Napoleon utilized various battle formations and tactics to maximize his army's effectiveness against opponents. Traditional battle lines were slow and rigid, while columns allowed for faster movement but lacked firepower. Napoleon's preferred tactic was the Ordre Mixte, using flexible formations of lines and columns that could fire and charge as needed. Cavalry and artillery played important supporting roles, with light cavalry providing reconnaissance and heavy cavalry delivering devastating shock attacks. Napoleon was also a master of deception, misdirection, and exploiting weaknesses in opponents to gain strategic advantages on the battlefield.