Chronicles: Medieval is still in development, so no battle plan can yet be called a proven winning strategy. But Raw Power Games has outlined a system that combines battlefield deployment, unit orders, morale and third-person combat. The practical approach is to give each unit a job, move in a flexible formation, switch to a specialist formation when its purpose is imminent, and use Command Mode to respond as the fight changes.
This guide reflects the systems developers have described as of October 7, 2026—not a tested walkthrough. The announced Gamescom battle was work in progress; Early Access is planned for early 2027. Raw Power Games’ September 10, 2026 announcement says battle balance and cavalry and melee combat are still being refined.
How battles are set up
Most battles begin with a planning stage. You deploy inside a zone opposite the enemy, then shape your army with three controls: battle lines, standing orders and initial orders. Small fights with only a few followers may skip deployment.
Battle lines set the army’s broad layout
The four lines are Vanguard, Middle Guard, Rearguard and Flanks. Unit type and culture influence initial placement, which you can adjust during deployment. In the developer’s examples, French heavy cavalry tends toward the Vanguard, English longbowmen toward the Flanks, and Holy Roman Empire forces toward a dense Vanguard and Middle Guard. Those are described placement tendencies, not universal recommendations for every battle.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems#1 Best Overall
- IMMERSE YOURSELF IN A MYSTERY: Solve gripping crimes and mysteries in this thrilling board game that blends detective work with cutting-edge technology.
- INNOVATIVE GAMEPLAY: Utlizie the free smartphone app to examine crime scenes, question suspects, and follow leads in virtual reality.
- COOPERATIVE EXPERIENCE: Collaborate with friends to crack the case as you piece together clues and work against the clock.
- MULTIPLE SCENARIOS: Explore a variety of intriguing cases with unique storylines, ensuring endless hours of engaging gameplay.
- HIGH REPLAYABILITY: Dynamic storytelling and randomized elements make each playthrough a fresh and exciting challenge.
Initial orders give units an opening task
Use an initial order to direct a unit to a useful opening position or action: cavalry might move around a flank, longbowmen take a ridge, or spearmen occupy a hilltop and hold it. Once the unit completes that task, its standing order takes over.
Standing orders govern what happens next
- Aggressive: seeks visible enemies.
- Defensive: holds position when an enemy appears.
- Versatile: uses its judgment and may choose a specialized formation when the situation calls for it.
These settings answer different questions: the initial order says where or what to do first; the standing order says how to behave afterward.
Which formations should you use?
Formations trade mobility for a particular battlefield job. The developers describe both flexible base formations for movement and specialized formations for specific clashes. Their detailed battle diary cautions that mechanics and values remain subject to change or rebalancing, so these roles are not a final balance ranking. Read the official battle diary.
Rank #2
- A Fully Immersive Fantasy Campaign Game: Play as a Seeker exploring the city of Din’Lux in a story-rich campaign. Face 21 branching quests, 46 unique enemies, and escalating threats as you defend the last light against the rising Darkness. Perfect for players who love narrative adventure.
- Multi-Phase Quest System: Each quest flows through three phases—adventure (story choices), tactical combat (deck and unique turn order mechanics), and recovery in town. Use cards, tokens, and teamwork to overcome challenges in fast-paced, decision-driven gameplay
- Unique Heroes & Custom Decks: Choose from 6 Seekers with distinct powers, backstories, and decks. Grow your character using over 400+ cards, including attacks, spells, and items. Customize your build as the story unfolds for deeper strategy and replayable hero arcs
- Quick Setup, Replayable Design: Designed for 1–4 players, ages 14+. No prep needed, open and start playing in 15 minutes. Each quest takes 45–60 minutes with 5 minute setup and cleanup makes this game a breeze to squeeze in a quest on a weeknight, or several on a weekend. Fully resettable so you can play again with new choices or pass the game on to a friend without losing content
- Deluxe Components for Immersive Play: Includes 6 dual-layer player boards, 400+ cards for deck building, 100s of tokens, 6 premium acrylic standees with bases, 26 richly-detailed fantasy maps in a spiral bound atlas, 22 treasure packs, 21 unique quests, 40+ enemies with unique AI, and plenty of surprises . All packed in a premium box with vivid artwork that brings the world of Kinfire to life every time you play
| Formation | Described job | Tradeoff or timing |
|---|---|---|
| Line | Broad, mobile formation for maneuver. | Not designed to win a direct clash against a committed specialist formation. |
| Block | Tighter and deeper, with more staying power. | Also a flexible base formation rather than a specialist answer to every enemy. |
| Loose | Spreads ranged troops, reducing their exposure to arrows and charging cavalry. | Useful for spacing ranged units; not described as a universal combat formation. |
| Shield Wall | Holds ground. | Form it when holding is the immediate job; forming up takes time. |
| Spear Wall | Moves very slowly, so avoid asking it to cover ground quickly. | |
| Square | Provides defense in all directions. | Maneuvers poorly. |
| Skein | Organizes shock cavalry for a charge. | Needs time to reform after charging. |
| Wedge | Breaks through a line. | Its stated purpose is breakthrough, rather than general-purpose maneuver. |
The diary’s practical timing principle is to approach in a flexible base formation, then switch to a specialist formation as contact approaches. Forming up takes time; rapidly changing formations without a reason can waste that time. Choose based on the unit’s next job, how quickly it must move or reform, its exposure to flanks or ranged attacks, and the morale risk if it takes losses.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →How to use orders and Command Mode during a fight
You can fight directly in third person on foot or horseback, then switch to Command Mode to direct the army. The developer says Command Mode slows time but does not stop it, so orders still happen against a moving battle.
Global orders are Advance, Hold, Fallback, Engage, Charge and Retreat. Local orders let you select a unit and more precisely control its movement, target, facing and standing order.
Rank #3
- Chronicles Edition Includes: Hammerwatch II Base Game, Hammerwatch: Anniversary Edition Base Game, Anniversary Pack: 20 Additional Colors to Choose from, 2 Additional Voice Packs, 5 Additional Hero Facial Items
- Explore a Vast and Dynamic Open World: Journey through Hammer Island, the Fallowfields, and the dark mountainous regions of Blackbarrow; Experience a world complete with day/night and weather systems that will help shape your adventure
- Aid Townsfolk Along the Way: With an epic amount of quests, there is ample opportunity to be the hero Herian deserves
- Build Your Herian Hero: Choose between five distinct character classes: Paladin, Ranger, Rogue, Wizard, and Warlock; Customize your appearance and level up to unlock powerful new abilities and skills
- Collect and Craft: Stock up on items found and earned along the way and craft them into useful tools, magic potions, and delicious food; Play alone, or in online co-op mode with up to 3 other players
A useful way to apply the announced systems—not a tested or guaranteed winning sequence—is:
- Read the positions and terrain. Look for exposed flanks, useful high ground and the places where the enemy can threaten your formation.
- Set the army’s broad layout. Adjust battle lines so unit placement fits the ground and the job each group needs to do.
- Give each unit an opening task and follow-up behavior. Use an initial order for a destination or first move, then choose the standing order that should take over.
- Approach flexibly. Use Line, Block or Loose as appropriate while troops move toward their positions.
- Specialize near contact. Switch to a formation when its task is about to matter—for example, Spear Wall when cavalry threatens or Shield Wall when a unit needs to hold.
- Intervene when the situation changes. Fight directly when personal intervention is useful; use Command Mode to redirect a unit if a flank bends, a gap opens or its order no longer makes sense.
- Watch morale and protect the commander. A unit’s rout and the commander’s fall can change the battle beyond the immediate losses.
How morale, routs and retreats work
Morale is a tactical system in the developer’s description. Its five states are Inspired, Confident, Concerned, Wavering and Broken. Casualties, being charged—especially in the flank—and seeing a friendly unit break can lower morale.
PC Slower Than It Used to Be?
A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11Crashes, No Sound, or Screen Glitches?
Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minuteA Broken unit routs and, in the current design description, cannot be reformed during that battle. A rout is different from an ordered retreat: the routed unit breaks and flees, while a retreating unit withdraws with the army and can fight again. Retreat may also be triggered automatically if the army falls below a strength threshold.
Rank #4
- EXPANSION GALORE: Chronicles of Avel: New Adventures is a substantial expansion to the beloved Chronicles of Avel, designed to cater to players of all skill levels.
- SHARDS OF EVIL CAMPAIGN: Immerse yourself in the captivating "Shards of Evil" campaign, delivering rich and engaging stories to enhance your gameplay.
- VERSATILE GAMEPLAY: Enjoy the flexibility of four universal game modes, each adding unique components to enrich your Avel universe experience.
- DIY MINI-EXPANSION: The first print run includes 24 blank tokens, allowing you to craft your own mini-expansion for a personalized gaming adventure.
- SPECTACULAR COMPONENTS: Marvel at custom 3D cardboard figurines and a meticulously designed box insert, adding a touch of grandeur to your tabletop.
The commander’s survival matters because the commander falling causes a large, one-time morale penalty across the army. That makes reckless solo charges a risky default, even if direct combat is part of the game.
A victory or defeat notice does not necessarily end the battle immediately. The fight may continue, giving you a chance to cover a withdrawal, pursue defeated enemies or end the engagement.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What to expect from direct combat and progression
The official FAQ describes third-person combat as one layer of a broader battle system that also includes strategic planning, command and auto-resolve. It says combat is intended to support optional lock-on, motion-warping to help close a small gap or correct a slightly off-target position, and progression for characters and NPCs from novice toward more advanced techniques. The FAQ also calls polearms important to medieval warfare, while noting that specific weapon details would be shared later. See the official FAQ.
Best Value
- Elden Ring board game campaign featuring tactical combat, exploration, treasure hunting, and cinematic boss encounters for 1–4 players
- 20+ hour replayable campaign that can be played as a standalone adventure or combined with other Elden Ring: The Board Game content
- Card-driven, diceless combat system rewards strategic positioning, timing, resource management, and tactical decision-making
- New playable Tarnished classes including the Confessor and Prisoner, adding fresh character options and strategic play styles
- Detailed tabletop miniatures include 22 figures and a massive Godrick the Grafted miniature on a 120mm base, with components varying by selected edition
There is some preview reporting on how combat looked at Gamescom, but it should not be mistaken for a final specification. In a TechRadar preview published October 4, 2026, reporter Tom Regan described posture meters and timed parries in the observed combat. Regan quoted Senior Game Designer Gareth Bourn: “When you start out, you have low proficiency, so your attacks are slower, and you don’t have combos.” Regan also reported Bourn saying that skills, including leadership skills, unlock over time. Read the TechRadar Gamescom preview.
In Raw Power Games’ combat-design announcement, Energy governs endurance for attacking, blocking or moving, while Posture represents balance and stability under pressure; losing too much posture can lead to a stagger or broken guard. The developers say these names and implementations may change. They describe moving away from directional fighting toward readable swings, clear feedback, timing and consequence. Treat Energy, Posture and the observed parries as work in progress, not settled advice for a final combat system. Read the developer’s combat announcement.
Can you auto-resolve battles instead?
Yes. The official FAQ says players can auto-resolve, with outcomes intended to be plausible, though potentially less efficient than those of an experienced commander. It does not publish a specific outcome formula. Auto-resolve is therefore an option if you would rather focus on diplomacy or trade, not a guarantee that manual combat or automation will always produce the better result.
How large are battles expected to be?
Raw Power Games showed a 500-versus-500 battle in its September 2026 Gamescom presentation and described the footage as work in progress. The detailed battle diary says the ambition is 1,000 versus 1,000, but the developer is not yet ready to commit to that figure. Neither number should be treated as a confirmed final maximum. The September announcement provides the current presentation context.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
