Tactics: Hammer and Anvil

 Tactics: Hammer and Anvil

    Returning to the topic of real-world tactics applied to wargaming, let's talk about the Hammer and Anvil. This maneuver, famously mastered by Alexander the Great and his phalanxes, can be perfectly translated to the tabletop.

    The tactic is based on using high-resilience units with high wound counts to bog down the enemy army. This allows your "damage-dealing" units—which are typically faster but less durable—to flank and strike the enemy's side.

    In these diagrams, you can see how the green units (the Anvil) hold the enemy charge (red squares) to later envelop them. These specific schemes are designed for all-infantry lists or units where both the Anvil and the Hammer share the same movement value.

    When choosing your Anvil, you must select troops with the highest Toughness and/or Wounds, which can be further supported by units that provide healing or morale buffs.

    Conversely, for the Hammer (the strike), you should use units with the best damage output and enough mobility to perform pivots and charges effectively.