- "Suddenly the king cried to Snowmane and the horse sprang away. Behind him his banner blew in the wind, white horse upon a field of green, but he outpaced it. After him thundered the knights of his house, but he was ever before them. "
- —The Return of the King
The Royal Vanguard are scout cavalry units of Rohan which cost no command points but are limited to three battalions. In addition to that they take to the field very quickly (almost no recruitment time) and can move into a wedge formation. They are upgraded versions of Exiles, and they can be recruited from the upgraded version of the Exile Camp, the King's Camp (cost: 1000).
Abilities[]
Wedge Formation - The Royal Vanguards are slowed 50% less when trampling but lose 25% armor.
Upgrades[]
Royal Vanguard has access to the following upgrades:
Banner Carrier - This upgrade can only be given to a level 1 battalion and will promote it to level 2. At level 2 the battalion can regenerate units when out of combat. Cost: 200.
Heavy Armor - Increases the armor, hit points and damage resistance of the unit to ranged damage. Changes the unit's armor set to EdainCavalryHeavyArmor, if Horse Shields has been purchased changes the armor set to EdainCavalryHeavyShieldArmor. Cost: 300
| EdainCavalryHeavyArmor | |
|---|---|
| DEFAULT | 100% |
| SLASH | 30% |
| PIERCE | 65% |
| CAVALRY_RANGED | 135% |
| SPECIALIST | 170% |
| CRUSH | 100% |
| CAVALRY | 100% |
| SIEGE | 100% |
| FLAME | 100% |
| FROST | 100% |
| MAGIC | 100% |
| HERO | 150% |
| HERO_RANGED | 150% |
| STRUCTURAL | 200% |
| CHOP | 30% |
| URUK | 45% |
| WATER | 135% |
| FlankedPenalty | 12% |
| EdainCavalryHeavyShieldArmor | |
|---|---|
| DEFAULT | 100% |
| SLASH | 15% |
| PIERCE | 32% |
| CAVALRY_RANGED | 65% |
| SPECIALIST | 170% |
| CRUSH | 100% |
| CAVALRY | 100% |
| SIEGE | 100% |
| FLAME | 100% |
| FROST | 100% |
| MAGIC | 100% |
| HERO | 150% |
| HERO_RANGED | 150% |
| STRUCTURAL | 100% |
| CHOP | 15% |
| URUK | 22% |
| WATER | 135% |
| FlankedPenalty | 12% |
Forged Blades - Increases the damage of this battalion and provides a damage bonus against buildings. Cost: 300
Horse Shield - Increases armor of the battalion against Pikemen by 25% and armor against Swordsmen by 50%. Changes the armorset to EdainCavalryShieldArmor, if heavy armor has already been purchased changes the armorset to EdainCavalryHeavyShieldArmor. Cost: 200
| EdainCavalryShieldArmor | |
|---|---|
| DEFAULT | 100% |
| SLASH | 15% |
| PIERCE | 50% |
| CAVALRY_RANGED | 50% |
| SPECIALIST | 170% |
| CRUSH | 100% |
| CAVALRY | 100% |
| SIEGE | 100% |
| FLAME | 100% |
| FROST | 100% |
| MAGIC | 100% |
| HERO | 100% |
| HERO_RANGED | 100% |
| STRUCTURAL | 65% |
| CHOP | 22% |
| URUK | 15% |
| WATER | 135% |
| FlankedPenalty | 12% |
| EdainCavalryHeavyShieldArmor | |
|---|---|
| DEFAULT | 100% |
| SLASH | 15% |
| PIERCE | 32% |
| CAVALRY_RANGED | 65% |
| SPECIALIST | 170% |
| CRUSH | 100% |
| CAVALRY | 100% |
| SIEGE | 100% |
| FLAME | 100% |
| FROST | 100% |
| MAGIC | 100% |
| HERO | 150% |
| HERO_RANGED | 150% |
| STRUCTURAL | 100% |
| CHOP | 15% |
| URUK | 22% |
| WATER | 135% |
| FlankedPenalty | 12% |
Strategy[]
It is important to note that while you are limited to 3 battalions of Royal Vanguards, you can also train your 3 battalions of Exiles from the Exile Camp before you upgrade it to the King's Camp. Aside from costing 0 command points (unlike the Exiles) and having a quick training time, the Royal Vanguard are not much different from your regular Rohirrim. Therefore, to maximize their particular benefits, the strategy with them should be to use them to set up an ambush or rush them to defend the outpost/nearby settlements/heroes. Recruitment speed is the main bonus.
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