Infantry VS Cavalry

[Mosquitoslayer]

Is there any point in doing Infantry once you have access to cavalry ?
(Unless you have a special bonus on Infantry or a special kind of Infantry)
For exemple
Antiquity :

Spearmen(Tier2) : Cost 60 production - Strength 25 - Move 2, gold -1, sight 2
Chariot (Tier2) : Cost 70 production - Strength 30 - Move 3, gold -1, sight 2

Phalanx (Tier 3) : Cost 100 production - Strength 30 - Move 2, gold -2, sight 2
Horseman (Tier3) : Cost 110 production - Strength 35 - Move 3, gold -2, sight 2

Exploration :

Swordsmen (Tier 1) : Cost production 130 - Strength 35 - Move 2, gold -2, sight 2
Courser (Tier 1) : Cost production 150 - Strength 40 - Move 3, gold -2, sight 2

Man At arms (Tier 2) : Cost production 170 - Strength 40 - Move 2, gold -3, sight 2
Knight (Tier 2) : Cost production 190 - Strength 45 - Move 3, gold -3, sight 2

Modern :

Line Infantry (Tier 1) : Cost production 290 - Strength 50 - Move 2, gold -4, sight 2
Cuirassier (Tier 1) : Cost production 320 - Strength 55 - Move 3, gold -4, sight 2

Rifleman (Tier 2) : Cost production 340 - Strength 55 - Move 2, gold -4, sight 2
Landship (Tier 2) : Cost production 370 - Strength 60 - Move 3, gold -4, sight 2

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The balance clearly favors cavalry in this case. In every era:

Cavalry costs slightly more production (+10 to +30),
But has +5 strength,
And most importantly, +1 movement, which is crucial for battlefield mobility.

Why Choose Cavalry?

Tactical Advantage:
Cavalry can strike faster, reach vulnerable targets more easily, and reposition after combat.
It is more effective for flanking, exploiting breaches, and cutting off reinforcements.

Better Investment:
With a budget of 100 production per turn, you can produce one infantry unit or a cavalry unit in just slightly more time, but cavalry performs better in both combat and mobility.

Trade Efficiency:
Infantry is cheaper but almost always loses against its cavalry counterpart.
If a Man-at-Arms fights a Knight and loses, it's not even an equal resource trade.

Conclusion

Unless there's a special reason, cavalry is simply a better version of infantry in this balance. It provides superior raw power and a strategic edge with its mobility.
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Historically, armies were often composed of infantry, cavalry costed a lot more, was exceptionnally dependant to terrain features while infantry could be considered weaker but more adaptable. Antiquity and Exploration cavalry should not be able to fortify or receive bonus from fortification. They should provide an extra tactical and strategical option rather than a simply better more mobile infantry (And please no paper, stone, scissors)

[Batailleuse]

I always pick ranged + artillery.... Never lost with that strat.

To be fair it's stupidly easy to boost any of the infantry/cavalry or ranged with proper setup (for instance city state bonuses) making anything you like completely broken.

Earlier it's rather a matter of of you got strategic ressources boosting one or the other and if you did the proper masteries to boos either.

You can make any unit do 1v3-5 with proper setup.

And I never needed more than 4 units to obliterate cities.

[Townsendvol]

Once I get cavalry I never buy infantry. I was actually wondering this yesterday when I was playing.

Hopefully someone can give some insight.

I would like there to be an advantage to each in certain situations.

[Mosquitoslayer]

Batailleuse : I would say ranged and artillery depending of the set up of the land sometimes can be hazardous (There is a tree, you need to come closer) but they are indeed extremely powerful, especially with boosts from commanders/ressources, etc.
You can also boost infantry with proper boosts BUT you will always loose potential compared to boosting cavalry (Just to get to same strength you would need like 5 iron but you would still be heavily crippled due to +1movement for +10/+30 production cost compared to cavalry)
The Tier 3 tank even have 4 moves compared to Tier 3 Infantry which remains at 2 moves for the same "balance" of +5 strength and +30production needed

Twonsendvol : You are optimising your datas, it is the smart thing to do :p I hope too someone can give us insight

[chicken_man]

Norman cavalry is INSANELY overpowered

[Mosquitoslayer]

Ah yes, i got Charlemagne with Normans cavalry they did 80 strength vs my 35/40 infantery, Good times !! lol