Les Grognards Cavalry vs Renaissance Heavy Cavalry: Which to Field?
By Wargames Atlantic | Published: 2026-10-31
Category: Comparisons
Les Grognards Cavalry vs Renaissance Heavy Cavalry: compare unit size, equipment, and battlefield role to decide which 28mm cavalry belongs in your next army.
Quick answer
Choose Les Grognards Cavalry when you want a larger, flexible unit of nine hard-plastic riders that can switch between lance, pistol, or sword. Choose Renaissance Heavy Cavalry when your force needs period-specific demi-lancers or Reiters in three-quarters plate and you prefer a smaller, more focused unit.
Unit size and army footprint
Les Grognards Cavalry gives you nine riders in one box, which makes it easier to fill out multiple squadrons or build a full unit without buying several kits. Renaissance Heavy Cavalry is a more compact unit, so it suits armies where cavalry is a supporting arm rather than the main effort. The trade-off is flexibility versus focus: more models let you experiment with unit sizes, but they also take longer to assemble and paint.
Equipment and period identity
Les Grognards Cavalry can be equipped with lance, pistol, or sword, so you can adapt the same unit to different rulesets or scenarios. Renaissance Heavy Cavalry is built around the demi-lancer and Reiter types, with three-quarters plate armor and a lance focus. That period specificity is a strength if you want a visually distinct Renaissance force, but it limits how easily the models can stand in for other cavalry roles.
Basing and scale considerations
Both kits are 28mm hard plastic, but the number of models per box affects your basing plan. A nine-model unit may require larger movement trays or multiple bases, while a smaller Renaissance unit is easier to fit into tight deployment zones. Check your preferred ruleset’s base sizes before you commit, because the cavalry’s pose and horse size can influence how tightly you can pack them.
Trade-offs at a glance
- Unit size: Les Grognards Cavalry gives you 9 riders; Renaissance Heavy Cavalry is a smaller unit. More models mean more painting time but greater list-building flexibility. If you need to fill several units quickly, the larger box reduces repeat purchases.
- Weapon options: Les Grognards Cavalry can take lance, pistol, or sword; Renaissance Heavy Cavalry focuses on the lance-armed demi-lancer and Reiter. Choose the Grognards for adaptable loadouts, the Renaissance kit for period-correct lance cavalry. Magnetize or dry-fit before gluing if you want to switch weapons later.
- Period feel: Renaissance Heavy Cavalry carries three-quarters plate armor and a strong historical identity; Les Grognards Cavalry is a generic hard-plastic cavalry kit that can blend into many settings. Pick the Renaissance kit when visual consistency with a historical army matters more than raw model count.
Product facts
- Les Grognards Cavalry: Box set includes enough parts to build 9 hard plastic cavalry equipped with lance, pistol, or sword. A single box gives you a large unit or several smaller ones, so you can test different loadouts without buying extra kits.
Les Grognards Cavalry - Renaissance Heavy Cavalry: Cavalry of the period was typically of two main types: the Demi-lancer and the Reiter, both wearing three-quarters plate armor. The kit is designed for Renaissance-era armies, so it fits best when you want historical identity rather than generic cavalry.
Renaissance Heavy Cavalry
Which should you field?
Best for
- Players who want a large, adaptable cavalry unit for multiple rulesets
- Hobbyists who prefer to build and paint one box to fill out several squadrons
Not for
- Collectors building a strictly Renaissance army who need period-specific armor and lance types
- Gamers who want a small, compact unit that fits into tight deployment zones
