What I am taking from this is Halberds excel in Siege or Choke Point Battles where units pile in. Good to help plug a Gate or Bridge. Practically using them this way in a Field Battle would be a lot of effort & time IMHO.
@@rcmunro22 I would actually amend that a bit, the pike/halberd formation does not hold up in gates/choke points (at least right in them) the best way to deploy pikes and halberds is just back a little from those choke points so the enemy still has to fight them, but so that the formation still holds.
I guess it makes sense, from a historical perspective. Pikes and Halberds were often used in tandem with one another, and were placed in very dense formations. Neither were effective outside of formation. This is why you had stuff like the "Tercio".
The mere fact that you have to use two units to do the job of one and micromanage them on top of that is a pretty obvious proof that those units *are* broken.
Could you make a guide on eastern halberds, espessially on turkish janissaries? Janissaries one of the most interesting units in the game. They have low stats but they somehow can crush varangian guard, feudal knights.
Your method is better than mine, but my method demands less micro-management. My method: use Guard Mode on both units; after the enemy charge has exhausted itself, hotkeyD (toggles Guard Mode off); the Halberds/Pikes start the Glorious Sewing Machine all on their own. Your way starts The Glorious Sewing Machine earlier but, If I'm trying to manage 6-12 total units, I'd rather have them all on Guard Mode, all selected, and simply hit a hotkey. BTW, if/when the Glorious Sewing Machine stutters, hotkeyD-D or backspace-RClick will reset the ornery unit(s). I've already added the substance of this remark to the Pike commentary.
After 2 DCKs, you've lost your Pike support: everyone has earned their pay, but the surviving Swiss Guard have been effectively castrated, even though they retain a robust number of combatants … unless you have a second unit of Pike Militia waiting in reserve to be swapped-in. Why be happy with massacring 2 DCKs for 1040 Florins when you can massacre 4-5 DCKs for 1190; and, what's left of your Swiss Guard can retire wearing a chevron; food for thought? EDIT: Forgot to add, all other Halberdiers are useless for this: just double the Pikes. Review your own instructions on the actual value of the armour stat and what armour-piercing does: Halberd-Militia/Voulgiers/Voulge-Militia et al. all have terrible attack stats so, even with AP, they're no better than Pikes; worse than, since those weak halberdiers are 60-man units, rather than 75. Janissary Heavy Infantry would work … except the Turks have no Pikes, and Halberd Militia with only 60 men just won't cut it.
Also add to it that halberds unlike pikes are super expensive and very ,very slow in pike formation (pikes actually walk faster than normal units in formation for some reason, while halberds in formation are way slower than normal). All of this is mostly an issue in vanilla exclusively though, in kingdoms the rebalance makes halberds much more manageable (but still slow).
It was not meant that way obviously. The AI won't use the presented method, so from a players perspective it's still a good exploit to focus on the AI enemies pikemen and halberds and butcher the sh*t out of them.
Yes, there is a fix for 2 handed troops, they fixed the problem in the Kingdoms Expansions (Crusades, Americas etc) so if you are wanting to use 2 handers, I would recommend playing the expansions. In vanilla there is no way that i know of to get around the glitch. If you have to use some your best bet is to spread them out as far as possible and use loose formation and be sure to get a charge bonus, you will still loose and loose badly, but you will kill slightly more of the enemy.
Always get that charge bonus. Make sure they surround the enemy since it will slighlty negate their easily interrupted attack animation. Make sure they never get surrounded since they will get interrupted all the time and not get a single attack in. Never use them on walls.
The Tower Project I’m not sure if it really is a glitch. It just seems that the swordsmen are swinging faster than the 2hander and are forcing the 2hander to block more often. It could be that the devs didn’t balance out the roster properly and didn’t even bother buffing the units for vanilla when the expansions rolled out. Even then I generally use those types of units as support infantry rather than frontline and that could’ve been the intent. The problem with that is mounted knights are just better in that role because of both the powerful charge and mobility. Based on both videos on the pikemen and halberds, the general rule is every 2handed unit must have some form of support otherwise you’re just throwing florins away for no good reason especially in vanilla. A real shame really.
@@TheGeoCheese That is the 2Hglitch: M2TW combat ties the physics engine to the animations before invoking any "to-hit/damage" calculations; the 2 handers never get to swing. There is no fix in vanilla, as stated, but there is a sort-of work-around-fix a player can apply in certain situations. I'm about to reveal that in a reply to another of TTP's videos, this one: th-cam.com/video/RKnP-xg3Ib4/w-d-xo.html.
To the first part in vanilla you are still better off with 1 handed, having pikes doesnt help 2 handers much, also the 2 handed units are not any more effective against pikes than 1 handed in vanilla, but good thoughts!
@@thetowerproject3122 Dang, l was hoping for some theories that have been passed around to have shown up even by accident in this amazing game. Is it more or less the same in the Kingdoms Expansions?
@@michaelgladitsch1519 Expansions fixed or, at least, mostly-fixed the 2HGlitch: 2Handers in Expansions are fearsome, all on their own. Please see my reply to another of TTP's videos: th-cam.com/video/RKnP-xg3Ib4/w-d-xo.html I talk about English Billmen. Shield-Infantry interspersed with 2Handers will help 2 Handers being interrupted less often by 2HGlitch-blocking, so 2Handers will swing more often than only block: swing more often, kill more often; almost enough to make them worth buying. Halberds are Spear-Wall, but they are "2Handers first": Halberds+Pikes good, Halberds+2Handers bad (Halberds+2Handers are 2 Units of 2HGlitch). Never tried (non-Halberd) 2Handers with Pikes: it should work, but make sure ALL 2Handers are within the Pikes; as I remark to that video I've linked, lose too much density in the supporting infantry and Halberds/2Handers will collapse to being only 2Handers, will get interrupted too much and never swing, and all of your units will die.
Group all your pikes/halberdiers in a command group and switch to them from time to time. It's too tedious to micro individual units but it works ok with groups.
See "my method", below: It is NOT better but it is really easy to mass-micro-manage: use Guard Mode, select all units, simply hotkey-off Guard Mode, watch the Glorious Sewing Machine start all on its own ...
Thank you all for your continued support as we endeavor to continue to put out this amazing content every day!
What I am taking from this is Halberds excel in Siege or Choke Point Battles where units pile in. Good to help plug a Gate or Bridge. Practically using them this way in a Field Battle would be a lot of effort & time IMHO.
@@rcmunro22 I would actually amend that a bit, the pike/halberd formation does not hold up in gates/choke points (at least right in them) the best way to deploy pikes and halberds is just back a little from those choke points so the enemy still has to fight them, but so that the formation still holds.
I feel like this is how pikes and halberds should’ve worked instead of having us to constantly babysit them
I guess it makes sense, from a historical perspective.
Pikes and Halberds were often used in tandem with one another, and were placed in very dense formations. Neither were effective outside of formation. This is why you had stuff like the "Tercio".
Good content friend, wonderful to see great/cheap renaissance era units getting some much needed love:)
Let me tell ya, how did I not find this channel years ago? The algorithm is holding you back
Thanks man
Thanks for the great tips! Been playing for years but never really knew how to maximize certain units. Great channel!
The mere fact that you have to use two units to do the job of one and micromanage them on top of that is a pretty obvious proof that those units *are* broken.
The video is not to say they arent broken, but how to use them effectively despite that.
Nice job! Thanks for showing this
Thank you for watching it Wafflez, I really appreciate it and I hope it helps!
Could you make a guide on eastern halberds, espessially on turkish janissaries? Janissaries one of the most interesting units in the game. They have low stats but they somehow can crush varangian guard, feudal knights.
I will work on it, hoping to upload something soon. Thanks
Fucking hell, didn’t know I needed this. Love the project!
Your method is better than mine, but my method demands less micro-management.
My method: use Guard Mode on both units; after the enemy charge has exhausted itself, hotkeyD (toggles Guard Mode off); the Halberds/Pikes start the Glorious Sewing Machine all on their own.
Your way starts The Glorious Sewing Machine earlier but, If I'm trying to manage 6-12 total units, I'd rather have them all on Guard Mode, all selected, and simply hit a hotkey.
BTW, if/when the Glorious Sewing Machine stutters, hotkeyD-D or backspace-RClick will reset the ornery unit(s).
I've already added the substance of this remark to the Pike commentary.
unlike Rome 2 and newer total war games medieval 2 needs trick to make pike works thanks for the info man
Nice video man!
Thanks for the tips!
I imagine that last tactic only improves if you use spear militias and the like ahead of the halberds.
Deploy some musketeer on wings. Here is your Pike and Shot combine formation.
The real issue with halberds is how ludicrously slow they are.
So true
There might be others who don't know about this, but disabling the pike wall lets them run like other units (although still slower)
I thought this was gonna be a Halberd animation modding tutorial haha
After 2 DCKs, you've lost your Pike support: everyone has earned their pay, but the surviving Swiss Guard have been effectively castrated, even though they retain a robust number of combatants … unless you have a second unit of Pike Militia waiting in reserve to be swapped-in. Why be happy with massacring 2 DCKs for 1040 Florins when you can massacre 4-5 DCKs for 1190; and, what's left of your Swiss Guard can retire wearing a chevron; food for thought?
EDIT: Forgot to add, all other Halberdiers are useless for this: just double the Pikes. Review your own instructions on the actual value of the armour stat and what armour-piercing does: Halberd-Militia/Voulgiers/Voulge-Militia et al. all have terrible attack stats so, even with AP, they're no better than Pikes; worse than, since those weak halberdiers are 60-man units, rather than 75. Janissary Heavy Infantry would work … except the Turks have no Pikes, and Halberd Militia with only 60 men just won't cut it.
Also add to it that halberds unlike pikes are super expensive and very ,very slow in pike formation (pikes actually walk faster than normal units in formation for some reason, while halberds in formation are way slower than normal). All of this is mostly an issue in vanilla exclusively though, in kingdoms the rebalance makes halberds much more manageable (but still slow).
Careful with the backspace it might get nerfed 🤣
Like CA gives a fck
They are on troy and warhammer lol
Backsapce, atatck . ? is backspace stop orders?
Yes, it is the hault botton, this resets the units animation and somehow gets them to do what they are supposed to do
I'd be happy if my Medieval 2 worked.
I don't understand. Maybe this is the way devs meant it to be used? Either way, good to see people fixing the game with pure knowledge.
It was not meant that way obviously. The AI won't use the presented method, so from a players perspective it's still a good exploit to focus on the AI enemies pikemen and halberds and butcher the sh*t out of them.
Yeah!!! Windows Video Editor Gang!!!
so we are supposed to just mash them togheder and then attack when they are close?
Lol can you find a fix for two handed troops? they get abliterated by most troops because of an animation glitch.
Yes, there is a fix for 2 handed troops, they fixed the problem in the Kingdoms Expansions (Crusades, Americas etc) so if you are wanting to use 2 handers, I would recommend playing the expansions. In vanilla there is no way that i know of to get around the glitch. If you have to use some your best bet is to spread them out as far as possible and use loose formation and be sure to get a charge bonus, you will still loose and loose badly, but you will kill slightly more of the enemy.
Always get that charge bonus. Make sure they surround the enemy since it will slighlty negate their easily interrupted attack animation. Make sure they never get surrounded since they will get interrupted all the time and not get a single attack in. Never use them on walls.
The Tower Project I’m not sure if it really is a glitch. It just seems that the swordsmen are swinging faster than the 2hander and are forcing the 2hander to block more often. It could be that the devs didn’t balance out the roster properly and didn’t even bother buffing the units for vanilla when the expansions rolled out. Even then I generally use those types of units as support infantry rather than frontline and that could’ve been the intent. The problem with that is mounted knights are just better in that role because of both the powerful charge and mobility. Based on both videos on the pikemen and halberds, the general rule is every 2handed unit must have some form of support otherwise you’re just throwing florins away for no good reason especially in vanilla. A real shame really.
@@TheGeoCheese That is the 2Hglitch: M2TW combat ties the physics engine to the animations before invoking any "to-hit/damage" calculations; the 2 handers never get to swing. There is no fix in vanilla, as stated, but there is a sort-of work-around-fix a player can apply in certain situations. I'm about to reveal that in a reply to another of TTP's videos, this one: th-cam.com/video/RKnP-xg3Ib4/w-d-xo.html.
Retrofit mod.
Would this work with swordsmen or spearmen as the front line - 2, maybe 3 - ranks deep and some pikes or halberdiers close behind stabbing through?
yes it absolutely would, just remember if the pikes are not on guard mode they will advance forward through your men
@@thetowerproject3122 OK, will they still get many kills if on guard mode? Thanks
@@daleprosser350 no, not many, but they will also prevent the enemy from getting kills.
@@thetowerproject3122 OK great, thank you. I'm playing Tatw Dac as the dwarves so trying to use the early pikes at the moment
@@daleprosser350 oh nice, the halberd with Erebor are crazy op with this I'm sure Ered luin is too
Is there a way to do this in mobile or is it PC only?
Blackspace is OP
But why use Dismounted Chivalric Knights not Venetian heavy infantry???
Low morale
Are dismounted Gothic Knights less trash in the expansions?
Yes, all 2 handed units are, as well as pikes.
Can you explain Janissary Heavy Infantry too bro? That unit used to go head to head with conquistadores. But they nerfed it very hard.
I can remember that time too, turks used to be a top tier infantry faction. In the kingdoms expansions they are not bad though
@@thetowerproject3122 thanks for the answer bro.
How about two handed units mixed with pikes/halberds? Or two handed units "weapon heckling" against pikes?
To the first part in vanilla you are still better off with 1 handed, having pikes doesnt help 2 handers much, also the 2 handed units are not any more effective against pikes than 1 handed in vanilla, but good thoughts!
@@thetowerproject3122 Dang, l was hoping for some theories that have been passed around to have shown up even by accident in this amazing game. Is it more or less the same in the Kingdoms Expansions?
@@michaelgladitsch1519 Expansions fixed or, at least, mostly-fixed the 2HGlitch: 2Handers in Expansions are fearsome, all on their own.
Please see my reply to another of TTP's videos: th-cam.com/video/RKnP-xg3Ib4/w-d-xo.html I talk about English Billmen.
Shield-Infantry interspersed with 2Handers will help 2 Handers being interrupted less often by 2HGlitch-blocking, so 2Handers will swing more often than only block: swing more often, kill more often; almost enough to make them worth buying.
Halberds are Spear-Wall, but they are "2Handers first": Halberds+Pikes good, Halberds+2Handers bad (Halberds+2Handers are 2 Units of 2HGlitch). Never tried (non-Halberd) 2Handers with Pikes: it should work, but make sure ALL 2Handers are within the Pikes; as I remark to that video I've linked, lose too much density in the supporting infantry and Halberds/2Handers will collapse to being only 2Handers, will get interrupted too much and never swing, and all of your units will die.
What is the backspace attack order doing? Does the same order improve other types of units?
resets their animations, no not to my knowledge
@@thetowerproject3122 Okay. Thank you.
Can you do faction campaign guides
But in a real game how can you keep hitting backspace?
Group all your pikes/halberdiers in a command group and switch to them from time to time. It's too tedious to micro individual units but it works ok with groups.
See "my method", below: It is NOT better but it is really easy to mass-micro-manage: use Guard Mode, select all units, simply hotkey-off Guard Mode, watch the Glorious Sewing Machine start all on its own ...
halberds are worthless. also: janissary infantery beats almost every infantry unit in the game.