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Grand Cathay · melee, Sentinels and support
Grand Cathay units: which ones win fights?
Grand Cathay units rarely win fair fights on their own, and my tests showed exactly where the exceptions are. Shield Jade Warriors were the standout, winning 82 of 120 combats.
Quick answer: it depends on the job you give each Cathay unit
- Hold the line
- 15 Jade Warriors with shields: 82 of 120 won, 44 of 60 when charged
- Offensive infantry
- 15 Jade Warriors with halberds: 69 of 120
- Support cavalry
- 6 plain Jade Lancers, used on flanks and in pursuit
- Big centrepiece
- Terracotta Sentinel for value, Granite against other big hitters
Cathay units do their best work in combination, so I judge each one by the job it does for the army rather than by a head-on duel.
How many simulations I ran
I ran 1,120 complete combats: 720 with six Cathay melee builds, 120 each, and 400 with five Cathayan Sentinels. I also ran Cathay’s artillery and Sky Lantern against the same benchmark units. These were the results.
Cathay leans on artillery and Sky Lanterns more than most armies, and my melee duels deliberately leave both out, so they show only half of how Cathay plays. Ten fights per matchup is also an exploratory sample, and every Cathay charge in my duels succeeded.
Cathay melee builds at 138 points
Cathay melee builds, wins from 60 combats each way. n = 60 combats per direction ±13 points
| Build | Pts | Charging | Receiving | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 Jade Warriors, shields | 138 | 38/60 | 44/60 | 82/120 |
| 15 Jade Warriors, halberds | 138 | 32/60 | 37/60 | 69/120 |
| 12 Stubborn Jade Warriors, shields | 138 | 28/60 | 26/60 | 54/120 |
| 12 Stubborn Jade Warriors, halberds | 138 | 18/60 | 24/60 | 42/120 |
| 6 Jade Lancers | 138 | 16/60 | 9/60 | 25/120 |
| 5 upgraded, Stubborn Jade Lancers | 138 | 11/60 | 2/60 | 13/120 |
Cathayan Sentinels
I tested the five Sentinel variants in a separate heavyweight bracket, against opponents of about 235–254 points. Best Cathayan Sentinel has the full results.
Cathayan Sentinels against heavyweight opponents. n = 40 combats per direction ±15 points
| Variant | Pts | Charging | Receiving | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Terracotta | 230 | 29/40 | 28/40 | 57/80 |
| Jade | 250 | 31/40 | 28/40 | 59/80 |
| Obsidian | 255 | 24/40 | 26/40 | 50/80 |
| Granite | 265 | 28/40 | 28/40 | 56/80 |
| Warpstone | 270 | 28/40 | 18/40 | 46/80 |
Where Cathay really wins: support
My support tests changed the Cathay picture more than any unit swap. Artillery and the Sky Lantern damage, slow or panic the enemy before contact, which is when shield Jade Warriors and Jade Lancers do their best work. Cathay Battle March covers the damage figures and my example lists.
The Cathay role map I would use
My pick for each Cathay job.
| Role | Best fit from my tests |
|---|---|
| Main anvil and objective holder | 15 shield Jade Warriors |
| Offensive infantry | 15 halberd Jade Warriors |
| Support cavalry | 6 plain Jade Lancers |
| General melee Sentinel | Terracotta Sentinel |
| Anti-big-stuff, defensive Sentinel | Granite Sentinel |
- Are Jade Warriors good? Shields, halberds and the Stubborn upgrade.
- Best Cathayan Sentinel: all five variants compared.
- Cathay Battle March: support damage and example lists.
- Are Jade Lancers good? From my Battle March unit tests.
My conclusion
Based on these results, I would use shield Jade Warriors to hold, artillery to soften and Jade Lancers to finish, and not rely on Jade Lancers to win frontal fights.
FAQs
What is the best Grand Cathay melee unit?
15 Jade Warriors with shields. They won 82 of 120 combats in my tests, including 44 of 60 when the enemy charged first, the best conventional Cathay result by a clear margin.
Are Jade Lancers good in a straight fight?
Not really. Six Jade Lancers won 25 of 120 combats, and five upgraded Lancers only 13. I would use them to flank, pursue and finish instead.
Is Stubborn worth it on Jade Warriors?
Not at 138 points. Paying for Stubborn cut the unit from 15 to 12 models, and 12 Stubborn shield Jade Warriors won 54 of 120, against 82 for 15 without it.