You can only block one direction at a time, so in the open, numbers win — full stop. Surviving outnumbered is about refusing the fair fight: using ground to face enemies one or two at a time, and knowing when the right answer is to leave.

Make them come one at a time

• Fight in a chokepoint — a doorway, gate, bridge or narrow path — so their numbers can't all reach you at once. A choke turns a losing headcount into an even fight.
• Put terrain at your back and flanks. A wall, rock or cliff edge means no one gets behind you for a backstab.
• Use the high ground and make them spend stamina climbing or pushing up to you.
• Keep them stacked, not spread around you — circle so the nearest enemy blocks his own friends' path to you.

Don't get caught out

• Don't overextend. Strung out ahead of your party is exactly how you end up surrounded — stay tight and read where the group is.
• Know bait when you see it. A lone enemy backpedalling is often luring you onto his friends.
• Don't chase shieldmen. A tank will happily kite three of you while you bang on his shield and the real fight passes you by.
• Change targets often — spread your hits across several enemies rather than tunnelling one, and don't let yourself become the focused target.

Know when to run

Sometimes the right move is to leave, and retreating badly gets people killed — a panicked rout is caught from behind, where no one can block. Break contact as a group, spend the stamina you saved for the sprint (you can't sprint backwards, so turn and go), and put a choke or terrain between you and the chase. Living to reform beats a heroic last stand.