I never really used this UU before, because I always thought their stats looked weak. I thought "why build a 4 strength unit when 5 strength axemen are just around the corner?" I tried them out for the first time this weekend, and I was amazed.
They're cheap, so you can build a lot of them. They're fast, so they're great for pillaging, and they'll get to the enemy sooner (very important in an early war). They have a 50% bonus against archers, so they're almost as good as swordsmen for attacking most cities. And, even if they lose, their massive withdrawal chance means they'll live to fight again, and you can simply have another immportal finish off the weakened defender. Then once you take the city, you can use them as defenders!
Anybody have any creative strategies for using this unit?

Er, sounds like you've named them all.
It's good they're fast, because once the enemy sees you using them, you'll probably start seeing spearmen pretty soon.

Spearmen kill immortals for fun.

Spearmen kill immortals for fun.

Having just played a game with Immortals I agree with all you've said, but also agree with shivute - Immortals are a good UU, but have a limited lifespan IMHO.

I used them successfully to wipe out a couple of pesky cities very early on in a game on a small map, and to pillage key resources to prevent the other side retaliating effectively. I tried to use the same tactic again later on, this time backed up by axemen, but got decimated by spearmen.

So in summary, they are cheap to build and good for an early rush (especially if its before BW and/or you haven't got any metals), but watch out for those spearmen.

The other "drawback" to Immortals is that you need available horses (either a tile with horses and a pasture in your cultural boundaries that's connected via road to a city, or trading for 'em with another civilization). Otherwise, they're just a tantalizing "might have been". :sad:

you definitly have to act fast, but with a little luck, you may be able to destroy your neighbor, giving you not only his capital, but free run of all that land he was supposed to expand into!

Spearmen kill immortals for fun.

Yeah, that's why the first thing to do with them is pillage the enemy bronze mines, then fortify an immportal on top.

Persian Immortals got their name because whenever you killed one there was always one to step into his place, and that is the best strategyfor them, build them and nothing but them until they are outclassed, then fade into the macedonian empire, as they should Phalanx absolutely decimates multiple immortals.

Persian Immortals got their name because whenever you killed one there was always one to step into his place, and that is the best strategyfor them, build them and nothing but them until they are outclassed, then fade into the macedonian empire, as they should Phalanx absolutely decimates multiple immortals.if done correctly, you can pillage resources and choke an opponent enough that you can come in later and finish the job w/stronger units. That way, there's no phalanx (or spears) hanging around to impale yourself on. The AI has a nasty (good for the human) habit of holing up in a city if there's an enemy near their city. This can stunt their growth for the whole game.

if done correctly, you can pillage resources and choke an opponent

Yes, I was gonna say that my first strategy with immortals is to find the enemy copper source and pilliage it.... then keep 1/2 immortals next to the location to kill what ever comes out in the event that the computer attempts to re-mine.

However, If I can I always attack the close's civilization that doesnt have copper... Immortals are an ancient era nightmere, I mean they have a 100% attack bonus over the ancient def unit: archers.

To this date, my highest score has been with the persians because of the early conquest. I once played a game where I whiped out two civs with immortals.

you should aim first to pillage the enemy's iron and copper, then he cant build spears and only archers, which you can handle.
EDIT: He-Who-Hunts already said that oops.

arghh double