Shield Wall

[Shadow_LT]

What are this formation's cons and pros ? Should I use this formation with or without guard mode ?

[Legio]

You have beastly defense and I think lower attack.:hmmm:
You move slower and tire more easily. Use with guard mode.

[Scutarii]

Higher defense from the front, lower attack, so use in a big line to pin forces down when you don't have phalangites. Basically a pin formation, allowing cavalry and flanking forces to flank while the hoplites aren't taking much casualties because they're in shield wall.

[Publius Quirinus]

You will have a much shorter line though, due to the men moving close together, which makes it easy to be outflanked yourself. Not really to be used out in the open.

[Shadow_LT]

So it's similar to pike phalanx, and should be used as it? Does AI use this formation, cause I have never seen this formation being used by AI.

[Dog Fart]

The ai usualy skips a few special abilities. Especially if it lowers attack. The testudo is one of them. But that does not mean sheild wall is useless. I normally have my hoplites in the center rear of the phalanx in sheild wall incase my center is broken or confused. And it's really deadly when holding a bridge or gateway.

[Spartan Guard Itachi]

definitely second that comment on the bridge, basically kills everything with ease

[Stilgar CG]

Units in shield wall is an easy pray to missile units. I saw AI using shield wall mostly when it was vastly outnumbered or was loosing battle (although routing was clearly a better option). My slingers got some chevrons for "free" out of those guys .

[Shadow_LT]

So, I should only use shield wall only as defensive formation and attack with hoplites with standart formation.
Thanks for answering my questions, guys

[Balikedes]

When I use shield wall in the open it's usually to break the enemy line. You can click on an area behind the enemy line and your hoplites will saunter right through their line creating a hole. They will lose a bunch of soldiers but then you'll be able to throw some hypapists or something else into the breech.

I think I got this tip from DBH around a year ago...:hmmm:.

[Doctor]

I tend to use shield wall on my flanks just for the defensive bonus. However, during sieges when I am a phalanx faction fighting against a close quarter infantry faction such as Rome I stretch the hoplites out in front of the phalanx pikeman. This allows the pikeman to attack, but has the protection of the shield wall. Units get destroyed by the pikes and then run over by the shield wall and then victory.