Strengths
- Eats infantry, including Halberdiers with Logistica.
- Fast train time.
Cataphract
Partialunique · Castle · castle Age
Byzantine unique cavalry with bonus vs infantry. Pikes do not get their usual value.
Idle Villager is current for Update 177723, with minor updates through 180059. Facts on this page were checked on 2026-09-19. Counters are not unconditional. Numbers, upgrades, terrain, and micro change the fight.
What it does
The late infantry answer. Do not open Castles only for Cataphracts unless the game is already about Halberdiers.
Weaknesses
- No Bloodlines on Byzantines.
- Camels still work.
- Gold heavy.
Strong counters
Strategic advice built on verified armor classes and unit access. Not unconditional.
Camel Rider · cost-effective · can win in equal numbers
Camels keep anti-cavalry value. Pikes do not, once Logistica is in.
- Without Logistica, Halberdiers still help.
- Monks.
Situational counters
Monk · cost-effective · needs numbers, surround, or micro
High-cost cavalry still converts.
- Byzantine monk civilization is average. They also have Faith.
What it counters
No published reverse rows yet. Use the strengths list above.
Why matchups work
Infantry bonus plus trample from Logistica. Camels keep their anti-cavalry bonus.
Line, cost, and age
Verified fact from the aoe2techtree dat extract. Base stats, no civ bonuses.
| Unit | Age | HP | Attack | Range | Armor | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cataphract | castle | 110 | 9 melee | 0 | 2/1 | 70f 75g |
| Elite Cataphract | imperial | 150 | 12 melee | 0 | 2/1 | 70f 75g |
- Cataphract: Bonus vs infantry armor class.
Upgrades
- Logisticaimperial Age
Cataphracts deal trample damage and +6 vs infantry. 800 food 600 gold, 50 seconds.
Common mistakes when fighting it
- Cataphracts into Heavy Camels.
- Skipping Logistica in a trash war.
Supporting units
Civilization-specific exceptions
These sit on top of the generic matchup, not inside it.
- Byzantines
Only Byzantines train Cataphracts. No Bloodlines.
verified fact