A Napoleonic Wars Melee Survival Guide by Chosen1 (Marins_Neville)

This guide will teach you basic and advanced techniques to Napoleonic Wars hand-to-hand melee with the sword, rifle butt, and bayonet, and also teaching how to fight in a group, and how to fight when outnumbered.

Intro

Introduction

NW melee is tricky at first, and really, the only way to get better is to practice, practice practice. I've learned these tips and tricks from friends and months of playing MM/NW and Native. Hopefully, after reading this, you will have somewhat improved your melee skills.

Melee Stats

Class Skills

This may not seem important, but this is useful to know. Here are the stats for a regular line infantry ranker:

1h Weapons: 50 wpf
Polearms: 130 wpf
Crossbows: 150 wpf

Strength: 14
Agility: 14
Ironflesh: 3
Powerstrike: 3
Athletics: 3

Wpf meaning weapon proficiency (skill), 1h weapons meaning swords, Polearms meaning bayonet, and crossbows meaning muskets. Now here are the stats to a Guard Infantry Ranker (such as 1er Grenadiers, Coldstream Guards, Grenadier Battalion Purcell, and Preobrazhensky Polk):

1h Weapons: 50 wpf
Polearms: 145 wpf
Crossbows: 150 wpf

Strength: 14
Agility: 14
Ironflesh: 3
Powerstrike: 3
Athletics: 3

As you can see, the guard infantry ranker has slightly better melee stats than the regular soldier. Here are the stats for a riflemen/light infantry ranker:

1h Weapons: 50 wpf
Polearms: 90 wpf
Crossbows: 206 wpf

Strength: 14
Agility: 14
Ironflesh: 2
Powerstrike: 1
Athletics: 3

Powerstrike meaning melee damage, ironflesh meaning health, The light infantry class has drastically lower melee skills, but of course a better shooting skill. Here's the stats for a hussar ranker:

1h Weapons: 160 wpf
Polearms: 30 wpf
Crossbows: 30 wpf

Strength: 7
Agility: 5
Ironflesh: 3
Powerstrike: 3
Athletics: 0
Riding: 6

Obviously, their proficiencies are going to be in swords and riding.

Now, I'm not going to tell you all of the different class mechanics, but this was just to give you an idea. In recap, different classes have different skills, and some will give you a useful edge. For all of the class mechanics, look at this compilation by Maroon:

http://www.fsegames.eu/forum/index.php?topic=1108.0

The Basics of Melee

Simple Stuff

The goal of melee is not to out-spam or spin your opponent, it is to make your opponent make a mistake, by catching him off-guard or attacking him where he doesn't expect it.

FYI, I highly recommend you enable "Show Attack Direction" in the options menu if you are having difficulty.



Anyways, Mount and Blade uses a directional block and attack system. This means when your mouse moves a direction with a weapon, your weapon will block or attack in that direction. The left mouse button is the attack button, and the right mouse button is the block button.

Blocking

Bayonets and Pikes may only attack two directions, while Swords and Rifle/Cavalry Musket butts may attack four directions. Say an enemy attacks you with an underhand stab. You would move your mouse downwards and hold the right mouse button to block it. Simple enough, right?

However, sometimes it may get tricky to block against someone who is good at melee/feinting. Anticipate his attack directions and wait until he finishes his swing to attack him back, if you get a chance. The only way to get good at blocking is to practice. Fight with bots, or just practice on the official servers to get better.

Also, watch out for spinners and chambers, who will give you an unexpected attack.

It is also important to remember that lances can not block.

Bayonet Fighting Basics

Vs. Bayonet

Now, you've gotten yourself into a duel with an enemy with a bayonet. Don't get nervous! Remember, he can only attack two different directions, overhead and downwards. Make sure to keep your mouse movements up and down. Follow his every movement, and then strike back when you get a chance.

Overheard stabs typically do more damage than underhand stabs, although underhand stabs are slightly faster. To do more damage with your attacks, try doing a little rotation and attack, as it will do more damage.

Try not to get too close to him when you swing, or your bayonet will bump off of him, doing no damage and stunning yourself.

If you're lucky, a successful overhead block will stun your enemy, giving you a chance to give a quick stab. You'll notice he is stunned if it takes a little while more for him to bring his bayonet down.

Vs. Sword

If you are just learning the basics of melee, I would recommend not purposely getting into a duel with a man with a sword. These are a little tricky if you are just starting out, as he can attack two more directions (left and right).

I know it may seem like the sword is much faster than the bayonet; but a bayonet swing is always faster than a sword swing.

Try to notice the length of his sword, and don't stay too close to him. Follow each of his movements and again, attack when you get an opportunity.

Sword Fighting Basics

Vs. Bayonet

You have an advantage, because may only attack two directions. Keep attacking him until he makes a mistake, because if you put pressure on him and block his attacks, he will.

Overhead and left-slash attacks generally do more damage than the forehand and downward attacks.

Vs. Sword

A simple, sword against sword duel. Follow his attacks, and attack where he doesn't expect it. Change your pattern of attack often, but don't get too cocky and let him hit you.

I would like to point out that the thrust with the rifle butt is glitchy, and wherever the thrust finishes is where the attack will land.

Melee Techniques

Basic Tricks

These techniques are easy, but useful. I'll tell you how to do and counter each one.

Feinting (Spamming)

Useful Against: Noobs

How To: To feint, simply click to attack, but before you swing, right click and cancel your attack, and repeat until you see your enemy mess up, then give him an unexpected attack. Attack in unexpected directions and give him an unconstant attack pattern.

Counter: Quick reaction. Follow every move and attack when you see him getting too cocky. Also, a sucssesful hold and chamber would do the trick, but I'll get to that later.

Spinning

Useful Against: Noobs, Groups

How To: Instead of attacking him directly, spin around while feinting or holding your attack and then swing. Do it in an unconstant pattern. Don't get too cocky. Watch your back.

Counter: Get close to him so he can't spin and hit you. If he isn't paying attention, hit him in the back. A sucssesful chamber or hold would work also.

Advanced Melee Techniques

These are the little things that win duels. These take much patience and practice.

Holding

Useful Against: Noobs, Spammers, Chamberers

How To: It's much more effective if done after lots of feinting. Holding is as easy as it sounds, just pull your sword/bayonet back to attack, but hold and wait for your enemy to make movement, and attack. Don't constantly hold or he will be able to counter your holds.

Counter: Patience. If you know he is going to keep trying to hold his attack, do a quick little feint to make him think he has fooled you, and then block and attack.

Chambering

Useful Against: Everything

How To: Chambering is extremely difficult at first. To chamber, attack with your weapon as your enemy's weapon is coming towards you, in the same direction. If he is swinging to your left, swing back to your left. There is no way for me to teach you how to get the timing perfect, and even I mess up alot. Practice. Practice Practice.

A great move is to do a chamber and then hold your attack. This will catch many players off guard.

Also, do not rely on chambering only. It's very risky and you are bound to mess up.

thanks WhiteShadow

Counter: HOLDING. If you see a guy constantly trying to chamber your attacks, hold your attack and feint a little, and you throw his timing off and catch him off guard.

Here's some MB videos (not mine) to help with your chambering:

Please note that unlike in Warband, you can not chamber overhead stabs with under stabs.

Kicking!

Useful Against: People chasing you, or keep getting directly infront of you.

How To: Kicking is very risky, so don't do it too often. But If your opponent is constantly squaring up to you, go for it. Bring your attack up, and then press E to kick. If he is moving around alot, kick to where he is going, not to where he is at. If you kick unsuccesfully, he can easily kill you.

Counter: Try not to stay squared up against your enemy, and don't move in a straight line. If he kicks and misses, go around him and attack.

Fighting Against Cavalry

So, some guy on a horse is trying to cut you down. What can you do?

With Bayonet

A Bayonet will always out-reach a horsemen with a sword, no matter how long the sword is. Simply get the timing down. I would recommend killing the horse first and then the rider as he is falling down.

However, you will never be able to outreach a lance. Just block downwards. If he is couching his lance (holding it and pointing it towards you), don't block it, he will kill you. Get out of the range of it.

If you want to be a complete badass, chamber a lance thrust.

With a Sword

This is a bit difficult, especially when you have a slightly shorter sword. Step to the side of the horse as he is coming by, and use a side attack to take out his horse from under him.

OR, you could get directly infront of him and use a down stab to take out his horse as he his coming towards you.

Skilled cavalrymen will steer to the side as they swing, so be wary if he tries to do so.

thanks Lord Belak

Also, never try to take on a lance with a sword; he will always win.

If you only have a really short weapon such as a sabre briquet, just run. You're dead.

Fighting In Groups/While Outnumbered

Groupfighting

If you're fighting in a group, try to isolate and surround a single person at a time. Be wary of your surroundings (use the ` key) and don't get caught off guard. Watch for spinners.

Outnumbered

Try not to put yourself in choke points where you can be easily cut off for your team. But if you do find yourself against a group of foes, use Spin, and be unexpected. Try to get the enemies to teamkill each other.

End

Practice on bots, practice on native, practice practice practice. Watch other players, copy the tricks that they use.

This guide is a WIP, if you have any suggestions, please comment. Thanks.

-Neville

[Coco]

This is reapy on video!My favorit...oh she is super girl.

[Sact]

in the end i have concluded after 1 billion hours in the wars, that bayonets are purely random and that you should pray that your hit is 1 tap and not his.

[person‽]

If you time your swing right with a sword on foot vs a lancer, you can dehorse him.

[Govinda]

excellent, thanks!

[Alden]

Thanks, mate.

[Ibrahim Pasha ズ]

Good guide, mate :)

[Killer007]

nice guide

[Blomin]

Thanks for the guide it's really useful

[CapnSnowflake]

"even i mess up" And of course the autor thinks he is better than the readers

[Mathias]

This is the guide that inspired me to get good at melee especially the '' Watch other players, copy the tricks they use part :P