Overview
Ardiaei CAN be used on multyplayer matches and not get you killed in 5 min!(possibly less…)
1-Basic Faction info
Well the Ardiaei is one of the most underpowered, forgotten and unused factions in the multyplayer battles… and that is just because people dont know how to use them! it is true they dont have the barbarian or roman sword power… or the heavy armored BRUTAL shock cav(or almost any cav at all) or the best cost effective hoplites… well you get the point but if you know how to mix their cheap good for almost nothing units with the very tanky hoplites, and some mercenaries, you might get an actually good army that can take down almost all enemy builds (unless they use a sword spam, but that is just OP anyway).
Units
1- General: you may choose from their vast units avaliable to them from the Noble Illyrian hoplites(good and safe unit to place your general in) or bring no general at all! isnt that amazing you dont even need to think too hard, good for you!
Infantry:
1- Illyrian leves- just NEVER, like Never USE those guys, they just suck, they might lose from a levy thureos spears, like not worth it, just dont…
2-Merc gallic warriors-> now champ in the making, this is your key for a good cheap meatshield and shock absorbers, but dont get me wrong, they can kill almost everything on their cost range with a frontal charge, they might even beat a thureos spear that costs a lot more them them, but just dont over do in their numbers, in long battles they crumble as flyes as (for some reason) could be because they fight shirtless with a wodden shield, nah, must be the lack of longbeards
3- Illyrian raiders- really fun unit, you might use them for fun when you dont want to fight to win, they can be usefull and 2 of them can be deadly for enemy cav thinking they are an easy target because of their low armor, they have a decent number of javelins and they are really, LIKE really fast for a infantry unit, you might use them to make enemy heavy generals, like elite hoplites or swords go on a goose hunt, just running them away from the combat so they cant support, but they are too expensive, and wont be able to frontally take any mildly powerful units… so just dont use them for a competitive match.
4-Axe WARRIORS mercs-> This is ardiae key to sucess ,these guys may not have great stats, but they do hurt the enemy, even if they don´t win the combat they are in, the enemy units will be really weakened, for they attack with an armor pircing damage, if you charge them into the enemy they will have a bonus to meele attack and will deal a lot of blows, giving extra enemy health damage(best damage ever, the one you want) also they are pretty cheap, and have some decent morale (I like having the max of them in my builds, because they are really cost effective, and if you give them one XP, they will hold in the battle for as much as your elite units, really good idea giving them some xp, as they are your main ”sword” power)
Spear Infantry
1-Illyrian spearman- same as the leves, just dont…
2-Marines- NOW WE ARE TALKING, what if, you could add a peltas and a spear unit? it would have the same ranged damage as a royal peltas and also the same range, but it has a bonus vs large with it? here is your answer(and yes thureos spears do that too, but no one likes them : -P) these guys are really mobile, good for supporting archers(keep them close behind archers to give enemy charging cav a good run for their money) and also can make enemy infantry run forever chasing them, as they can outrun almost all infantry-> plus they have a good charge bonus, so when they run out of ammo, give them a charge order and they will be really good for like 15 sec, not made for front lines thought, so dont use more than 3 or 4 of those
3-Illyrian thureos spears, same as marines, with 16 less attack and 15 less morale, but they have a anti cav skill that last for like 30 secs…Buttt thank you CA, now they cost less so you might use them, marines are cooler, and dont expect this guys to last too long against any other infantry thought, but i think they can beat levy freeman, never tried… but pretty sure it would be the most UNepic fight ever
4- Illyrian Hoplites- this guys have outstanding armor, a decent charge bonus, hoplite formation… wont win most fights , personally i dont use them very often, they tend to die and run away really fast… you might want to have 2 maybe if you go against a hoplite heavy faction such as Epirus or maybe Carthage, but save your money, there is a better one
5- Mercenary hoplites- Sir, would like your illyrian hoplites to have 2 more atack and 1 more charge bonnus for just 30 less armor and 10 more gold? NO DUDE, NO, RESIST THE URGE OF USING USELESS THINGS BECAUSE THEY ARE SHINNY!
6- iLLYIRIAN NOBLE, MASTER, POWER, ULTR4 hoplites: NOW THIS is the one, your weapon, your key to sucess, these guys have a attack of 38 and damage of 30(goes to 43 and 35 in formation) they fight without formation attack, so they atack the flanks and the rear of the enemy
they have 115 armor (THAT IS A LOT!), they inspire other units and they have an amazing 30 charge bonus!-> suebi sword masters have 32!! now, you might fight the battles in different ways, but these guys are amazing as a third or forth line(behind skirmishers and marines) if you get a good charge, they can win against almost all middle sword infantry, thought they cost more, and this wont work vs a barbarian faction, if the enemy is closing in, just use them, charge that infantry, they will win… probably! also you might want to give them a xp boost of 1 to make them hit more, just a thing to think about
Missiles
1- slave javelingman- if you want to spend 220 in a unit with 7 shoots that deal 32 damage and run away at the first 10 losses, you should totally buy this
2-slave slingers- YOUR BASE in the skirmish fight, now dont get me wrong, they will almost never win, but having 3 or 4 of this will make the enemy use their ammo on them, instead of your noble hoplites, witch are actually your goal to win. so let them kill them, remove skirmish too, if they rush a cav unit, let marines javelin it to oblivion, they are almost free anyway
(in the skirmish fight they will usually run away at 30-40% losses, but they almost never break, so they will regroup, just send them to the front again)
3-Merc peltas, just dont, use a marine if you want that
CAV-
illyrian cav- Actually good light cav, they can be annoyng to hold enemy cav in place, and also not too expensive if you lose them, they do can turn the tide of the battle with some rear charges, when they start wavering use frenzied charge, that will keep them alive a little longer, also do not be afraid to use them to hold enemy cav and shoot down their cav with your marines of slingers, without cav to rear charge you, your hoplites will grind out a victory most of the time
Merc tarantine cav- really good, use 2 of them, you GOT to finish off enemy cav, that is a key to win with the ardiaei, a rear penalty can make your axes break, so take down their cav at all costs!
Reviwed by DAVIDTHEGREAT- special thanks
Tatics-and mostly do nots
They keys to win with ardiaei:
– DO NOT fight Barbarian factions
– Do not FIGHT ROME
– Deplete the most of your enemy skirmishers with your cheap slaves
– YOU HAVE to kill the cav- if the enemy has cav in the game and the infantry lines fight, retrat your marines to the back of your line and use them to defend!
– DO NOT use noble hoplites vs Oathsworn, Noble fighters etc, without sending a merc ax or a gallic warrior to softten them up a little, also would be nice to shoot those units with your slingers to deal most damage possible
– if the enemy uses meat shileds, kill them with gallic warriors
– if they charge you, counter charge with axes and the noble hoplites,
– do not fear using your general, he will prob take a long time to die
– your best way to win is to skirmish the enemy infantry that is engaged with you in the back, so retrat the marines of the front and use them as a flanking force
– do not go heavy on cav, your cav sucks
And remember kids winners do not use cheats!