Steppe Cavalry Influence in AoE2 Civs
1. Native Steppe Civs (Fully Nomadic) – Should Absolutely Have Steppe Lancers
Cumans, Tatars, Mongols, Huns, Turks
These are the true steppe raiders, living a nomadic lifestyle and using steppe cavalry extensively.
Already have Steppe Lancers (except Huns).
Turks Exception: The Oghuz Turks were originally steppe nomads and relied heavily on cavalry, but they transitioned into a more settled empire earlier than other steppe civs.
2. Subjects (Conquered or Allied with Steppe Peoples) – Could Justify Steppe Lancers
Slavs, Lithuanians, Poles, Chinese (Tang Dynasty era)
These civs ruled or were ruled by Steppe peoples and integrated Steppe cavalry into their armies.
Lithuanians and Poles had strong Tatar ties—Lithuanians especially recruited Tatars into their cavalry forces.
3. Mercenary Users (Hired Steppe Lancers) – Weak Justification, But Possible
Slavs, Poles, Lithuanians, Magyars, Bulgarians, Persians, Saracens, Armenians, Georgians, Byzantines
These civs hired steppe mercenaries, but they didn’t raise these units themselves.
Could justify a weaker/non-Elite version of Steppe Lancers.
4. Slave Soldiers (Used Steppe Warriors as Slaves) – Not a Strong Case
Persians, Hindustanis, Saracens
Steppe warriors were sometimes used as slave cavalry (Ghulams, Mamluks, etc.), but this isn’t the same as fielding Steppe Lancers as a main military force.
5. Steppe Dynasties (Ruled by Steppe People but Not a Steppe Civ) – Mixed Cases
Hindustanis, Persians (Some Dynasties Like the Khwarezmians, Safavids)
These empires were founded by Steppe rulers but became more settled over time.
6. Steppe Dynasties That Lost Their Nomadic Ties – Unlikely to Get Steppe Lancers
Bulgarians, Magyars, Gurjaras (possibly), Bengalis (sort of), Goths (sort of sort of)
These groups had Steppe origins but became fully settled civilizations with no real link to Steppe Lancers.
Magyars and Bulgarians have a small case for No-Elite Steppe Lancers.
Why Lithuanians & Poles Could Get Steppe Lancers (But Weaker Versions)
- Lithuanians ruled Tatar lands and recruited Tatar cavalry into their armies.
- Poles had Cossacks (who fought like Steppe warriors), but their focus was more on Hussars & heavy cav.
- Giving them weaker or No-Elite Steppe Lancers (Lithuanians missing Blast Furnace) ensures balance without overpowering them.
How This Affects AoE2 Balance & Civ Design
- Huns, fully upgraded with the discount they currently have on CA.
- Turks, fully upgraded with the current bonus of light cavalry Sipahi UT.
- Magyars, fully upgraded.
- Goths, fully upgraded, BUT without Husbandry or Bloodline.
- Bulgarians, not elite. But it is not so necessary. Only if you want to highlight their origins.
- Gurjaras, with not a fully upgraded version – Since Gurjaras were influenced by steppe cultures but weren’t a dominant steppe civilization themselves, their Steppe Lancers should be slightly weaker than Mongol or Tatar versions.
How to Give It to Mercenary Civs:
New Tech: “Mercenaries” → Required before hiring Steppe Lancers (for mercenary-based civs).
- Civs that already used Steppe Lancers natively (Mongols, Cumans, etc.) wouldn’t need it.
- Discounted Mercenaries tech for Lithuanians (-50% cost) → Since they had big Tatar Ties into their cavalry.
Mercenaries as a Team Bonus
Since some Steppe civs historically served as mercenaries, one of them could have a team bonus that gives allies the Mercenaries tech for free, making Steppe Lancers more accessible to civs that relied on them.
The best candidate for this is the Cumans:
- Cumans were widely used as mercenaries in Hungary, Bulgaria, the Byzantine Empire, and even by the Mongols.
- They already have a tech that lets allies train their Kipchaks as mercenaries, making this a natural extension.
- This would reinforce their identity as a “mercenary supplier” in the game.
- Could move current team bonus to be a regular bonus.
Proposed Cuman Team Bonus:
Allies receive the Mercenaries tech for free.
Alternatively, Tatars could also fit this role, as they were often used as vassal cavalry forces. In that case, their bonus could instead make Steppe Lancers train faster or cheaper for allies after researching Mercenaries.
What is the Steppe Lancer?
The Steppe Lancer in Age of Empires II is not just any cavalry unit using a spear but specifically represents the mounted warriors of the Eurasian Steppe. Many civilizations across history fielded spear-wielding cavalry, but Steppe Lancers are distinct in that they originate from the vast, open grasslands of the Eurasian Steppe, stretching from Eastern Europe to Mongolia.
These nomadic warriors developed a unique style of warfare, relying on speed, mobility, and hit-and-run tactics, often using long lances to strike enemies before they could retaliate. Their combat style was perfected by various steppe peoples, including:
- Mongols – Masters of mounted warfare, dominating Eurasia under Genghis Khan.
- Cumans – A powerful Turkic people who raided and settled across Eastern Europe.
- Tatars – Successors to the Mongols, maintaining steppe raiding traditions.
- Huns – Early steppe raiders who pressured the Roman Empire.
- Turks (Oghuz and Kipchaks) – Originally steppe nomads who used mounted lancers extensively.
- The Oghuz Turks, ancestors of the Seljuks and Ottomans, came from the Central Asian steppe and relied on fast, lance-wielding cavalry before settling in Anatolia.
- Even after becoming a more sedentary empire, the Turks retained steppe warfare traditions, with early Ottoman cavalry like the Akinci acting as light raiders in a style reminiscent of steppe horsemen.
- Jurchens – Steppe-influenced horsemen from Manchuria.
Unlike knights or heavy cavalry, Steppe Lancers prioritized mobility over armor, making them highly effective in open battles but weaker in prolonged engagements. Their inclusion in Age of Empires II reflects the historical dominance of steppe-based cavalry forces rather than just spear-based horseback combat.
