Board Thread:Suggestions forum/@comment-32865299-20170909170357/@comment-29773086-20170916211311

I'd say the quotes strongly suggest that the Wainriders actually fought in their chariots. That seems far more likely a conclusion than the idea that they commanded from the chariots or were transported in them. As to the realism of fighting in chariots, I'd say that in Rhûn where the Wainriders would usually fight, you wouldn't expect other tribes to be militarily advanced, so chariots could be viable. As Tolkien says, "...they were stronger and better armed than any [Easterlings] that had appeared before." And when they fought against Gondor, "...they made a sudden assault..." Perhaps the suddenness of the attack prevented Gondor from developing suitable tactics against chariots.

In fact, the Wainriders definitely fought in chariots.

"...when the chariots and horsemen crashed into his disordered line. Of the confusion of the disaster that followed few clear reports were ever brought to Gondor. Ondoher was utterly unprepared to meet a charge of horse men and chariots in great weight."