French Imperial Guard Lancers vs Chasseur à Cheval
By Victrix Limited 28mm miniatures | Published: 2026-10-22
Category: Comparisons
Compare two elite French Napoleonic cavalry sets from Victrix: the Imperial Guard Lancers and the Chasseur à Cheval. Learn their historical roles, conversion potential, and which fits your wargaming army best.
Quick answer
Choose the French Napoleonic Imperial Guard Lancers if you want versatile figures that can be converted into several other nations' lancers, or the Chasseur à Cheval if you prefer a historically accurate light cavalry unit with a consistent uniform from 1800 to 1815.
Historical roles and uniform consistency
The Imperial Guard Lancers represent two distinct regiments: the Polish (blue uniforms) and the Dutch (red uniforms). Both fought with great distinction in Spain, Europe, Russia, and at Waterloo. This set offers a chance to field two famous units from one box, but note that the uniforms differ between the two regiments, so you'll need to decide which one to build or mix them carefully.
The Chasseur à Cheval set depicts Napoleon's elite light cavalry regiment. Their uniform remained largely the same from 1800 to 1815, with only minor changes to the sabretache design and flag. This consistency makes them a straightforward choice for painting and army building across different campaign periods.
Conversion potential and versatility
The Lancers set is especially valuable for wargamers who want to field lancers from other nations. With some conversion work, you can create Prussians, Polish Line Lancers, Lancers De Berg, or Russian lancers. This makes the set a cost-effective option if you're building multiple armies or need variety.
The Chasseur à Cheval set offers less conversion flexibility because of its distinctive uniform. However, its charging poses and dynamic sculpts are ideal for creating a dramatic centerpiece for your French cavalry line.
Trade-offs at a glance
- Unit variety vs. uniformity: The Lancers set gives you two distinct regiments (Polish and Dutch) in one box, but you'll need to decide which one to build. The Chasseur set offers one consistent uniform that works across the entire Napoleonic period.
- Conversion potential vs. historical accuracy: Lancers can be converted into several other nations' lancers, making them highly versatile. Chasseurs have a distinctive uniform that limits conversions but ensures historical accuracy for French Guard light cavalry.
- Price and value: Both sets are similarly priced (Lancers at $19.50, Chasseurs at $20.10), but the Lancers offer more long-term value if you plan to use conversions for multiple armies. If you only need one French Guard cavalry unit, either set works; if you want to expand into other nations, the Lancers are the better investment.
Product facts
- French Napoleonic Imperial Guard Lancers: This set represents Napoleon's lancers of the Guard, including Polish (Blue) and Dutch (Red) regiments. They fought in Spain, Europe, Russia, and at Waterloo. With conversion work, you can also make Prussians, Polish Line Lancers, Lancers De Berg, and Russian lancers. You get two distinct historical units in one box, plus the ability to expand into other armies with simple conversions.
French Napoleonic Imperial Guard Lancers - Chasseur à cheval: The set includes 12 dynamic charging French Chasseurs à Cheval of the Imperial Guard, an elite light cavalry regiment. Their uniform remained mostly the same from 1800 to 1815, with the main differences being the sabretache design and flag. You can paint a consistent unit that fits any Napoleonic battle from 1800 to 1815 without worrying about uniform changes.
Chasseur à cheval
Which one should you choose?
Best for
- Wargamers who want to field both Polish and Dutch Guard lancers from one box
- Modelers who enjoy converting figures to create Prussians, Russian lancers, or other nations
Not ideal for
- Players who need a historically accurate French Guard light cavalry unit with a single uniform
- Those who prefer a straightforward painting project without conversion work
