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 fully trained and could perform very impressively. In other cases, regular troops who had been allowed to become demoralized put in very poor performances. Unit descriptions include type, average size (number of 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 Skirmish column describes the number and type of skirmish markers which a unit type is allowed to deploy. A "One" indicates that the entire unit may deploy only one skirmish marker at any one time. "All" indicates that unit type may deploy one skirmish marker per active combat base present.

Early French armies were composed of an uneasy mixture of trained veteran troops and militia levies. Eventually however, their new training system began to mass-produce excellent soldiers who, even though green, usually fought well from the outset. This kept the army on its feet long after many old soldiers had retired or died in action. The Imperial Guard was an elite formation headed by top grade veteran officers. Its size was smaller than its reputation and players should resist the temptation to build too many guard units. This list also includes Polish, Italian and Swiss troops in French service as well as German Duchy troops after 1808. Line artillery is average or veteran and guard artillery is elite grade morale.

During the Early campaigns in Germany and Italy, the French Army used the division group system. By the 1805 campaign, the Corps system had been fully implemented. French system of formation change was used throughout the wars. Recommended artillery ratios for Central/Eastern Europe: 1800 - 1806 = 1 battery per 12 bases. 1807 - 1809 = 1 battery per 8 bases. 1812 = 1 battery per 5 bases. Recommended artillery ratios for the Peninsula: 1 battery per 10 bases.