Cavalry Mode Tacticsguide

[keru_90]

I'd like to share some tips that i learned while playing (and often dying) in cav mode, it may look obvious stuff for experienced players, but i did not see those points covered in the guide, so it might be helpful for newcomers

- leg armor is actually important

- shooting from horseback must take horse speed into the account. As archer and xbowman, circling counterclockswise, you'll pretty much always shoot from the left side of your horse, so adjust your aim so that the center of your aimpoints is slightly to the left of your target (it takes practice of course)

- the best loadout for melee is lance, shield, and a long 1h sword (or bastard sword). Shield is very important on higher mixed waves as 17 and 19, as the main threats are mercenay horse archer with their shotguns. While a long 2h sword may be effective on the initial waves you must consider that on horseback all 2h swords get a damage and speed reduction (as if you were using a bastard sword with one hand, but the damage will still be calculated on your 2-handed skill) and the lack of shield will get you killed

- if you have trouble hitting your targets with a couched lance try aiming in first person

- pikemen are dangerous, if they're facing you, then don't try to melee them. If a pikeman stabs you while you're running at full speed towards him you'll just die in one hit, even with good commando armor

- the best a safest way to deal with wave 16 is lance couching, better done if jousting: two riders with their respective group of nords run towards each other, lancing the bots that are following his partner. Jousting is effective because the nords' movement will be predictable, since they are following your jousting partner; if you try lancing alone, doing a U-turn and lance the guys following you, they will most likely side step to stab you, and being very fast is difficult to adjoust the lance in time. Of course jousting in couples requires coordination and few people playing, and is not really an option on a full public server.
Gunnar is easier than Ulfric, he dies in 5 lance hits at full speed from a couser, and you can even focus him at the very start of the wave, as he will be standing still aiming with his bow (of course it's safe as long as he's not aiming at you), the brand new minimap will help finding him in the crowd.

- on wave 18 and 20 focus horses first, dismounted nords are easy to kill with lance. Marshall and queen can be cornered, after a while they get tired of being unable to ride and they dismount (wave 20 boss horse is unkillable, so that's pretty much the only way to dismount them). Dismounting the boss is dangerous, and people can die in the attempt, so is wise to tome for the deads after you've succesfully dismounted the boss. Once boss is dismounted one player onfoot can spam block with a weapon (beware, queen can be blocked if she uses sword, but her mace has crushthrough), holding the boss in place so that ranged can aim easily and melee can take turns to lance couch him safely.

- always ride at full speed while toming, if a wraith spawns behind you he will not be able to get you in time

- if you need ammo or health and you don't have time to stand at the refills in the middle of a wave go for the emergency option: shrine is fast and is your friend