Greek cavalry are expensive and slow but powerful. Hippikons are strong against archers and can strike quickly against siege weapons, but are weaker against infantry.

Greek cavalry other than the scouts or elite Hetairoi were called Hippikons. The classic Greeks had foregone cavalry in favor of armies consisting entirely of Hoplite infantry. After the rise of Macedonia, the use of other arms was evident. Hippikon cavalry and light troops were raised to support the Hoplite infantry.