Cassador
The Cassador is Portuguese Light Infantry with a long-range role against Heavy Infantry. Its strong ranged resistance helps it survive ordinary ranged fire, but it still needs protection from Cavalry and melee units that can close the distance.
Recorded values
- Available
- Fortress Age · European Barracks; Fort; Galleon; American Citadel; Steamer (Gran Colombia)
- Training
- 33 sec · 1 population · 12 XP per train
- Durability & mobility
- 110 hit points · 45% ranged resistance · 4.5 speed · 22 line of sight
- Hand attack
- 5 damage · 1.5 attack interval · bonuses: 2.0x vs. Light ranged cavalry; 2.0x vs. Ranged shock trooper; 2.0x vs. Heavy infantry; 0.75x vs. Cavalry; 0.75x vs. Shock troops
- Ranged attack
- 18 damage · 2-20 range · 3.0 attack interval · bonuses: 2.5x vs. Light ranged cavalry; 2.5x vs. Ranged shock trooper; 2.0x vs. Heavy infantry; 0.6x vs. Cavalry; 0.6x vs. Shock troops
- Siege attack
- 12 damage · 6 range · 3.0 attack interval
Role & counters
Cassadors trade effectively against Musketeers and other Heavy Infantry. Their range can help them engage before a slower frontline reaches them, but ranged resistance does not prevent melee attacks or artillery damage. Portuguese production access and upgrades follow the civilization’s technology tree.
When to field it
Use Cassadors behind Pikemen, Musketeers or another screen when the opponent relies on Heavy Infantry. Add Dragoons or other mobile anti-cavalry support if enemy cavalry can reach the line. Reposition when the frontline breaks rather than allowing Cassadors to be surrounded.
Portuguese access and current profile
The Cassador is the Portuguese replacement for the Skirmisher, available from the Fortress Age at Barracks, Forts, Galleons, and eligible Federal American production buildings. It costs 80 Food and 35 Coin, takes 33 seconds to train, uses one population, and has 110 hit points, 45 percent ranged resistance, speed 4.5, and line of sight 22. Its rifle attack deals 18 damage at a range from 2 to 20 every three seconds. The Cassador's low hit point total is offset by high ranged resistance and long range. It is a Light infantry and rifle unit in current Definitive Edition tags, so class based technologies and counters should be interpreted according to the current profile. The unit costs less population than cavalry and is suited to a ranged line that needs to pressure Heavy infantry without standing close to the enemy.
Target bonuses and counters
Cassadors deal 2.5 times ranged damage against Light ranged cavalry and Ranged shock troops, twice damage against Heavy infantry, and reduced damage against Cavalry and Shock troops. They are therefore well suited to fighting enemy Musketeers, Pikemen, and similar Heavy infantry, and can threaten light cavalry or ranged shock units. Heavy cavalry and artillery are dangerous counters: cavalry can close quickly, while artillery can attack from outside the Cassador's practical firing range. Use a screen of cavalry or Heavy infantry to keep those threats away. The unit's 45 percent ranged resistance makes it resilient against arrows and gunfire, but does not prevent melee damage or artillery volleys. Its short hand attack is a last resort, not an alternative to keeping the ranged formation intact.
Range, upgrades, and firing line
The Cassador's maximum range of 20 gives it a long engagement window, and the variable minimum range of 2 means enemies that reach point blank can still be attacked. Keep Cassadors in a broad line behind durable units so they can focus fire and maintain their range. Their attack interval is three seconds, so concentrated volleys are more valuable than scattering shots across many targets. Portuguese Home City cards and Arsenal technologies can improve the infantry line, while age upgrades raise hit points and attack. The Fortress Age unit is a strong investment when the opponent commits to Heavy infantry, but it should not be massed without checking the enemy artillery and cavalry. If the opponent switches to units that counter Light infantry, add a different line rather than continuing to produce Cassadors because they performed well in the previous fight.
Consulate and revolution variants
Cassadors also appear as Consulate troops and in revolution shipments. The Maltese can receive Order Cassadores through Portuguese Tongue; this shipment delivers thirteen units and enables their production at Commanderies and Forts, with a different resource cost and train time from the standard Cassador. Brazil can receive a repeatable 10 Cassadores Home City Card, while other revolutions can have their own card access. These variants share the general ranged infantry role but do not necessarily use the same name, cost, or production method. A player should distinguish the Portuguese unit from the Maltese Order Cassadores or a revolution shipment before comparing the exact statistics. The standard profile remains 80 Food and 35 Coin at the Barracks or other eligible buildings.
Version history and tactical advice
The Definitive Edition raised the standard Cassador from 105 to 110 hit points and changed ranged resistance from 50 to 45 percent. The ranged attack rose from 17 to 18. Later updates changed its class tags and several matchup multipliers, including the bonus against Light ranged cavalry and Ranged shock troops. Older guides may therefore use different resistances or list Rifle infantry rather than Light infantry. In battle, use Cassadors to punish Heavy infantry while moving with a screen, focus fire on the highest value target, and withdraw before Heavy cavalry or artillery can engage. Their long range and resistance make them durable at a distance, but their low hit points make a caught group vulnerable. Preserve the formation and use other Portuguese units to handle the counters that the Cassador is not designed to fight.
Maintaining an efficient line
Cassadors use one population each, so they can form a large firing line without consuming the army space of cavalry. Their long range rewards a formation that stays together: focus on Heavy infantry first, then shift to Light ranged cavalry or Ranged shock troops when those units approach. Keep a small reserve of anti-cavalry units close by rather than spreading the Cassadors into isolated groups. If the Portuguese economy is short on Coin, the unit's cost is manageable compared with many mercenaries, but a large queue still competes with age upgrades and artillery. Continue production only while the opponent's composition gives the ranged bonus value.
Avoiding unfavorable engagements
Cassadors should not absorb the first contact from Heavy cavalry. Their 110 hit points are low, and their reduced attack multipliers against Cavalry and Shock troops make a close fight costly. Use the range 20 firing line to force the opponent to advance through a screen, then withdraw if the screen breaks rather than trying to win with the Cassador's small hand attack.
Choosing the replacement line
If artillery or Heavy cavalry becomes the main threat, add Portuguese units that can reach those targets instead of increasing Cassador production. Their ranged resistance makes them durable against ordinary fire, but the correct answer to a hard counter is a complementary unit, not another upgrade to a mismatched line.
Portuguese Fortress Age rifle Infantry
The Cassador is the Portuguese replacement for the Skirmisher, available from the Fortress Age at Barracks, Forts, Galleons, American Citadels and other eligible production points. It costs 80 Food and 35 Coin, takes 33 seconds to train and uses one population. A Cassador has 110 hit points, 45% ranged resistance, speed 4.5 and sight 22. Its ranged attack deals 18 damage at range 2–20 every three seconds. It has bonuses against Light ranged Cavalry, Ranged Shock troops and Heavy Infantry, while doing reduced damage to Cavalry and Shock troops. This is a long-range counter unit whose resistance helps it survive projectile exchanges but does not protect it from melee or Siege.
Use long range to preserve the firing line
Cassadors should fire from behind Musketeers, Pikemen or another screen. Their range 20 lets them pressure Infantry before many units can answer, but their long interval between shots leaves room for a fast target to close. Protect the flanks and avoid leaving the line stationary under artillery. Because they deal reduced damage to Cavalry, add Dragoons or anti-Cavalry Infantry to cover a mounted push. The Portuguese can reinforce Cassadors through several land and naval production routes, but a ship-based queue depends on map control. Use their affordable population cost to create a broad counter line only when the opponent’s composition justifies it.
Older health, resistance and matchup values
The current Cassador has 110 hit points, 45% ranged resistance and 18 ranged damage; before Definitive Edition these values were 105, 50% and 17 respectively. Its current 2.5× bonus against Light Ranged Cavalry and Ranged Shock Troopers was 2.0× before update 13.58326. The Cavalry modifier is currently 0.6× rather than 0.75× before update 13.58326. Against Shock Troops it is 0.6× now, 0.5× before update 14.43676 and 0.75× before update 13.58326; the older target label was Hand Shock Trooper. The unit also received Light Infantry classification at update 13.9057 and Rifle Infantry at update 23511.