Hammer and Anvil

[Inflatable]

I've been hearing about a certain "Hammer and Anvil" tactic. I still don't understand, can anyone explain what is exactly is? (and perhaps why it is called hammer and anvil?)

[Vampire1016]

I believe it is when you hold a enemy unit with friendly infantry (anvil) and then hit them in the flank with cavalry (hammer)

[0N3]

I believe it is when you hold a enemy unit with friendly infantry (anvil) and then hit them in the flank with cavalry (hammer)

You should probaly read about Megas Alexandros and his father, the Diadochi etc. considering it is one of the most basic stuff in history

[Inflatable]

I see... Thank you

[Valandur]

A fantastic time to use it is when you are fighting with multiple infantry units.
Sometimes only one unit will engage and the other will line up behind it and do very few fighting so what I do is pull them out and bring them up beside the enemy.... and crush.

[Loki_999]

Also works fine with troops that can hide well (eg: Hashishim). Position your troops that will hide to the side of the battle and then when their forces engage yours charge your hidden troops into the back of the enemy. Cavalry of course work best, you can eliminate a whole unit in literally seconds with a good charge from behind, but anything attacking from behind will do serious damage quickly... probably even peasants.

[Stolet]

If you have a map with some trees, hide your cavalry, except maybe your general into the woods and deploy your other troops on the edge of the tree line. When charging be sure you get out of the woods for the absence of trees will maximize your cavalry charge value.

[Ayleid]

Generals can't hide anyway, anywhere or anytime.

[Mithrane]

Generals can't hide anyway, anywhere or anytime.

Put 3 generals in one army. Watch as one hides on each flank and the other acts as bait.

[spartan117]

Put 3 generals in one army. Watch as one hides on each flank and the other acts as bait.

In that case they are not generals.

But merely family members or characters participating in a battle with a general's bodyguard unit. lol

[Inflatable]

No, I think they are second-in-command generals

[killervomit2]

I've been hearing about a certain "Hammer and Anvil" tactic. I still don't understand, can anyone explain what is exactly is? (and perhaps why it is called hammer and anvil?)

the hammer and anvil was created by alexander the great, the basic idea is still used today,basically you use some men to hold the enemy in place and some men to hit them in the rear, or as patton put it, hold em by the nose and kick em in the ass,its called the hammer and anvil because you hold the enemy on the anvil and smash them with the hammer

[Shasqua]

I kinda doubt he created it. The tactic's common sense, really, and supremely effective.

[irisheagle]

Yeah Patton (Or was it Eisenhower? It was one of them anyway) just helped make it easy to remember. Find, Fix, Flank, Finish. (Of course since we all have eagle eye advantage in M2TW we can skip right to fix)

[Sulfurion Blackfyre]

The best unit to use as a anvil in the game are the Portuguese Aventuros.