They marched in silence. No drums. No horns. Only the wet rattle of dying lungs. When they reached the gate, the usurper’s archers laughed. “Look! Rome sends its lepers!”
Eastern superpower – cataphracts & horse archers.
The Romans possess the most technologically advanced units, but they are shackled by an economy in freefall and religious strife.
The Sassanid Empire represents the premier eastern superpower, utilizing a specialized roster built around elite cavalry and distinct support units. rome total war barbarian invasion units
Two major define the combat of the era, making defensive tactics more viable than in the original Rome: Total War :
: Elite heavy infantry equipped with lead-weighted darts (plumbata) that offer better range than the traditional pilum.
The Sassanids represent the ultimate counter to the Roman infantry meta. They rely on a deadly combination of mobile skirmishing and unmatched heavy shock power. They marched in silence
Sword-heavy infantry, weak armor, strong charge.
Their leader was a bear of a man named Gunnbjorn. His left ear was missing, taken by a Frankish ax. His right hand wore three golden rings, each stripped from a dead Roman priest. His men were not many—forty-seven killers, scarred and salt-crusted—but they were fast, brutal, and utterly without mercy.
: A late-game unit widely considered "broken" or overpowered. These are mobile artillery pieces that can devastate enemy formations while moving. 🐎 Nomad & Steppe Factions Only the wet rattle of dying lungs
Many Germanic and Celtic infantry units can lock shields. This drastically boosts their defensive statistics against frontal melee attacks and missile fire, though it limits mobility.
The Sassanids are the masters of heavy cavalry and elephant warfare.
The and Eastern Roman Empire (ERE) share a similar "late Roman" roster that trades the early game's Hastati for defensive, heavily armored infantry.
Unrivaled missile cavalry and terrifying shock charges. Key Unit: Sacred Warband (heavy cavalry). 2. The Sassanids