Choose a battle with information
Send Scouts before committing your main force. Informatics improves report detail; level 10 is exact. A Beacon Tower also reveals more about incoming forces as its level rises.
Matchups matter
Pikemen receive a 1.8× matchup multiplier against Cavalry and Cataphracts. Swordsmen receive 1.1× against Pikemen. Cavalry and Cataphracts receive 1.2× against Archers. These are specific matchup bonuses, not universal damage ratings.
Read range alongside speed
Archers have 1,200 base range, Ballistae 1,400, and Catapults 1,500. Archery research increases their range. Speed and composition affect how units close distance and reach an engagement, so range alone does not decide a fight.
A siege includes the wall
Attackers must break the city wall to win. The defender’s fortifications, stationed troops, hero, and research form the rest of the defensive system. Consider replacement costs and recovery before committing a valuable army.
Prepare your leader and supply
Strength affects hero-led attack and defense. Intelligence affects troop health. Food, carrying capacity, and the return route are part of the battle plan too.
Compare troops · Study wall defenses · Understand hero attributes
Strategy suggestions based on v44.3. Battle results and optimal plans depend on your situation and can change with balance updates.