The Steppe Lancer is countered by Knight, Halberdier and Camel Rider. It is a Cavalry / Regional unit of the Steppe Lancer, available to the Mongols / Tatars / Cumans.
- Class
- Cavalry / Regional
- Line
- Steppe Lancer
- Available to
- Mongols / Tatars / Cumans
- Elite upgrade
- Elite Steppe Lancer
- Cost
-
70 
40
Steppe Lancer stats
The Elite Steppe Lancer upgrade changes the values marked below. Everything else — cost, class and the civilization bonuses that apply — stays the same.
| Stat | Steppe Lancer | Elite |
|---|---|---|
 Hit points | 60 | 80 |
 Melee attack | 9 / 2s | 11 / 2s |
 Pierce attack | 0 | 0 |
 Range | 1 | 1 |
 Melee armour | 0 | 0 |
 Pierce armour | 1 | 2 |
 Speed | 1.45 | 1.45 |
 Line of sight | 5 | 5 |
 Training time | 24s | 20s |
What counters the Steppe Lancer?
The Steppe Lancer is weak against Cavalry, Camel Riders and Archery Units.
Hard counters deal bonus damage against this unit — they beat the Steppe Lancer even at a cost disadvantage. Soft counters win the fight through cost-efficiency or mobility, without a dedicated bonus.
| Counter | Type | Why it works |
|---|---|---|
 Knight | hard | Clearly wins the melee duel – more armor and HP |
 Halberdier | hard | Attack bonus vs. cavalry |
 Camel Rider | hard | Attack bonus vs. cavalry |
 Cavalier | hard | Clearly wins the melee duel – more armor and HP |
 Heavy Camel Rider | hard | Attack bonus vs. cavalry |
 Arbalest | soft | Pierce damage |
What does the Steppe Lancer counter?
The Steppe Lancer has no bonus damage against any unit class and is not listed as a dedicated counter to anything. It wins through raw stats, not through a matchup advantage.
Civilizations that improve the Steppe Lancer
17 civilizations have a bonus or unique technology that affects this unit.
Bengalis
- Cavalry +2 attack vs. Skirmishers
Berbers
- Stable Units cost -15/20% in Castle/Imperial Age
Bulgarians
- Stirrups (unique tech): Cavalry attacks +33% faster
Burmese
- Manipur Cavalry (unique tech): Cavalry +4 attack vs. Ranged Soldiers
Cumans
- Mounted Units move +5/10/15% faster in Feudal/Castle/Imperial Age
- Steppe Husbandry (unique tech): Scout Cavalry-line, Steppe Lancers and Cavalry Archers train +100% faster
Dravidians
- Wootz Steel (unique tech): Infantry and Cavalry attacks ignore armor
Franks
- Mounted Units +20% HP starting in Feudal Age
Georgians
- Mounted Units regenerate 2/8/14 HP per minute in Feudal/Castle/Imperial Age
- Aznauri Cavalry (unique tech): Mounted Units take -20% population space
Gurjaras
- Mounted Units deal +20/30/40% bonus damage in Feudal/Castle/Imperial Age
Jurchens
- Mounted Units and Fire Lancers attack +25% faster starting in Feudal Age
Khitans
- Ordo Cavalry (unique tech): Cavalry regenerates HP in combat
Malians
- Farimba (unique tech): Cavalry +5 attack
Mapuche
- Mounted Units generate +3 gold when defeating military units
Mongols
- Scout Cavalry-line and Steppe Lancers +20/30% HP in Castle/Imperial Age
Tatars
- Silk Armor (unique tech): Scout Cavalry-line, Steppe Lancers and Cavalry Archers +1 melee/+1 pierce armor
Teutons
- Barracks and Stable Units +1/+2 melee armor in Castle/Imperial Age
Wei
- Ming Guang Armor (unique tech): Mounted Units +4 melee armor
The Steppe Lancer
- Steppe Lancer
-
Elite Steppe Lancer
For the strategy behind these matchups — when to build counters, how to mix them and which civs do it best — see the Cavalry Counters guide.
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