Russia, a land ruled by the Romanov Dynasty, has stood as a monster over Europe for over 200 years is a military giant. Howeve, playing as Russia can have it's ups and downs. The Russian Winter is one of the biggest advantages you have against the Napoleonic threat. For me I usually keep at least 2 Opelchenie acting as a garrison for each city. For your main armies use, generally 10 units for each, to avoid being crushed in certain areas which have high strategic value. Also, remember to use the cold fatigue to your advantage, let your enemy run to you to tire them out.

Despite the small selection of units, these listed advantages are exeptionally important;

High morale - Holding a line can be made easier with high morale stats, the higher this stat the less likely your men are to run from battle.

Charge Stats - A great charge stat can be used to your advantage using tighter and less manouverable maps, open plains would not be making the most of these stats.

These, however, are just the basics, In this guide I hope to further explore with you;
The Art of Napoleonic Russian Warfare.

Infantry are the basis of your army. You will need them to win a battle. Generally you should keep about 10-12 infantry units at least consisting of 2 elite infantry or Lifeguard Foot, 6 line infantry or Musketeers, 3 lights or Jagers and maybe 1 militia or opelchenie. Try to position your Russian infantry on high ground to ensure their maximum potential. Putting one behind the other on a hill ensures that depite the fact that freindly fire would normally imply, they do not shoot eachother.

Elites have the highest stat in an army and are good to use for holding weaker sides, flanks and ares. They can assist weaker units and also replace routing ones.

The line Infantry are the bulk of your army and are used to do most of the hard work. Advancing on an enemy in melee or holding a position is generally the prefered duty of a line infantry unit.


Lights are very effective against infantry but are vunerable against a cavalry charge, you can avoid mass loss of your infantry by holding your fire until the enemy is at a certain point, doing this will increase the enemy casualty count and decrease yours. Sometimes if your worried about a charge they can be placed in buildings to completely avoid cavalry. Line Infantry or Elites can be placed behind them in a square so when threatened the can fall behind the square.

Opelchenie or militia can be used to draw a lights fire then let your cavalry charge without many casualties. They can also be used to take the heat from cannons to preserve better units for the fight. With a presence of a General they may be as effective as Line Infantry (for a short amount of time).

The Russians have ;
1) good charge stats, unfortunately most infantry roles are ranged, :(
2) they also have good morale, this comes in handy all-round the battlefield,
3) Russians...... lets be honest are horrible at ranged combat due to the lack of Russian technology and weapons, this is bad news for line infantry and jagers,
4) Russian Grenadiers aren't too good at ranged but they're melee is great which makes them a perfect grenadier unit,
5) Lifeguards have surprisingly good shooting skills so they are your ideal Russian unit but you only have a limited amount of them and they leave a big hole in your pocket.

Artillary can be fundamental to the victory of a battle they can drive the victory home. They are primarily used to weaken the enemy before the combat begins.

Unicorns are best used against infantry, their explosive shells are like rockets they are much superior to the average cannon although their accuracy is much less.

Plain cannons are good vs buildings and cavalry. But do not over estimate the power of cannons, too many and you may face defeat. Generally keep about 3 cannons maximum in you army. If on a flatter map though try not to use so many because you will have no firing points to use such as hills and slopes.


Most of the time Rockets aren't allowed in multiplayer games but on the campaign map you can use them as you please. Use them to your absolute best, try to aim them against enemy cannons their range is their best feature.

The other day when i was in Napoleon, I was searching through the artillery selection in the Russian army and what i found both surprised and bewildered me. I had noticed how good russian artillery is, almost good enough to match France, Accuracy (one of the only things that determines the quality of artillery) was only 5 or so under France. Master your artillery skills and use them to your best advantage and i can ussure you comrads, victory will be within your grasp!

Sorry it has taken so long for this section to come out, i have been a little occupied, so here it is!

The Russian Navy, like the swedish have many forests at their desposal and have had long experience in ship making in the baltic sea, as this game (in the navy anyway) is revolved around complex, thick and strong woods. When you want your ship to be able to take a punch, I would suggest using Russian or British ships who are more superior in this area then France, Spain and other nations.

When taking Speed into consideration, Russia is not one of the leaders in its area, focus more on getting French, Spanish and British ships. However Bigger nations are generally faster than smaller nations by a small margin.

As for reloading, British ships are superior to the rest due to their great military discipline and organisation, most other nations are the same, with the same principles occuring, bigger nations being better than smaller ones.

These are some of the attributes of the Russian Navy for more naval info check out wadmore's naval guide here; http://gtm.steamproxy.vip/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=176376953

Generals can inspire and rally units and are a very important part of an army. I tend to keep a general in every army possible. Try and keep your General tucked away behind a slope but still around his troops to influence them.


Cavalry are the ultimate flanking force strong Russian cavalry can tear open holes in the enemy line. Cavalry are effective at breaking and enemy line, once this has been done you have plenty of options at your disposal. One of the ways of charging the enemy while avoid bullet casualties is to use your Opelchinie to draw the fire (as listed in infantry). Mounted Rifles can stand behind the Line infanry and fire without any worry of freindly fire.

Thanks for reading guys check out my other guide, hope to speak to you soon. Until then readers.