Age of Empires IV which replaces (and is almost identical to) the Knight. It is available at the Stable starting in the Feudal Age, just like the Early Knight for the Rus.
The Royal Knight is also available to the Byzantines as a mercenary unit.
Ability[]
Royal Knight Charge (Passive): Royal Knights gain +3 melee damage for 5 seconds after a charge
Tactics[]
Just like the Knight/Lancer, Royal Knights have the dangerous combination of strength, bulk, and speed allowing them to win against almost any unit 1 on 1. Although they are countered cost-effectively by Spearmen and Crossbowmen, their mobility allows them to avoid fights vs Spearmen and quickly close the distance vs Crossbowmen to cut them down if they don't have a frontline 'meat shield'. They are highly effective at raiding enemy Villagers; a group of them can easily devastate an unprepared/unprotected town and run away as soon as the counter-army arrives. This makes Camel Riders (especially with Camel Handling) the only counter unit that can truly force them into unfavorable fights.
In the late game, their unique upgrades allow Royal Knights to become some of the most powerful heavy cavalry in the game, rivaled by only the fully upgraded Rus Knight, the Cataphract, and the Imperial Guard. However, the Royal Knight is especially effective in the Feudal Age for several reasons. First, they have fewer counters, with no civilizations having Crossbowmen and most civilizations lacking their own Knights to fight back. Secondly, their special ability allows them to kill a Villager without Textiles in a single hit after a charge attack, making it easier to quickly cause economic damage and retreat. Finally, their Chivalry upgrade allows them to dive enemy Town Centers to kill Villagers, retreat, and then heal their damage. Both The French and Jeanne d'Arc play into their strengths with extended fighting in the Feudal Age, and the Royal Knight should provide the backbone of their armies. Nevertheless, Royal Knights are very expensive, and losing even a single one in the Feudal Age can be extremely costly, even more so than losing a Villager, so they must be managed carefully. They should also be wary of additional unique units that can challenge them in the Feudal Age, such as the Musofadi Warrior, and even the Gilded Horseman of the Order of the Dragon.
Further statistics[]
| Strengths and weaknesses | |
|---|---|
| Strong vs. | Archers, Horsemen, siege engines |
| Weak vs. | Spearmen, Crossbowman, War Elephant, Camel Riders |
| Technologies | |
|---|---|
 Hit points
|
 Royal Bloodlines (+35%)
|
 Regeneration
|
 Chivalry (1 HP/second)
|
| Attack |  Bloomery (+1) Decarbonization (+1) Damascus Steel (+1) Cantled Saddles (+7 bonus after charge)
|
| 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)
|
| Creation speed |  Military Academy (+33%)
|
| Aura and ability enhancements | |
|---|---|
 Attack speed
|
 Valorous Inspiration (+35% for 20 seconds,  Jeanne d'Arc)
|
| Resource cost |  Keep influence (-20%, or -25% with Enlistment Incentives,  French) Consecrate (-25% food, or -25% total with Ordinance Company, Jeanne d'Arc)
|
| Civilization bonuses | |
|---|---|
| Creation speed | French (+20% with School of Cavalry)
|
Mercenary Royal Knight[]
The Byzantines can purchase Mercenary Royal Knights with Olive Oil from the Mercenary House if built next to a Trade Post (if available). Once unlocked, they can train automatically from the Golden Horn Tower. In addition to the generic upgrades, they benefit from the following Byzantine unique bonuses:
| Technologies | |
|---|---|
| Hit points
|
 Foreign Engineering Company (+35%, grants Royal Bloodlines, does not stack with Biology)
|
| Regeneration
|
 Triumph (+2 hp/s while active) Pilgrim Flask (25 hp/s for 6 seconds, requires Cistern of the First Hill) Foreign Engineering Company (+1 HP/second, grants Chivalry)
|
| Attack | Triumph (+4 while active) Improved Torch (+25% torch attack, requires Trapezites) Foreign Engineering Company (+7 bonus after charge, grants Cantled Saddles)
|
 Movement speed
|
 Naval Deployment (+50% speed for 12 seconds after unloading from a Transport Ship) Triumph (+10% while active)
|
| Creation speed |  Conscriptio Influence (+20% per Cistern water level)
|
Dialogue lines[]
- Main article: /Dialogue lines
Changelog[]
- Originally, the Elite upgrade took 90 seconds. With update 8324, it takes 60 seconds.
- Originally, Royal Knights dealt +10 bonus torch damage vs siege. With patch 11009, it was increased to +20. With Season Two Update 17718, the bonus damage was removed, but Royal Knights attack siege engines with their melee attack.
Campaign version[]
Because the original four campaigns have not been rebalanced since the release of the game, Royal Knights have the following main differences there:
- They take 45 seconds to train
- They have 195/240/280 hit points and 4/5/5 melee and ranged armor per upgrade level
- They deal 21/26/30 damage with their regular attack and 32/38/45 damage with their charge attack per upgrade level.
- They deal 30 fire damage with their torch attack every 4.12 seconds
- The Elite upgrade costs 200 food, 600 gold and takes 90 seconds to research
In The Sultans Ascend, the Franks' Knights are actually reskinned Royal Knights, but with up-to-date stats.
Gallery[]
