Surprisingly bad units

[Swordmaster]

Thureophoroi will break under pressure, that's a given. So when you make sure they don't come under pressure, they will do the job. Problem is that this makes them rather unreliable and in need of constant supervision on the battlefield.

The main prize, however, in this thread will probably go to...



...any and all elephants. Sure, they make a big impression, but losing them to a band of skirmishers usually doesn't, turning your treasury into a laughing stock. Only recruit them when you swim in money, and on the battlefield, keep them far away from your own troops, in case they run amok.

[konny]

....or artillery. I have never bothered to buy them in EB (did so once in BI) but the AI has them from time to time. It cannot keep up with the army if any kind of manouvering is required and needs constant protection from cavalry because even Hippakontistai will kill it. On the few occasions it got some shots away, the result was not as damaging as if my units had been under fire of experinced slingers.