# Shrivamsha Rider is weirdly designed and (likely) underpowered **URL:** \ **Category:** II - Discussion\ **Created:** [April 21, 2022, 2:39pm UTC](https://forums.ageofempires.com/t/shrivamsha-rider-is-weirdly-designed-and-likely-underpowered/201498 "2022-04-21T14:39:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![PrepaidThyme742](https://forums.ageofempires.com/user_avatar/forums.ageofempires.com/prepaidthyme742/32/112170_2.png) [@PrepaidThyme742](https://forums.ageofempires.com/u/PrepaidThyme742)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2022, 2:39pm UTC](https://forums.ageofempires.com/t/shrivamsha-rider-is-weirdly-designed-and-likely-underpowered/201498/1 "2022-04-21T14:39:29Z")
[![](https://forums.ageofempires.com/uploads/default/original/3X/1/c/1c4daaf74469885d5a6f2a0de502599c5d342d15.jpeg "Shrivamsha Rider (unique unit quicktake)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2_1SS2aQjFo) With focus firing of Archers/Crossbows, Shrivamsha Rider isnt any better than normal Light Cavalry… and Light Cavs with +1 Pierce Armor (like old Indians, Tatars or Turks) are surely much much better than Shrivamsha Riders which are sold as specially being anti-archer in their description… ![image](https://forums.ageofempires.com/uploads/default/original/3X/b/2/b21cb3a48c8b021a1abf26823bac6d8a41aca672.jpeg) ![image](https://forums.ageofempires.com/uploads/default/original/3X/c/a/cad7e398c5ffc1ff5834f874da1f6649af4ba799.jpeg) On the other hand they interact very weirdly with siege units, in that they ignore siege weapon projectiles like they’re nothing Overall it feels like a weird game design on this unit. Its amazing vs Siege, but only as good as Light Cavalry/Hussar against Archer units (assuming the opponent is paying attention and focus firing, which does usually happen) Shrivamsha performes well only if the archer player is not microing 😂 isn’t that itself horrible design? ---
**Author:** ![casusincorrabil](https://forums.ageofempires.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/c/5f8ce5/32.png) [@casusincorrabil](https://forums.ageofempires.com/u/casusincorrabil)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2022, 2:42pm UTC](https://forums.ageofempires.com/t/shrivamsha-rider-is-weirdly-designed-and-likely-underpowered/201498/2 "2022-04-21T14:42:55Z")
Yeah… I also am a bit irritated by the design. I guess some micro nerds could use the unit effectively as a hit+run unit, but seems extremely hard to execute for me. Better if they just had 50% chance to “dodge” pierce damage. ---
**Author:** ![AbuzzJam4677680](https://forums.ageofempires.com/user_avatar/forums.ageofempires.com/abuzzjam4677680/32/55419_2.png) [@AbuzzJam4677680](https://forums.ageofempires.com/u/AbuzzJam4677680)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2022, 2:45pm UTC](https://forums.ageofempires.com/t/shrivamsha-rider-is-weirdly-designed-and-likely-underpowered/201498/3 "2022-04-21T14:45:39Z")
Since mameluke’ shot can be dodged, I wonder if shrivamsha Rider can dodge Steppe Lancer and Kamayuk attack as well. Besides, it is kinda ridiculous if mameluke, genoese xbow, Kamayuk are worse than Chu ko nu to fight this unit. They are produced in stable and should be unlike Cataphract. ---
**Author:** ![PeakHornet46539](https://forums.ageofempires.com/user_avatar/forums.ageofempires.com/peakhornet46539/32/187877_2.png) [@PeakHornet46539](https://forums.ageofempires.com/u/PeakHornet46539)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2022, 2:45pm UTC](https://forums.ageofempires.com/t/shrivamsha-rider-is-weirdly-designed-and-likely-underpowered/201498/4 "2022-04-21T14:45:48Z")
My main issue is the graphical design of the unit. Why is the unit topless and has a ridiculous looking helmet. It needs a turban ---
**Author:** ![Juggernaut8704](https://forums.ageofempires.com/user_avatar/forums.ageofempires.com/juggernaut8704/32/203886_2.png) [@Juggernaut8704](https://forums.ageofempires.com/u/Juggernaut8704)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2022, 2:51pm UTC](https://forums.ageofempires.com/t/shrivamsha-rider-is-weirdly-designed-and-likely-underpowered/201498/5 "2022-04-21T14:51:31Z")
It was heavily armoured if you check the image in the Wikipedia page for that unit. > **[Bhuj (weapon)](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhuj_(weapon))** > > A bhuj is a type of knife or dagger from Sindh and Gujarat. It is commonly called an axe-knife, because the blade is fixed onto an axe-like haft. The weapon takes its name from the city of Bhuj in the Kutch district of the state of Gujarat, where it originated, though it may have also originated in Sindh. The bhuj is short, broad, stout, and heavy, with a mild curve. It often sports an engraved and gilded mount, inlaid haft and decorated knob. This knob is typically a stylized elephant head, ... But that’s just a design choice of devs. So I won’t complain. ---
**Author:** ![PeakHornet46539](https://forums.ageofempires.com/user_avatar/forums.ageofempires.com/peakhornet46539/32/187877_2.png) [@PeakHornet46539](https://forums.ageofempires.com/u/PeakHornet46539)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2022, 2:54pm UTC](https://forums.ageofempires.com/t/shrivamsha-rider-is-weirdly-designed-and-likely-underpowered/201498/6 "2022-04-21T14:54:17Z")
We need the Ratha archer/infantry unit as a foot unit. The Indian longbow it wields is excellent! ---
**Author:** ![Akoskaaa10](https://forums.ageofempires.com/user_avatar/forums.ageofempires.com/akoskaaa10/32/29945_2.png) [@Akoskaaa10](https://forums.ageofempires.com/u/Akoskaaa10)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2022, 3:00pm UTC](https://forums.ageofempires.com/t/shrivamsha-rider-is-weirdly-designed-and-likely-underpowered/201498/7 "2022-04-21T15:00:40Z")
This unit is also garbage. OMG. ---
**Author:** ![Nerathion](https://forums.ageofempires.com/user_avatar/forums.ageofempires.com/nerathion/32/30246_2.png) [@Nerathion](https://forums.ageofempires.com/u/Nerathion)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2022, 3:02pm UTC](https://forums.ageofempires.com/t/shrivamsha-rider-is-weirdly-designed-and-likely-underpowered/201498/8 "2022-04-21T15:02:42Z")
I don’t think so, it moreso seems to count projectile attacks, I think. ---
**Author:** ![Dbuen](https://forums.ageofempires.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/d/ed655f/32.png) [@Dbuen](https://forums.ageofempires.com/u/Dbuen)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2022, 3:24pm UTC](https://forums.ageofempires.com/t/shrivamsha-rider-is-weirdly-designed-and-likely-underpowered/201498/9 "2022-04-21T15:24:56Z")
What a cool unit. It’s a fantastic blend of making an anti-something with multiple mechanics subtly mixing together, rather than a singular hard bonus. Compared to Knights vs. Archers the Shrivamsha will mass faster, surround faster, lose less damage potential over time, and have regenerating “health.” I love it. ---
**Author:** ![AllergicTable49](https://forums.ageofempires.com/user_avatar/forums.ageofempires.com/allergictable49/32/92314_2.png) [@AllergicTable49](https://forums.ageofempires.com/u/AllergicTable49)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2022, 3:33pm UTC](https://forums.ageofempires.com/t/shrivamsha-rider-is-weirdly-designed-and-likely-underpowered/201498/10 "2022-04-21T15:33:26Z")
Another Steppe Lancer has been added to the game, great. And you need an absurd farming eco to sustain 70f (20g) cavalry unit. Just like Steppe Lancers, No point to boom into this unit. Since it’s good mostly in the early game. Nonesense conceptually. Gold efficienciness is a worthless attribute when your unit doesnt scale to late-game anyways, what’s the obsession with gold? Another case of a gimmicky unit that’s good only in low numbers. What’s the point Devs? The least you could do is giving them an unique food cost that will allow people to actually create it over Knight or Light Cav due to how low the reliability in big farming eco is. A price like 20f 60g. Yet you chose to work systematically, and once you work according to an equation you end up with a generic unit, another gimmick that has no real purpose. Steppe Lancers 2.0 #WeLoveGimmicks #AOEII2022 ---
**Author:** ![casusincorrabil](https://forums.ageofempires.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/c/5f8ce5/32.png) [@casusincorrabil](https://forums.ageofempires.com/u/casusincorrabil)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2022, 3:55pm UTC](https://forums.ageofempires.com/t/shrivamsha-rider-is-weirdly-designed-and-likely-underpowered/201498/11 "2022-04-21T15:55:47Z")
I just thought about how this unit could be “saved”. The best Idea I had so far was to add a “global dodge” charge for them: Every Shrivamsha increases the amount of the global dodge by 1. The Recharge speed (percentual) is a bit lower than the individual one (like 50% speed or so). And the individual dodge charge will be depleted first before the global one comes into play. So if eg you have 20 of them they have all an indivdual dodge charge of 5, but together also a global 20. They only start to take damage when the global 20 is also depleted. That still means you need to be careful with them, cause once that global charge is gone they will start to take serious damage from archery. And ofc it should only apply to arrows, not any kind of ranged attacks… ---
**Author:** ![TungstenBoar](https://forums.ageofempires.com/user_avatar/forums.ageofempires.com/tungstenboar/32/173768_2.png) [@TungstenBoar](https://forums.ageofempires.com/u/TungstenBoar)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2022, 5:39pm UTC](https://forums.ageofempires.com/t/shrivamsha-rider-is-weirdly-designed-and-likely-underpowered/201498/12 "2022-04-21T17:39:22Z")
Tbh I dont want a so heavilyRNG based unit ---
**Author:** ![casusincorrabil](https://forums.ageofempires.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/c/5f8ce5/32.png) [@casusincorrabil](https://forums.ageofempires.com/u/casusincorrabil)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2022, 5:55pm UTC](https://forums.ageofempires.com/t/shrivamsha-rider-is-weirdly-designed-and-likely-underpowered/201498/13 "2022-04-21T17:55:00Z")
It’s actually not rng… But it’s really snowbally. Which I also don’t like that much. A lot of the things devs implemented in de was actually very snowbally stuff. Like SL, 2 ND TC, Revolution, Coustillier, First Crusade, Szlachta Privileges, Folwark… ---
**Author:** ![PrepaidThyme742](https://forums.ageofempires.com/user_avatar/forums.ageofempires.com/prepaidthyme742/32/112170_2.png) [@PrepaidThyme742](https://forums.ageofempires.com/u/PrepaidThyme742)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2022, 5:56pm UTC](https://forums.ageofempires.com/t/shrivamsha-rider-is-weirdly-designed-and-likely-underpowered/201498/14 "2022-04-21T17:56:45Z")
If crossbows focus fire, Shrivamsha rider is literally useless because it dies at the same time as the Light Cavalry of any civ. Knights are just so so much better in everything, even considering the cost… ---
**Author:** ![casusincorrabil](https://forums.ageofempires.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/c/5f8ce5/32.png) [@casusincorrabil](https://forums.ageofempires.com/u/casusincorrabil)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2022, 5:59pm UTC](https://forums.ageofempires.com/t/shrivamsha-rider-is-weirdly-designed-and-likely-underpowered/201498/15 "2022-04-21T17:59:49Z")
Completely agree, the current shrivamsha design makes little to no sense. ---
**Author:** ![PrepaidThyme742](https://forums.ageofempires.com/user_avatar/forums.ageofempires.com/prepaidthyme742/32/112170_2.png) [@PrepaidThyme742](https://forums.ageofempires.com/u/PrepaidThyme742)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2022, 6:07pm UTC](https://forums.ageofempires.com/t/shrivamsha-rider-is-weirdly-designed-and-likely-underpowered/201498/16 "2022-04-21T18:07:48Z")
> [@Dbuen](#): > > Compared to Knights vs. Archers the Shrivamsha will mass faster, surround faster, lose less damage potential over time Factually incorrect. If crossbows focus fire, Shrivamsha rider is literally useless because it dies at the same time as the Light Cavalry of any civ. See this image ![image](https://forums.ageofempires.com/uploads/default/original/3X/0/c/0c79f4adc961440169fb3f57ecb674b5b99b2cc0.jpeg) It’s hilarious you even consider comparing them to Knights when they die at the same time as Light Cavalry to 6 crossbows focus firing. In fact they have less HP remaining in the health bar than the ordinary Light Cavalry. ---
**Author:** ![Nerathion](https://forums.ageofempires.com/user_avatar/forums.ageofempires.com/nerathion/32/30246_2.png) [@Nerathion](https://forums.ageofempires.com/u/Nerathion)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2022, 7:20pm UTC](https://forums.ageofempires.com/t/shrivamsha-rider-is-weirdly-designed-and-likely-underpowered/201498/17 "2022-04-21T19:20:00Z")
That is with just one unit, and they needed several volleys. From the same video, you learnt that the shield absorbs five projectiles before depleting, so they might be useful to make before Knights, or for raiding purposes. They’re useless vs a stack of Archers, yes, but the unit shouldn’t be stronger than Knights either. They’re better to ambush Archers with, so idk - reinforcements and the like. ---
**Author:** ![casusincorrabil](https://forums.ageofempires.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/c/5f8ce5/32.png) [@casusincorrabil](https://forums.ageofempires.com/u/casusincorrabil)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2022, 7:27pm UTC](https://forums.ageofempires.com/t/shrivamsha-rider-is-weirdly-designed-and-likely-underpowered/201498/18 "2022-04-21T19:27:52Z")
> [@Nerathion](#): > > They’re better to ambush Archers with, so idk - reinforcements and the like. Whilst this might be true… What do you do about the main archer ball then? ^^ Besides that, it’s not so easy to pull that off in a real game. If anything I can imagin using the unit for hit + runs as you would suffer from way less castle and TC fire when moving in with them. But this also sounds way easier to do than it is to actually pull of in a game. ---
**Author:** ![PrepaidThyme742](https://forums.ageofempires.com/user_avatar/forums.ageofempires.com/prepaidthyme742/32/112170_2.png) [@PrepaidThyme742](https://forums.ageofempires.com/u/PrepaidThyme742)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2022, 7:29pm UTC](https://forums.ageofempires.com/t/shrivamsha-rider-is-weirdly-designed-and-likely-underpowered/201498/19 "2022-04-21T19:29:34Z")
> [@Nerathion](#): > > but the unit shouldn’t be stronger than Knights either. The point is that they aren’t any better than regular Light Cavalry vs crossbowmen/archer armies ---
**Author:** ![Nerathion](https://forums.ageofempires.com/user_avatar/forums.ageofempires.com/nerathion/32/30246_2.png) [@Nerathion](https://forums.ageofempires.com/u/Nerathion)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2022, 7:33pm UTC](https://forums.ageofempires.com/t/shrivamsha-rider-is-weirdly-designed-and-likely-underpowered/201498/20 "2022-04-21T19:33:26Z")
You’re starting to compare hypothetical unrealistic scenarios. Spirit of the Law simply tested their longevity if they didn’t attack. More realistically they’re going to outperform Knights vs Archers who don’t focus fire units down one by one. [Next page](https://forums.ageofempires.com/t/shrivamsha-rider-is-weirdly-designed-and-likely-underpowered/201498.md?page=2)