Foot Javelin tactics

**Callawyn** · August 22, 2010, 01:52 PM

I've never figured out how to use these guys effectively in battle. Their range is so short if you put them up front they only fire once or twice before they're engaged in melee. They don't seem to fire well from behind the main line. They will kick butt if you can run them to the flank of an enemy infantry line that's already engaged but being slow and weak this leaves them vulnerable to a counterattack. The one place they've been an unqualified success is manning the walls in a siege defense. Bottom line though, I find myself just avoiding buying them in the first place, preferring either tougher infantry or missile units with better range.

Any tips/tactics for using them in field battles or sieges? what works?

**Gogolometro** · August 22, 2010, 02:47 PM

Use them in loose formation. In this way any charge will not be very effective. Use them in front line of your spears. Put them in many lines, 1 javelin let them 10 meters, next javelin unit. If you have 3-4 javelin units, like almugavars or acritae, they will masacre the heavy cavalry/general who come to charge. Put your cavalry close. If enemy have archers/crossbows, charge them with your cavalry to not waste your javelinmans. When they countercharge, let them come to your guys. Chance to kill their general in this way are 90%. Use hills to have javelins deployed like steps of a ladder. Dont worry about their skill in melee. They are very good soldiers.

**Sanderlicious** · August 22, 2010, 04:37 PM

Originally Posted by Gogolometro

If you have 3-4 javelin units, like almugavars or acritae, they will masacre the heavy cavalry/general who come to charge.

This.
Acritea have murdered bodyguard in almost all occasions that they have encountered each other for my games.

**Theseus1234** · August 22, 2010, 04:42 PM

Originally Posted by Callawyn

I've never figured out how to use these guys effectively in battle. Their range is so short if you put them up front they only fire once or twice before they're engaged in melee. They don't seem to fire well from behind the main line. They will kick butt if you can run them to the flank of an enemy infantry line that's already engaged but being slow and weak this leaves them vulnerable to a counterattack. The one place they've been an unqualified success is manning the walls in a siege defense. Bottom line though, I find myself just avoiding buying them in the first place, preferring either tougher infantry or missile units with better range.

Any tips/tactics for using them in field battles or sieges? what works?

I use 6.1 mostly, but the same tactics still apply. Firing from behind your lines is actually a great way to kill enemies. They don't have to aim upwards like archers and they have better accuracy. Generally you want to put them on the highest ground. Sometimes you can get their range similar to that of crossbow militia or peasant archers.

For defending sieges, I usually put them above the gates in front of the main column that follows the ram. You won't believe how many kills they get. In field battles, I use a sacrifice unit in front of them to give them time to escape, usually a unit of peasants. After they run back, my main line advances and charges the either advancing or tied up enemy. Once their javelins are gone, they're actually not bad at melee and can reinforce your lines fairly well.

**Sebastos Abdes Pantera** · August 22, 2010, 05:10 PM

Javelins aren't as good as they are in RTW. I still use them similarly though. Behind the spearmen, skirmish off. Hit them as they run into your lines and then run them out manually. Don't forget the AP they have. Good general killers.

**RollingWave** · August 22, 2010, 08:47 PM

fireing from behind your men is ok if your accept that you'll also do signfiicant friendly fire damage. though in some cases it's worth it, like when your spear milita is engaging a general body guard ...

the thing with javelin is that they're usually either a general killing unit or a unit that you seek to maximize instant casualty with.

also, most of them will do alright in melee against spear milita type units at least.

**Silver Legionary** · August 22, 2010, 09:06 PM

Javelin units also usually have decent morale, for their
class of infantry.

**Mega Tortas de Bodemloze** · August 23, 2010, 12:13 AM

Javlins can rule all as your main battle line if your an Iberian faction. I have found that a double line of armored Javelins, are basically in penetrable by the AI. Used in conjunction with mounted javelins used as flankers is basically instant win.

The key is to not move your battleline. when the AI assaults it , they become instant pinchusion. The sight is one that will make
you cry with joy...."Try it"...

**Beorn** · August 25, 2010, 01:47 PM

Originally Posted by Darth Kitty von Bodemloze

Javlins can rule all as your main battle line if your an Iberian faction. I have found that a double line of armored Javelins, are basically in penetrable by the AI. Used in conjunction with mounted javelins used as flankers is basically instant win.

The key is to not move your battleline. when the AI assaults it , they become instant pinchusion. The sight is one that will make
you cry with joy...."Try it"...

Tortas, u will LOVE Rhudaur
All their units have a couple of javelins to throw

**Mega Tortas de Bodemloze** · August 25, 2010, 05:34 PM

Originally Posted by Beorn of Carrock

Tortas, u will LOVE Rhudaur
All their units have a couple of javelins to throw

OMG...

Beorn, I am sooooo blowing this Popsicle stand for Third Age. EoL & Cedric37 been bugging me for the longest....

J/K...

{don't blow a fuse Navajo, I would never abandon you....

}

Beorn.....{His eyes only ....yo}

Spoiler Alert, click show to read:

**RabidSheepLegion** · August 23, 2010, 02:16 AM

i think, could be mistaken, most foot javes have either good or very good stamina? I use them to shoot engaged enemy in back as bonus in back and AP bonus plus morale penalty for enemy as to losing so many men at once. Morale loss is almost like getting hit by gunpowder units lol. As others have mentioned they can be very, very good general killers, I think they are easier to hit as bigger target (again could be mistaken) seems as they are higher, don't have to worry about line of sight.

**Gogolometro** · August 23, 2010, 07:00 AM

Try almugavars!

**For England Men** · August 25, 2010, 10:57 AM

best way to use infantry javelins in my opinion is like the romans did. put two units in front line with a gap in between. have the second line as melee infantry (light men at arms in my case.) with one in the gap between javelins but set back and one either side of javelins and set back. Then for third line do exactly the same with spearmen. That way as the enemy aproaches or you approach them the javelins fly once that get near these you retreat them through the gaps and charge with sword infantry then after they get damaged or do some damage you retreat through gaps with them and close the line with your spearmen to hold the enemy whilst you send your cavalry round the flanks. This is how a roman legion worked and i find it very effective in medieval times also.

**Sebastos Abdes Pantera** · August 25, 2010, 01:05 PM

You won't have friendly casulties if you turn fire at will mode on and off at the right moments.

**Staffen** · August 26, 2010, 07:19 AM

Somehow, I'm never able to put mounted javelin units to effective use. Give me some mounted archers or crossbowmen and I'll turn hundreds of targets into sish kebabs before reaching my foot units. But with mounted javelins I never managed to kill an enemy general or even route a half-decent foot unit.

Even 2 units of Jinetes versus an inexperienced enemy general: they throw, throw, throw spears and when they run out of ammo, 9 out of 11 bodyguards are still standing.

The same goes for javelin infantry. I'm perfectly able to wreak havoc with foot archers, but the best I can get out of infantry javelins is one throw and then they start dying.

How do you guys manage to deploy them effectively? Is there even a way to use them without intense pause-play-pause-play micromanagement? Because their short throwing range combined with the not-too-smooth skirmishing mode never turns out good for me

**Mega Tortas de Bodemloze** · August 26, 2010, 12:33 PM

Originally Posted by Staffen

Somehow, I'm never able to put mounted javelin units to effective use. Give me some mounted archers or crossbowmen and I'll turn hundreds of targets into sish kebabs before reaching my foot units. But with mounted javelins I never managed to kill an enemy general or even route a half-decent foot unit.

Even 2 units of Jinetes versus an inexperienced enemy general: they throw, throw, throw spears and when they run out of ammo, 9 out of 11 bodyguards are still standing.

The same goes for javelin infantry. I'm perfectly able to wreak havoc with foot archers, but the best I can get out of infantry javelins is one throw and then they start dying.

How do you guys manage to deploy them effectively? Is there even a way to use them without intense pause-play-pause-play micromanagement? Because their short throwing range combined with the not-too-smooth skirmishing mode never turns out good for me

Kay in SS6.3 the javlins victums seem to drop like flys...

1. Mounted Javlins: Put them on the flanks with skermish and free fire turned off. Run them up the flanks and get behind the victums be it heavy cavalry or foot troops. If you wanted to take a unit out have it pursue a bait unit and open fire on it's back. Heavy cav units drop like stones off a cliff.

2. Flanking and getting behind the enemy infantry line will peel off units which pursue your flankers thus weaking the assualt on your line.

3. Isolate and destroy...enjoy...

4. Javlin infantry tactics: From earlier in this thread...

Javlins can rule all as your main battle line if your an Iberian faction. I have found that a double line of armored Javelins, are basically in penetrable by the AI. Used in conjunction with mounted javelins used as flankers is basically instant win.

The key is to not move your battleline. when the AI assaults it , they become instant pinchusion. The sight is one that will make
you cry with joy...."Try it"...

Have your jav infantry set on free fire and sit back and enjoy. Concentrate your focus on your mounted flankers as heavy cav killers and decoys...

**Callawyn** · August 29, 2010, 04:30 PM

Thanks for the info and advice, I'll give them another try. Anything that can decimate bodyguards is worth learning how to use.

For the mounted variety, I've found the trick is to turn auto-fire off until you get them in position. They are deadly, but have very limited ammo, so I only want them to fire when they're in a good position and have a target worth shooting at.

**RabidSheepLegion** · August 29, 2010, 04:32 PM

Originally Posted by Callawyn

Thanks for the info and advice, I'll give them another try. Anything that can decimate bodyguards is worth learning how to use.

For the mounted variety, I've found the trick is to turn auto-fire off until you get them in position. They are deadly, but have very limited ammo, so I only want them to fire when they're in a good position and have a target worth shooting at.

i second that also same with greek fire throwers lol