How to use Grenadiers

[timsmurf]

Hi. I have only briefly tried out the grenadiers in combat, but find them somewhat dissapointing. They don't throw their grenades where I want them to, and when using them close to other friendly units engageged in melee I tend to suffer heavy friendly cassualties...

Could someone please help me out and explain how to use them properly?

[Elmar]

You are a bit unclear on the exact problem. What's wrong with where they throw their grenades? Left to their own devices they should do a decent job peppering the enemy. So good that I never even tried if I could area fire with them. Admittedly, it's been a while since I've played unmodded. Been months since I last saw a grenade armed grenadier.

As for the friendly casualties: You are throwing grenades in to a melee. What were you expecting? Don't do it!

[Blofeld2k]

The only beef I have with them is that I find their range a bit too short, but that might be historic, don't know. Because of this I can find little use of them, only as novelty units. Their space can be better filled with a line inf unit.

I find this to be true for many of the special units (non line inf), they are pretty to look at but pretty useless when push comes to shove. The result of this is that my armies mainly consist of line inf + general + 2-4 cav and 1 or 2 arty which pretty much defeats the whole diversity of units idea in my mind. Maybe it's different if you play MP, but against the AI this setup is regrettably sufficient.

[eXistenZ]

Grenades have a shoter range than guns, that's a bit annoying (but understandable). They are very effective when the enemy lines up in a square, because they can fire less directly at you, and the impact will be bigger since the enemy is close together.

Just don't use them face to face at line infantry, because of their short range and only 60 man in a unit, you will suffer casualties.

And oh yes, don't trow it when your troops are in melee, just send a cavalry charge

[Venset]

I haven't used grenadiers much, but I have a few tips:

- Have a meatshield infront of the grenadiers such as milita to pin the enemy in melee or just let the enemy waste their bullets. Then use the grenades.

- Take note of the formations and situations of the enemy and your men. For example If a unit of your line infantry is engaged in melee with the enemy line infantry, put your grenadiers in a single line so when they throw them over your guys, they will pretty much only hit the enemy. I do not know If your line infantry will suffer any negative morale effects.

Also not having your grenadiers in a single line can make your grenadiers at the back of your unit accidentally throw their grenades into the person in front of them, making the grenade drop to the ground and cause friendly casualties.

- If playing against the AI If you have your grenadiers fighting line infantry for example after your first grenade throw the enemy will always charge your grenadiers with that unit. So its important to know how to counter this.

[Blofeld2k]

Their use against squares sound interesting indeed, but to me it hardly justifies bringing them along for that sole purpose.

[Ahlerich]

let them fire and only use them if the battlefied looks inviting. try to use them on the flanks when the enemy line infantry is firing at your line infantry line for example.
if there is no way of distracting enemy fire just dont use them.

worst you can to is just let them charge into throwing distance agains a enemy line

they are also handy when fighting in towns because the houses can be used as cover and the grenadiers can get close covered this way

[MortenJessen]

Hi there.
A good use of grenadiers is to use them in siege battles. Have your cannons make a hole in the walls, then have them clear, if possible, the remaining enemies on the walls. THEN send in your grenadiers to clear away any enemy unit blocking your entrence trough the walls. Their grenades are exelent agains an enemy clustering.
Grenadiers are also exelent when it comes to clearing buildings.
Y.S.
M. Jessen

[RomaJilo]

The swedish karoliner army used a specifik grenadier tactics.....the granadiers were hardend top noch elite soldiers.....mostley used to brake up formations......1. Go close.....so close so that u can see the white part in ur enemys eyes......fire 1 volley..........throw 1 grenade.....then bayonete charge.......

[irish437]

They are shock troops. I keep them behind a line unit. I let my line infantry fire, let the enemy fire. Then run the grenadiers into position and unleash the grenades. Then fire their rifles and then either charge into melee or run back behind the line infantry and let the line infantry fire another volley.

The granades are good on rolling up a flank too.

I like grenadiers, but you have to micro manage them abit. I pretty much use them in reserve to go where they are needed to deliver a tide turning assault. They are basically my Old Guard.

[Ragerancher]

Grenadiers were historically shock troops and this is the role they fulfill best in ETW. Their higher morale and melee ability makes them good in more constrained areas where their smaller numbers won't have an affects until you have been fighting for quite a long time. With experience, you can rely on them not to break. Also, I believe they inspire nearby troops so having 1 unit near some line infantry should offer a morale boost.

[Graphic]

Don't use them for shoot-outs, and don't worry about finding a use for the grenades, just think of it as a bonus when you encounter a situation where you can use them effectively. Their main use is to rape every kind of infantry (besides guards) in melee and to not break.

[aorda14]

to me, i always have two grenadiers behind my life. if my initial line starts to falter...i toss those grenades...always tips the scales if there is a breach in the line.

[Valkierei]

i disagree with graphic. use them for shoot-outs. they kill a lot. they function like marines in shoot outs.

[Graphic]

i disagree with graphic. use them for shoot-outs. they kill a lot. they function like marines in shoot outs.

With their small numbers they get thinned out WAY faster in a shoot-out than they do in a melee fight, which means they'll be weak when you do have to use them for melee.

[Jiffster]

Always use them as reserves, keep a couple of them behind the lines they can throw grenades over other troops when enemy gets too close, and are great for plugging any gaps that appear, esp if the enemy gets into melee as most are pretty good in close combat.

Find they are really good against squares as units in square cant run away, due to delay in exploding units running around are usually out of the way before they go boom. wait till the square fires, then get in close and throw grenades, unit will usually 'unsquare' and take large amounts of casualties at which point you charge the grenadiers in to give 'em a bit of the old cold steel and hey presto, routed enemy unit.

Also worthy of note are the awesome hand mortars, like grenadiers but with the range of a musket, WIN!

[Venset]

Here is some more useful information on how to use grenadiers.

http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?t=330588

[TheFirstONeill]

Moved to Gameplay

[lemming3k]

As others say, they are shock troops(check their melee stats), use them for melee after thinning enemy ranks with grenades and one volley - and particularly use them for protecting flanks or assaulting the enemies flanks. Once the enemy breaks there you can fall in on them and rout them with minimal casualties.

[la_guillotine]

Using them to throw grenades off the walls, at the enemy attempting to scale the wall, when defending cities\forts is my personal preference...