Originally Posted by Agent Miles
The short answer is that wedge gives your unit +3 to attack, but -3 to defense. If you play with Yas’ unit comparison tool, you’ll see that a combat where your unit will win after X number of hits, can be won with fewer hits if you attack in wedge formation, often with fewer losses to your unit. However, if your unit would normally lose the combat, then it will lose even quicker by being in wedge formation.
Often, people will charge in wedge and then immediately switch to close formation, so that they can save the “point man”. I believe that this isn’t worth it. I think that the point man should get an advantage from what’s called “push back”, knocking the enemy’s men back and “squeeze”, pushing too many defenders into too small of a space. Thus, I stay in wedge throughout.