'Alt' attack help.

[Rostam_e_Iran]

Does anyone know of an alt attack guide? Or someone who could explain this? Does it make any difference in RS2?
For example:
Would attacking a cav unit with another cav unit by using primary weapon be more efficient or by using secondary weapon?
Is cav pri weapon better against foot units?

You get the idea.
Any help would be appreciated.

[ur-Lord Tedric]

Alt-attack can be very useful...in the main for any missile-primary unit and those with 'throws missile weapon before charging'. Using it will mean the troops get stuck in immediately and you get to save the ammunition for later.

For units that are meant for melée, however, like the 'shock cavalry' I suspect you are thinking of - I have no idea I'm afraid.

[Grimbold]

Just apply a bit of reasoning yourself.

Often, i have my infantry alt attack, that is, the one who's primary weapon is a spear but also has a sword to use.

For cavalry, the spear is better for charges, but for close quarters - which your cavalry shouldn't be at for long - i alt attack. I reckon a big ass spear isn't very easy to maneuver in close combat.

[Rostam_e_Iran]

Just apply a bit of reasoning yourself.

Often, i have my infantry alt attack, that is, the one who's primary weapon is a spear but also has a sword to use.

For cavalry, the spear is better for charges, but for close quarters - which your cavalry shouldn't be at for long - i alt attack. I reckon a big ass spear isn't very easy to maneuver in close combat.

I tried to have a logical approach, but after many 1v1's through custom battles the results varied and even more varied depending on the difficulty. I thought maybe the spear (kontos) with which a cataphract unit uses would be more effective against lighter foot units and the secondary (sword) more effective against heavier foot units.
I don't know, i guess when i tried a realistic approach the results weren't convincing.

[DwailerY]

The bigger the cavalry spear the worse it's going to be in melee... And besides Cataphracts are shock cavalry and shouldn't be in melee for too long but rather cycle charging....but if you really have to leave them in melee, alt attack.

[Shmanky]

Cav vs. Cav you want to fight with spears (primary weapon). Cav vs. any infantry you want to use the alt-attack (swords) as spears have negative effects in combat vs. foot units I believe.

[Rostam_e_Iran]

Thanks for the info

[odyseusz79]

There is another aspect to cav vs cav fighting. There will be situations where you simply want to defeat enemy cav, and run it off the field. Generally, cavalry fights will last MUCH shorter than infantry fights. If two fresh cav units attack a single, fresh enemy cav units, you can expect a decision within seconds. In this case, trying to do repeated charges is a waste of effort, and it might not work if the enemy cav starts running away.

So, you will want to leave your own cav stuck in with enemy cav (preferably with at least 2:1 numerical advantage). I haven't thoroughly tested this situation, but it does appear that at least for some cavalry units, using the Alt weapon in this case is more effective. There are cav units with AP maces (eastern) - I would guess in a cav-vs-cav melee, these would be MUCH better than a spear, after the initial charge.

[century x]

you dont really need a quide. You just need to guage the situation you are in and apply it.

[Seht-N-Stone]

The only cavalry that can engage in prolonged combat situations are the ones equipped with axes or maces, those secondary weapons are best against any infantry including heavy troops, and will wreak swift havoc upon a flanked unit.