Chinaco
The Chinaco is Mexico’s Commerce Age Heavy cavalry, filling the mobile strike role in the Mexican roster. It costs 110 Food and 90 Coin, has 290 hit points, and moves at 6.75 speed. Its lance reaches farther than a standard hand attack and deals bonus damage to Infantry and Heavy cavalry; Heavy infantry is a poor target. This is a two-population cavalry investment, so use its speed to choose engagements rather than assuming that ranged resistance will let it survive every counter.
Recorded values
- Available
- Commerce Age; Revolution (Mexico) · Stable; Fort; Steamer; Hacienda (with the "Charreada" card)
- Training
- 43 sec · 2 population · 20 XP per train
- Durability & mobility
- 290 hit points · 20% ranged resistance · 6.75 speed · 15 line of sight
- Siege attack
- 20 base damage · range 6 · attack interval 3.0
- Hand attack
- 25 base damage · range 2.75 · attack interval 1.5 · bonus damage: 1.5x vs. Infantry; 1.25x vs. Heavy cavalry; 0.67x vs. Heavy infantry
- Trample attack
- 16.67 base damage · attack interval 2.0 · area of effect 3 · bonus damage: Same as hand attack
- Lance Charge (charged)
- 25 base damage · range 3.75 · attack interval 1.5 · area of effect 2 · bonus damage: Same as hand attack · recharge 15 · requires Presidial Lancers card
Role & counters
A Chinaco costs two population and takes 43 seconds to train from a Stable; a Fort or Steamer can also provide access where available. Its 25-damage hand attack has a 1.5× bonus against Infantry and 1.25× against Heavy cavalry, but deals only 0.67× against Heavy infantry. Presidial Lancers adds a charged attack with range 3.75 and a two-unit area, recharging every 15 seconds. Charreada enables Hacienda production under its card rules, while Zapata Maneuvers grants a separate stealth option. Treat those as card-dependent routes rather than part of the baseline unit.
When to field it
Use Chinacos to reach exposed Infantry, threaten a flank, or contest enemy Heavy cavalry after scouting the opposing screen. Do not commit them head-on into Heavy infantry: their listed damage falls to 0.67× against that class. Pair them with Salteadors or another ranged line that can weaken the counter units, then use the Chinacos to capitalize on the opening. Preserve a retreat path; a two-population unit that is trapped under focused fire is costly to replace.
Mexican cavalry profile
The Chinaco is Mexican Heavy cavalry introduced in Definitive Edition. It replaces the Hussar and is available from the Commerce Age at the Stable, Fort, or Steamer. The current unit costs 110 Food and 90 Coin, takes 43 seconds to train, uses two population, and has 290 hit points, 20 percent ranged resistance, and speed 6.75. Its short range lance attack lets it strike from slightly farther away than many melee cavalry units. It has a 1.25 multiplier against Heavy cavalry in the current profile, and update 15.30007 set the multiplier to 1.25 after an intervening change. Chinacos are effective against Light infantry and can fight opposing Heavy cavalry, but are vulnerable to Heavy infantry and Light ranged cavalry.
Lance Charge and stealth card
Presidial Lancers grants the Chinaco a Lance Charge that activates automatically when attacking, has range 3.75 and an area of effect two, and recharges every 15 seconds. This charge increases the unit's ability to hit a target at the start of an engagement, but the card and cooldown should be considered when planning the attack. Zapata Maneuvers grants a separate stealth ability: for 15 seconds Chinacos can enter Stealth without a speed penalty, and after attacking they return to Stealth after two seconds. The ability has a 90 second cooldown shared across all Chinacos. Use the stealth window to approach or disengage, not to leave the force unsupported near enemy detection.
Hacienda production and variants
The Charreada Home City Card lets Mexicans spawn Chinacos from Haciendas, and Settlers or herdable animals assigned to the Hacienda can reduce the spawn time. Spanish players who revolt to Mexico can also gain this route. The Charros card upgrades Chinacos to Veteran and Charros in the relevant Mexican route. Other Home City cards and revolutions can ship groups or add lancers, including Rio Grande and California variants. These methods differ from ordinary Stable training: a Hacienda generated group uses the building's production rule and may require workers or livestock to reach the desired timing. The standard Commerce Age Chinaco is the reference profile unless a card, revolution, or upgrade explicitly changes it.
Matchups and composition
Chinacos use two population and have 290 hit points, less durability than some Heavy cavalry. Their speed and lance range let them reach Light infantry, pressure exposed units, or meet enemy Heavy cavalry with their class bonus. They should not charge through Heavy infantry or Light ranged cavalry, which can exploit the unit's weaknesses. Pair them with ranged support that can remove those counters and use the Chinacos on the flank. Their charge area can strike clustered targets, but it is not a reason to keep the unit in a losing melee. If the opponent has no Heavy cavalry or Light infantry, compare the Chinaco cost with another unit that better matches the enemy army.
Patch and historical context
Chinaco multipliers changed over several updates. The unit initially had a broader cavalry bonus, then the target categories shifted among Cavalry, Hand cavalry, and Heavy cavalry before the current Heavy cavalry multiplier was set. Older guides may also list different costs or no bonus against Heavy cavalry. The Mexican unit represents irregular mounted troops, while its card based Presidial Lancers and Charros versions add separate abilities and upgrades. Use the current stats and named card effects for a live match, and keep the standard unit distinct from a revolution shipment or Hacienda spawn.
Hacienda resource and spawn choices
Haciendas can produce Chinacos after Charreada, and assigned Settlers or herdable animals can shorten the spawn time. This creates a choice between passive or economic use of the Hacienda and immediate cavalry production. Move the building's workers only when the Chinaco timing is more important than the lost gathering or livestock output. Because the Hacienda route can spawn units near the base, it can reinforce a defensive response quickly, but the building should be protected from raids. The standard Stable queue remains the clearest path when a fixed training schedule is needed.
Cavalry combat positioning
Use Chinacos to flank the infantry line or meet enemy Heavy cavalry where the 1.25 multiplier matters. Their lance range can help them attack through a crowded formation, but Heavy infantry and Light ranged cavalry remain dangerous. Keep the force moving and avoid stopping under concentrated fire.
Stealth cooldown coordination
Zapata Maneuvers has a shared 90 second cooldown across all Chinacos, so coordinate the stealth window for the whole force. Use it for a single approach or retreat, then keep the group together until the ability becomes available again.
Hacienda timing versus Stable timing
Stable training provides a predictable queue, while Hacienda spawning can respond to an economic setup and assigned workers. If the army needs Chinacos quickly, compare the Stable's 43 second training time with the Hacienda spawn speed after workers are assigned. Keep enough Settlers on the economy to fund reinforcements either way.
Hacienda protection
A Hacienda that spawns Chinacos becomes a military target. Keep the building inside the protected economy and do not assign every nearby Settler away from gathering just to accelerate production. If a raid threatens it, pause spawns and use the Chinacos already produced to defend the workers.
Resource balance
Food and Coin are needed for both Stable production and the Hacienda plan. Keep the Chinaco count within the economy's replacement capacity, especially when the army also needs Soldados or artillery.
Reading the lance matchup
The Chinaco's Heavy cavalry multiplier helps it fight other mounted units, but it remains a melee cavalry unit and must close the distance. Use its speed to approach from the side, then disengage if the opponent's Heavy infantry turns toward it. The short lance reach helps in a crowded fight, but it does not protect the unit from ranged fire. Keep the Chinacos moving between targets and let the Soldado or other infantry hold the center.
Counter cavalry pressure
Keep a ranged unit nearby so enemy anti-cavalry cannot focus the Chinacos without taking damage.
Retreat timing
Withdraw the unit before ranged counters focus it.
Protect the cavalry
Keep it screened.
Charge, trample and Hacienda card access
The Chinaco is a two-population Mexican heavy Cavalry unit with 290 hit points and speed 6.75. It costs 110 Food and 90 Coin and takes 43 seconds to train. Its ordinary hand attack deals 25 damage every 1.5 seconds and has bonuses against Infantry and Heavy Cavalry, but is reduced against Heavy Infantry. The three-area Trample attack deals 16.67 damage every two seconds using the same target multipliers, so its value rises against a compact group and falls against the Heavy Infantry that counters its ordinary attack. The Presidial Lancers card enables a charged Lance Charge that also deals 25 damage in a 2.5-area attack and recharges every 15 seconds. With the Charreada card, a Hacienda can produce the unit, linking cavalry reinforcement to the Mexican economic building instead of only to a Stable. Choose the production route according to the current resource plan, and preserve the Chinaco’s mobility for targets it can actually reach.