Effective use of war dogs

[Powerfulnnz Vikingcat]

I never really use war dogs a lot. How are you supposed to use them? As a flanking force?

[Rognomli]

They are supposed to chase down horse archers but because the dogs die so easily most people don't use them in general.They are just a thematic unit.

[Falcon]

Shock troops. Wait til you have the enemy engaged and worn down a little, then send them into the flanks.

[Jonboy]

most effective at killing skirmishers.

[MANWHATADONGA]

Jaze and Jonboy are right .You have to decide.

[Chop]

I remember I did a custom battle in Rome 1 and gave myself nothing but dogs, 20 units worth. All the dogs tried to attack the same target, got flanked and slaughtered lol I can see them being effectiveish? against missiles or fast moving units but more so than another unit of say cavalry? or heavy troops? or archers? I think not.

[drazan]

war dogs are one of the best units in game.

you use them once a unit routs, the dogs will kill them off completly
DO NOT USE them vs spears or whatever. war dogs are used to chase, they simply destroy any light unit, any horse unit or any skirmisher. and when the heavy troups start to rout, send your dogs after them and have the units you used to make the heavies rout, focus different targets and repeat.
when used well, dogs should allways have 300 kills per battle

[Berserk Slayer]

Originally posted by Chop:

I remember I did a custom battle in Rome 1 and gave myself nothing but dogs, 20 units worth. All the dogs tried to attack the same target, got flanked and slaughtered lol I can see them being effectiveish? against missiles or fast moving units but more so than another unit of say cavalry? or heavy troops? or archers? I think not.

Yeah, use them like light cav that can't re-position or pull so easily. So eg: on units that are already pinned for shock, or to mop up routers and missile troops.

[Klutch]

I send them through my men and into the enemies weak spots in the main battle lines. They are powerful indeed if used this way, they are so tiny they pack inbetween units and cause morale to drop for your enemy.

[Powerfulnnz Vikingcat]

Thanks for the many answers :) War dogs always confuse me because according to some people they're OP, while others think they're completely worthless. Some of the suggestions I've read here are actually how I used them in the original Rome - I liked that I didn't have to micro chasing down the enemy when I unleashed them. I'll experiment a little with them, though I'm not sure if they're going to do me more good than say an extra unit of heavy infantry or shock cav. But we'll see.

[CMDR Herne]

They are excellent against missile troops

[Cryptic]

WAUR DAWGS!

[[RCC]Ebdanian]

Cry havoc and let slip the dogs of war

[Cryptic]

Unleash the beasts.

[Chop]

gotta love that ancient Roman dog-fighting lol seriously though, infantry, all the time every time.

[drazan]

why i bring war dogs instead of another group of heavy infantry

war dogs are super fast, and have no penalty to condition. they allways run at full speed.
wait till a unit is routing, send the dogsto annihilate them, and focus the rest of your army to make the next unit rout. flank them, and this should be good. last night i had 784 kills with my wardogs using the dei mod. when a battle is won, i allways do continue battle so i can have as much kills as possible till either all enemies made it off the battle map, or all are dead.

dogs ftw