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This article is about the unit in Age of Empires IV. For other uses, see Sipahi. |
| “ | Fast cavalry effective at raiding, flanking, and countering ranged units. Can gain attack speed at the cost of melee defense. | ” |
| —Age of Empires IV description | ||
The Sipahi is a light melee cavalry unit in Age of Empires IV and is unique to the Ottomans from the Stable and Military School. It is the Ottoman equivalent of the Horseman. By comparison, Sipahi have more hit points, deal more damage, more weapon range, deal more bonus damage against ranged, cost 20 food, 20 wood more, and have the Fortitude ability.
The Sipahi is also available to the Byzantines as a mercenary unit.
Ability[]
Fortitude (Active): Gain 50% attack speed and receive +50% damage from melee sources for 10 seconds. 50 second cooldown.
Unit comparison[]
 Horseman
|
 Sipahi
| |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 100 food, 20 wood | 120 food, 40 wood |
| Training time | 22.5 s | 30 s |
| Hit points | 125 (Regular) 155 (Veteran) 180 (Elite) |
155 (Regular) 185 (Veteran) 220 (Elite) |
| Melee attack | 9 (Regular) 11 (Veteran) 13 (Elite) |
12 (Regular) 15 (Veteran) 18 (Elite) |
| Bonus vs ranged units | +9 (Regular) +11 (Veteran) +13 (Elite) |
+12 (Regular) +15 (Veteran) +18 (Elite) |
| Range | 0.38 tiles | 0.75 tiles |
| Speed | 1.875 tiles/s | 1.75 tiles/s |
| Abilities | No abilities | Fortitude |
Tactics[]
Since the Sipahi is essentially an improved Horseman, it shares the same purpose and has the same counters. It is a unit specialized to counter all ranged units and siege units, due to its high movement speed, high pierce armor, and large attack bonuses vs these units. Their mobility also makes them decent raiders. Although Sipahi have less bulk and deal less damage than heavy melee cavalry units, they take no bonus damage from Crossbowmen, and are a much more cost-effective counter to other ranged and siege units, costing half as much as a Knight.
Just like other cavalry units, Sipahi are especially weak to the Spearman and the Camel Rider, both of which receive an attack bonus against mounted units. Unlike Knights, they lose both population-wise and cost-wise to Spearmen, being unable to defeat a Spearman 1-on-1. Heavy units can also overpower the Sipahi by brute force, although the Sipahi can avoid combat due to its mobility. While they counter Archers, Sipahi have 1 less pierce armor than a Knight, so it is still not advisable to attack large masses of Archers with low numbers.
The Fortitude ability can simply be thought of as an extra attack bonus vs ranged units and buildings, and should be used in this way. Sipahi will fold like paper to any melee unit if this ability is used against an army composed of anything but ranged units. Even using it against Villagers may seem tempting as a way to deliver more effective raids, but the increased melee damage taken will allow the Villagers to fight back much more effectively.
Further statistics[]
| Strengths and weaknesses | |
|---|---|
| Strong vs. | Archers, siege engines |
| Weak vs. | Spearmen, War Elephant, Camel Riders |
| Technologies | |
|---|---|
 Hit points
|
 Biology (+25%)
|
| Attack |  Bloomery (+1) Decarbonization (+1) Damascus Steel (+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)
|
| Creation speed |  Advanced Academy (+25% at  Military School)
|
| Abilities and Enhancements | |
|---|---|
| Armor |  Mehter Melee Armor Drums (+2 melee) Mehter Ranged Armor Drums (+1 ranged)
|
 Attack speed
|
 Mehter Attack Drums (+15%)
|
 Movement speed
|
 Mehter Speed Bonus (+15% when in formation with Mehter, requires Mehter Drums)
|
| Creation speed |  Blacksmith/University Influence (+20%/30%/40% per Age, +100% with Istanbul Observatory)
|
Mercenary Sipahi[]
The Byzantines can purchase Mercenary Sipahi with Olive Oil from a Mercenary House built next to a Trade Post (if available). Once unlocked, they can train automatically from the Golden Horn Tower. In addition to generic upgrades, they benefit from the following Byzantine unique bonuses:
| Upgrades | |
|---|---|
 Regeneration
|
 Triumph (+2 hp/s while active) Pilgrim Flask (25 hp/s for 6 seconds, requires Cistern of the First Hill)
|
| Attack | Triumph (+4 while active) Improved Torch (+25% torch attack, requires Trapezites)
|
| 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 Sipahi moved at 1.88 tiles/s (same as the Horseman). With update 7.0.5861, its speed was reduced to 1.75 tiles/s.
- Originally, the Sipahi cost 110 food, 20 wood. With update 7.0.5861, it costs 120 food, 40 wood.
- Originally, the Sipahi had 0.29 tiles range (same as the Horseman). With update 7.0.5861, it has 0.75 tiles range.
- Originally, the Sipahi had 9/11/13 attack (same as the Horseman). With update 7.0.5861, it has 12/15/18 attack.
- Originally, the Sipahi had 135/165/190 hit points. With update 7.0.5861, it has 155/185/220 hit points.
- Originally, the Sipahi trains in 24 seconds. With patch 7.1.113, it was increased to 28 seconds. With patch 8.2.218, Sipahi train time increased to 30 seconds.
- Originally, the Elite Sipahi had 4 ranged armor. With update 12.0.1974, it has 5.
- Originally, the Sipahi dealt a flat +10 bonus damage against siege at all upgrade levels. With update 12.0.1974, it scales with level at +9/+11/+13.
- Originally, a batch of Mercenary Sipahi cost 480 olive oil. With update 13.0.4178, it was reduced to 450 olive oil.
Trivia[]
- Originally, the Sipahi may have been intended to be a ranged or mixed cavalry, evident from promotional screenshots where they are armed with a bow and arrow.
- With their Elite upgrade, Sipahi gain a costume reminiscent of the Ottoman Deli cavalry also present in Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition. The Age of Empires III unit named Sipahi is also present but has other design. Both are heavy cavalry in that game.
Gallery[]
