I suck against Aztecs

[Engrish]

I have been fighting some custom battles against the Aztecs to get used to fighting them before I colonize the New World in my France campaign, and I have discovered that I absolutely suck against them.

I figured 25k for each side, my army vs. 2 of theirs (12.5K per Aztec army) would do me well at getting used to them, but my formation is usually smashed before the second one even arrives.

So here is my strategy (as France):

Huge spear wall of pikemen (5) with a line of Arquebusiers (4) immediately behind it and flanked by 2 serpentines and 4 aventuriers to act as missile and shock troops.

I have a single Generals bodyguard with 4 elite lancers to act as my hammer to my pikemen anvil, but I've found that the pikes will only hold for 30 seconds at most against Aztec heavy infantry, and as soon as the lancers complete their charge and enter mele, they begin to drop like flies.


What the freak, guys!? How do you fight the Aztecs?

[JuanZ223]

I have been fighting some custom battles against the Aztecs to get used to fighting them before I colonize the New World in my France campaign, and I have discovered that I absolutely suck against them.

I figured 25k for each side, my army vs. 2 of theirs (12.5K per Aztec army) would do me well at getting used to them, but my formation is usually smashed before the second one even arrives.

So here is my strategy (as France):

Huge spear wall of pikemen (5) with a line of Arquebusiers (4) immediately behind it and flanked by 2 serpentines and 4 aventuriers to act as missile and shock troops.

I have a single Generals bodyguard with 4 elite lancers to act as my hammer to my pikemen anvil, but I've found that the pikes will only hold for 30 seconds at most against Aztec heavy infantry, and as soon as the lancers complete their charge and enter mele, they begin to drop like flies.


What the freak, guys!? How do you fight the Aztecs?

Get rid of the pikemen as they are useful agaisnt the cavalry the Aztecs dont have, Arquebusiers are only useful if the aztects stay in one spot which they rarely do so reduce their numbers by half. The Aventuriers are fine.

The aztects lack cavalry basically having cavalry gives you a huge advantage, use your infantry to catch the Aztec army and then destroy it with a cavalry charge on the flanks.

[Thompson45cal.]

Got to have cav vs aztec.
My concern would have to be the 25k france army vs 2 - 12.5 aztec armys....
Thats 20 french units vs 40 aztec units.
Not sure I'd even want to take 20 cav units against 40 aztec units, nasty lil savages X)

[Broken Pope]

Cavalry all the way. Playing as New Spain, you get Conquistadores. They are brilliant against the Aztecs; manoevreable, fast and tough. In one battle I killed 480 Aztecs with one unit of 30 conquistadores.

Muskets / Arquebusiers are pointless. You will fire 2-3 volleys tops before the hoarde descends upon you.

What is quite fun is using Culverins on hills. The Aztecs never tire of the tactic of marching in tight formation over open ground. It works out well for me, as I will never tire of seeing their colourfully adorned little bodies being flung into the air by exploding artillery rounds. I got 3 culverins up to level 9 experience that way.

[Engrish]

Alright thanks guys. I guess I was too used to fighting other European powers.

[Engrish]

Alright, so I changed my strategy to Lancers, Mounted Archers, aventuriers and dismounted knights and finally won, but the Aztecs didn't even lose until only 4% of their force remained. My infantry was decimated halfway through the battle and I managed to pull off a victory by smashing enemy units between lancers and horse archers.

The horse archers did surprisingly well earning way more kills to their credit than the lancers with a lot more left alive in the end.

[The Rights 2]

i sppose thats your answer then, use an HA and HC army. Mind you it would be insanely explensive.

i have just traveled to fight the aztecs as turkey and i think i will use my old style HA army after what you said

here is a link to another furom that maybe of some help if you deside to go the HA route

http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?t=164609

[Tankfriend]

What I found quite useful is to get rid of the ranged units (I think some kind of dart throwers/archers) and the elite units (Jaguar Warriors or something like that) as fast as possible because they can cause quite some casualties and the Warriors a lot of fear as well, which can weaken your army severely.
As said already, the cavalry is a powerful force to wield against the Aztecs, but I found a powerful ranged division consisting of cannons, xbows/archers/gunpowder infantry to be useful as well if you can manage to pin the enemy units with dismounted knights and armoured sergeants or similar forces (careful of friendly fire though).

[Sodbuster]

The Aztecs have a few heavy infantry units that inspire fear in other infantry, which is why any unit without a morale boost will rout right away, even if victory is certain. My advice to you is to recruit up the elephant mercenaries from Saudi Arabia and boat them over. Elephants vs. Aztecs is just too great.

[Kennylz]

Elephant Cannons Vs Aztecs. Lulz.

[FriendoftheDork]

Hmm does the Azzies use the same units as in the Kingdom expansion? If so my experience says you'll need good heavy infantry (dis. conquistadors and sword and buckler men if spain), good firepower (long-range crossobows or longbows, culverins, even musketeers), and above all cavalry (either conquistadors or a combo of heavy and medium cav).

I found these battles exceedingly easy, and slaughtered Aztecs. Some battles they stand away and you can hit them with artillery and musketeers for a long time, others they go straight for you and missile units are mostly for lowering morale and depleting units. Your heavy infantry should be able to stand up to even Jaguars, and cav charges on the flanks and rear routs them pretty quickly.

By all means avoid using pikement as the Azzies eats them for breakfast. Armoured Spearmen might work, but you don't really need spears at all.