Savar unit icon - Age of Empires 2

Savar

Cavalry
Food60
Gold75
Hit Points145
Attack14
Melee Armor3
Pierce Armor4
Train Time30s
Speed1.35

Base 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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Evolution

Savar

Imperial

The coach's briefing

Commander, the Savar is Persia's answer to enemy cavalry. With 145 HP and +2 bonus against cavalry, they dominate cavalry-on-cavalry fights. The 3/4 armor makes them tanky against both melee and ranged attacks. Use Savars when facing cavalry-heavy civilizations. They win most mounted duels and survive archer fire well. A true knight killer.

STRONG AGAINST

You win these trades cost-effectively.

?
Cavalry
Archers
Archers
?
Siege Weapons

WEAK AGAINST

Avoid these fights or bring support.

?
Pikemen
Camel Riders
Camel Riders
Halberdiers
Halberdiers
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Strategic Analysis

Tactical Identity

Heavy cavalry with anti-cavalry specialization

Tactical Playbook

Cavalry Killer

+2 vs Archers gives Savars an edge against ranged lines. Combined with high HP, they win most mounted duels.

Balanced Armor

3/4 armor provides excellent protection against both melee and ranged. You can tank archers while fighting cavalry.

Tank Presence

145 HP is among the highest for cavalry. Savars can absorb significant damage before falling.

Critical Point

Expensive at 60F/75G. Pikemen and Camels still counter you. The anti-cavalry bonus is helpful but not overwhelming.

Understanding The Stats

Savars combine high HP with balanced armor and anti-cavalry bonus. At 145 HP and 3/4 armor, they are durable battlefield presences.

Base + Bonus

14 (+2 cav)

Strong attack with useful cavalry bonus

Balanced Armor

3/4

Excellent protection against all damage types

High HP

145

Among the tankiest cavalry in the game

Good Speed

1.35

Standard knight speed for mobile warfare

Coach's Tip

145 HP + 3/4 armor = you can tank almost anything. Use this to lead charges and absorb damage.

Mechanics & Bonuses

Attack Bonuses

TargetBonus Dmg
Archer+2

Armor Classes

Cavalry

Takes heavy bonus damage from Pikemen/Halberdiers and Camels.

Civilizations

Perses

* 1 civilizations have access to this unit.

AoE Coach analysis

Context & meta

The Savar is the Persian unique all-purpose Heavy Cavalry: 60 food and 75 gold, 30 seconds to train, 145 HP, 14 attack, 3 melee/4 pierce armor, speed 1.35, and line of sight 5. The official help calls it exceptionally strong against Ranged Soldiers, but weak against the Spearman-line, Camel Riders, and Monks. It is tagged Cavalry and carries +2 against Archers. That is a premium body rather than a cheap raider: the 145 HP and 3/4 armor let it cross arrow fire, while the 30-second train time and 75 gold demand a clear economy and a deliberate engagement.

History & balance

The Savar concentrates the Persian cavalry identity into a unit that does not need a special gimmick to be threatening. Persians start with +50 wood and +50 food, Town Centers and Docks have +100% HP and work faster by age, Parthian Tactics is available in Castle Age, and Caravanserais arrive in Imperial Age. The Persian team bonus gives the Knight-line +2 attack against Ranged Soldiers, reinforcing the same target profile as the Savar. Citadels then make Castles stronger against Rams and Infantry. The unit belongs to an economy that can fund heavy cavalry, but its 75-gold cost still makes each lost Savar a strategic loss.

In pro play

Use Savars to cross the first arrow line, remove high-value ranged units, and hold the space created by that push. The 1.35 speed is enough to choose a flank, while 145 HP and 4 pierce armor make ordinary ranged fire a poor stopping tool. Do not mistake that durability for permission to charge into every counter: 30 seconds, 60 food, and 75 gold favor preservation. Add a Spearman screen or ranged support of your own, keep Monks from converting the lead unit, and disengage when Camel Riders or Halberdiers arrive. The best Savar timing is the one that turns Persian economic strength into map control before the counter mass is complete.

How to counter it

The classic mistake is answering Savars with Archers alone and letting 4 pierce armor create free Persian space. The official help gives the categories: Spearman-line, Camel Riders, and Monks. Halberdiers carry +32 against Cavalry, Pikemen +22, and Camel Riders +9; Monks threaten conversion. Use Halberdiers to pin, Camels to reach the side, and Monks only while the Savars are occupied. If you keep losing to Savars without knowing what to produce or when, AoE Coach reads your match-up and gives you the counter composition and timing.