State-Based Damage Efficiency
Or SBDE, is a percentage rating for stacked units of the same kind. If your stack of units has 100 points in strength (attack/defense value) but only 70% in SBDE, they will inflict damage as if they were only at 70 points in strength.
Please note that this explanation is valid for the 1.0 version of the game only. As new players are only seeing 1.5 version games this guide does not apply as of October 2020. 1.5 version games use a different formula for efficiency based on stack size.
A way to understand this, is to think of your troops getting in each others way, clogging up battle lines and not being able to fire on the enemy.
Also SBDE is depending on the unit "health/HP" or "morale/condition". If a unit is only at 50% health/HP it will not have 100% SBDE but less. It will still have more than 50% SBDE so in some cases a hurt unit will deal almost the same as a normal, full health unit.
So how can you improve SBDE rating?
Imagine a line of units. 10 infantry standing in line firing at a target. The 10 behind them can't fire, because the others in front of them are blocking their view. Now imagine two lines next to each other with 10 units in each. Both lines can fire now.
So what you want to do, is split your large stack into smaller stacks when engaging someone. You can do this by splitting out a stack and send them a little further ahead than the other stack (further ahead than where the enemy is standing). Sending the stacks to different end locations will make sure they don't merge upon engaging the opponents units. This way your troops will engage as two separate stacks having much better SBDE.
Be wary
Personally, I use split stacks to great avail, so I highly recommend it. But keep in mind, if the defending stack is very large, it might be "dangerous" to split your units into inferior forces.
Also splitting stacks while you are the defender will cause the split stack to lose it's defensive bonus!
The same mechanics apply to all types of units, be it planes, navy or land units.
List with maximum numbers to achieve 100% SBDE for stacked units:
(made by @BRDubbs )
i. Aircraft – Interceptor – 5
ii. Aircraft – Naval Bomber - 5
iii. Aircraft – Strategic bomber – 5
iv. Aircraft – Tactical bomber - 5
v. Anti air – 8
vi. Anti air – SP – 6
vii. Anti tank – 8
viii. Artillery - 8
ix. Artillery – SP – 6
x. Armored car – 8
xi. Infantry – Commandos - 8
xii. Infantry – Infantry – 8
xiii. Infantry – Mechanized - 6
xiv. Infantry - militia - 11
xv. Infantry – motorized - 8
xvi. Naval - Battleships – 3
xvii. Naval – Carriers – 3
xviii. Naval – Cruiser – 5
xix. Naval – destroyer - 7
xx. Naval – submarines – 7
xxi. Tank - destroyer – 5
xxii. Tank – heavy – 5
xxiii. Tank – light - 6
xxiv. Tank – medium - 5
xxv. Aircraft - Rocket fighter - 3
xxvi. Railroadgun - 3
Happy hunting.
The post was edited 3 times, last by VorlonFCW: updated submarines and rocket fighters ().