Tactics for Medieval

[Obamagamer55]

So I have been enjoying this game a ton, but I've not been getting the full experiance due to autoresolving almost every battle. If there is a chance of winning, I would actually fight it... but I always fail. Does anyone have some good tactics for any kingdom?

[MortalKomic]

Well, I'm no expert but some quick tips, Crossbows>Horsemen, Longbowmen>Crossbows, Horsemenn>Longbowmen, Spearmen>Horsemen.

[MortalKomic]

Also utilize flanking whenver possible, like if your forced into a spearmen vs. horsemen situation, you could go at the sides or behind, but it's still not recomended in general in that specific situation.

[Tommy G.]

I agree with MK. Flanking is very usefull if you're able to do it. I found that in this game, much like in any other game, most people attack, attack, attack. I like to prepare for a collapse that envelopes my enemy. I'll move a large portion of the army up to engage, with an extended arm to the flank. Then, soon after the battle ensues, I drop my center back, as if in retreat. The enemy chases, and I clamp down on them from the sides and stop the retreat. They're then surrounded, and often panic.

[Buggy Build]

Never waste units on sieges at a Rebel City. Have an army lay siege to the city and wait them out. Not only could you potentially win the city without a fight, but if they decide to attack you then you'll be on the defense. Always try to be on the defense. If you're attacking the towns and cities of organized nations, you might have to go on the offensive before they can send reinforcements. If you outnumber their forces, then a direct assault will usually work, although there are other tactics you can use to make the number of losses smaller. Try not to go on the offensive if you're outnumbered. Retreat a little ways back and allow them to attack you. If you're in the right spot on the campaign map, there will be patches of woods. Have a few squads wait in the forests, hidden. You can launch a great surprise flank attack if they unwittingly walk past the trees. Also, use flaming arrows and skirmish mode every chance you get.

[Obamagamer55]

Thanks! I'll be sure to use these.

[MaseyMase]

Total War games follow a similar and easy trend in battles. Cavalry are indispensable, use your own to rout your enemies, just as Hannibal did, and then use them to to flank your infantry's opponents. In my opinion cavalry is the greatest tool in this game, utilize it well and you'll win almost any battle. In seiges strong infantry is the best for assaulting, crossbowmen and archers are the best in defence, good luck :)

[brentoid56]

Start out defensively. Organise a solid defence with archers behind the first ranks. Hold cavalry back for exploiting later on. Goad the enemy into attacking you and let him break himself on your wall of defence while being weakened by the archers. You may need to sacrifice a unit to get the enemy to come on. Mounted archers are great at this on skirmish mode. Secure your flanks as he will send cavalry around the sides. Pikes against cavalry are deadly. Some archer units can use stakes against horse. Get your feet wet with some victories and you'll become fluid and experienced with how it plays out, then you can start to work on offensive strategy and tactics. Good luck.

[Absolutely Nobody]

-Make a line of infantry to attack enemy, while you send your cavalry (heavy prefered) to attack from the flanks or rear
-Use archers before your army enganges since it can lead to friendly fire
-If your enemies general is an idiot and charges before his army is near you, send spearmen, and your general to defeat him, lowering the enemies morale
-Check the places where your troops are good, (forest, snow, etc)
-ea. Using cavalry in a forest will not charge as good as in open space
-If you are out numbered act defensively, if the battle ground has forest you can set up traps.
-ea. (in a forest) lets say the map is like a clock, the enemy is at 12 and you are at 6, let the general stay at 6 and put 0-2 units with him, put half of the other units at 9 and other half at 3, this way the enemy will try to attack the general, once they are at the center of the clock send the armies at 3 and 6 to close them up, they will be surrounded and will die realy fast.

[rpn416]

i like to be on the defense if i can/ longbowmen and spearmen ,hold the line let them break themselfs on your wall of spears,move archers to the sides when they atack you,shot in to there flanks, move your CAV to the out most sides bring them in to hit the flanks and when they break and run..

[Cronotekk]

A good tactic is the hammer and anvil, while your infantry is interlocked in battle with the enemy infantry, get your cavlary to attack from behind, also, keep reserves to protect you from hammer and anvils

[Ali_J_101]

If there is a hill in your deployment zone, use expendable, cheap troops, (peasants or similar) to lure the enemy to the bottom, then shatter them with cavalry. Any cavalry works, but best with the heaviest cavalry you have (mailed knights, general's bodyguard). The general soon dies, and you then rout them. If your cavalry struggle, support with infantry, and arrows from the top of the hill.

If you end up at the bottom of a hill, use an expendable unit to draw the enemy down while the rest of your army moves into forest or up a hill, then back down onto the cavalry charge.

[ashyra]

@DC_AE I agree. I use 2 Crossbows for the front then pull them back and try to use them to flank when ever possible, I also keep 2 Bowmen around in the back to support infantry battle with fire arrows and to handle Cavalry.

[Yoommik]

quick save before a battle... understand that all troops have strengths and weaknesses...get your troops in armor asap! know your generals!

[Onkel-Morfar]

flanks works everytime

[SaintJimmy]

Well, here is the basic anglo-saxon set up:
Archers on the front lines
Spear men right behind them in a wall formation
When Horses/infantry go to fight the archers, they will run behind the wall of spears.
Also, hide units in trees and use flanking alot!!!
If your on the offense ON A BRIDGE, then i would reccomend
sending archers halfway up the bridge and shooting from their, with spear men right behind each archer. Make sure to send one archer/infantry group at a time, otherwise you will get cluster raped. Bring any artillary if you can, its useful for attacking from the other end of the bridge. Bridge attacks are long, slow proccesses.
I'll post about seiges later.