How to use Jinetes?

[Zwei-Gothic]

I've heard so many good things about these units but I don't think I'm using them effectivly because to me they seem average at best. Right now Im just sending them at the ends of the enemy armies to toss the spears until out of ammo and then charging them in. What do the people professing their greatness do with them?

[Conner]

Liek dis.

(that was in first month of MIITW release, you can do better. Much. Better.)

[Harry Lime]

Moved to Battle Planning

[dr_guerra]

Okay, first it depends on what your enemy's army is composed of.

If there are archers, just melee charge them immediately (alt right click).

If there are enemy spearmen and other melee infantry, get BEHIND them and just throw all the javelins you can. Either have skirmish mode on, or turn it off and micro manage them yourself, the closer you get, the deadlier.

Whenever you can, get on higher ground.

Remember that the Jinete is fragile in a prolonged melee. Use them only for skirmishing, charging and chasing down fleeing enemies. Since they are fast moving, use them to flank the enemy's side and rears. They are also useful for killing enemy Generals, just keep them out of the melee.

There really isn't any unit the Jinete can't kill. They'll even kill elephants surprisingly quickly.

If you have specific questions, I could answer them better.

But they really are my favorite unit, and a lot of other people's. They do immense damage against armoured foes, they are quick, good stamina, just brilliant cavalry. Just don't skirmish against other ranged units. Charge them or avoid them.

[Zwei-Gothic]

Alright I did a few custom battles with them. They seem pretty good. Still not seeing them as the best in the game. What I did was at the beginning of the battle, quickly sent them around my enemy's army, and threw spears just like you said. This didn't seem to do very much damage, but it did make his lines break down as the comp tried to improvise for the attacks. The part that I noticed them begin to shine was when they ran out of ammo. Charging them in from behind their lines of troops worked very well, effectively "sandwiching" his troops between my troops and Jinetes.

I still need more practice to use them to the potential you make them out to be, but I'm still partial to the Reiters. They make all the difference in my armies.

[Sodbuster]

And what's the cost of Reiters, compared to the cost of Jinetes? And the upkeep? If I can afford twice as many Jinetes as you can Reiters, who do you think is going to win?

[RollingWave]

Alright I did a few custom battles with them. They seem pretty good. Still not seeing them as the best in the game. What I did was at the beginning of the battle, quickly sent them around my enemy's army, and threw spears just like you said. This didn't seem to do very much damage, but it did make his lines break down as the comp tried to improvise for the attacks. The part that I noticed them begin to shine was when they ran out of ammo. Charging them in from behind their lines of troops worked very well, effectively "sandwiching" his troops between my troops and Jinetes.

I still need more practice to use them to the potential you make them out to be, but I'm still partial to the Reiters. They make all the difference in my armies.

Reiters cost a ton, and is a gunpowder unit that requires high level buildings, in the campaign Jinets are rigged because a basic stable will get you those. it's like saying Camel gunners are better... well duhhh they cost 1000 + a piece! if i have a full stack of those 1000+ a piece unit they better be pretty good

Jinets are versital. that's why everyone loves them. their best use is to spin around the enemy AFTER your main body engages. always try to aim for their expensive armor units first (particularly the generals or knights) .

in campaign mode, they are indeed one of the best units possible, they beat the Moors javlin cav (outside of deserts anyway), and the western europeans in general have nothing to counter them (their best true counter unit is probably good horse archers. but in the case of human vs comps it's not gonna matter)

they're great because they're javlin hits a ton against anything, particularly armored units, and they're stats are more than enough to overrun most lighter units with ease. it's ridiculas that their melee / defense stats are better than most light cavs in this game. they can deal with almost any situations well. and they're cheap and very reliable.

[Theseus1234]

jinetes are best used to outflank the enemy with their javelins
the only thing worse than an AP javelin coming at you form the front is an AP javelin coming at you from the back

the casualties should be enough in one area that when the main lines engage, there will be a unit with low soldiers and low enough morale to rout with one devastating jinete charge.

and viola! you now have a gap to exploit all because of your lovely jinetes!

[Solrac]

Of course Jinetes are good, they are portugueses like me looool (and spanish )

[drakuli]

Hit and run. Combine it with mounted crossbowmen coz crossbow got more ammo. I killed the opponent's general instantly, and the rest was easy.

[RollingWave]

to the point where it's rigged.

if you play a Spanish Campaign you could basically wipe out western Europe using nothing but Jinets + some knights (and infantry during seige of course)

the only unit that i find more useful as one unit might be the camel gunners (because they own even in seige assaults.) but those guys cost a TON and need gunpowder. and isn't really usable in melee (not like they need to anyway. they're better off just dragooning it and fire point blank shots.)