Working Historical (partly) Formations for TABS

This is a guide on how to make formations to help you win battles easier with possibly less units than the enemy!

Phalanx

The Phalanx is a formation of infantry in 8 layers mostly armed with spears and shields, used to push enemies back or to eliminate them easier.

It is quite a simple formation, you just need to have the right units.

Layer 1: Shield
All you need is a simple shield row to make a good layer, put around 10-40 as your first layer. This is used to block any incoming projectiles from hitting someone.

Layer 2: Halberd
This layer only contains a halberd, it adds to the looks of the formation, and makes it stronger. Do the same by adding 10-40. (if for some reason you cant place the same amount of halberd's as you did with shield bearers, just stick with it.)

Layer 3: Shield
Once again, use another shield layer, it is used to block any melee weaponry if the first layer of shields are gone.

Layer 4: Pike
For the last layer, you will want to use a pike. It is a big and strong spear that is great for these formations. (I recommend going into the UC and making your own pike unit with the weapon, 'Pike', not 'Pike - Drop'.)Aftermath of 160 Phalanx units facing 160 Hoplites, around 50-70 Phalanx units survived.

Close-Range Archery

Caption: 112 Archers divided in 4 rows of 28
Archery is one of the most used tactics in battles, they would originally put the archers in the back so they could shoot from far-range, but since this is a totally accurate game, they can only shoot at close-range. Archery was used to attack the infantry or cavalry on the enemies side. They were best known to fire-on-command considering it is the most effective.

It really is one of the most simple tactics ever. Just place a big row of archers, and have them at close range.

The way it works is that all the archers fire around the same time, and it makes it overwhelming for the enemy because if they fire at the same time, more are going down as they are reloading.

Aftermath of 112 Musketeers versus 112 Archers(muskets would fire and demolish the first row, but archers can draw their arrows faster than the muskets reloading)

Fire-Distractions

20 Skeleton Archers

Fire is a great way to break a formation, or easily kill enemies. This is another simple formation of just maybe 2 rows of 20 fire archers, it will only cost about 7000 as your budget (possibly more).

It is quite simple, place some skeleton archers a bit far from the army, and the enemy will start immediately burning and splitting up due to the casualties.Almost the whole enemy army is destroyed, if you want, you can place a reinforcement unit really far from where the main battle is going on so you can easily take them down.

Before:
After:

Maniple Formation

A Maniple Formation is a subdivision of the Roman army containing about 120 men.

This was used to fight against big armies, there are three divisions in this formation, Hastati: Inexperienced and young footmen. Principes: Older and a bit experienced footmen. Triarii: Very experienced and old.

Instead of making these units into the UC, you can just use some from the game. Make the Hastati become Squires, Principes become Hoplites, and Triarii become, Brawlers.

The Squires would be in the very front, the Hoplites would be behind them, and the Brawlers would be in the back. (UC OR) Landfall units
Over 200 Maniple units win a battle against over 200 Phalanx footmen.

Cavalry

Cavalry is a major thing in historical battles, if the enemy has cavalry, you have to have cavalry.
Instead of having your cavalry look like this in a battle:Make it look like this:
The reason why you want it to look like this, is because you'll notice that if you have your cavalry in that position, they will surround the enemy cavalry, it is really effective and will definitely help you win.
Here is an example of why it needs to be like that so at the end of the battle, you'll win with a lot of cavalry left.

Muskets and Deadeyes

Muskets and Deadeyes, one of the most used units in the game because of their heavy hitting damage and accuracy.

Okay, here is what you want to do. Try to place Muskets in a zig-zag formation, and hide 1 Deadeye in the formation like this: Then take control of said Deadeye, and try to take out the distractors/buffed units.
Once you get close to the end of the battle, you will notice that not many Muskets are alive, but here is the thing, !!YOU MUST KEEP YOUR DEADEYE ALIVE!! if you want the formation to work.
14 Muskets, 1 Deadeye facing 25 Medieval Units, $3000 difference.Aftermath:

Not really a formation, but an awesome trick to help you easily win Campaign/Multiplayer battles.

Okay, basically what you want to do is when you are fighting on the map, Medieval 1, and you notice a level is too hard for you, try this trick out, because I can beat a Phalanx, with one Hobbit!Look at this next picture, and place the Hobbit in the specific spot.If you start the battle, the enemy will FALL OFF THE MAP INTO THE WATER, I found this trick very amusing and satisfying, now you can use it too!
Aftermath (Massacre):

Blitzkrieg Tactic (Kind of)

The Blitzkrieg tactic was a tactic used in World War 2 to do surprise attacks, I found a way it can work in TABS! Place down 6 - 12 Chariots, then spread them out in rows of 3 to 1, then place Sarissas or any footmen, and place them between the Chariots like this.
The reason why you want it to look like that, is because the chariots will move in first, and attack the enemy, it will be easily since they're on a horse and stronger. The footmen (I chose Sarissas and Hoplites) will be coming in right after, then the Chariots can swoop behind the enemy as they fight the footmen and the rest of the battle is just a bunch of fighting.
166 Hoplites facing 66 Chariots and footmen.
Aftermath

[The shower eater]

Look For the Lower Case 'L' And You
Will Be Kissed Tomorrow:
LLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLlLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL LLLLL
*Now Look For The Q And Your Wish
Will Come True:
... ... ... ... ... OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOQOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO O.. .OOOOOOOO
*This Is Really Hard, Now Find The 'N':
MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMNMM
*Now Find The Mistake:
ABCDEFGHIJKLNMOPQRSTUVWQYZ
*Something You Really Want, After the
countdown!!!!!
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Now Close Your
Eyes And Make A Wish! ;*;*;*;*;*;* Now
Paste This On 9 pages And Your Wish
Will Come True! Hurry, You Have 20
minutes! Or What You Wished For Will Not Come True

[Classified_Secrets]

WOW maybe Putin should try some these and stuff then maybe he could do something than.

[Rednax910]

Here's another historical formation that works well:
Pike and Shot: 10 musketeers behind spread out 5 halberds to fit the size of the musketeer row. The halberds protect the musketeers by taking enemy ranged attacks, chopping up shadow walkers, and killing melee units, while the musketeers shoot down enemy melee units before they can approach so the halberds can deal with them.

[lechkingofdead]

hm i may make a UC phalanx unit for the hell of it

[7000]

this is actually really good in campaign, if i have about 1200 i do 2 shields in front, then a halberd, then another shield then a pike, very good guide

[ramzy]

@a chick called des thats the first formation lol

[Diego]

another formation you can add is a common one its where you have sarissas behind shields having there spear pook out of the front also i had a brain fart and could,nt spell one word right

[ramzy]

@rlowy07 well its more used for creative battles like if your just playing for pure destruction or against yourself.

[rlowy07]

Cool formations but they are VERY expensive they would rarely be used in battles unless you use less of the Units, and Zeus Minions has cheerleaders which makes basically any range Unit the strongest there is, cool formations tho for the very big battles

[lewis]

Could I use a gatling gun for more blitzkreig-iness?