Quote Originally Posted by Quirinus
placenik, you forgot to mention skirmishers and archers. In a medium- to large-sized army, archers will be protected behind flanks, from which they will decimate your HAs. Even if they're not that well-protected by other troops, you will still lose in an arrow duel, due to your lower numbers. Charge them and you might rout them, but you will lose quite a lot of your own HAs. So IMO, pitting one HA against a full-stack is not a very viable strategy, as there's a good chance that a full-stack will have a few skirmishers/archers.

A mass of HAs, that's a different kettle of fish.
Well, if you want to exploit dumbness of AI you can even win archer duel- foot archers can't shoot while moving. Of course if they outrange you, you need better HA But even with better range archers, AI will try to chase you. Just stay out of range, and kill other units. a+ archers will not fire while mass-mixed with other units. Thrust me, I had to fight some Cretans very early, it is just trickier than it should be.
Scrimishers with javelines are your easiest target- poor armor and lower range than you.