How do I use elephants properly?

[tai4ji2x]

The trick is to keep them moving. Elephants get a huge charge/attack bonus, so don't squander it by letting them stop and melee with an individual enemy unit. If I am using elephants in the center of my line, instead of simply attacking an enemy unit, I usually double-click BEHIND the enemy unit, so that the the elephants will run through and not get bogged down, thus losing their charge bonus.

first, you might want to be aware of the fact that the charge bonus stat doesn't seem to have the effect one would assume:
https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showt...4&page=1&pp=30
http://www.twcenter.net/forums/index...pic=25801&st=0

second, units which are not specifically ordered to "attack" a unit are not interpreted by the game as "attacking". therefore, they are more vulnerable, and they never initiate a charge. they are technically "running" units, nothing more. individuals within the unit will engage the enemy as they come in contact with them, but will be reactive, not proactive (ie, they will usually not strike until struck first).

elephants i suppose are one of the exceptions to the second point. like chariots, they seem to have a "kill zone" around them for enemy units. still, it would seem that simply running through a unit is less effective.