Defeating the Mongols/Timurids

[Cheetah]

Any unit that can throw a javelin is your friend when fighting vs Timurids.

Best of course are the jav cavs, like jinettes, desert cav, boyars, polish nobles. If you dont have them try to hire them as mercenaries. To be honest I have never tried to hire them, do not whether it is possible, but I assume javelin inf should be available in some regions, like afgan javelins.

[Cheetah]

Mongol threads:

https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=88887

https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=79195

https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=88889

https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=88861

https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=74475

Timurid threads:

https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=74051

https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=73428

[khaos83_2000]

oh ya ...
from my field experience, long pikes seems to be outstandingly effective against the elephants when those beast r not charging.

[Benandorf]

Against Timurids, two words: Fire. Arrows. Those elephants will go nuts and at worst case scenario the AI choses to execute his own troops and they die. Best case they rampage and do serious damage to the rest of the army.

Truthfully, though, if you're in west Europe you can just about Ignore them, depending on what difficulty level you're on. Or, failing that, crusade against them (which always ends wonderfully). If you're trying to win quickly, you can finish up before the Timurids arive with some luck.

But, in the inevidible case that you will fight Elephants, be sure to use those fire arrows. And I've never had a whole lot of problems with Mongols, just use lots of pikes and spears in front of archers.

[Empirate]

Fire Arrows don't seem to work for me. They're not accurate enough and don't do enough damage. OK, if you are English and use high-tier Longbowmen, you might have a chance. But my trusty Hungarians had to rely on Bulgarian Brigands. Even four units concentrating on one unit of Elephants didn't cause it to "go nuts" before it reached my lines...