When To Use Stances For Swordsman, Pikemen, and Cavalry
Aggressive Stance
You should always use aggressive stance with your swordsmen, pikemen, and cavalry whenever they are attacking an undefended building and not taking any damage, attacking a strong unit that you wish to deal more damage to, or when you wish to deal the maximum amount of damage in the shortest period of time. It should also be used when using this stance will allow you to kill opposing units in one hit, while battle stance will leave it with a small amount of health remaining. You should also be using aggressive stance when you have a damage increase from leadership, flanking, or a power to maximize your damage, which has no cap. Remember that damage buffs are
multiplicative, so if your unit has Rallying Call and is in aggressive stance it will deal 187.5% damage (1.25*1.5), not 175% damage (if you added them).
Aggressive stance can still be used to attack buildings when being attacked by opposing units, for there is much more to gain by destroying their resource building than there is to lose from losing a few more units in the battalion.
Aggressive stance is also suggested when trampling units, although if you can kill weak units in one hit while in battle stance, do so in that stance. Switch to defensive stance if your unit decelerates rapidly and becomes bogged down in the middle of opposing units.
Battle Stance
Battle stance should be used when you do not wish to gain an increase to attack or defense. In general, you should not be using battle stance very often, and should instead be using either aggressive stance or defensive stance, depending on the situation.
Defensive Stance
Use defensive stance whenever your units are under attack and are taking heavy losses. This stance is useful if you do not wish to deal heavy doses of damage, but instead want to tank and absorb damage, such as for your meat shield protecting your archers. It is also useful when your cavalry has slowed to a crawl from trampling through units and is being flanked. Defensive stance is also useful when running around the map to minimize losses from ambushes or when you simply are not paying attention, although the units will not attack anything by themselves.
When To Use Stances For Archers
Aggressive Stance
Your archers should be in aggressive stance far more often than the other two stances. The main reason for this is that your archers role is to deal high damage from afar, out of range of the opponent's units. Therefore, you do not need a defensive boost (especially with their low health), and a damage increase is more than welcome.
Battle Stance
When your archer is not in aggressive stance, it should most likely be in battle stance. Battle stance is useful when your archer is under attack and you wish to have a little additional defense (compared to when in aggressive stance) without sacrificing large amounts of damage. Battle stance should be used when retreating as well to be able to absorb any stray arrows that come in your archer's direction.
Defensive Stance
Your archer should be in defensive stance only rarely, for, even though your defense increases, your speed will take a major hit, dropping to 65% of its original value. You do not want to retreat in defensive stance, for the extra defense will account for nothing once your opponent's units catch you from behind. The only times that defensive stance should be used is when being trampled by cavalry, affected by a power (although in both cases you still are not likely to survive), or when you simply want the unit to stay put without attacking.
When To Use Stances For Heroes
Aggressive Stance
Your heroes should be in aggressive stance when you need to deal extra damage. This can come in handy when you are not quite strong enough in battle stance to kill a unit, but leave its health in the red zone. It is also useful when attacking buildings, especially when not being attacked at all. The last main use for aggressive stance is when retreating, for your hero will be able to flee from the battlefield quickly. While these recommendations are also suggested for Battlewagons and Berserkers, it is particularly noteworthy that, when in aggressive stance, Berserkers have the speed to run along with Warg Riders, making a formidable harassing combination.
Battle Stance
The main usage for battle stance is when you wish to deal high levels of damage but either are being attacked, or are around half-health and need to preserve your remaining health. Otherwise, your heroes should likely be in either aggressive or defensive stance. The same is true for Battlewagons and Berserkers.
Defensive Stance
Your heroes will likely spend most of their time in defensive stance while fighting in the front lines with your troops in order to last longer on the battlefield. Heroes often have sufficient attack power that the additional attack granted from aggressive stance is relatively unimportant compared to increasing their defense. Obviously, you want to use defensive stance whenever your hero is under concentrated fire by the opponent or is fighting a hero or other strong unit. Defensive stance is suggested when your hero is low in health, just remember to switch to aggressive stance when retreating.
Berserkers should use defensive stance when attacking archers or pikes, for they are weak to both types of units. The same can be said about Battlewagons when facing pikemen or heroes, or when trampling a large group of units.
