Arteshtar

Overall strategy
Arteshtar (Pahlavi, "soldiers") form the main backbone of the Persian army. Understandably, they are leftovers from post-Sassanian times and aren't exactly as professional as they should be but what they lack in combat skills, they compensate in armour, thus making them highly resistant especially when facing enemy cavalry. Arteshtar are nevertheless must be considered primarily as a support unit, meant primarily to hold the line to keep cavalry from breaking through and killing your archers.