Most underestimated units?

[Mightypeon]

So, which units have been the most pleasant suprise for you?
We already have a thread for "most suck" and perhaps a couple for "best", but who would you see as the "bang for the buck" winner?

My entries:
-Archers. Considering their ranged attack value is only 3, their really long range still makes them deadly enough. Especially since most peoples armor ratings are just as bad ;D
-Turkish/Kurdish/Afghan javelineers. They pwn militia units (4on4 or 1on1 or a lot vs a lot), they hurt generals, they are relativly cheap, and they are quite amusing if placed on a castle wall. Even their morale is decent! Just prevent them from beeing shot too much. They also have a lot of those missles! They benefit a lot from beeing placed on a hill! This propably applies to other guys with javelins as well.
-Desert cavalry: This takes some training, but you can time their Javelin throws so that their charge hits like a second later. This combination breaks up the enemys formation, and greatly reduces their losses!
-Mounted Seargents: Keep them away from heavy stuff, and they can pose as Knights to the masses of Azabs/Spear Militias.
-Another note goes to the fact that the "templar units" all have an almost ridiculously low upkeep. Templar Spearmen have one of 90 or so...

[Olaf The Great]

Missile units just DESTROY in the earlier periods, and thus Akritai for the Byzantines are actually extremely good units.

They're decently armed and armed, plus they have lots of Javelins, and you get the "feeling" of being a Roman while using them.

[nlovertoom]

Any horse archers

[Maestro Ugo]

Peasants. Everybody is just trashing them, but they serve that exact purpose - frontline infantry used to wear out and tire the enemy before the main force strikes, cannon fodder coming in huge numbers.

[SirRobin]

I'd say Mounted Sergeants.

Peasants. Everybody is just trashing them, but they serve that exact purpose - frontline infantry used to wear out and tire the enemy before the main force strikes, cannon fodder coming in huge numbers.

It's a bit expensive tactic, and after losing your peasants in the first battle you cannot repeat that in the next.

I'm considering using peasants as envelopment troops, to put them on the flanks and let the main force hold the foe, while the peasants scoot around and surround the enemy.

[Tears of Destiny]

It's a bit expensive tactic, and after losing your peasants in the first battle you cannot repeat that in the next.

I'm considering using peasants as envelopment troops, to put them on the flanks and let the main force hold the foe, while the peasants scoot around and surround the enemy.

I have actually found that they are cost effective for screening expensive units against heavy cavalry rushes, as they make the enemy lose their charge bonus just as fast as a company of Dismounted Hospitaliers, but the losses cost less.

Though yes, this rarely can be repeated for the next battle, but still a very nice way to keep HC from trashing expensive units.

[DeMolay]

Funny video Hellexpress

It's a bit expensive tactic, and after losing your peasants in the first battle you cannot repeat that in the next.

I'm considering using peasants as envelopment troops, to put them on the flanks and let the main force hold the foe, while the peasants scoot around and surround the enemy.

True , that's the way peasants are the most effective (on the flanks outnumbering an ennemy unit )

But if you don't care about making them effective , you can still use them to protect your best troops having one or two units of peasants in first line is quite handy if you want them to absorb the heavy cavalry charges or arrows of the ennemy

In early to high era , i always have a unit of peasant or militia or pilgrims in order to use the ram when assaulting settlements . It's annoying to waste a quality unit for that

Trying to answer the thread , i think there are a couple of underrated units , the cheap merchant militia (with Venice or Genoa , they have a really powerful charge and low upkeep ) and mounted sergeants (like said SirRobin , they can really equal heavy cavalry whith experience and armour rating while being cheap and you can train them since the early era ) .

i definetely agree that anything that throws a javelin is underrated , because used well , they are battle winning units , they strike really hard the best of what the ennemy comes up with whilst being relative cheap

[Gogolometro]

Teutons have one of the best light charge cavalry in game. Always in shadow of rittenbrunders, they are absolute best chargers in light cavalry.

[Alavaria]

But if you don't care about making them effective , you can still use them to protect your best troops having one or two units of peasants in first line is quite handy if you want them to absorb the heavy cavalry charges or arrows of the ennemy

In early to high era , i always have a unit of peasant or militia or pilgrims in order to use the ram when assaulting settlements . It's annoying to waste a quality unit for that

I usually consider Spear militia better for carrying the ladders. They have a large shield and can be upgraded in armor. Much more survivable given their cost. Slightly lower tendency to drop their equipment and run, as well (ergh, Peasants)

A unit of them strung out will also absorb far more arrows than peasants due to armor+shield. I like to think they also magically kill charging knights due to having spears and thus the special spearbonus.

It's great fun to kill dismounted knights with spear militia though. The "foot stab" kill animation is the best!

[Lugiahua]

I second Akritai....
extremely deadly in close range, with 4 or 5 units focus on one enemy company can sometime rout them in one volley.

[RabidSheepLegion]

Ballista.... they work surprisingly well for siege defense.... put one on each side of the gate... a fair distance, perhaps 2-3 wall sections from gate... have 4-6 spearmen in guard mode in front of gate... let enemy rush through gate.... aim for gen... kill him.... they route pretty much lol! (flaming ammo btw)

[worldsdead]

i find merc spearman very useful in first 50 turns of early game.

i'll put three or more in a half stack with some vikings/ highlanders (i love norseman and scottish). place the spearman in shcitrom and space them evenly in front of infantry. the ai's archers and javelin will almost alway waste missiles on them, and who cares their merc's, and most will heal after winning battle. then when ai charges they effectivly break the charge then you send your infantry, spread into wide line straight ahead and you usually get some flanking going on since ai's wrapped around 3 spearman islands.

i've also found that in later battles they are graet in schitrom on flanks since it the only way i know to effectivly cap a line, then your own cavalry can flank the flanking unit. and again who cares what casualties are their mercs!

[Radzeer]

I can't remember the exact name but the AOR slav javelin unit Byz gets. It was actually an unpleasant experience as I fought against them, and one volley right before my general's change reached them cost me all the general's unit except three soldiers (including the general). Their timing was perfect. I was terrified to see my bodyguards suddenly drop like flies.

[Lugiahua]

I can't remember the exact name but the AOR slav javelin unit Byz gets. It was actually an unpleasant experience as I fought against them, and one volley right before my general's change reached them cost me all the general's unit except three soldiers (including the general). Their timing was perfect. I was terrified to see my bodyguards suddenly drop like flies.

Roman javelin units have capable to stop enemy charges...after I witness it I always keep 4 companies in my stake.

[Tears of Destiny]

Acritai, or the cheaper Acontista, especially the last, insanely low upkeep less then even peasants and they hit so damnably hard with that Javelin, that they can utterly rake apart enemy formations in skirmish mode, sacrifice a few companies right before you commit your real troops, and you can easily decimate a quarter or third of the enemy army.

[RollingWave]

most cheaper mounted javelin / horse archers are uber cost effective

[Landtuber]

The simple spear militia. Cheap, easy to retrain, effective to tire out the enemy line, and with their 3 armor upgrades they become extremely resistant. While massive armies of these guys may not be the most exciting army, they are hard to beat dollar for dollar.

[Losthief]

horse archers...if u get a few of those and use 'em enough to get gold ratings: 6 attack, 5 missile, 4 charge bonus...is pretty impressive....plus there the only units that can take on a enemy's bodyguard one on one and win for me...just leave 'em in skirmish mode...plus if i don't have any of 'em there really hard to fight and play havoc with my armies trying to defend against them, honestly think there the unit the ai uses the best.

honorable mention: religious fanatics: those guys attacking from the flank have turned battles for me...

***anyone remember the screeching widows or whatever from rome TW? those guys with there morale damage where deadly if used right.

[k/t]

Horsearchers were never underestimated.

[Lugiahua]

using HA against generals...? I always thought that's kind suicidal, I actually do the reverse way: use general against HAs