Fast cavalry (sometimes called light cavalry) are riders of exceptional prowess, trained in lightning-fast manoeuvres and flank attacks. They are more lightly armed and armoured than heavy knights, but make up for this with their flexibility.

Troops that are fast cavalry are indicated in their relevant Army book. In battle, they act as scouts and outriders for the army, as well as harrying the flanks of enemy formations with their missile weapons.

A fast cavalry unit uses regular formations as do other cavalry and suffers penalties in difficult terrain. In fact they follow all of the normal rules for units apart from the exceptions detailed below. Fast cavalry receives no bonus for ranks.

Unless it charges, the fast cavalry unit is permitted to reform at any time during its Movement phase without incurring any penalties to its Move distance. See the rules for reforming (p.49). Note that none of the models in the fast cavalry unit can move more than their maximum move distance despite the free reform.

Although it may sound unlikely, a well-trained horseman can turn completely around in his saddle and shoot behind him while moving forwards! When they are shooting, fast cavalry can fire all round regardless of the direction in which the model is pointing. Note that for charging, stand R shoot reactions, etc, the model needs to be facing the enemy as normal.

Fast cavalry armed with missile weapons are expert at shooting from horseback (or wolfback!) and can therefore shoot even when marching. The normal -1 penalty for moving applies.

Fast cavalry is extremely good at escaping from combat and regrouping. Unlike normal troops, a unit of fast cavalry which chooses to flee as a charge reaction and subsequently rallies at the beginning of their next turn may reform facing in any direction and is free to move during the Movement phase. If the chargers fail to catch the fast cavalry unit which declared flee as a charge reaction then the charge is a failed charge as normal. If the flee move of the fast cavalry does not take them beyond the charge reach of their enemies, the unit is destroyed as normal.

Mounted character models may join fast cavalry units and move with the unit, but do not benefit from any of the special shooting rules.