If you are looking at the Deluxe content specifically, the highlight is the .
Units have a "facing" direction. If you attack a unit from the side or back, you bypass their shield/defense bonuses and deal massive extra damage. Age-of-Wonders-III--Deluxe-Edition-Repack-Games-Mechanics
: Your leader's class (e.g., Dreadnought, Theocrat, Archdruid) determines your tech tree and available units more than your race does. A High Elf Dreadnought plays completely differently from a High Elf Theocrat. 2. Tactical Combat: The "Flanking" Meta If you are looking at the Deluxe content
Combat takes place on a separate tactical hex map. The most important mechanic to master is . Age-of-Wonders-III--Deluxe-Edition-Repack-Games-Mechanics