The improved combat system for the Godfather: Five Families had just been released into the servers on 1/20/12. This post will help you understand how to survive in this new world of combat. I will quote the official language and how you can adjust your playing strategy based on these new changes. And I will close my thoughts with the impact and how you can adapt to it. If you like this guide, remember to check out my other Godfather: Five Families Guides.

Official Improved Combat System Language

Quote:
1. The last Unit available as an unlock will become the most valuable Unit.
2. Units will be divided into four classes: Damage, Health, Transport, and Balanced
Damage: Thug, Demolitionist, Enforcer, Professional
Health: Arsonist, Bruiser, Tommy Gunner
Balanced: Hitman
Transport: Courier, Delivery Truck
3. The bonuses and Units effected by given from the Workshop and Garage will change.
4. The number of Units in each Gang and Cityscape will change and the amount of Resources gained
unlock requirements, training times, resource consumption, Respect value, and stats of each Unit will change
6. Certain Unit will get bonuses against other Units. These bonuses are as follows:
Arsonist: Bonus against Thug
Demolitionist: Bonus against Thug and Arsonist
Bruiser: Bonus against Arsonist and Demolitionist
Hitman: Bonus against Demolitionist and Bruiser
Enforcer: Bonus against Bruiser and Hitmen
Tommy Gunner: Bonus against Hitmen and Enforcer
Professional: Bonus against Enforcer and Tommy Gunner
Booby Traps: Bonus against Damage Units
Barbed Wire: Bonus against Health Units
Guard Dog: Bonus against Damage Units
Armed Guard: Bonus against Damage Units
7. In battle, lower level Units will be attacked first.

How to Adapt to New Changes

Below are some of my thoughts based on some initial testing and playing from with the improved combat system

1. Balance yet Still Overpower

Overkill is still the key to go, by sending alot more units than your enemy, you can lower your losses while ensuring victory.

2. Thugs Tag along

Try to always accompany your troops with considerable amount of thugs by themselves to the point that they can stand on their own. You want to use these thugs in Godfather: Five Families as cannon fodder who will absorb all the casualties than your professionals.

3. Arsonist is Still Great

Arsonist is still a very needed unit because of its strength against Thugs. Always bring a ton of Arsonist with you in both PvE and PvP situations.

4. Do not send strong units by themselves

With the new formula, your Five Families will take heavy casualties even if you send overpowered strong units by themselves. Always attach them to something weaker to absorb the deaths.

5. Wreck Resource Buildings in Favor of Hideouts

Based on initial test, the resource that you obtain against Gangs now way overpower, I recommend you to wreck your resource buildings during mid game so that you can build units faster. You can farm all of your resources by hitting Gangs.

More Testing on Five Families Improved Unit Weaknesses

More testing is needed to test out the different unit combinations. Once tested, I will update it with my Five Families Battle Calculator with more advanced data. Check it out later! Please feel free to leave comments on your thoughts as well.