This list of formation types is designed to help beginning Republique players to relate real life Napoleonic formations with those used for game play. The list indicates only very basic averages, and players should remember that real life units varied enormously in both quality and size. In some armies, green troops were still fully trained and could perform impressively. In other cases, regular troops who had been allowed to become demoralized put in rather poor performances. Unit descriptions include type, average size (number of combat bases) and average troop grade. The infantry lists also include skirmisher availability and quality. The cavalry lists include a classification of cavalry types. At the beginning of each section is a short description of each army, along with an average ratio of artillery batteries to infantry/cavalry bases. These recommended artillery ratios are purely for reference to help players develop a fair sense of usage.

The Skirmishers column describes the Presence and Grade of skirmish markers available to that unit type. Presence levels will be Numerous (one marker deployable per combat base), Moderate (one marker per two bases) or Limited (one marker per three bases). Grades will be Excellent, Good, Adequate or Poor. See the rules text for more details.

The Austrian Army of the Napoleonic Wars was usually composed of solid German and Hungarian line recruits, and considering the stubborn conservatism of the officer corps the rank and file performed well. Early in the wars Austrian troops put in a solid performance and through 1809, Austrian regiments maintained a constantly professional bearing. By 1812 Austria was at the end of its rope, with little money and barely any equipment left in the country. The force which marched into central Germany in 1813 was quite literally Austria's last and only available field army, it was poorly equipped and had little winter clothing. Austrian cavalry was considered good through 1809 (Russian cavalry was rated better) although like the rest of the army, it had not been trained in grand-tactical maneuver and so could rarely counter the more nimble field maneuvers of its most common opponent. Austrian light troops commonly served together with the light cavaly in advanced guard divisions. These divisions appear to have commonly been used to cover an army's flanks during battle, or to secure and hold rough terrain such as woods or towns. For game play, the artillery is usually average morale grade.

Through 1805, the Austrian Army was still using the Regimental Pool system, assigning units to leaders who commanded temporary columns. By 1809 they had theoretically adopted the Corps system, but it was never truly instituted, and commanders continued to employ the Division Column system in the field. Austrian formations probably continued using the Prussian system of maneuver at least through 1812 (or later). Recommended artillery ratios: 1800 - 1809 = 1 battery per 7 bases.