How does army deployment work?

[Marty651]

Even after searching through the forum and reading the Wiki I don't understand how army deployment works. I would appreciate if one of the experts could explain this. My basic question is:
I can manually assign "cohort types" to the three positions: First row, second row or flanks. But I have more than three types of cohorts. What about the others? And what about support units? I just don't get it...

 

[JoshuaRexx]

so in the new patch armies are now split into 2 designations, levies and legions. levies you don't have control over the composition and is based on your culture (well the local dominant culture till the patch to fix the issue is released) you can still assign what troops you want to be in your primary, secondary and flank positions by clicking on the levies and assigning the troop type to where you want them. The primary unit will be placed in the centre, for example for most civilised nations west of India these will be archers by default. The secondary units will then be deployed next to them, heavy infantry will be the default in the example before. and finally flanking troops, typically cavalry due to their manoeuvre ( the more manoeuvre the more units across from them they can hit). if you have troops that you don't assign any of these positions, they will be filtered in when your troops start to deplete but they will be at a reduced moral so always best to put your best troops forward. legions are a little easier as you can choose what troops you use.
top tip, against ai -Primary (cavalry) - secondary (heavy infantry), flank (heavy infantry). it'll counter most ai unit compositions

 

[Marty651]

The primary unit will be placed in the centre [...] The secondary units will then be deployed next to them [...] and finally flanking troops [...]. if you have troops that you don't assign any of these positions, they will be filtered in when your troops start to deplete [...].

Thank you for the explanations. I have now understood that I can only influence the deployment for three unit types. The others will be deployed according to the priority rules which are listed in the Wiki. And: If there is space the secondary units will be immediately deployed next to primary ones. I was always confused why I don't see a "second row" in the war screens.

For now I have only one further question: I have a legion army with 26 units. None of them are Light Cavalry. But the default deployment places Light Cavalry on the flanks - a unit type which doesn't exist in my army. Is that a bug?

 

[JoshuaRexx]

No that's just the default. You just have to change that or any ol unit will be placed there

 

[Pirarucu]

Thank you for the explanations. I have now understood that I can only influence the deployment for three unit types. The others will be deployed according to the priority rules which are listed in the Wiki. And: If there is space the secondary units will be immediately deployed next to primary ones. I was always confused why I don't see a "second row" in the war screens.

For now I have only one further question: I have a legion army with 26 units. None of them are Light Cavalry. But the default deployment places Light Cavalry on the flanks - a unit type which doesn't exist in my army. Is that a bug?

Click on the light cavalry line on the flanks so you can replace it with another unity