How to use phalanx.

[Yerevan]

I've never been very efficient with the phalanx, with EB or RS2 already, now maybe the time to learn how to use them. If anyone have advices to giive on the right way to attack with phalanx. Is it indicated to let them amlways in shieldwall mode, or shall I alternate when the situation change... Or is it better to stand and wait for the ennemy , or just to advance or right click on the ennemy unit ?
Also, I remember it was better to attack a bit on the the right so the ennemy's arms are on the shielkd side....
Another thing I don't understand, win DBM only, is my levey phalanx will use their swords if I put them in shieldwall formation.
THanxin advance to anyone with the right advices.

[Hoplite of Ilis]

Hello and WELCOME to phalanx fighting! To start with, the ONLY efficient GRINDER phalanx resides in old unmodded Rome, aaaaaaand... nowhere else! Mods tend to make phalanx break, and it's mostly used for holding the enemy while another unit charges from behind. I never liked that. EB and RS2 are among my favourite mods, but not for their phalanxes. DBM woke the memories in me! Royal pikemen can win the day on their own, especially in cities. I usually have them on guard mode where they weaken the enemy. Later, I remove it and attack. Having two pikemen units guarding a way really does the trick as the AI takes damage from two sides unable to decide what to do. I'm talking about two pikemen units forming an angle.
I always have my phalanx in shieldwall formation. Med2 engine feels more alive than the old dry engine of Rome. It is a good idea to have cavalry or infantry units on the left and right of your phalanx just to keep it from being surrounded. Hope this helped.

[Yerevan]

Hope this helped.

Yes, it did :-)

[Dooz]

Like the good Hoplite says, with phalanxes it's all about hammer and anvil techniques. You'll need some cavalry to act as anvils, charging from behind enemy that are caught against your long spears. Also, some of the more mobile infantry units to protect flanks, and if opportunity presents itself work as mini-anvils in their own right.

As far as movement and attack methods for the phalanx units, I usually stick with guard mode since it suits their job of holding the enemy in place, and if I want a long straight line I'll keep them that way to absorb charges rather than clicking on individual units. Once lines are engaged, you may find reason and opportunity to do so however, if a particular part of your line is not engaged and others are under heavy threat. You may then need to choose a particular phalanx unit to move snd support if near the centers and without lighter infantry flank support.

I'd suggest some custom battles where you can just use one unit and test how it reacts to different orders, guard mod and without, clicking enemy unit or holding ground, or even try clicking PAST the enemy unit to have your phalanx plow into them. I remember that being an effective offensive phalanx tool from Rome.

-edit-
That being said, I'm having some trouble with levy phalanxes. They don't seem to want to use their pikes and instead switch to swords almost instantly. The other phalanx units don't seem to have this problem and fight quite well as a group with their long spears at the ready. I've integrated RBAI into DBM, but I don't think that is causing it. But to make sure, can anyone confirm if vanilla DBM levy phalanxes also have this same problem? And if anyone knows what might be done about it, I'd appreciate it. For now, I'm just roleplaying it as levy's not being as skilled in their phalanx duties so they break and use swords in close quarters more easily than they should... but even then it's a hard sell, it's a phalanx unit after all and doesn't function as one essentially.

-edit2-
I also noticed what seems like might be a bug for the Ptolemies. Their levy phalanx and regular phalanx seem to have their stats/unit numbers/roles switched, is this true, and more importantly intended? As in the unit named Ptolemaic Phalanx has lower stats and higher troops numbers in the unit than the Ptolemaic Levy Phalanx, which has the higher stats and less troops.

[Sar1n]

Phalangites are, if used right, actually very effective killers. The trick is in using them right. You need to apply a bit know-how from M2TW...pikemen behave differently if guard mode is on or off.

I never deploy spears as single, three ranks deep formation, but use two, mutually supporting units, in two ranks each, deployed to create a cohesive four rank deep, tight phalanx. See the screenies how it's done. First, I create a line from half of my phalanx units...

Then draw second half WITHIN the first formation. It's not apparent, but first line got elite unit on left side, second has it on the right. It's done this way to make advantage of different sizes of pike units, so each line covers the other's gaps between units.

This is how it looks when done

When starting, units should be on guard mode ON. this way, they hold their ground do not move, and use their pikes as barrier to keep enemy away. Like this:

This is great to exhaust enemy charge, but they won't take or deal much damage. Once things settle down, there are three options:
First is to wait a while and pound enemy with your ranged units. Heavy onagers excel here. Their third mode, grapeshot (it's kind of "burning oil jar" projectile, but M2TW automatically assigns grapeshot name and icon to that) is excellent for firing at close range into tight pockets of troops that form in front of guarding pike troops. One such hit can create dozens of crispy kills. When enemy is sufficiently weakened, proceed to option 2 or 3.
Second is doing the hammer and anvil. You need to have room for maneuvering there.
Third is push with phalanx itself. That's actually easy. Simply take the rear pike unit at place where you want to push and take it off guard mode. Then they'll actively seek to engage enemy and poke him with pikes. This will also break unit's cohesion a bit, making their line twist, but they will also slowly creep forward. That's why you keep the first unit on guard mode a while longer, to keep enemy troops from closing on the attacking pikemen. Eventually, take that unit off guard mode too when your first unit creeps too far forward. Here is how this battle ended, you can clearly see which pike units I used for push:

Also note the casualties made by onagers and other ranged units. They are quite powerful if you use them right.


About the levy phalanx...they are the only pike units that have defined secondary weapon. But M2TW often switches to secondary weapon too soon, so the better pike units don't have secondary weapon, making them use their pikes all the time, to reflect better training and thus better cohesion.

Note: click on each screenie to zoom.

[Yerevan]

...

[Yerevan]

I never deploy spears as single, three ranks deep formation, but use two, mutually supporting units, but use two units, in two ranks each, deployed to create a cohesive four rank deep, tight phalanx.

Wow Sar1n, this is really impressive ! Perfect explanation. I want to try that immediately with the Tracian Invaders :-)

Thanks !

[Sar1n]

Wow Sar1n, this is really impressive ! Perfect explanation. I want to try that immediately with the Tracian Invaders :-)

Technically, you could create more "real" phalanx by using one line two ranks deep, the other three ranks deep to bring full 5 lines into battle, as was common in macedonian phalanx, but I never really tried that one, 2+2 is strong enough and uses less units for same line length.

And sorry for the...typo there, I rewrote the sentence to make it clearer and apparently forgot to erase part of previous one, so it might be confusing. I'll edit it...

[airborne guy]

@Sarin, you should also make a video on how to use them properly, as the are very weak if not used as they should. Great explanation, +REP

When I get a chance lol

[k/t]

Phalanxes have spear wall, not shield wall.

If you want phalanx units to move, turn spear wall off, otherwise they will walk really slowly. Also, they can't run with spear wall on.