Elephant Tactics?

[SpartanRuler]

I would like to hear some opinions on about how to utilize the mighty elephants. I am playing as Carthage and currently at war with Rome. Actually I have destroyed 3 of there cities including Rome itself. And it was Hannible that did it. I guess he is able to keep his promise to his Father. He is a 9 star General and has destroyed many Roman armies. The Romans are crippled in the military area. I also have access to Amoured Elephants. Thanks in advance

[chaplain118]

use them as you would use any heavy cavalry: charge enemies from behind

[ReD_OcToBeR]

Elephants are the deadliest unit in the game besides HorseArcher whoring(which i dont like lol). Charging enemies from behind like chaplain said is the key. Just make sure you have the enemy tied up so they dont turn and face them if they are spearmen of any type. One unit of elephants for me have killed over 1500 men many times by themselves alone(these were epic battles). Also avoid chasing spear throwing cavalry or charging into an area that will recieve heavy missile fire from archers. They will panic and run amok.

[King Nud]

another way to do it:

Take the Elephants to the flank of an infantry unit.
Then make the elephants RUN to th same place on the opposite flank.
They will run the length of their line
If they stop they sometimes get killed s this is why you must tell them to got to the opposite flank.

Then you get maximum enemy casualties in one charge!

[Tankbuster]

another way to do it:

Take the Elephants to the flank of an infantry unit.
Then make the elephants RUN to th same place on the opposite flank.
They will run the length of their line
If they stop they sometimes get killed s this is why you must tell them to got to the opposite flank.

Then you get maximum enemy casualties in one charge!

That's what I do!

[ISA Gunner]

Not just A infantry unit though. Run them along the entire main battle line. Works great if you have a long main line of phalangites that just pin the enemy down. Then you send 1 unit of elephants to the 2 flanks, then charge them into the middle of the enemy. They sweep through the entire enemy army (infantry) and almost always make them all rout.

[Legatus Legionarii]

It seems that your tactics - elephant or not - is quite successful anyway as you have apparently crippled the Romans already...

Regarding elephant tactics: Keep them way from Velites or any other light missile infantry because: they are good in killing your beasts. Otherwise: I know it's nice to see them smashing into an infantry line but I used them sometimes to get rid of enemy heavy cavalry, including the one of the enemy general.

[TheAeneas]

In vanilla Rome I loved elephants, they where super powerful. I will never forget playing as carthage for the first time, and letting loose my elephants to destroy an entire Roman army. That was pretty sweet...
I must admit however, that in RS I dont think they are that effective (as History seemed to prove on many occasions.) Whenever I face elephants in battle, I smile; for I know that I shall soon have them running amok in my enemies lines.
Due to how much you have to protect and shelter them for them to be effective, it limits thier overall usefullness. In very specific conditions they can be spectacular, however for the most part I would just stick to heavy cavalry, as they are more robust, and can perform a variety of different battlefield roles which is important in an ever changing landscape such as a RS battle.

[Aristedes]

I, for the change, am not a great fan of Elephants. I prefer horse cavalry instead.

[apple]

Looking at the elephants in RS II while they smash the lines of enemy soliders is a pleasure I can ashore you.

[Wolfshead]

As for the elephants, why is their 'run amok' ability gone in RS? It really increases the terror on the battlefield.

[Brusilov]

As for the elephants, why is their 'run amok' ability gone in RS? It really increases the terror on the battlefield.

It isn't an ability that you can chose - it's a state that the elephants can get into.

Once they are 'running amok' a lot depends upon where they are. If they are in the enemies lines then I won't do anything (but avoid them). If they are in my lines I kill them with the 'spike' icon.

Elephants need to be kept away from javelin armed units - they kill the elephants. If there are archers using fire arrows I'd suggest trying to take them out by your cavalry ASAP. As they are skirmish units more often than not they will run to avoid contact - use that to your advantage. By moving cavalry close the skirmishers will more than likely move away.

[von Lüttwitz]

hmmmph elephants are boring to use in my opinion . but if used from the rear or a front attack followed in with infantry might be your best bet depends on the circumstances.

[TheAeneas]

All this talk of elephants... I just have to go play a custom battle with elephants now. I just want to give myself a whole bunch of elephants and the ai some light infantry. They can be impractical, but well, gee... it just sure is fun to watch them smash through infantry, slamming themselves against the troops and watching them fling bodies into the air.

Some people like gardening, Some people like hiking. I admit, I like to watch elephants tear through infantry.

[cnaeus]

its lovely to see, but it was more lovely to watch those elephants you could spawn with a cheat in vannila

cnaeus,

[Centaurion]

I've never mastered the art of elephants. It looks to me like you have to micro-manage them all the time. If I take my eyes off them for 2 secs, they get bogged down by spears and killed.

Give me companion cavalry any day instead of elephants!

[von Lüttwitz]

they are easy to kill , it depends on how you do it lol

[King Nud]

O M G the super-huge elehphants in Vanilla were unbelivable. I used the to get 'Man Of The Hour' when I needed one!

[Wolfshead]

No what I meant was that the running amok 'state' doesn't occur at all in RS with me. Ever since I played RS (I have since release) it never occured. The elephants simply rout. Running amok only happens to me in vanilla RTW or another mod.

[Brusilov]

No what I meant was that the running amok 'state' doesn't occur at all in RS with me. Ever since I played RS (I have since release) it never occured. The elephants simply rout. Running amok only happens to me in vanilla RTW or another mod.

I've seen it plenty of times with the other faction when I've targeted their elephants. I mainly use fire arrows but if I know that elephants are around I will add a couple of javelin skirmish units to go on a hunt.

I've been using the Alexander exe for the RS1.5 games.