Phalanx Strategy

[shooter0220]

People have posted different phalanx defensive formations like a pentagon which have no flanks or rear exposed. But this formation is very limiting when you try to accommodate other units like archers, skirmishers cavalry etc. I've found a new formation which has the same advantage, but without those weaknesses. It uses the red battlefield borders, so it may not be realistic and very effective nonetheless.

Form a line or a quarter circle at the corner of the red lines with phalanx units. Then there is plenty of space left behind the line to place your archers, skirmishers and cavalry to chase down routers. The enemy cannot flank you since it can't go beyond the red lines. The more phalanx you have, the more of other units you can accommodate behind your longer front line.

This strategy was very effective against Egyptians who can easily mess up your army formation with their chariots. They all had to charge straight into the spears. Granted this will only work when you are defending, you can fight off a huge army with a lot smaller number.

[Shottie]

I normally do this on D, I put a wall of spears, behind them archers, on the falnks Cavalry (heavy if possible) 2 on each flank, then the general and two other cavalry units to plug holes (they stay behind the spears) and Skirmishers in front to weaken the enemy. No enemy that I incountered has stayed along against this, the only way to get to the general is through every soldier. :charge:

[Somebody Else]

Personally, I go for the whole wave method... Several lines of men, if the first is flanked, the second line comes in to hit the flankers. The third line does the same, or goes round to flank. Either that, or have a ridiculously long line, with a couple of reserves at each end.

[DisruptorX]

Yea, those poseurs. I thought of this tactic first, like the day the game came out. Its mine, mine I tell you! Here's how its really done:
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v428/DisruptorX/Phalanxformation.jpg

Notice how my archers are also cataphracts? That means that the enemy can't catch them, and they are immune to missle fire. Plus they pack a punch in melee. So basically I lead their army on a merry chase whilst annihilating them with arrows and they can't assult my main force for obvious reason.

[m4rt14n]

I would love to bring my heavy Onagers against ur phalanxes...

[DisruptorX]

I would love to bring my heavy Onagers against ur phalanxes...

The computer doesn't make Heavy Onagers. The key is to know your enemy. ~;) What one would use against the AI is not what one would use against a mortal foe.

[Uesugi Kenshin]

In custom battle I just played 4600 against 1600, I was 1600 hoplites only, I formed a multi layered square with a small open box in middle with 20 phalanx units total, 2 units form outer wall on all sides of box, small gap 2 more on each, then four units make a center box with thicker lines. I fought against all romans, they had archers and many heavy infantry and a good deal of heavy cavalry. They caused a good deal of casualties from archery, but only when shooting my men in the back. The corners are the only weak points, but if they break a corner pikes from the next row slaughter them. The romans killed 600 of my men, I killed 3000 of theirs. They made repeated charges I could not follow routers so I only made a few kills on routers, most just reformed after running. They succesfully penetrated my right front corner a couple of times but never far enough. My general survived despite being on the front line of my front pike wall for much of the battle, he retired at one point to strengthen the back of the wall. Due to limited ammo the Romans eventually sent their archers into the grinder after they used all of their ammo, I believe the killed at most 150 men. The field ended up having many of my men dead alone on my left back corner, due to the AI intelligently loosing their arrows at that area where my troops backs were turned, and a wall of corpses, mainly roman covering from my left front to my right back corner.

Only one of my units was upgraded and in a heavily formation dependent scenario like that my right flank would have crumbled if that unit was all that won the battle.

The enemy units did end up costing more than mine as well and were mainly good roman heavy infantry and heavy cavalry.

[Uesugi Kenshin]

P.S. My general's unit made 584 kills and one of the units that was bombarded with arrow healed half of their casualties, puny arrows!

[Mikeus Caesar]

I don't go for your stratagies (sp?). I send my phalanxes into the units directly opposite, while i get my cavalry to deal with flanks.

[Shottie]

I have another question. When Phalanx units get into combat, they slow move to the left or right, so that in a couple of minutes they arent even facing the other phalanx they are fighting. Does anyone else get this? I think it is really stupid, because if I went to fix them they would put their spears up and get slatured.. Its very frustrating.

[ShadesPanther]

its dort of a bug/feature

To use the phalanx without that you have to move your men exactly behind the unit you want to fight. othwise it will be your flank fighting his flank

[Legerdemain]

Or you could just turn guard mode off. That reduces the phalanx shuffle a whole bunch.