Charging- Yes, another charging question. Sorry.

[Orion66]

I've read some of the comments about charging. I've tried several ways to do it. I've tried double clicking on the enemy unit. I've tried single clicking on the enemy unit. I've tried double clicking at a point behind the unit.

Single clicking doesn't yield a charge at all. Double clicking on the unit or behind it gets them to charge, but as soon as the horse meet the enemy, they stop and go into melee with swords. This just gets the front rank into battle, leaving the middle and rear ranks doing nothing.
Double clicking behind the unit stops the charge, and go into melee with swords, but gets more ranks into the fight.
I would like my horse to charge into the enemy with spears/lances lowered and continue on thru the enemy. Like the charge of the Roharrim in front of Minas Tirith.
Thanks for any replies.

[Quickening]

Ah I remember all the "single-click or double-click" debates. In my experience it makes absolutely no difference whether you single click or double click. I always double click because that's just the way it's meant to be.
I have found that with cavalry charges in M2TW, the key is to ensure that your cavalry unit is lined up well with their target. I can consistently carry out devastating charges this way. In Rome, you could double click and your cavalry would happily turn 180 degrees and smash full force into the enemy a meter away. So yes, in my experience, lining up is the key and it has nothing to do with single or double clicking.
But cavalry are borked to an extent no matter what way you look at it especially when it comes to chasing the enemy. In such an event I find it best to run my men ahead of the enemy and then while they are passing through them, I order them to attack.

That's my two pennies worth.

Now one of the experts shall come and shame my laymans knowledge

[Dead Guy]

In Rome, you could double click and your cavalry would happily turn 180 degrees and smash full force into the enemy a meter away.

which the AI still does to YOU without batting an eyebrow.

I remember I used to single click then click r to start them running a few versions back, I don't need to do that anymore. What I think is key is like you said line them up, and start the charge far enough away from the target, like outside of the distance it takes to charge. They'll then run for a while and will be in formation before the actual charge begins, and won't break it up. Uneven terrain can totally bork your charge too, if there's unpassable terrain for example in the path of your charge.
The worst thing that can happen is when your cavalry gets a perfect charge at archers, that proceed to skirmish away and then your cav stops after hitting 2 guys and start to fight hand to hand... well it would be worse if they were heavy infantry but they don't skirmish that much.

[Orion66]

The problem I keep having is double clicking on the unit does induce the charge just before the units meet, but as soon as my horse meets the enemy, they stop the charge and switch to swords and fight in melee.
I can see a charge faltering upon meeting ranks of spears, but I was testing this with peasants. I would think the weight of a full charge would only slightly slow down the charge and have them charge right thru the unit into the enemy's rear.

[Dead Guy]

Have you fully patched the game? I can't remember if it's better patched cause I only play mods but you could give it a try, or give a mod a try.
The total war I play, a lance charge leaves about 10-20 men of a 90 man unit if you let them commit all the way. I usually pull my cavalry out before they get tangled up and start to die needlessly in melée. Head on, even onto spears. Although that kills a lot of cav too, but bodyguards sometimes annoyingly pulls it off (me being the receiver since I'd never risk my general like that).
Good luck!

[WhiskeyGhost]

if its an archer unit and not a spear or infantry unit, i usually just hit wedge and double click behind the unit. If it's any other kind of unit, make sure your cavalry has enough distance to get themselves sorted (some will always fall behind after ordered to do something). In my opinion, most of the time it's those stragglers who aren't precisely in formation when you start an actual charge that mess it up most of the time (which results in 1 or 2 units running out and getting bogged down, because the other guys don't wanna charge without the missing unit).

[Orion66]

Yep, fully patched. So, I guess charge isn't made to allow you to run thru a unit as I imagined. So, guess I need to have them charge, retreat, then recharge; rather than run thru, turn around and recharge.
Thanks for the help, guys.

[Galain_Ironhide]

edit: If you charge too close from where they are programmed to work from, they will not work properly. Can be very frustrating.

Although it may kill the advantage you had, you may be better off at close quarters retreating your knights to a further distance away and then double-clicking attack. It certainly would be better than having them getting annihilated.

[Eikon the Magistrate]

things to consider.

1) is your cav unit stationary and in good formation prior to the charge

2) is there terrain that will impede the charge. even a single tree or rock will slow your whole unit when it passes around it

3) similarly, are you charging uphill or downhill

4) are there any units (yours or opponents) in the line you will charge into, your cav will have to pass thru them and it will slow them down

Some cavalry units are not equipped with lances so that affects the charge as well, at least you wont see them using a lance when the charge develops.

In-game advisor suggests that you charge, withdraw, charge for full attack value. In order to use this to the fullest advantage: charge a unit that is engaged with 1 of yours already, this will allow you to charge and repeat with the lowest risk of your cav getting "engaged" by the unit it is charging. Meaning you should not lose any cav or very few at least per charge. Having a cav unit charge as the 1st attack on that unit will be devastating of course, but if it is a hi-morale or good defense it is charging, some/most of the cav will be repulsed and die.

If you have a cav hvy army try to spread out some INF (sword preferably so that you can spread thinner and make more room for the horsies) as the 1st "line" and send em running at the AI...gather your cav and put em in formation close behind. as soon as your INF start their charge, charge in with your cav so they become the 2nd wave. Result INF takes the hit from the defense and dies...cav lives and gets revenge.

[Lord Fluffy]

things to consider.

2) is there terrain that will impede the charge. even a single tree or rock will slow your whole unit when it passes around it

I recently had a battle as Milan with my general. I placed him on the right flank. Soon as the enemy advanced, they had 2 pavisse crossbow units and a DFK. The DFK marched right for my general and the 2 crossbows engaged my crossbow units. I took my general and charged the DFK, complete annihilation. The DFK went from 120 to 2 in one hit, then to 0 in a few more seconds. One of their crossbow units got destroyed by my crossbows and the remaining crossbow started a retreat through the woods. So, I marched my general along side them. They were still in the woods, when my general overtook their formation. I just double click right on their unit and my general wheeled around and started a charge right into their flank, destroying half of the crossbow unit with one hit, and victory.

Oh here's a tip for charging at archers. When you're on approach, click on the line of infantry behind the archer instead of the archer line itself. Most likely the archers are on skirmish and will retreat before the hit causing your charge to break apart. If you charge the line behind them, I've had quite a few charges make good hit on both the archer unit and the unit of spears behind them.

[Anonymous II]

I have no problems with the charging system.

There are some things, as mentioned above, one have to take into consideration:

- Make sure you are far enough away from the target before clicking (or double-clicking - it doesn't matter) on the target.

- ALWAYS check if there is one of your unit caught up in some melee before charging. If you have 19 units of a stack beautifully lined up, it won't do you much good if dude no. 20 is somewhere else - then they'll just go into melee.

-make sure you have a clear line of charge - trees, rocks and other units can make sure the charge gets broken.


These rules are enough for me. I am definitively best with my cavalry - they sure get those infantrymen flying in the air. It doesn't take many turns to get a mounted sergeant up to gold-level experience.

[Quickening]

I have no problems with the charging system.

There are some things, as mentioned above, one have to take into consideration:

- Make sure you are far enough away from the target before clicking (or double-clicking - it doesn't matter) on the target.

- ALWAYS check if there is one of your unit caught up in some melee before charging. If you have 19 units of a stack beautifully lined up, it won't do you much good if dude no. 20 is somewhere else - then they'll just go into melee.

-make sure you have a clear line of charge - trees, rocks and other units can make sure the charge gets broken.


These rules are enough for me. I am definitively best with my cavalry - they sure get those infantrymen flying in the air. It doesn't take many turns to get a mounted sergeant up to gold-level experience.

Yeah this sums it up basically. It's just a case of getting use to the "style" of cavalry charging in Medieval 2. Once you've done that it's no bother.


Unless like Anonymous II said some fool is still trying to manoeuvre his way around a rock a mile behind

[Redz " Preatorian Knights"]

I SEE NO PROBLEM ON MY CHARGE TOO... when charging consider:
1.you must be a couple of distance to your enemy
2. charge infantry and archers 'cus when you charge a spearmen no matter how long you are they get slaughtered up front.. if you must do it at the rear there asses is softer than those pikes in front
3. if you want a rohirim style, charge with 2 or 3 units in a single enemy line and just push those at the back of your calvalry to front surely they would knife through and when they do turn them around and let them shout... ROHIRIM!!!!! CHARGE... again this time at thier rear if thier still enough of you units

in any case cheers...