How to use grenadiers and light infantry?

[Explodingcannonballfromhell]

My normal army stack consists of 6 line infantry, 2 light dragoons, 2 Howitzers and 2 Howitzer cannons and a general.
So far i cant quite picture grenadiers and light infantry usefull in this army setup or am i missing something?

[Fisherking]

My normal army stack consists of 6 line infantry, 2 light dragoons, 2 Howitzers and 2 Howitzer cannons and a general.
So far i cant quite picture grenadiers and light infantry usefull in this army setup or am i missing something?

You still have seven slots left?

Grenadiers and Light Infantry are both Elite units which give you capabilities that line infantry does not.

Light infantry has greater range, skirmishing abilities, and obstacles. Later they also have the light infantry formation. They posess greater accuracy than line infantry but are not melee troops. These types also include riflemen.

Grenadiers are heavy infantry with higher moral, greater accuracy, grenades, and better melee abilities then the line infantry. They can be devastating in a number of ways.

I like to have Grenadiers at about 1 to 2 line infantry and having two light infantry per army. That is if you are going to fight your battles and not auto resolve them. In that case put in Grenadiers to boost that up.

The only stacks I don’t include grenadiers in are my fast troops. These are just light dragoons and light infantry with perhaps some galloper guns, but they do slow it down.

[Megas Methuselah]

I have 4 lights, and 1 grenader per stack. Light Infantry are great for putting them up ahead of the main army to skirmish, then fall back as the enemy advances. Once the lines engage, the light inf can be used on the flanks to shoot up the enemy from the side.

Grenadiers are great if a melee develops. I make them throw their grenades into the mass a few times, then charge in if the enemy didn't yet break. Otherwise, if nobody commits to a melee, I just keep the Grenadiers in reserve to plug in a gap the lines will leave once their numbers are reduced.

Try playing multiplayer. People really use these tactics quite well.

[Explodingcannonballfromhell]

You still have seven slots left?

Grenadiers and Light Infantry are both Elite units which give you capabilities that line infantry does not.

Light infantry has greater range, skirmishing abilities, and obstacles. Later they also have the light infantry formation. They posess greater accuracy than line infantry but are not melee troops. These types also include riflemen.

Grenadiers are heavy infantry with higher moral, greater accuracy, grenades, and better melee abilities then the line infantry. They can be devastating in a number of ways.

I like to have Grenadiers at about 1 to 2 line infantry and having two light infantry per army. That is if you are going to fight your battles and not auto resolve them. In that case put in Grenadiers to boost that up.

The only stacks I don’t include grenadiers in are my fast troops. These are just light dragoons and light infantry with perhaps some galloper guns, but they do slow it down.

Well euhm thats gonna cost me a lot of upkeep, but i was actually more interested in how to use the grenadiers and light infantry effectively in battle.

[Fisherking]

Well euhm thats gonna cost me a lot of upkeep, but i was actually more interested in how to use the grenadiers and light infantry effectively in battle.

Up keep has become a big deal of course.

Grenadiers are shock troops. Throw them in to melee to rout an enemy. keep them generally in back of the line until you need them.

Use lights up front to skirmish and fall back weakening the enemy before the line engages. Their obstacles are also the death of cavalry.

Their presences also bolsters auto resolves.

[Quillan]

I tend to use grenadiers as assault troops. When the enemy is defending a position like a wall and I have to take it, I usually run the grenadiers up to grenade range, have them toss grenades, then charge. Their stats make them really tough in melee combat, and the grenades usually cause such a morale shock in the foe that you can break a hole in short order. Then you quickly exploit the hole.

[SpiritFox]

Grenadiers are shock troops. In an open battle, pin your target with Line infantry, then have your Grenadiers toss and charge - preferably in the flanks, although they do good enough front up. You should also use them in an opposed fort assault. Their small unit size and excellent stats means that you can get far more hitting power up those walls than using a standard Line. Once again - support with line, assault with Grenadiers.

I rarely use light infantry, so I cannot comment much on them.