Good combinationsWarning: we are talking NUMBERS here. Against any massed army, normally only reasonable numbers can prevail.
The essence of missile is FAST concentration of fire in one single enemy unit (to reduce the overall weight of the attacking party - "erosion"). Besides the "fast reduction rate" of area effect awarded by Cat fire, there are other good solutions.
War or armored Elephants (preferably) backed by Elephant Archers.
The EA should attack first, immediately followed by the WE/AE. You will lose quite a few, but the objective here is to be able to place the WE/AE inside the group of HA - once there, the trample effect of Elephant damage will help a lot.
You need about 5 or 6 SURVIVING AE/WE (so you will need more to start with) and at least some 15 EA to boot.
You can improve this combo by adding some ST in the back, or Helepolis. Be aware though, that HHA are quite effective against Helepolis/balistas and that these cost more...
Good Scythes (preferably Egyptian) backed by Elephant Archers.
The EA should attack first, immediately followed by the Scythes. You will lose most Scythes, but the objective here is to be able to place the Scythes inside the group of HA - once there, the trample effect of Scythe damage will help a lot.
You need about 10 or 15 SURVIVING Scythes (so you will need 2 groups of some 20 each to start with) and at least some 15-20 EA to boot.
You can improve this combo by adding some ST in the back, or Helepolis. Be aware though, that HHA are quite effective against Helepolis/balistas and that these cost more...
Elephant Archers only
Yes, in a number of 3/4 (if Hittite HHA) or 2/3 (if other race's HHA), they work - but only from a defense stand, you won't catch them in the open...
"Solutions" that are too costly or simply don't workDon't bother with solutions based on single units (except Cats). The damage done by the HHA will be far superior to their cost - and (resources permitting) they regenerate fast!
Solution based on Scythes will work only if several players sending them and micromanaging from several directions. The HHA must be in the open for this to work.
Cavalry, Infantry and Academy will not work. Shield or no shield, forget it.
Unless, of course, you are sending in 100 units at a time ...
Any solution based on Helepolis is bound to ruin you ... ballistas just waste.
Stone throwers, well, should not work. Archers shoot the fringes while backing up from the ST.
Armored or War Elephants end up working, but at what a cost!... If you can corner the HHAs, then it should be less ugly...
The Tower Solution.
Of course, the final stand (filling an area with ballista towers) will work always - but the HHA only have to die if they cooperate, LOL!...
The conclusion:
It is expensive both to assemble and kill mass HHA, especially Hittite, who get all the possible bonuses and upgrades.
If the HHA horde is obtained PRIOR to the existence of adequate defense.... then it's DEATH for the victim. Walls only work if you already have SOME counter units (like Cats) and are in the process of obtaining more. Otherwise, they just delay the inevitable fate.
Strategy Hint
Be Yamato!...
Tool rush (mild).
Bronze Rush (a few cavs, to delay his iron even more..)
Go for the kill with your massed cheap HA (don't wait for HHA) and kill him while he is still in Bronze.
In a team game, with luck, you may get to kill 2 opponents this way.
Attack the Heavy Cat guys first, so that you can run around longer practically unchecked I know: I've once died to this... and I was already in Iron (just arrived). Lost most of my Villies, my brand-new Cats and Ballistas in no time!...
Because you yourself HAVE to assemble sufficient mass to counter, he can get to you with his mass already formed. It works.