How do you use chariots?

[Kraut and Tea]

This is somewhat weird, but since I havent played Rome 1 for about a year and never really played as anyone else but Carthage and Rome I am having problems with how to use the chariots most efficiantly and would like to ask someone with more expirience on how he or she uses them.

How do you use chariots when playing as Egypt, Iceni, Seleucids or Pontus?


I usualy use them like a light cav unit to attck archers at the flanks of the enemy army, stricking them quckly and emideatly pulling out again repeatedly (Somehow I dont see them as fit for enduring long melee engagements). I also often try to get them behind the enemy force and to strike in the back of some units.

[Syntax]

Hi there, that's not such a far off question as I also played Rome a lot, at the end all TW games, but I also don't know how to use them effectively!

Okay there are chariots who have this "sword" on their wheels don't know the specific name ) - these one I just use to smash into light skirmisher groups or routing armies which works quite well.

But there are also other chariots who don't have this feature and are only occupied by javelin throwing guys - these one some use like light skirmishers or skirmish cavalry - but I find them them not very effective ...so I a not a big fan of them.

Also I dare that chariots have been widely used in history - as they could not drive in the rough terrain where many battles occurred...but I may be wrong and someone enlighten me here....
That's how I use chariots in the game - maybe someone who has more experience with this unit may help us out here....

[BigEl_nobody]

Since Chariots do nothing in Melee combat, they can only be used as a charge unit. They are very broad and need a lot of space to perform so units in loose formations like skirmishers get eaten by Chariots. Also its not bad to break tight formations like a pike Phalanx from the Flank or the Rear.
So all in all their Charge Power is greater than the one from riders, but they are more immobile and more vulnerable. I use them like Elephants to turn the tie of battle with a precise charge into the enemy ranks that they loose formation and rout.

[Kraut and Tea]

Since Chariots do nothing in Melee combat, they can only be used as a charge unit. They are very broad and need a lot of space to perform so units in loose formations like skirmishers get eaten by Chariots. Also its not bad to break tight formations like a pike Phalanx from the Flank or the Rear.
So all in all their Charge Power is greater than the one from riders, but they are more immobile and more vulnerable. I use them like Elephants to turn the tie of battle with a precise charge into the enemy ranks that they loose formation and rout.

I never had the balls to ever use cav in fights against any kind of spear unit. Which is probably why I am currently in a possition of having to rethink the way I use cav since the game is loaded with spears everywhere. Elephants I tend to always use right at the start, I let them trample right through the enemies strongest foot unit and then let them trample through into the enemies back, that way the enemies strongest unit suffers under being scared and I can charge some other units into them, all whilest I can reuse my elephants to charge right into the back of some other units.
Thanks for the info.

[Toho]

using them as a horse archer unit is also a good idea.

think of it this way they are a crappier version of all the cavalry combined.

so they have all their advantages but don't excel at anything.

[rrgg]

British chariots if you repeatedly drive them through weak formations or units' flanks seem to have no problem getting hundreds of kills. One thing I haven't tested though, do chariots actually get a bonus if you order an attack or can you just give a move command through the enemy lines?

[Jackal2233]

As BigEl mentioned -> eating up archers/skirmishers. But that's about it. I never use them if I have cavalry.

[Jihada]

I remember a long discussion on chariots years ago on the Rome TW forum. The Ptolomaic Egyptians of this period didn't use chariots if I remember right and they were removed in mods. Or am I imagining that, it was a long time ago Rome TW.

[♘Top Hat Zebra]

I actually wondered this as well. I have not used the Eastern scythed chariots yet, but as the Iceni, I have had a lot of luck flanking behind the enemy and charging along the back. Chariots frighten enemies, so the moral penalty is greater than cavalry, and it usually results in a mass rout without too much work. Also, they are GREAT at running down masses of routing enemies. I've had them get upwards of 500 kills by chasing routers.

[krisslanza]

The way it looks, there's two main kinds of Chariots. The Seleucids and Egyptians, I believe, have the Scythed Chariots which should make viciously powerful melee units - probably akin to shock cavalry. The Iceni however basically just have Chariots designed to pepper units with javelins.

I would treat them, depending on the faction, as either horse cavalry or shock cavalry. I'd honestly not use them myself though, they don't actually seem that good... their unit count is small, so even if they can perform a cavalry role, an actual cavalry unit has a far higher unit count and is much more effective.

[Velico]

When I was testing the Belgae (RS2) I used chariots a few different ways. Primarily I would skirmish them along with foot and cavalry skirmishers while my main line advanced. Once their rounds were half gone I would retreat them behind my main line (on the flanks) for the fear bonus. Rome 2 does not have the fear bonus for chariot units for some unknown (and stupid) reason, so they're not nearly as useful. If my flanks were secure, I would swing them around and launch javelins in their heavy (usually heavily armored) infantry. They are particularly devastating to armored units. If the flanks were not secure I would leave them behind the line (not on skirmish mode) and launch over my line. A quick volley plus a charge from the any heavy cavalry was pretty much an insta-rout to that flank and the rest of their line rolled up shortly after. A well timed charge into the flank (preferably when the enemy is shaken or wavering) will usually make them rout but do NOT keep them in melee for long. They can go toe to toe with quite a few cavalry units but infantry they die to very quickly.

Other than that, they are not very useful. They are poor for running down routing infantry and incapable of prolonged melee. Use them like a glorified skirmish cavalry unit and you will rack up 300+ kills with one unit. After a while I really liked having them in my army, it just takes some getting used to.

[DeVrie]

If the enemy army is not composed of elite, and you have quite a few chariots, run through their lines from flank to flank and you will mow them down. Avoid fighting camels, for some reason they were really hard fo me.

[Dude with the Food]

I find chariots work best in smaller battle like early in campaign or against the towns. All chariots have one skill in common, they are excellent for chasing troops. The only units I find better are javelin skrimishers if they still have ammo but otherwise it's the chariots. British chariots are a good flanking force but if you send them slightly ahead of your force then they can get a couple of sjhots at the infantry before attacking the missile units.

Scythed chariots are different. They have no missiles so are better rolling through an infantry line. Either charge them through light units or non-spears. I said it is easier in small battles or cities because then either the enemy has no reserve line of very light units. After plowing through, get melee infantry in quickly and charge from behind.

After missile units are destroyed for Iceni or in large battles in the east, take chariots to the flanks mid battle can give you a good charge along the enemy line but keep them moving. If there are only two things you do with chariots it has to be keep them moving and avoid cavalry. Cavalry has a higher mass and can't be knocked over so chariots have a tough time getting through them. On the other hand, sending chariots thorugh infantry and out the other side with cavalry in before any fomration is regained is very useful too for when infantry can't keep up.

[zaript]

I am not confident enough to give an advice on how exactly chariot should be used, but here some thoughts and a bracing test we did in Patch 4 (still relevant in Patch 5): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wpZvEq3tRgAOver.

Over all it seems that chariots are to be used against infantry that is on the move or disorganized and perform best in a late game when most units are depleted. Micro wise chariots seem to perform best when they are pulled through with attack order on next unit (from flank to flank as was already mentioned).

Here example of chariots getting some decent kills in 2v2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ADdVfLN7Qgg

EDIT: What's up with editor? It destroys my line breaks.

[Used2BRoz]

The scythed chariots - a word of advice.
Don't use them like you would cavalry and charge them through your own infantry to attack the enemy.
your infantry is not immune to having their legs chopped off.
Best used as far away as possible from your own forces.
(bit of a nuisance if they are your general's unit - which is why I make my generals cavalry if possible.)