CHARIOTS

Chariots have a long tradition several thousand years ago. They we're used to carry a fighter and his equipment directly to the battle. Sometimes they were used to crush the enemy lines with the impact. Another eastern idea was to attach blades to the sides to inflict extra damage and cause fear under the enemy ranks. This followed to a counter tactic, where the infantry line simply opened a corridor to let the chariot pass through. This is not possible in game.

In game uses
Break ordered ranks of infantry. Run down sword infantry. To avoid that your chariots get bogged down always spam move orders after you attacked. Enemy spear units (cavalry counter tactics especially) can damage your chariots quickly. Chariots often start to waver when they lost 50% of their men.

Counter units
a) All missile units
b) heavy cavalry
c) heavy spear units
d) pikes

Counter tactics
a) Pin the chariots with at least medium cavalry. Reinforce with more cavalry if possible. A charge of shock cavalry can be useful, too.
b) Prepare your battle line to oppose some gaps between your first line and the lines behind it. You sacrifice some men in the first line to effectively kill the chariots with your missiles behind it. If possible, put your first line into hoplite wall or shield wall to better brace against the charge.



ELEPHANTS

First used by the Achaemenid empire 5th century BC. Alexander the great discovered their possible uses when fighting war elephants himself and the word spread fast in the ancient world. The historic counter tactic was opening a corridor to pass through, hacking into their feet with axes and shoot missiles on them. The roman's fanfare at the battle of Zama actually caused the elephants to go crazy and run through Hannibal's own men.

In game uses
Kills. More kills. Even more kills. Trample everything.
Seriously, that's it. Additionally, their scare effect actually really helps in producing chain routs.

Counter units (descending from best to worst)
a) Javelins
b) Skirmisher cavalry
c) other missiles
d) very heavy spear units with cavalry counter tactics.
e) pike

Counter tactics

Three volleys of flaming arrows.
One or less volley of javelins (normal and flaming).
Eight volleys from slingers - but they did so much HP damage that the elephant unit was almost dead after ~12 volleys.

If the enemy has skirmisher superiority, let your skirmishers fall back out of their range.
Similar to chariots, try to create a buffer between your infantry lines, so the enemy elephant can't reach your skirmishers easy. If you have multiple melee infantry lines, this can be also helpful because the second line throws their javelins at the elephants.



WAR DOGS

These special bred dogs we're trained to withstand the noise and chaos in battles.

In game use
Dogs can be useful in very special situations.
They can be a danger to: Light horse archers, light skirmishers.

War dogs are not good for the following tasks:
Use them to interrupt charges
Use them against medium or heavy cavalry
use them against any type of spear or sword infantry, not even naked swords - not even into
the rear of a fighting unit.

War dogs movement mechanic doesn't work well all the time, keep that in mind when bringing this unit.

Counter units
a) Cavalry charging the dogs (VERY VERY EFFECTIVE)
b) Everything with armor

Counter tactics
Protect your skirmishers.
Protect your horse archers with melee cavalry or a spear unit.