Mastering Troops Stacking in Total Battle: Complete Guide
Learn the optimal troop stacking strategies for Total Battle. Maximize combat effectiveness with proper unit composition and formation tactics.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Troops stacking is one of the most critical skills for success in Total Battle. It refers to the art of composing your marches with the right combination of troop types to maximize combat effectiveness. A well-stacked army can defeat opponents with significantly higher power, while poor troop composition leads to devastating losses.
Whether you're attacking Citadels, defending against raids, or competing in events like Ragnarök, understanding troop stacking separates average players from elite commanders.
Understanding Troop Types
Total Battle features several troop categories with distinct roles. Understanding both unit types (Infantry, Cavalry, Ranged, Siege) and troop classifications (Guardsmen for PvE, Specialists for PvP with doubled damage, Engineer Corps for fortifications) is key to effective stacking.
Infantry
Role: Frontline tanks that absorb damage
| Strengths | Weaknesses |
|---|---|
| High HP and defense | Low damage output |
| Protects backline units | Slow movement |
| Strong vs. Cavalry | Weak vs. Ranged |
Best infantry units: Heavy Infantry, Swordsmen, Spearmen (look for Guardsmen trait for PvE, Specialists for PvP)
Cavalry
Role: High-damage flankers that target enemy backline
| Strengths | Weaknesses |
|---|---|
| Highest damage per hit | Lower HP pool |
| Fast movement speed | Weak vs. Infantry |
| Bypasses frontline | Vulnerable to pikes |
Best cavalry units: Mounted Knights, Riders (Specialists double damage in PvP)
Ranged
Role: Backline damage dealers
| Strengths | Weaknesses |
|---|---|
| Consistent damage from safety | Very low HP |
| Strong vs. Infantry | Weak vs. Cavalry charges |
| Works with frontline protection | Requires positioning |
Best ranged units: Crossbowmen, Archers (Guardsmen for Crypts, Specialists for PvP)
Siege
Role: Structure destruction and area damage
| Strengths | Weaknesses |
|---|---|
| Massive damage vs. buildings | Extremely slow |
| Area of effect damage | Poor vs. troops |
| Essential for Citadels | Needs heavy protection |
Best siege units: Catapults, Ballistae (Engineer Corps for Citadels and fortifications)
Basic Stacking Principles
The Counter System
Understanding what beats what is fundamental to troop stacking:
| Troop Type | Strong Against | Weak Against |
|---|---|---|
| Infantry | Cavalry | Ranged |
| Cavalry | Ranged | Infantry |
| Ranged | Infantry | Cavalry |
| Siege | Buildings | All troops |
Key insight: Total Battle uses a trait-based combat system where each unit has three unique traits that determine matchups. While this table shows general effectiveness, always check specific unit traits for optimal counters. Never rely on a single troop type.
Front Row vs. Back Row Positioning
Your march formation determines survivability:
Formation example (balanced march):
```
[Infantry] [Infantry] [Infantry]
[Cavalry] [Ranged] [Cavalry]
[Ranged] [Siege] [Ranged]
```
The 40/40/20 Rule
A reliable baseline for general-purpose marches:
This ratio works for most PvE content and provides flexibility.
Advanced Stacking Strategies
PvP vs. PvE Compositions
PvP (Player vs. Player) considerations:
Recommended PvP compositions:
| Opponent's Main | Your Counter Stack |
|---|---|
| Infantry-heavy | 50% Ranged, 30% Infantry, 20% Cavalry |
| Cavalry-heavy | 60% Infantry, 25% Ranged, 15% Cavalry |
| Ranged-heavy | 40% Cavalry, 35% Infantry, 25% Ranged |
PvE (Player vs. Environment) considerations:
Event-Specific Builds
#### Rise of Ancients
Vault raids require sustained damage over time:
#### Ragnarök
Multi-day event with wave-based combat:
Ragnarök tip: Save your highest-tier troops for the final days when enemy waves are strongest.
#### Clan Wars
Real-time PvP with reinforcement mechanics:
Citadel Attack Formations
Citadels have fixed defender compositions. Optimize your stack accordingly:
| Citadel Level | Recommended Stack |
|---|---|
| 1-10 | Standard 40/40/20 |
| 11-20 | 45% Infantry, 40% Ranged, 15% Siege |
| 21-30 | 50% Infantry, 35% Ranged, 15% Siege |
| 31+ | 55% Infantry, 30% Ranged, 15% Siege |
Siege importance: Always include 10-15% siege units for faster wall destruction. Without them, battles drag on and casualties increase.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
1. Over-Relying on One Troop Type
The mistake: Sending all-cavalry or all-ranged marches because they have high attack stats.
The consequence: Enemy counters wipe your entire march with minimal losses.
The fix: Always include at least 25% of your counter's counter. If you send 60% cavalry, include 25% infantry to handle enemy infantry.
2. Ignoring Hero Synergies
The mistake: Sending troops without matching heroes.
The consequence: Missing 20-50% damage bonuses from hero abilities.
The fix: Match your troop stack to your hero's specialization:
| Hero Type | Best Troop Stack |
|---|---|
| Infantry hero | Infantry-heavy (50%+) |
| Cavalry hero | Cavalry + Infantry support |
| Ranged hero | Ranged-heavy with infantry frontline |
| Balanced hero | Standard 40/40/20 |
3. Wrong March Compositions for Content
The mistake: Using the same stack for everything.
The consequence: Inefficient clears, excessive troop losses, failed attacks.
The fix: Adjust compositions per content type:
4. Neglecting Troop Tiers
The mistake: Mixing low-tier and high-tier troops randomly.
The consequence: Low-tier troops die immediately, wasting march capacity.
The fix: Keep your march tiers consistent. Better to send 80% of your capacity with Tier 5 troops than 100% capacity with mixed Tier 3-5.
5. Forgetting About Morale and Stamina
The mistake: Sending exhausted troops into battle.
The consequence: Reduced combat effectiveness, higher casualties.
The fix: Monitor troop morale before major battles. Rest troops between consecutive attacks.
Optimizing Your Stacks
Using TB Clan Tools to Track Effective Compositions
TB Clan Tools helps you analyze what works:
How to use the data:
Analyzing Battle Reports
After every significant battle, review:
Red flags in reports:
Testing and Iteration
The best stacking strategy is one you've tested:
Example iteration:
Quick Reference: Stack Templates
General Purpose (Most Content)
```
Infantry: 40%
Ranged: 40%
Cavalry: 20%
Siege: 0%
```
Citadel Assault
```
Infantry: 45%
Ranged: 35%
Cavalry: 5%
Siege: 15%
```
PvP Offense
```
Infantry: 30%
Ranged: 30%
Cavalry: 40%
Siege: 0%
```
PvP Defense
```
Infantry: 50%
Ranged: 35%
Cavalry: 15%
Siege: 0%
```
Event Boss (Rise of Ancients)
```
Infantry: 50%
Ranged: 40%
Cavalry: 10%
Siege: 0%
```
Conclusion
Mastering troop stacking in Total Battle transforms your combat effectiveness. The difference between victory and defeat often comes down to composition, not raw power.
Key takeaways:
Want to track your clan's combat performance? TB Clan Tools provides detailed analytics on chest contributions, event participation, and member activity. Understanding which compositions your top performers use helps everyone improve.
Start optimizing your troop stacking today at tbclantools.com.
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