Fighting the Aztecs

[monkian]

Conquistadores are a Spanish only heavy cav unit that can only be trained in the Americas. They're really good, high stats and such. I only know of them from Otumba.

It seems strange to me that only the Spanish would get them.

Of course, Historically, they were a Spanish unit but if your Nation got to the Americas before Spain then surely you would have a similar 'conquering' unit ?

[Musashi]

I haven't made it to the Americas yet, but it seems to me the easiest way to lay waste to the Aztecs would be with lots of horse archers. I mean, they have no cavalry, their ranged troops are nothing special, their real strength is shock infantry... Which is definitely in trouble against skirmishing horse archers...

[Faenaris]

I haven't made it to the Americas yet, but it seems to me the easiest way to lay waste to the Aztecs would be with lots of horse archers. I mean, they have no cavalry, their ranged troops are nothing special, their real strength is shock infantry... Which is definitely in trouble against skirmishing horse archers...

On the other hand, America is one big jungle. While the horse archers may stay out of reach, they won't be doing too well while in the forests. Still, it might be a good tactic, I haven't had much experience with Horse Archers.

[Musashi]

Ah you have a point there. Still, I'd love to have a run at the Americas with the HRE's mounted pistols or Egypt's mounted muskets...

[Mailman653]

I have not attacked the Aztecs in my campaign, I made peace with them lol. I did take over Brazil and Cuba and North American. Since these were settlements I never really fought a open field battle in the new world, though

I suggest using a stern hand with the new world, at least in my experience its better to build cities than castles. The populace is prone to rebel alot even if you converted the lot of them. Imagine upgrading your city/castle with huge walls and towers only to then be kicked out by the populace with a full stack. The same walls you built are the same ones you'll have to attack. I've even seen the native population use horses from one of the stables I built! Don't give them guns!! lol

[Comrade Alexeo]

Ah you have a point there. Still, I'd love to have a run at the Americas with the HRE's mounted pistols or Egypt's mounted muskets...

After some experimenting with HRE vs. Aztecs, I've gotten the impression that Reiters will prove effective to the point of being decisive. Normal cavalry, even Gothic Knights, fare pretty badly against the Aztecs; the initial charge is, of course, devastating, but there are so many Aztecs and their melee skills are so good that even Gothics quickly get torn to shreds. Reiters, on the other hand, can with care avoid too much trouble with the Aztec infantry thanks to their being mounted, their pistols are quite effective at short range (and, of course, are SCAWY! ), AND they're still able to charge home reasonably well - but this time against weakened, worried troops

For the most part, I've concluded that trying to take on the Aztecs in melee is suicidal - even Zweihanders get chewed up - UNLESS you're using pikes (and there you still have to take extra care of your flanks).

When/if I get to the Americas in my current HRE campaign, I'd ideally like to bring

1 General
8-10 pike (Landsknechts or Swiss ideally)
4 Reiters
3-5 Pavise Crossbowmen
2 Arquebusiers

I'm still fiddling around with how it works in custom battles, but tentatively it appears quite effective.

[John_Longarrow]

Has anyone tried mercenary elephants?

I'm thinking of restarting my game and running Turks. I wonder how the folks in the new world would react?

[FactionHeir]

I have and to be honest, any unit you bring along as long as you got a good general will do fine against the aztecs.
They are actually quite easy to fight as I remember all of their generals having less than 5 stars in command and totalling around 6 or 7 full stacks.

Basically you could just bring 2 stacks full of cav and win by overrunning them (was funny when I had one stack of mercs from eastern europe and just charged them all head on - lost 100, they lost 1000)