Boyar
CavalryBase values, before Blacksmith upgrades. The Blacksmith raises attack and armour for infantry, cavalry and archers — Blast Furnace, for instance, gives "+2 Attack for infantry & cavalry". Late in a game, the real numbers are higher.
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Boyar
Castle
Elite Boyar
ImperialThe coach's briefing
You have 4 melee armor - the highest of any cavalry. This means melee units deal significantly reduced damage to you. With 100 HP and 12 attack, you're a solid heavy cavalry option. But against archers, your 2 pierce armor is just average. You excel in cavalry vs cavalry fights and against infantry, but watch out for Camels and Halberdiers.
STRONG AGAINST
You win these trades cost-effectively.
WEAK AGAINST
Avoid these fights or bring support.
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Your coach names the counters during the match — not once the game is over.
Strategic Analysis
Tactical Identity
The Boyar is a **melee-specialized heavy cavalry**. Exceptional melee armor makes it dominant in cavalry fights.
Tactical Playbook
Cavalry Fights
4 melee armor means Knights deal only 8 damage to you. You win cavalry duels.
Anti-Infantry
Infantry deals reduced damage. Champions deal only 9 damage per hit.
Cost Effective
60F/70G is cheaper than Knights. Good value for the stats.
Critical Point
**Only 2 pierce armor**. Archers can still hurt you. Don't rely on armor vs ranged masses.
Understanding The Stats
The Boyar offers exceptional melee defense at the cost of average ranged protection.
Massive Melee Armor
Highest melee armor on cavalry. Dominates melee fights.
Good HP
Solid health pool. With armor, very tanky in melee.
Decent Attack
Standard cavalry attack. Gets the job done.
Fast Speed
Standard cavalry speed. Good mobility.
Coach's Tip
4 melee armor means Knights (10 attack) only deal 6 damage. You deal 10 to them (12-2 armor). You clearly win 1v1.
Mechanics & Bonuses
Attack Bonuses
| Target | Bonus Dmg |
|---|---|
| No damage bonus: this unit deals the same damage to every target. | |
Armor Classes
Cavalry
Takes heavy bonus damage from Pikemen/Halberdiers and Camels.
Unique Unit
Vulnerable to units with bonus damage vs this class.
Key Upgrades
Feudal Age
Castle Age
Civilizations
* 1 civilizations have access to this unit.
AoE Coach analysis
Context & meta
The Boyar is Slavic unique Cavalry with exceptional melee armor. Its data line is 100 HP, 12 attack, 4 melee armor, 2 pierce armor, 1.3 speed, 5 line of sight, and a 60 food/70 gold cost with 15 seconds of training. The official help gives the matchup: strong versus units at close range, weak versus the Spearman-line and Monks. The 4 melee armor explains why ordinary melee trades feel bad, while the 70 gold price explains why every lost Boyar matters. This is a high-value contact unit that needs a clear target and a plan for the two official weaknesses.
History & balance
The Boyar is the cavalry face of the Slavic package, which also gives Farmers +15% speed, free Arson and Gambesons, and Siege Workshop units at -15% cost. Those civilization bonuses support a mixed army around the Boyar rather than changing its personal statistics. The Castle path leads to Elite Boyar for 1,000 food and 600 gold; that price makes the transition a strategic decision, not a routine upgrade. In the roster, the Boyar has a deliberate contrast: exceptional melee armor for breaking close-range lines, but no special permission to ignore Spearman-line or Monks.
In pro play
Use Boyars where their 4 melee armor can stay relevant: against exposed Infantry, buildings guarded by short-range units, or a flank that needs a durable contact force. Their 1.3 speed lets them choose that contact, but it does not make a bad Spearman fight good. Keep the Boyars moving around the objective, protect their 70 gold investment, and let siege or ranged support handle the units that do not care about melee armor. Slavic free Arson and Gambesons can make the surrounding army more complete, yet the Boyar itself should remain focused: close the right fight, withdraw from the wrong one, and never confuse durability with immunity.
How to counter it
The classic mistake against Boyars is sending normal melee units and expecting 4 melee armor to disappear through persistence. The official help gives the categories: strong vs. units at close range; weak vs. Spearman-line and Monks. Halberdiers have +32 against Cavalry and Pikemen +22 against Cavalry, so the Spearman-line is a real bonus-backed answer. Monks add the other weakness through conversion rather than damage. Keep Boyars away from both, focus the expensive 70-gold bodies, and do not chase them into a close-range screen. If Boyars keep winning and you do not know what to produce or when, AoE Coach reads your match-up and gives you the counter composition and timing.