The 'Best' Unit

[caspian]

I'm playing the Danes in High and I have gotten almost all of Europe. I'm planning of taking on the Turks at Constantinople and already I have two army groups waiting in Wessex to take the English Isles. My army composition changed when I got Swiss Halberdiers, I now have 5 Arbalesters, 4 Swiss Halberdiers, 2 Chivalric Men-at-Arms, 3 Vikings and 2 Feudal Knights (mostly).

What I want to know is what is the best Spear, Sword and Missile? High or Late. The 'Best' meaning the most effective in battle. I tend to use Arbalester not Pavise because Pavise are slow in moving, and some of the top units take more than one turn to biuld. Any thoughts?

And what can a Catholic use to fight in the deserts? A 16 unit group that can take on 3000 of the Muslims?

[Jxrc]

Best sword unit: gallowglasses (cheap and once you have a forteress and a master swordsmith they get +2 valour)
Best spear unit: italian infantry (if they are not available Chivalric seargents but beware of low morale)
Best missile unit: arbalester (faster without pavise, get a +1 valour bonus with a master bowyer)

Desert ? anything without armour

4 gallowglasses.
4 feudal seargent.
4 mounted crossbowmen.
2 swiss halbardiers
2 mounted seargent.

Not a very glamourous selection but the desert is not a nice place for catholic factions ...

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[Brutal DLX]

Not sure at the moment what units are available to the Danes, but Jxrc already gave a good selection.
Try to get Rus spearmen as mercenaries, or armoured spearmen. Chivalrics are better only if you produce them in provinces that add to their initial morale. In Late, use pikemen, especially Swiss and armoured Swiss ones, if they are available. Swiss Armoured Pike is one of the best units in the game, if not the best.
Sword, stay with Chivalric MenAtArms, high as well as late.
Missile, Pavise Xbos in high, Pavise Arbs backed up by some Arqs are quite effective in Late.

Desert armies, use archers, not Xbows, light cavalry like Mounted Sarges, a couple of basic spearmen (preferrably with morale/weapons upgrade only) and lots of Vikings, as you are lucky enough to be able to produce them. Under different circumstances, I'd take Urban Militia and lots of Highlanders/Gallowglasses.

[ROCKHAMMER]

Highlanders,Vikings and Gallows are all great melee units for the desert as they are lightly armored but exceptional troops in HtH.I would also pick some good light horse for use in the desert, say some Alan Light Cavalry or some type of Horse Archers. I would stay away from the Mounted Crossbows though as you will be fighting against lightly armored troops and won't need the crossbows punch.Troops equipped w/ regular bows will fire faster and will be quite effective against the Muslim troops.

As far as my pick for the best troops.
1)Melee= Viking Huscarles (I like Axemen) or Swabian Swordsmen (downright NASTY w/ those 2 handed swords)
2)Spearmen= Italian Light Infantry or Rus Spearmen
3)Mounted= Teutonic Knights or Avar Nobles

[Jxrc]

I had tought only catholic units were available for selection. If it is not the case, a good idea is of course to hire muslim mercenary.

For horse archers (expect if playing as the hungarian) the only ones available are the turcopoles (nice in Antioch with the +2 valour with the master horsebreeder).

I do not like horse archers a lot in long desert battle because the run out of ammo too quickly. On the other hand the crossbowmen last longer wich can be a great asset if you manage to kill the enemy general since the enemy infantry will run away after one volley.

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