| “ | Sasanian unique cavalry unit with high pierce armor. | ” |
| —Age of Empires II description | ||
The Sogdian Cataphract is an untrainable medium cavalry unit with very high pierce armor introduced in the Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition - Dynasties of India. It is available in the Bukhara scenario and the Scenario Editor.
Tactics[]
As a cavalry unit with decent hit points and attack and especially high pierce armor, Sogdian Cataphracts make for a very good raiding and anti-archer unit, especially with their attack bonus against archers. As cavalry, they are a counter to siege weapons as well. They are limited by their Line of Sight, which is the same as those of Camel Rider line and the Paladin. Functionally, they are similar to Huskarls.
As high-value units, they are susceptible to conversion by Monks. As mounted units, they are hard countered by the Spearman and Camel Rider lines, Kamayuks, Mamelukes, and Flemish Militia. As medium cavalry units, they are also beaten by brute force units like the Knight line, War and Battle Elephants, Teutonic Knights, and Boyars.
Campaign appearance[]
Historical Battles[]
- Bukhara: There are 12 Sogdian Cataphracts that can be purchased by tributing 1,500 gold to Khorasan, just east of Persia proper. In addition, they will be made trainable at Stables for 75 food, 50 gold per Cataphract.
Event Scenarios[]
- The Siege: Sultan Mehmed is a renamed Sogdian Cataphract and is leading the Ottoman forces in Thrace.
Ismail[]
- The Red Hats: Farrukh Yasar, the ruler of Shirvan, is a modified Sogdian Cataphract using a unique unit icon. Killing him will avenge Ismail's father and bring control over his mountain fortress.
Victors and Vanquished[]
- Constantine XI: Sultan Mehmed is a renamed Sogdian Cataphract and is leading the Ottoman forces in Thrace. Injuring him will strengthen Byzantine morale.
- Fetih: Sultan Mehmed is a renamed Sogdian Cataphract and is leading the Ottoman forces in Thrace.
- Komnenos: Several Sogdian Cataphracts occupy the city of Edessa, far to the east.
- Seljuk: Sogdian Cataphracts are part of the Ghaznavid forces in control of eastern Persia.
Changelog[]
Dynasties of India[]
- Sogdian Cataphracts replace hero Savars in the Bukhara scenario as well as game files.
The Mountain Royals[]
- With update 95810, the unit's icon was updated to remove the glow and aligned like other regular unit icons, rather than hero unit icons.
Trivia[]
- The unit is based on Sogdians, which were an ancient Iranian civilization in Central Asia that consisted of various city-states in Transoxiana controlled by many factions (two of which are the Hephthalite and Sasanian Empires in the Bukhara scenario). They are often associated with various eastern Iranian and Indo-Iranian ethnic groups such as Scythians, Alans, and Saka.
- Before update 95810, the unit had the hero glow in its icon just like that of the hero Savar. Unlike the Savar, it did not have the golden glow on its model. Since the update, it received a new icon sans the glow.
Gallery[]
