What counters Cataphract Archers?

Heavy Cavalry is countered by Archer Cavalry, Archers, Heavy Cavalry, Heavy Infantry, Peasant Militia, Spearmen and Skirmishers (patch 1.20.0.3).

Heavy Cavalry men-at-arms

Cataphract Archers

Damage: 90
Toughness: 52
Pursuit: 20
Screen: 10

cataphract_archers

Cataphract Archers are heavy cavalry men-at-arms in Crusader Kings III: damage 90, toughness 52, pursuit 20, screen 10, 50 soldiers per sub-regiment. A sub-regiment costs 260 gold to buy, 2.73 gold a month raised and 0.91 at rest. They counter Archer Cavalry, Archers and Handgunner. They are unlocked by Iron Cavalry (tradition). Patch 1.20.0.3, from game/common/men_at_arms_types/09_mpo_maa_types.txt.

Quick answers (4)

What are the stats of Cataphract Archers in CK3?: Damage 90, toughness 52, pursuit 20, screen 10, 50 soldiers per sub-regiment (patch 1.20.0.3).
What do Cataphract Archers counter?: Archer Cavalry, Archers and Handgunner.
What counters Cataphract Archers?: Heavy Cavalry is countered by Archer Cavalry, Archers, Heavy Cavalry, Heavy Infantry, Peasant Militia, Spearmen and Skirmishers (patch 1.20.0.3).
How do you get Cataphract Archers?: They are unlocked by Iron Cavalry (tradition).

Arrows and blades ping harmlessly off the lamellar coats of these horsemen and their steeds. Meanwhile, their bows deal death and misery.

Counters

Countering cuts the countered regiment's damage by up to 90%: full effect at 2 effective countering sub-regiments per countered one (NCombat defines).

Cataphract Archers counters

Countered by (Heavy Cavalry)

Put Cataphract Archers in the counters calculator →

Terrain and winter

In Steppe	+40 damage
In Drylands	+40 damage
In Plains	+40 damage
In Hills	-20 damage
In Desert Mountains	-50 damage
In Mountains	-75 damage
In Wetlands	-75 damage, -10 toughness, -10 pursuit
In Normal Winter	-10 damage, -5 toughness
In Harsh Winter	-20 damage, -10 toughness

How to get it

Tradition: Iron Cavalry

Government condition in the trigger: not government_is_nomadic

The game's recruit condition (can_recruit)

valid_for_maa_trigger = {
	PARAMETER = unlock_maa_cataphract_archers
}
NOT = {
	culture = {
		has_cultural_parameter = strength_in_numbers_heavy_maa_ban
	}
}
OR = {
	NOT = {
		government_has_flag = government_is_nomadic
	}
	has_realm_law_flag = unlock_maa_nomad_lancers
}

Upgrades

Bonuses in the files that raise this regiment or every Heavy Cavalry regiment.

innovation · Plate Armor

Toughness+20

innovation · Lacquered Armor

Toughness+8

innovation · Lacquered Armor

Heavy Cavalry Maintenance-5%

tradition · Frugal Armorers

Heavy Cavalry Toughness-30%

tradition · Stand and Fight

Heavy Cavalry Toughness+10%

tradition · Horse Breeders

tradition · Longbow Competitions

Max Size of Heavy Cavalry Regiments-2

tradition · Defensive Tactics

Heavy Cavalry Toughness+20%
Heavy Cavalry Maintenance+10%

tradition · Eastern Roman Legacy

Max Size of Heavy Cavalry Regiments+2

tradition · Pragmatic Creed

Heavy Cavalry Maintenance+15%

tradition · Indomitable Azatani

Heavy Cavalry Maintenance-15%
Heavy Cavalry Damage+20%

tradition · Audacious Cadets

tradition · Imperial Tagmata

Max Size of Heavy Cavalry Regiments+2

tradition · Iron Cavalry

Heavy Cavalry Toughness+20%

building · Jousting Grounds (top level: Royal Tournament Arenas)

building · Iron Pillar of Delhi (top level: Iron Pillar of Delhi)

Heavy Cavalry Toughness+10%

building · Quarries (top level: Mechanized Water Pumping)

building · Walls & Towers (top level: Ravelins & Cavaliers)

building · Hillside Grazing Lands (top level: Large Horse Ranches)

building · Stables (top level: Stud Farms)

building · Iron Pillar of Delhi (top level: Alai Minar)

Heavy Cavalry Toughness+10%

Source: game/common/men_at_arms_types/09_mpo_maa_types.txt, game/common/script_values/00_men_at_arms_values.txt and the English localisation, Crusader Kings III 1.20.0.3.