How to raid effectively

[Super Cosmic Space Magnet]

Hello reader!

I've been trying to teach myself how to more effectively raid in the Feudal age with men at arms and archers, though the problem I've encountered is that my units will often chase villagers into the town center and get themselves killed. I feel like I do more economic damage to myself just trying to manage my angery military units than they actually inflict on my opponent. :P I have them set to Defensive Stance, but are there any other tips/tricks on how to raid early on?

[Jwilly]

Maybe set your military units to control groups so you can micro manage them better. Also aim for villagers only on the wood lines or gold and try to stay away from the town center

[JoshSA]

I usually send my raiding troops to the enemy gold or wood-lines and set them to defensive stance. Just pushing your enemy off a resource can be a huge bonus to you. Stay further away from the enemy's town centre. Control group your army as "1" or "2" and your town centre as "3". That way you can jump between your main points of focus quickly.

Use your scout to investigate the enemy camp before raiding (while you wait for your army). Take note of exposed resources like gold, berries, deer or far away wood-lines.

When your raid arrives you should already have a good idea of where you want to hit and what damage you expect to cause.

If you have archers and your enemy doesn't have military try spacing your archers out so they cover more ground. If the enemy have any form of military its better to keep your units together. Try and avoid direct confrontations with the enemy. Pull your units back and attack a couples seconds later again if possible.

I agree that a bad raid can actually hurt you more than the enemy, but practice makes perfect. Keep in mind when you're raiding that it's just to delay the enemy. Keep thinking of your next move (castle age ect.)

I'm really low rated in ranked but this is what I've found that is super helpful. I'm better at raiding then I am at booming at this point. So I need to work on that aspect now.

[tuc]

Raiding is micro intensive, so you might have to babysit your units quite a bit. Using hotkeys and control groups helps you to bounce back and forth between your base and your raiders. You might want to set the units to patrol the area you are raiding, to prevent them to run too far away.

Avoid the TC at all cost, because Feudal units will just evaporate under it.

A large group of villagers can overwhelm feudal units, so you want to make sure your raiders are not in a losing fight.

The goal of the flush is not to kill your opponent or even kill their villagers, but disrupt your opponent and make them fall behind you. Every villager which is fighting your raiders or hiding inside a town center, is basically an idle villager which isn't doing anything productive. Here comes the term villager idle time.

Don't forget your own economy. Flush's purpose is to disrupt your opponent's economy, not your economy. :)

[JoshSA]

Originally posted by Daa:

Raiding is micro intensive, so you might have to babysit your units quite a bit. Using hotkeys and control groups helps you to bounce back and forth between your base and your raiders. You might want to set the units to patrol the area you are raiding, to prevent them to run too far away.

Avoid the TC at all cost, because Feudal units will just evaporate under it.

A large group of villagers can overwhelm feudal units, so you want to make sure your raiders are not in a losing fight.

The goal of the flush is not to kill your opponent or even kill their villagers, but disrupt your opponent and make them fall behind you. Every villager which is fighting your raiders or hiding inside a town center, is basically an idle villager which isn't doing anything productive. Here comes the term villager idle time.

Don't forget your own economy. Flush's purpose is to disrupt your opponent's economy, not your economy. :)

Yeah that's some solid advice.

[Super Cosmic Space Magnet]

Thanks folks, there are some things I've already been doing there - I use Defensive Stance because on Aggressive units just sorta... Disappear, and I use control groups extensively (I don't know how people cope without them tbh!) but I guess it really is about knowing when to be satisfied with the delays you've inflicted.

I only play against the AI, so its not like your pressure ever really forces mistakes. :P

[Josko]

Perhaps with a few villagers building a tower too

[JoshSA]

Originally posted by Super Cosmic Space Magnet:

Thanks folks, there are some things I've already been doing there - I use Defensive Stance because on Aggressive units just sorta... Disappear, and I use control groups extensively (I don't know how people cope without them tbh!) but I guess it really is about knowing when to be satisfied with the delays you've inflicted.

I only play against the AI, so its not like your pressure ever really forces mistakes. :P

Yeah with the AI (even extreme difficulty) it's just important to delay them from full on booming. Towers will be super effective against them (more so then human players).

I generally win against the AI but damn if they get to that stage when they spam units at you non-stop it becomes so difficult 11

[Redwood]

Originally posted by JoshSA:

Originally posted by Super Cosmic Space Magnet:

Thanks folks, there are some things I've already been doing there - I use Defensive Stance because on Aggressive units just sorta... Disappear, and I use control groups extensively (I don't know how people cope without them tbh!) but I guess it really is about knowing when to be satisfied with the delays you've inflicted.

I only play against the AI, so its not like your pressure ever really forces mistakes. :P

Yeah with the AI (even extreme difficulty) it's just important to delay them from full on booming. Towers will be super effective against them (more so then human players).

I generally win against the AI but damn if they get to that stage when they spam units at you non-stop it becomes so difficult 11

AI is kind of dumb sometimes. Put a fully garrisoned castle in their path. If the AI tries a different one put one there too.

[JoshSA]

Yeah the AI is good at booming and micro-ing individual units, but overall strategy is quite bad sometimes.

[Syntax]

Prioritise what you attack.

Want to stop them advancing? Block off their gold income.

Want to stop them making skirms to counter you? Block off their wood income

Want to simply kill as much of their enconomy as possible? Flank hard, and come in behind them.

Feudal fighting and early Castle is an art form.