Anti-cavalry for Denmark

**Arjen** · February 10, 2009, 12:28 PM

I'm currently playing a game as Denmark in the Teutonic campaign. It's going pretty well so far, I'm controlling about 30 regions, all of scandinavia, the former holy roman empire territories, and some land around Reval and Riga. My main enemies at this point are Poland and the Teutonic order, both of which have good heavy cavaly. Up till now, I've been defending from cavalry mostly with spear militia, but as more advanced units are appearing, they really don't cut it anymore. Is there a better alternative? I've been playing around with the sword-staff and obudshaer units, but I haven't quite gotten the hang of it. Also, I've considered counter-charging their cavalry with norse axemen, which sounds like fun but I don't know if it'll work. How do you guys handle heavy cavalry as Denmark? Any advice will be appreciated.

**Ishoss** · February 10, 2009, 12:55 PM

Obdushaer (sp) and Sword Staff Militia.

**Yojimbo** · February 28, 2009, 09:57 PM

Originally Posted by Ishoss

Obdushaer (sp) and Sword Staff Militia.

are both broken polearms.

Deep formations of huscarles to asorb charges and cut them up or the ap norse war clerics are about the only option for denmark that doesnt suck.

**Surgeon** · February 28, 2009, 10:45 PM

Originally Posted by ForlornHope.

are both broken polearms.

Deep formations of huscarles to asorb charges and cut them up or the ap norse war clerics are about the only option for denmark that doesnt suck.

They use halberds and halberd-type weapons, and we're talking anti-cavalry, so they work fine.

**Carpathian Wolf** · February 10, 2009, 02:25 PM

The danish cav doesn't have a lance so when you charge head on you'll lose out. You want to get into combat without giving your enemy a chance to charge. I think the Danes eventually can make Chivalric Knights of some sort, perhaps you can counter charge with them. Other than what what I can say is target enemy cav with missiles any chance you get.

**A Freaky Name** · February 10, 2009, 04:16 PM

Obudshaerare probably your best/only option in terms of advanced and professional units (baring maybe nifty merc pikemen) with obudshaer and sword-staff militas the important thing to remember is to stand your ground. When the cavalry come charging your pole-arms need to be stationary in order to brace and set a proper spear wall. If they are moving/scarmbling to get into position when the charge hits them they are close to doomed.

You'll have to find a way to force enemy cavalry to charge them since there's little chance of horses standing still long enough for a spear wall to walk into them and you might have to watch your flanks depending of the difficulty and command of the enemy general because spear walls are useless if hit from any flank.

**Jagdpanzer** · February 10, 2009, 07:02 PM

One thing that hasn't been mentioned yet is that you can often use mercenary units to counter any weaknesses in your faction's unit roster. Use mercenary spearmen until Obudshaer and Sword staff militia are available.

,trk

**Theseus1234** · February 10, 2009, 08:11 PM

you're forgetting the most fun thing about denmark! mounted huscarls and norse war clerics are anti-cavalry cavalry, not knights. their purpose is to take on other cavalry with their armor piercing weapons and perhaps deliver the final charge to a routing unit

**Antwerpen** · February 11, 2009, 09:03 AM

Pikemen ofcourse! Those Novgorod mounted units get owned so fast when they charge into your pikes.

**Lewbington** · February 11, 2009, 10:28 AM

Obudshaer are my favorite all round unit for Denmark, not only do they own in melee against any unit in the game, but as everyone else has pointed out, they can act as an anti-cavalry unit too.

Just saying, they're a vastly underated unit

**StalkAndStrike** · February 11, 2009, 09:40 PM

Originally Posted by Lewbington

Obudshaer are my favorite all round unit for Denmark, not only do they own in melee against any unit in the game, but as everyone else has pointed out, they can act as an anti-cavalry unit too.

Just saying, they're a vastly underated unit

I would agree, but they tend to fail utterly against "ritturberg" ( spelling?)

but other wise they are pretty dependable, but for just overal anti-cavalry, mounted huscalrs are better !

**Tyre** · February 16, 2009, 04:33 PM

Mod Theigns back in and give them shield wall, great fun!

**Arjen** · February 21, 2009, 04:22 AM

Thanks for all the suggestions. In my experience, mounted huscarls and war clerics can tie enemy cavalry at best. However, after playing around with the Obudshaer some more I'm definately falling love with them.

When standing still they can indeed stand up to pretty much everything. Maybe not the fastest killer, but an effective 'anvil' while I go around the sides with norse axemen or just tear everything apart with my missile infantry.

**Old Geezer** · February 21, 2009, 07:45 AM

If you modify any pike unit to take away their secondary weapon, then it becomes extremely effective - some believe overpowered - but what did the armies of the 1500s become?