Companion Cavalry

“We ride with Alexander. We ride into legend.”

The Companion Cavalry is Greece’s unique unit, replacing the standard Knight. These elite horsemen, inspired by the legendary hetairoi who formed the hammer of Alexander the Great’s army, combine exceptional mobility with devastating charge power, striking faster and harder than any other Medieval cavalry.

Stats

Unique Unit: Greece. Replaces Knight.

Abilities

• Melee Attack – Devastating melee combat against adjacent units.
• Charge – Bonus damage on the first attack after moving.
• Flanking – Bonus when attacking units already engaged with another friendly unit.
• Swift – 4 Movement (1 more than the standard Knight).

Available Promotions

• Combat I – +10% attack (5 XP)
• Combat II – +10% attack (15 XP, requires Combat I)
• March – Extra movement point.
• Blitz – 2 attacks per turn.

Upgrade Path

The Companion Cavalry replaces the Knight and follows its upgrade path.

Full chain: Horseman –> Companion Cavalry –> Tank

Strategy

The Companion Cavalry trades the Knight’s heavier armour (10 Defence vs 6) for unmatched speed (4 Movement vs 3). This trade-off heavily favours the attacker. With 4 Movement, Companion Cavalry can reach positions that Knights cannot, outflank defensive lines, and strike at vulnerable rear-area units like Catapults, Workers, and Settlers with impunity.

The Blitz promotion on a Companion Cavalry is devastating – 4 Movement and 2 attacks per turn means it can advance deep into enemy territory, destroy a unit, and immediately attack the next target. Use Companion Cavalry as your primary strike force: punch through the weakest point in the enemy line and wreak havoc in the rear. Their low Defence means they must avoid getting bogged down in prolonged combat, especially against Pikemen. Strike, destroy, and press the advantage before the enemy can consolidate.

Historical Background

The Companion Cavalry (hetairoi) were the elite mounted arm of the Macedonian army under Philip II and Alexander the Great. Recruited from the Macedonian nobility, the Companions were equipped with the xyston – a 3.5-metre lance – and fought in a wedge formation that concentrated their shock power at a single point. Alexander personally led the Companion Cavalry in battle, typically commanding the right wing and delivering the decisive charge at the critical moment.

The Companions’ greatest triumph came at the Battle of Gaugamela (331 BCE), where Alexander used them to exploit a gap in the Persian line and drive directly at King Darius III. The Persian king fled the field, and his empire of millions crumbled before an army of 47,000. The Companion Cavalry fought across the known world – from Greece to Egypt to the Hindu Kush and the banks of the Indus – covering more than 30,000 kilometres in Alexander’s campaigns. Their combination of speed, discipline, and aggressive leadership made them the most effective cavalry force of the ancient world.