African Forest Elephant (Civ5)

African Forest Elephant
Mounted unit of the Classical Era
Introduced in Gods & Kings
Unique to
Civilization	Carthaginian
Civilization	Carthaginian
Replaces	Horseman
Replaces	Horseman
Cost
Production	100
Production	100
Stats
Combat strength	14
Combat strength	14
Moves	3
Moves	3
Required
Technology	Horseback Riding
Upgrades to
Knight
Knight
Notes
No defensive terrain bonuses Can move after attacking Penalty attacking cities 33 Feared Elephant Great Generals II

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Game Info

Unique mounted unit of the Carthaginian civilization. Replaces the Horseman.

• Common abilities:
  • Can Move After Attacking
  • Penalty Attacking Cities (33)
  • No Defensive Terrain Bonuses
• Special abilities:
  • Great Generals II promotion (Combat Very Likely To Create Great Generals.)
  • Feared Elephant: Enemy units receive -10% Combat Strength when adjacent to any unit with this promotion
• Special traits:
  • Doesn't require Horses
  • Extra strength (14 vs. 12)
  • Slower Movement (-1)
  • Greater Production cost (100 vs. 75)

Strategy

The African Forest Elephant is the Carthaginians' unique cavalry. It is a little slower than standard mounted units (having 3 MP instead of 4), but its Feared Elephant ability - which diminishes the combat strength of all enemy units around the elephant - makes it much more powerful. This means that unlike other cavalry, which tend to hang back from the main battle line, African Forest Elephants are most effective right in the middle of a melee, where their special ability can affect the most enemy units. Besides, their diminished mobility makes them less effective at the typical hit-and-run attacks of standard cavalry. Of course, it is important to keep the elephants away from Spearmen, and remember that they are more costly to produce than the unit they replace.

It's also worth noting that African Forest Elephants help produce Great Generals faster. Unlike the Feared Elephant ability, which is lost at upgrade, the Great Generals ability is transferred, meaning that the cavalry produced from the very beginning will boost Great Generals generation for the rest of the game!

Civilopedia entry

Used frequently by the forces of Carthage under legendary general Hannibal during his campaigns against the Romans, the elephant was a valuable beast of burden, as well as a dangerous weapon. Utilized throughout the Punic Wars, with varying amounts of success, the Carthaginian war elephants were trained to charge the enemy lines carrying soldiers mounted in towering gondolas on their backs. Despite their intimidating size, the elephants were susceptible to the advances of mobile infantry, and the care and maintenance requirements of such a large animal often led to their deaths on the arduous marches of the Carthaginian army.

Trivia

• It is debatable if the African Forest Elephants of Hannibal Barca were large enough to allow warriors to ride on them. The African Forest Elephant depicted in Civilization V, which has 3 riders on it, is somewhat unrealistic.

Gallery

African Forest Elephant concept art

African Forest Elephant in game

Related achievements

Hannibal's Crossing As Carthage, Attack a Roman Unit with an African Forest Elephant from a mountain tile.