Diggles Rules of 1H Cavalry

[Sultan_Khalifa]

Cav can be an incredible powerful tool when used with a team, they are not just lolracecar lances in the back.  Good cav working along side infantry can be a force to be reckoned with.  Its really ashame that more players dont do 1h from horseback, its a very rewarding feeling especially on those multikill passes that a lance just cant do.

I plan to add to this post later, as the thoughts trickle in.

These are general rules of thumb and guidelines that if followed will improve your role as cav.  There are of course exceptions to these rules under certain curcumstances, but following these will help you become a cav master.

DIGGLES RULES OF 1H CAV

1.  Never leave your team.  Stay near your infantry and protect them and yourself.

If you happen to get dehorsed after charging an enemy spawn, good luck living.  While if you are with your infantry, they can quickly surround and protect a downed rider when he is vulnerable.


2.  Never frontal charge enemies that are aware of your presence and expecting you.

Ie...the pike man couching with spear ready to stab.  Spears, pikes and 2h swords are the most dangerous opponents to you, be wary of them.  Expect them to loljumpslash or 360 spin stab you.


3.  Avoid engaging enemy cav

Since you are at a reach disadvantage, do not engage lancer cavalry.  Waste their time maneuvering, the more time they waste chasing you the less time they spend attacking your teammates.  Since you SHOULD be close to your infantry, wait for the enemy cav to make a mistake and go in for the kill.  Or better yet, bait them into your teammates pikes!


4.  Never charge directly at an enemy that is near a wall.

I would say something flatter than a 45° is safe.  Its too risky and if you happen to miss and slam into the wall and rear, you're toast.


5.  Never underestimate your role as a distraction. 

Many an enemy infantry I've seen blunder right into my waiting teammates because I stayed on their flank with weapon cocked and the enemy was too fixated on me.

All I see is Chicken Chicken Chicken Ninja Kill...

this what there replacing real Cav with..

[Digglez]

doesnt mean much coming from a coward clan of kiters.  if you cant post something useful or informative, stay out of the thread

[Beans]

I'm shopping around on the market for a MW 1h for my 1H+shield character and trying to economize and use the same weapon on horseback and also on foot. But it seems difficult to find a good balance of both length, speed, and damage that would be useful for both. Especially when looking for thrust, it seems like I have to compromise one of the stats. I might leave out thrust ability because I'll have a champion maneuver horse and can use that can use positioning to make up for the lack of thrust utility.

Any suggestions?

[Digglez]

I'm shopping around on the market for a MW 1h for my 1H+shield character and trying to economize and use the same weapon on horseback and also on foot. But it seems difficult to find a good balance of both length, speed, and damage that would be useful for both. Especially when looking for thrust, it seems like I have to compromise one of the stats. I might leave out thrust ability because I'll have a champion maneuver horse and can use that can use positioning to make up for the lack of thrust utility.

Any suggestions?

There are many MW shaskas and knightly arming on the market right now, very good deals and good cav weapons.

If you've read the other cav weapon threads, THRUST is an important part of a cav weapon.  Dont let others tell you otherwise.  DO not use slash only weapons.

[gazda]

for a foot/horseback combo id take knightly arming or nordic champ,

[Digglez]

for a foot/horseback combo id take knightly arming or nordic champ,

agreed.  I use MW nordic champ myself

[Beans]

What kind of situations benefit from thrust? I'm having a hard time thinking about it considering going forward it's barely going to reach past your horses head, or not at all if it is a larger horse. And why not just swing if you need to attack on the sides?

[gazda]

on horse using thurst is pretty usless,

[robert_namo]

Is this still accurate?

[Digglez]

yes.  I may add some extra neat tricks as well

[Kafein]

on horse using thurst is pretty usless,

No. It's useful against tincans but also other horsemen.

[Digglez]

No. It's useful against tincans but also other horsemen.

Yep you can also outreach 2h swords that attempt to stab you if you know your hitboxes well

[agile]

What are some good swords for 1h cav? 1st day of 1h cav today.

[Digglez]

What are some good swords for 1h cav? 1st day of 1h cav today.

Shaska (good inexpensive learning weapon)

Arab Cav:  best slash dmg and reach
Nordic Champ/Knightly Arming:  most well rounded
Long Espada:  highest thrust dmg (killing aware opponents and anti-cav)

[KaMiKaZe_JoE]

Protips

1. Armor Up
-As a 1h cav player, you will be in the shit, fighting with your infantry in crowded melee combat. You need to armor your horse, and yourself. Many a time I have entered the fray, only to get my feet cut up and die. Armor yourself, and don't skimp on your feet! Once you have the money armor up whenever possible, for your ass-kickery will be vastly improved.
2. Pick a good horsie.
-For grinding purposes I would suggest a rouncey. Once you have the money, upgrade to a destrier and use that as your primary mount, switching back to the rouncey if you're low on cash, or if you're bored. Eventually get one of the metal horses (cataphract works well).
3. Thrust is your friend
-The thrust attack is extremely effective against any target, particularly enemy cavalry. It's kind of like being a lancer, actually. I might point out that it deals piercing rather than cutting damage for most weapons, which, combined with your speed bonus, makes it a good anti-tincan attack.
4. Pad your k/d
-Your job, as cavalry, is to be a kill whoring bundle of sticks. Steal teammate's kills. Go for the AFK's shamelessly. Kill the stragglers and peasants. Go for distracted archers. Bump those 1h/shield users into the ground. Actually, bump everybody into the ground.
5. PS helps
-Get a build with good powerstrike. I occasionally play as 1h/cav using my lancer build (I was dedicated 1h/cav last gen), but when I do so my performance is meh because I hit like a girl. 15/21 build isn't a good idea for the fledgling 1h/cav.