Command An Army Commands, Formations & Counters
The four orders
| Order | Key or input | What the troops do | Use it when |
|---|---|---|---|
| Follow | C | Troops trail behind you | Moving between points, regrouping, pulling cavalry back after a charge |
| Hold | X | Troops stop and defend the spot | Enemy push incoming, holding a captured point |
| Attack | Aim at a target | Troops engage the enemy or area you aim at | Focusing archers, a gate or one enemy regiment |
| Rush | Charge button (cooldown) | Troops sprint forward and hit with rush damage | Cavalry and shock infantry once the enemy is already fighting someone else |
Controls checked:
Keys from AccelToWin's first-match walkthrough and a cavalry guide (September 9-10, 2026); order behaviour from Radex Tips' commands video (September 10). Rush has a cooldown, and players note the charge icon does not show a countdown.
Formations
- Shield Wall (Hold Position): Shieldmen lock shields on the spot. Put it on the capture zone, not in the open, and keep ranged units behind it.
- Triangle: a wedge that concentrates a charge on one point. Cavalry in a wedge push deeper into enemy lines before stalling.
- Hold shapes: Hold offers three defensive shapes. The ring round the flag is the one creators and players rate highest, especially two layers deep.
Field rules that decide fights
- Archers and Crossbowmen do not shoot while moving and cannot shoot over walls, so set them up before the enemy arrives.
- Cavalry cannot climb stairs. If horses are coming, take your ranged units up the stairs.
- Do not charge cavalry into a circle formation unless the enemy is already locked in combat, and pull them back with Follow between charges.
- Shock infantry like Berserker and Samurai shred cavalry in close combat. Hit and leave.
- Attack archers from the side while they are busy with your teammates; a frontal walk into them loses the whole army.
Unit counters
| If the enemy uses | Counter with |
|---|---|
| Scout Rider, Cavalryman | Spearman (held in place), Shieldman |
| Lancer | Spearman |
| Archer, Crossbowman | Cavalry from the side (Scout Rider), Shieldman in front of your own army |
| Shieldman, Spartan walls | Update 1 block breakers: Mace, Halberder, Javelineer; ranged units and good positioning |
| Spearman | Ranged units (Archer, Crossbowman) |
| Immortal | Ranged units, stay grouped |
| Mercenary | Shieldman with ranged support |
| Knight | Spearman |
Based on IQ333's counter list for every unit (September 2026) and player tips under the MimoBlox and Rexon videos, plus the Update 1 block-breaker units. The game is two weeks old, so counters will shift with each update.
Commands FAQ
What are the controls in Command An Army?
On PC, C orders Follow and X orders Hold; you aim to Attack and use the charge button to Rush. Q is the Assassin dodge roll, and stepping out of the fight lets your character heal.
What is the best defensive formation?
Shield Wall on the capture point with ranged units behind it. When you press Hold you can pick between three defensive shapes; YellowHeadVin rates the ring shape strongest, and players layer Shieldmen or Spartans in a circle round the flag.
How do you beat a Spartan shield wall?
Do not rush it head on. Shoot it with ranged units, hit it from the side while your team engages the front, and since Update 1 bring Mace, Halberder or Javelineer, which deal block damage to shields.