Effective Way To Kill Spartans?

[Scipi0]

Now that I'm entering Greece I'm gonna encounter groups of Spartans, which is bad. They never retreat so hoping for them to rout is just a dream and pila is nice, but not really enough ammo to take down lets say 5 groups of them.

So, what I'm asking for is a effective way to take them down? (Pre-Marius)
/I'm not saying that they are too strong or anything so don't think about that.

[Teodosio]

Now that I'm entering Greece I'm gonna encounter groups of Spartans, which is bad. They never retreat so hoping for them to rout is just a dream and pila is nice, but not really enough ammo to take down lets say 5 groups of them.

So, what I'm asking for is a effective way to take them down? (Pre-Marius)
/I'm not saying that they are too strong or anything so don't think about that.

Spartans ARE tough in 6.4... missile weapons are not very effective against them, imho your best choice is just to surrond them and kill anyone
If you surround them properly you can wipe them off to the last man without excessive loss. But you will need at least 3-4 hastati for each units of Spartans! If you meet 5 of them at the same time, the only thing you could do is to engage 2-3 of them and distract the others with skirmishers.

[Garnier]

I'm gonna see what the elephants I brought from carthage can do.

But usualy, if there are 2 groups of them, I have one cretan archer unit, and one velite unit empty their ammo on each group, and that usually takes them all out. Other than that, just surround with triarii and princeps, and kill them off. Also keep some men from getting tired, and send them in when the spartans are exhausted.

And lastly, if you can, a cavalry charge against their rear can be effective. It won't rout, but you can kill some that way.

[Alatar]

I form up the battle lines and play it normaly, with triarria engaging the spartans.
the spartans will push through my lines causing a U in the battle formation.
I then flank the rest of the army and repeatedly cavarly charge untill it's just the partans left.
Because of the U in the formation, the rest of my battle lnes can fold in and surround them.
'course there still eager when theres one man left.

[Dominus Latronis of Troy]

i use 4-6 merc horse archer units - 2 on the flanks 2 in the middle with the hastai/princeps/triarii engaging in the middle.

[En_tu_Brute]

here is something easy, just attack with 5 leigons on AI control and surround them and they will fight to the death like in 300!

[FooGas]

As for me the best way to beat spartans is using artilery.
Sorry if i have written something wrong i am from ukraine and i am only 14 years old SPQR fan

[Bucephales]

You can do nothing. beg the children of leonidas for forgiveness, then que all units and keep smashing the W key.
Anyway, triarii engaged in the front, then throw both sets of pila in their backs. I personally dont engage in the front with anything else because for me they get absolutley demolished. Those creten archers are a godsend as well.

[Konig]

remember that using ranged units from behind or the flanks is considered an AI exploit and therefore against the house rules, so if you play by the house rules, you dont want to do it.

i find the best way of beating spartans is skirmishers unloading all their firepower on them and then using hastati (with fire at will on) as a wall and flanking with triarii.

[Garnier]

Trouble is that javelins run out, and you don't want an army of all javelins. At least against an army with 10 spartans.

What I did, is put 4 units of spartan mercenaries on hold formation in front of them, and then rotate my hastati/princeps on the sides, keeping them from getting exhausted, and then charge repeatedly with cavalry (preverably heavies like barb. nobles, or even elephants) into their backs. Also shower them with arrows (not fire, as they won't rout anyway).

[Liquidj]

From my test of Spartans, I see even elephant or chariot can really match with them. Normally 4 or 6 units of javelins and with 3 units of missile can really hurt them a lot, but you need at least 8 units of hand units to hold the line. I think if you really want to kill the Spartans without losing too many men is used javelin cavalry, I think you will find that Spartan is no match for such cavalry. Hehe...Good kill!!!

[Garnier]

Well, an army of javelin cavalry running around with spartans chasing I would consider against houserules, for me personally.

[Alatar]

Not a army of them, just a couple of units.

[Konig]

im not suggesting you DESTROY the spartans with ONLY skirmishers; only weaken them with skirmishers. thats how early Rome acually bet off the etruscans (of course they did actually rout after a while lol).

[Funnage]

Surround them and hope for the best:

[En_tu_Brute]

Surround them and hope for the best:

Wow, talk about dining in hell.....

[Samariten]

with pre marian untis send triarii and give them volleys of javelins and pillas...thespian mercs can hold against spartans pretty well to....