Worked out · AoE3: DE 100.19.18309
Best cavalry
No. 1: Steppe Rider (fights won 67%), then Uhlan (67%) and Retainer (66%). Every regular cavalry unit ranked by the share of equal-cost fights it wins against the other regular units.
| # | Name | Fights won | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Steppe Rider | 67% | loses hardest to Levied Gunner |
| 2 |  Uhlan | 67% | loses hardest to Puma Spearman |
| 3 |  Retainer | 66% | loses hardest to Puma Spearman |
| 4 |  Cossack | 64% | loses hardest to Puma Spearman |
| 5 |  Kanya Horseman | 61% | loses hardest to Puma Spearman |
| 6 |  Deli | 60% | loses hardest to Puma Spearman |
| 7 |  Comanchero | 59% | loses hardest to Qiang Pikeman |
| 8 |  Cuatrero | 59% | loses hardest to Qiang Pikeman |
| 9 |  Hussar | 59% | loses hardest to Puma Spearman |
| 10 |  Desert Raider | 57% | loses hardest to Qiang Pikeman |
| 11 |  Lifidi Knight | 56% | loses hardest to Puma Spearman |
| 12 |  Veteran Oprichnik | 56% | loses hardest to Levied Gunner |
| 13 |  Chinaco | 55% | loses hardest to Puma Spearman |
| 14 |  Veteran Lancer | 54% | loses hardest to Retainer |
| 15 |  Oromo Warrior | 52% | loses hardest to Puma Spearman |
| 16 |  Naginata Rider | 51% | loses hardest to Puma Spearman |
| 17 |  Bow Rider | 50% | loses hardest to Qiang Pikeman |
| 18 |  Axe Rider | 49% | loses hardest to Puma Spearman |
| 19 |  Cavalry Archer | 49% | loses hardest to Qiang Pikeman |
| 20 |  Meteor Hammer | 49% | loses hardest to Puma Spearman |
| 21 |  Raider | 48% | loses hardest to Levied Gunner |
| 22 |  Sowar | 47% | loses hardest to Puma Spearman |
| 23 |  Javelin Rider | 46% | loses hardest to Qiang Pikeman |
| 24 |  Missionary | 45% | loses hardest to Puma Spearman |
| 25 |  Winged Hussar | 43% | loses hardest to Puma Spearman |
| 26 |  Veteran War Wagon | 43% | loses hardest to Qiang Pikeman |
| 27 |  Cuirassier | 40% | loses hardest to Puma Spearman |
| 28 |  Iron Flail | 39% | loses hardest to Puma Spearman |
| 29 |  Mahout Lancer | 36% | loses hardest to Puma Spearman |
| 30 |  Ruyter | 35% | loses hardest to Qiang Pikeman |
| 31 |  Rifle Rider | 34% | loses hardest to Comanchero |
| 32 |  Carbine Cavalry | 33% | loses hardest to Qiang Pikeman |
| 33 |  Musket Rider | 33% | loses hardest to Qiang Pikeman |
| 34 |  Tashunke Prowler | 31% | loses hardest to Puma Spearman |
| 35 |  Flail Elephant | 29% | loses hardest to Levied Gunner |
| 36 |  Dragoon | 26% | loses hardest to Qiang Pikeman |
| 37 |  Zamburak | 24% | loses hardest to Qiang Pikeman |
| 38 |  Keshik | 22% | loses hardest to Qiang Pikeman |
| 39 |  Hakkapelit | 20% | loses hardest to Puma Spearman |
| 40 |  Howdah | 18% | loses hardest to Qiang Pikeman |
| 41 |  Yabusame Archer | 17% | loses hardest to Qiang Pikeman |
How this is worked out
Equal-cost fights by Lanchester's square law: strength = (resources ÷ unit cost)² × damage per second × hit points; one hit = damage × the multipliers matching the target × (1 − its resist). Fights won = share of the other 122 regular units it beats.
Assumptions: Base stats: no upgrades, cards or civilization bonuses. Range and speed (kiting) are not modelled, which undersells skirmishers and archers; area damage counts on one target.