For anyone who says phalanxes are rubbish... THINK AGAIN!

[SonOfAlexander]

This unit of Bronze Shields was just stuck in an archway and the Egyptians sent all their cavalry and charitos at it until the layers were so high that my men actually had to walk through it! All these kills were in one go!

[Scutarii]

Nice kill count. I don't think phalanx's are rubbish (and I don't think anyone thinks their bad at defending cities ), they just need to be used properly, and supported well (which is easier in mods than vanilla...)

[Kátz]

Nice results!! +rep
btw who said phalanx are rubbish?

[SonOfAlexander]

thx 4 the +rep

[Toorima]

The weakness/superiority of phalanx has been discussed for approximately a hundred times plus in this forum.

I think everyone being concerned about the fighting quality of men standing in close ranks with long spears has already made his point elsewhere.

[aznflea]

some ppl dont think they are very good because of the inflexibility. this is made up for by being a very powerful lineholder.

i still think that the roman legionnaires are the most useful infantry in the game.

[nightgash]

Are they any good to send up ladders onto the walls or in siege towers? They change from their spear to a short sword, when doing this do they lose some of their attacking ability?

[Kátz]

Are they any good to send up ladders onto the walls or in siege towers? They change from their spear to a short sword, when doing this do they lose some of their attacking ability?

Yup, they lose a lot, perhaps this is the only reason people call them like that...

[zedestroyer]

Phalanx aren't rubbish. In multiplayer I use phalanx pikemen to hold Urban Cohorts and they do their job very well.
Phalanx are bad if used in walls, because they can't use their spears, but if you use them on the streets, they can really do a serious amount of damage.

[Double A]

Which is why they made Spartans and mercenaries.

Even better: Spartan mercenaries!!!

[Amaranth]

Phalanx FTW

[Strategist]

They are not so good. You are just lucky for unit kill count like me and many other fans of them. It's simply that the CPU is too weak to overpower them. They are slow and not so good agains infantry as versus cavalry. Still very good units.

[darthbane7]

My personal opinion:

For what it's worth, phalanxes ARE unflexible, comparing them to light infantry or swordsmen, who chop up phalanxes easily from the rear and flanks, but the phalanx's staying power and ability to strike from afar with their spears at the front makes up for that disabilty. Just protect the flanks!

By the way Strategist, the CPU is not weak, it's simply uncreative and stupid when it comes to strategy (yes, I know, major understatment). Unless you were talking of the CPU's/AI's brainpower and ability to use tactics, in which case, my answer is, OF COURSE!

Anyways, in MP, Phalanxes work pretty well for experienced users, (I can't claim to be one, since I haven't played for SUCH a long time), but luck really doesn't come into play when two equally matched players duke it out. The higher stats of roman sword infantry is countered by the phalanxes long spears. Not to forget that if you need to run, just turn off the phalanx, and double-right click to your destination, then turn on the phalanx once you're close enough.

(P.S., I say swordsmen chop up phalanxes from the flanks and rear because the phalanxes have a -4 penalty fighting swords, from Forlornhop3's unit guide.)

[Scutarii]

The phalanx is an exception from the -4 penalty, because they switch to swords themselves when attacked from the rear or side. So its sword on sword... Np penalty either way, but any phalangite unit that isn't Royal Pikemen are fairly bad at sword fighting.

Phalangites are the best line infantry. They just need to be properly supported with light flanking troops and troops to stop enemy flankers, plus some cavalry for a hammer.

[darthbane7]

My apologies, you are totally right. I was thinking of spearmen.

[Prince_of_Macedon]

Moving to Battle Planning.

[Kátz]

when fighting AI you know about them, they are idiots....

[Lord Thesaurian]

I agree with Toorima. We all could go on and on about the strengths and waeknesses of the phalanx, but I will say this: Phalanxes kick @$$ when used correctly, and when their flanks and rear are sufficiently covered by more flexible units. I certainly don't think phalanxes are "rubbish," but, as history will prove, they were eventually abandoned because of their tactical inflexibility. As for the phalanx in relation to Rome: Total War, I've lead numerous phalangial civilizations to glorious victory over the Roman legions, and I do think phalanxes do have their place.