Why does hastati suck monkey balls?

[ᛁᛖᛊᚢᛊ ᚨᚱ ᚷᚢᛞ]

Man, every single battle they can barely hold the line and run away at the slightest sight of trouble. How do I play Rome in a useful way?

[Yuna]

The Rome units are really good at throwing their javelins before they charge. It makes mowing down the units fun to watch as you weaken them as it can be pretty deadly.

They are also good for holding their ground just enough for you to flank the engaged enemy.

Hope this helps

[ᛁᛖᛊᚢᛊ ᚨᚱ ᚷᚢᛞ]

Originally posted by Yuna:

The Rome units are really good at throwing their javelins before they charge. It makes mowing down the units fun to watch as you weaken them as it can be pretty deadly.

They are also good for holding their ground just enough for you to flank the engaged enemy.

Hope this helps

Sadly it didn't. Because I was doing exactly what you said and it's the reason as to why I am here. I appreciate your attempt to help though, that was nice of you.

[Chemik]

What kind of units did you fight? in my opinion Hastati is a pretty strong unit, especially in the starting phase.

[ComradeStino]

What difficulty do you play on?

[Red Spot]

Hastati are really good early units, maybe one of the best, but they have low morale and so are prone to shock-tactics. Use them as the Romans did, in cohorts, dun let them get flanked without support. If you dun like Hastati there will be a lot of units you will love to hate.

[ᛁᛖᛊᚢᛊ ᚨᚱ ᚷᚢᛞ]

Originally posted by ComradeStijn:

What difficulty do you play on?

Easy. I am rather humble and it was such a long time since I played this game last that I have forgotten most of the mechanics.

[ᛁᛖᛊᚢᛊ ᚨᚱ ᚷᚢᛞ]

Originally posted by Chemik:

What kind of units did you fight? in my opinion Hastati is a pretty strong unit, especially in the starting phase.

Carthaginian infantry and hoplites. I flanked the hoplites and went with 3 hastatis against 1 hoplite and I still lost.

[ᛁᛖᛊᚢᛊ ᚨᚱ ᚷᚢᛞ]

Originally posted by Red Spot:

Hastati are really good early units, maybe one of the best, but they have low morale and so are prone to shock-tactics. Use them as the Romans did, in cohorts, dun let them get flanked without support. If you dun like Hastati there will be a lot of units you will love to hate.

I think it was the low moral but man they could barely go 1 on 1 against Carthaginian infantry. Maybe I just got bad rng but man. I really had my jimmies rustled with my roman playthrough last night, not nice at all.

[Telfram]

Best to use as a holding unit while you send a cav unit up their flank or rear if you have the time.

[dalapto]

It does sound strange - normally hastati should win...


Don’t charge/fight hoplites head on if you don’t have to - you should only ever attack pike units face on with other pike units. Even excellent units will take significant losses if pushing into one.

Here’s how I would do it:
1. Send 2 hastati round the flank while using the third to distract the pikemen
2. Throw javelins into rear of pikemen
3. Charge into the rear with those 2 hastati
4. Throw javelins with other hastati that was distracting
5. Charge that hastati in
6. Pull hastati facing pikes out
7. Repeat

Keeping your general alive nearby will also boost your units’ morale - although you generally want to use them for rear charges anyway.

Hope this helps ya against those pointy bois.

[Seal Enthusiast]

I don't really use the jav attack, since the windup can take so long. The key for me was making sure the hastati were mobile and were attacking weak points exactly when they opened up. For this I used alt-attack to force them to charge. Generally, I could route most infantry without even really fighting them just by using alt attack to pinch them from both sides as soon as they got close enough. Javs can be ok against hoplites (though they do the best against large units, such as chariots), just make sure you hit them from the back.

The key to Rome total war is to be as quick as possible, as this is one of the fastest paced total wars in the series.

[Deaston]

Did you use one unit to pin their infantry, then use the other two to flank from both sides? If you encapsulate the enemy they will route pretty quickly. You don't want all your units frighting them head on - it's a waste and not useful. Always flank with your reserve units whenever the opportunity presents itself. Don't just send all your infantry units into battle right away.

Also, consider that Hastati are a weak early infantry unit for the Romans. They are not supposed to last forever. They aren't heavy infantry and largely consist of new recruits to the military. Principes will last longer as they are supposed to be more experience. Triarii are supposed to be veterans. Of course, you could always rush for the cohort units which are amazing

[MODERATORS HAVE BRAINROT]

Because historically they were newbs

[5n4k3d0cToR]

Originally posted by Victory Forever:

Man, every single battle they can barely hold the line and run away at the slightest sight of trouble. How do I play Rome in a useful way?

Prior to military reforms (and unit upgrades; weapon, armor, xp etc), you will need to play tactically against Hoplites from memory and especially the Greek/Macedonian and Carthaginian elite troops. Once better troops arrive you will steamroll the map. Triarii are great at holding the line, whilst you pepper the enemy with javelins/arrows too. As someone else mentioned, don't forget to utilize cavalry at flanks and from behind....

[ᛁᛖᛊᚢᛊ ᚨᚱ ᚷᚢᛞ]

Alright, thanks everyone for your suggestions, you were all helpfull. I think I will have another go with Rome and do it right this time.