Merging units after battle

[Vladimir]

I started this thread thinking merging units was standard policy in the series that now had become a little bit less clear cut . Apparently merging units is now a neat trick you can apply but only in certain circumstances. Obviously, I'll have to change my view on the matter as I was unaware of certain mechanics that changed since ETW.

I didn't know you pay a flat upkeep regardless of depletion unlike the previous games (as far as I'm aware of). This does mean that merging 2 units into 1 is a good way to get your economy back in order after a conquest.
I also assumed that the experience was still tracked per soldier. This is a very elegant mechanic that was implemented in the early games and I see no reason why it would be changed. However, if the experience would be tracked per unit, merging would become useless as a way to acquire veteran units.
The last reason for merging still stands. 1 full unit can be more desirable than 2 depleted ones. This is of course dependent on the level of depletion and not always an easy choice.

In my brief experience merging after a campaign is preferable; especially if you have a province that produces upgraded units. I don't know yet if units can be retrained to get the bonuses. I saved a lot of money merging units after defending against a siege sally in winter and recommend it.

I'd prefer 2, 50 spear units over 1, 100 spear unit; with Date, I can get a wonderful rear charge in.

[Jacobin]

I find at legendary you have to merge units to reduce upkeep costs at least for the first 50 turns or so.

Literally a unit of 20 yari ashigaru costs the same as one of 200 - so even if the 20 man unit has multiple experience its a no-brainer.

I also ruthlessly disband units significantly under half strength if there is no other unit to merge with.

The one thing I really do miss is not being able to put existing units back into the recruit queue to upgrade them and get them back to strength.