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Unit Information Game Strategies History
Disambiguous This article is about the entire line of light mounted troops. For the particular unit of the same name, see Light Cavalry (Unit).

Light Cavalry are the cheapest and fastest type of Cavalry, requiring both Food Food and Timber Timber. They are strong against Light Infantry, Foot Archers, and Ranged Cavalry but weak against Heavy Infantry and Heavy Cavalry.

Light Cavalry's low cost means a large force can be recruited quickly, and their unmatched speed and attack bonuses also makes them excel at devastating enemy Artillery and Supply Wagons, although their low armour and hit points can make such attack be quickly frustrated by well-prepared enemy.

For the same reasons as previously stated, Light Cavalry can also make quick work of Foot Archers and even Gunpowder Infantry in a successful ambush, flanking attack or by numerical superiority; otherwise the opposite will be true, as these foot troops are almost guaranteed to be more numerous, and can decimate an entire contingent of Light Cavalry before it has a chance to close in, as the frail Light cavalrymen have no particular resistance to these unit types' attacks, unlike the slower, but far more resilient Heavy Cavalry. They also have little use in siege operations, since they are weak to building projectiles, like Ranged Cavalry, but lacking the damage bonuses against Civilians and ranged attack that unit type possesses.

Starting in the Industrial Age Industrial Age, Ranged Cavalry transition into armored vehicles, and Light Cavalry follows suit by merging into that unit type, gaining substantial damage, armour, and hit point upgrades, in addition to a ranged attack and the ability to strike while on the move.

List of Light Cavalry[]

Age Unit
Classical Age Large Light Horse
Medieval Age Large Light Cavalry
Gunpowder Age Large Elite Light Cavalry
Enlightenment Age Large Hussar

Unique[]

Age Unit
Classical Age Large Light Camel
Egyptians
Medieval Age Large Camel Warrior
Egyptians
Rusiny Lancer
Russians
Gunpowder Age Large Elite Camel Warrior
Egyptians
Cossack
Russians
Enlightenment Age Large Don Cossack
Russians

Unit costs[]

Light Cavalry production cost increases progressively with every Stable unit on the field or currently in production. The default increase is 1 Food Food and 1 Timber Timber for the second unit created, increasing further with every new unit until the cost cap is reached, which for military units is of +125% their original base value.

Nation powers[]

  • The American Power of Innovation: All military ground unit upgrades, including Light Cavalry, are 25% cheaper.
  • The Bantu Power of Migration: Light Cavalry do not require Military Military research to be upgraded.
  • The Iroquois Power of Nation: Light Cavalry are hidden when not attacking and heal while idle in friendly territory.
  • The Lakota Power of the Plains: Receive +4 Food Food to gather rate for every cavalry unit, including Light Cavalry, instead of building Farms and Granaries; captured ones will be instantly destroyed.
  • The Mongol Power of the Horde: Cavalry units, including Light Cavalry, are created 10% cheaper and 20% faster.
  • The Russian Power of the Motherland: Cavalry units, including Light Cavalry, do +25% damage against Supply Wagons and artillery units.

Wonders[]

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