how do you use melee chariots?

[Dominic]

do you target units (from flank or back) or do you give them a move command with their path going through enemy units? or do you do something else with em

i dunno i tried them a few times and they just seemed like worse shock calv (im new to total war games)

[AurumHawke]

You get zero weapon and collision damage without an attack order.
TWWH3 is better about allowing attack orders right next to the target, not perfect, but it will actually work.

[Hex]

Chariots are even more micro-intensive than cav and get stuck in units all the time, don't bother using them. The AI can use them because it clicks move orders 100 times per second.

[Ashardalon]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hVW9XzeiUxc
strait through, unless its spears (charge defense trait), then you go side through or back through
basically immediately give your move out order as soon as the charge hits
no point waiting
you want to restart moving while the enemy is still flying from the collision to ensure you dont get stuck

[Avallac]

You have to give charge order, but as soon as they drive through the enemy units, you have to micro them non stop constantly and drive them away then after some distance give another attack order. If you simply give 1 order they will turn around after running through the enemy unit doing their collision damage and then at low speed just walk to the enemy and do nothing and die. CA can't be bothered to make them charge in and out automatically so you need to control them and micro every, single, charge so that they don't get stuck in melee.
They are very effective but having to micro their collision damage constantly is a big downside.
Shock cav you can leave in melee for about 10 seconds until the charge bonus runs out, then pull them out and re-charge again. If you forget about them they are still somewhat useful, unlike chariots that do 99% of their damage simply by colliding with enemy units.

[Avallac]

Originally posted by Ashardalon:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hVW9XzeiUxc
strait through, unless its spears (charge defense trait), then you go side through or back through
basically immediately give your move out order as soon as the charge hits
no point waiting
you want to restart moving while the enemy is still flying from the collision to ensure you dont get stuck

Great video, check out that channel for more basic info like that since you're new to the game.

[Reaver79]

Originally posted by Dominic:

do you target units (from flank or back)

Depends on what you are charging.. A spearman unit or the like, never from the front.. Archers.. Plow on through.. Dont let them get stuck, they will die in no time, they are in general a hard to use but high gain unit, but require so much attention as Hex said.. I rarely field more than 1 unit of chariots for this reason, 1 i can manage to some success, 2 and i tend to end up throwing 1 if not both away..

[Dominic]

thanks for the info

[AurumHawke]

Didn't have time to figure which chariots you meant earlier:
- Melee-focused chariots, like Gorebeast Chariots, where the draught/engine is competent at fighting and usually has a standing lunge attack (which applies collision)
- Collision-focused chariots, like Seeker Chariots, where the draught/engine is poor at melee
- Riders can make Collision-chariots into Melee-chariots, like with Norsca lords having an automatic splash attack with their sword while mounted

Then the damage split:
- Attack damage, for any attack animation made by the draught/engine or rider
- Collision Weapon damage (plus charge bonus, etc.), during the minimal "animation", which gets split and limited among collision targets
- Collision Impact damage (speed * mass), any time the chariot touches a new collision target
- Launch damage, only relevant if they are routing or fall down a steep hill

Every entity collision slows the chariot - entities in the collision pool slow less, and entities that get launched or killed slow less too. Lunge animations can't be slowed.

Originally posted by Ashardalon:

strait through, unless its spears (charge defense trait), then you go side through or back through
basically immediately give your move out order as soon as the charge hits
no point waiting
you want to restart moving while the enemy is still flying from the collision to ensure you dont get stuck

Don't avoid spears just because they're spears, spears are just as vulnerable as any other infantry when they aren't braced. They do get an extreme "dug-in" mass bonus though (which VH battle AI abuses).
Allow Collision-chariots to finish their charge unless they're in danger of getting stuck - issuing the move too soon will cancel the collision attack. You can send a chariot through with a move order just for the sake of disrupting a formation, but an attack will do that with damage.
But yes, don't get stuck. Unless it's a train like Katarin's Sled - then get thousands of kills by turning in place.

Entities in the middle of an enemy formation, especially one that's been disrupted by launching, pick terrible targets.

[Ashley]

Disband them and recruit something else

[OpalGotMyHeart]

chariots are probably the most skill intensive units in the game, while they are hard to use, for their price they often hit FAR above their cost, a skilled player can easily route 3 or 4 full units of infantry with a single chariot, where an unskilled player will literally charge once and watch them die, my recommendation, practice your micro on shock calvary then once you feel more comortable with the micro of the game practice your chariot game.

[Lamp]

With everything mentioned above in mind: they're great for coop. Put your buddy on chariots and they'll wreck stuff.

[Adamsevs]

I have a very easy way to enjoy Chariots units that nobody speaks about so let's go.

1) First download the mod " AI General 3 " it allows you put units of your chossing controlled by AI in battle at will. (you can toggle it on or off)

2) Recruit your damn chariots.

3) Place your chariots where you need them on the battlefield (like on the flank or in the back of enemy army), and give control of AI while you play the rest of your army.

The AI will do your infinite micro managing on them for you so you can enjoy your battle and the chariot units of the roster.
Here, done !

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2799316652