Combat questions

[Scelesticfish]

My first question is, how exactly does one counter elephants effectively?
I figured that attacking them with A phalanx formation (Either pike or hoplite) would be effective enough to silence them fairly quickly, but the elephants just seem to continue to smash the pikemen to pieces. More die then when they are engaged with infantry who isn't in phalanx, but it seems pretty Pyrrhic, which leaves my pikes way open for flanking maneuvers and for heavier infantry to jump in and pick apart my pikes.

The second question is a bit more of a noobish one, but when should I use the phalanx formation, and when do I keep my troops without it? Is the Phalanx just for engaging cavalry?

[Slaists]

You counter elephants with javelins (and/or slingers, archers). Javelins (even the militia variety) are by far, the most efficient elephant killer in the game. Slingers, if they're allowed to pepper elephants, will kill the beasts in a few salvos too. At first, you won't see any damage, then, all of a sudden, all elephants will fall dead (that's the new hit-point system at work).

Phalanx? Pikes should always fight in phalanx formation (unless fighting on the walls or chasing routers). Hoplites are a different matter. It seems, phalanx only works well in defense for them.

[Scelesticfish]

Ah, okay! Thank you very much!

[rrgg]

The issue with almost all elephants dying at the same time is the ai hitting the "kill elephants" button.

[Naked Emperor]

Phalangites should not always fight in phalanx, if you need to chase down skirmishers or fighting an army that is almost all skirmishers then you should keep them out of phalanx. Also you might keep them out of phalanx while you move them about as phalanx formation slows them down and makes them vulnerable to missiles. While engaging infantry and cavalry it almost always pays off keeping them in phalanx.

Just remember tactical flexibility is the key and you are doing nothing wrong if you take a unit out off phalanx to quickly flank an enemy unit