I do not know if it was an algorithm change, but I have noted that in some instances the enemy AI (artificial intelligence) no longer behaves as predicted. I manual fight most provinces >~ 20 and the enemy AI use to always target my troop with the highest initiative.
This is from a post by
@CrazyWizard someplace in this forum when there were comments about the the AI always attacking the highest initiative troop. I copied the message in March of '21, so it was sometime before that.
The 1st round attack order of the mistwalker is as follows: Sorceres, Dryad, Archer, Blossom, Banshee, Treant, Ranger, Drone Rider, Sword Dancer, Cerberus, Frog Prince, Orc Warrior and Golem. Note: Sorceres has a lower initiative than any LR unit, yet she is the primary target of the mistwalker if it can reach the sorceress. On the other hand the fastest unit in the players asenal is the ranger, yes it only ranks as the 7th possible target.
Another example I have noted down, this is the cannoneers attack order: Archer, Ranger, Dryad, Blossom, Banshee, Sorceress, Drone Rider, Sword Dancer, Cerberus, Frog Prince, Golem and Orc Strategist. This one takes a lot more the common sense road, with archers targetted before mages. But again we see a discrepancy here, Archers with a lower initiative are targetted before rangers are. Also note that treants(slowest unit in game?) are targetted before LM units are.