How to use pikemen

[The Goob]

Is there some trick to using pikemen properly? It seems that every time I order them to attack they don't use the pike but instead draw swords to attack.

[Ita Church]

I've never used the pikemen in this game; when you unlock the "square formation" the pikemen become useless. By the way they are thought to defend your army by the cavalry charge ^.^

[Crewmember 123]

they use pikes only while defending, pike wall etc. against cavalary

[Cmyyx]

Pikemen are good for cavalary attacking your flanks i've found

[MHD@4S]

they're a bit ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥...every time i start a new campaign i just disband them
Useless

[Jacques]

At the start of the game I use them to garrison ports to stop enemy ships from raiding. Once I have enough funds I disband them and replace them with militia. They are not completely useless and have had some success with them as defenders in forts.

[Noizzzmaker]

i actually like having them protect my cannons

[richard.lu]

Originally posted by Daisy:

At the start of the game I use them to garrison ports to stop enemy ships from raiding. Once I have enough funds I disband them and replace them with militia. They are not completely useless and have had some success with them as defenders in forts.

I never thought to use pikemen. I do the exact samething with milita. By the way, I know in real life pikes are devestating against horses, but one I played a singleplayer battle with a bunch of pikemen vs. cavalry, and the horses weren't damaged that much when they ran into my pike wall. Glitch or am I doing something wrong?

[Female Body Inspector]

pikemen are strictly a defencive unit and should not be orderd to attack in the first place unless its against cav.

[Sleepy_Drago]

I THINK THEY LOOK AWESOME I DONT PLAY CAMPAIGN MUCH SOOOOOO YEA

[Are John]

The caps spam makes Barryiaconelli's comment seem kinda.... downsyndromeish. :p

[Swimming Samurai]

yea pikes are as useless as bows but atleast they have okay melee stats and can hold meny enemy units belive it or not but online no one is going to fall for the cheap pikes

[spitfire23]

They have the same stats as a line infantry unit using a socket bayonet so you can be aggressive with them I guess? Other than that they're pretty much useless

[The Goob]

I would have thought a huge pike would be better in melee than any other melee weapon. It should be able to out-reach bayonets.

[Noizzzmaker]

ive just modded them a bit to be useful.. 500 men and some better melee and morale

[=CAW=aldarions-lament]

Pikes are the second best unit in the game.

How to control them: First put them into phalanx mode (not sure about name), Once in this mode they can only advance forwards very slowly. Give them a move order behind the unit you want to attack not an assualt order and they will stay in formation.

Uses.
Early game:
As mobile chevaux du frise to protect artillery
Flank defense from cav. Useful if farming and reasearch are your first tech choices
Just behind the crest of a hill (reverse slope defense)
To creat a fallback line resistant to cav (best to be only 2 men deep. Pointless after square formantion is researched)

Late Game:
EVERY CASTLE MUST HAVE AT LEAST ONE form them up on either side of a breach with a shooter unit in front
Defending town streets behind trenches (have a line unit dig them, then switch places once the game starts)
Defending any choke point
If your fighting india or ottomans where melee units and cav are heavilly used (especially useful against elephants)

Greatest Game Exploit UNIT OF ALL TIME EVER! : if an enemy army is being reinfoced just put 3 pike units directly in front of the spwan point. I once destryoed an army 3 times my size and only lost 80 pikes for 5000 dead enemies doing just that (gamey and lame sure but hillarious to watch)