Game Info
Unique unit of the Spanish civilization. Replaces the Knight. Requires 
Horses Horses.
- Common abilities:
- Can Move After Attacking
- No Defensive Terrain Bonuses
- Special abilities:
- Embarkation with Defense (Embarked units defend at double strength)
- Extra Sight (2)
- No Penalty Attacking Cities
- Special traits:
- Greater
Production Production cost (135 vs. 120)
- Greater
- Actions:
- Found City (Expends the unit and creates a city on its tile.)
Strategy
The Conquistador serves multiple purposes:
- First, it's strong both on land and at sea (where it can defend against attacks, unlike most other land units when embarked), and it doesn't suffer the other mounted units' attack penalty against cities. Thus its only weakness is against Pikemen or Lancers.
- Second, it's an exceptional scout on land with extra visibility and quick movement. It also has the ability to found new cities, but only on a foreign continent that does not contain the Spanish capital.
A great move of the Spanish civilization is to tech rush Astronomy soon after acquiring the Conquistador (via Chivalry), then send them in all directions across the oceans in search of suitable land, left yet uncolonized by the other civilizations. They can land, scout it swiftly, deal with any potential Barbarian dangers, then immediately found a city! All other civilizations first have to scout with ships or scouts, then send another wave of units and settlers - a much slower process, during which the Spanish may claim the most suitable locations for their overseas colonies.
Note that the Conquistador's ability to found cities will be lost after it is upgraded to Cavalry.
Civilopedia entry
The Conquistadors were the Spanish soldiers and explorers who conquered much of the New World in the 16th and 17th centuries. Having recently driven the Moors from Spain in the famous Reconquista, the Conquistadors were seasoned veteran light cavalrymen. Their ability to traverse difficult terrain on horseback made them especially effective against the natives of the New World, who lacked horses altogether and were unable to outrun their terrifying opponents.