The Flail Elephant has a very high siege attack, and a massive ranged resistance and can demolish buildings in seconds, but is weak in combat against any other military units, even light infantry. If the food (and a Caravanserai) is available, it is much more effective to replace two of these units with a Mahout Lancer, which has the same siege potential but is a far more capable unit in direct combat.
Flail Elephants are very effective at taking out buildings such as Forts and Town Centers incredibly quickly, sometimes before the enemy is able to react. However it is not recommended to use them in masses even if they are fully upgraded, as they are slow and expensive, and can sometimes be killed with ease. It also is not recommended to send Flail Elephants in the open without being defended by heavy infantry. They can easily fall prey to heavy infantry, cavalry, and even light infantry.
"Inspires all nearby Flail Elephants. Powerful Elephant from India that swings a mace. Good against buildings."
—In-game description
The Mansabdar Flail Elephant is a stronger version of the Flail Elephant that can be trained from the Charminar Gate wonder. As a Mansabdar unit, the Mansabdar Flail Elephant has twice the hit points of a Flail Elephant and Imperial Service that increases the hit points and attack of nearby Flail Elephants, but are two times more expensive.
The Flail Elephant is the only hand siege unit, together with the Ram, and they are also the only two units with a siege RoF of 1.5.
Besides the aura underneath it, the Mansabdar and Honor/Exalted Flail Elephant can be difficult to distinguish due to having the same identical features.
"Although there are few accounts to substantiate its existence, the flail elephant was said to have been a cavalry and siege unit fielded with the early armies of Sri Lanka. It would enter battle whirling a heavy iron chain that had been affixed to its trunk, becoming both a terrifying and entirely unapproachable force."
Edit
Disciplined Flail Elephant
Honored Flail Elephant
Exalted Flail Elephant
Comanche Horse Breeding (+10%)
Cree Tanning (+5%)
Navajo Weaving (+5%)
Yoga (+5%)
Comanche Mustangs (+10%)
Apache Endurance (+5%)
Terror Charge (-20%)
Cheyenne Horse Trading (-25%)
Incan Chasquis Messengers (-25%)
Mapuche Ad-mapu (-10% coin cost)
Meritocracy (-20% upgrade cost)
Cavalry Combat
TEAM Hand Cavalry Attack
TEAM Cavalry Attack
Spanish Riding School
Dravidian Martial Arts
TEAM Shivaji's Tactics
5 Flail Elephants
3 Flail Elephants
TEAM 2 Flail Elephants
Grazing
Tame Elephants
Professional Handlers
Elephant Combat
TEAM Cheaper Unit Upgrades
TEAM Cavalry Scouts
Cavalry Damage
Cavalry Hitpoints
TEAM Inquisition
