Offensive phalanx

I have never figured out how best to utilize the phalanx on offense. generally I march them forward until they march into the computer, stop them, and place them in guard mode so they don't break foundation. This has generally worked for me, but I've noticed when facing an enemy phalanx, the enemy unit pushes through my phalanx and messes up formation.
Ive attempted to try to march through with my phalanx as the AI has done, but when I try this my phalanx is chewed up and I suffer huge casualties. So basically, Im just looking for some offensive phalanx advice against other phalanx or just in general

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Originally Posted by soibean

I have never figured out how best to utilize the phalanx on offense. generally I march them forward until they march into the computer, stop them, and place them in guard mode so they don't break foundation. This has generally worked for me, but I've noticed when facing an enemy phalanx, the enemy unit pushes through my phalanx and messes up formation.
Ive attempted to try to march through with my phalanx as the AI has done, but when I try this my phalanx is chewed up and I suffer huge casualties. So basically, Im just looking for some offensive phalanx advice against other phalanx or just in general

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I find that offensive.


But yeah like lots of infantry, select the space behind the enemy line, wait 5 seconds, then right click the enemy again.

It does wonders.

Edit:I actually thought you were talking about spear phalanxes, not pikes.
But yeah, if you have Pantodapoi phalangitai(AP axes) or a more elite phalanx you could just take em' out of formation and do the above strategy

They are a large group of heavily armored swordsmen if you remove them from phalanx formation. Instant offense!

I presume you mean the Macedonian style phalanx? Ironically it's the hoplitai I have trouble with, not opposing phalangitai.

alright I'll try to click behind again... I was thinking it was because of the quality of my phalanx and thats why they were being massacred when I tried in the past
thanks guys

What battle difficulty are you on? Are your units in guard mode?

I play on medium battle vh campaign
I put them on guard but generally take them off when they are attacking

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Originally Posted by soibean

I put them on guard but generally take them off when they are attacking

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That's the problem:

Phalanx without guard mode vs. phalanx with guard mode will lead to the anhilation of the first one with hardly any casualties to the second one.

Phalanx without guard mode vs any other unit will result in the phalanx possibly beeing infiltrated.

But without guard mode the phalanx behaves much more realistic: It is much better able to push its enemies (units in guard mode nearly have no mass). It will more likely actualy kill enemies than just stand close to them and show the "we-are-fighting"-icon. And - the downside - it is possible for determined enemy units to infiltrate the phalanx. Whenever you are closing in the flanks of the enemy with your phalanx or when facing a weaker non-phalanx unit, turn off guard mode.

Unfortuantly we can't disable guard mode for all phalanxes, what is a pitty given how buggy this important unit often behaves with guard mode (ever tried to attack units behind a gate with phalanx?).

oh alright thanks, I thought guard mode would keep them in phalanx formation rather than them switching to swords

My phalanxes generally do what i ask them without any back chatting or foul mouthery. Quite polite actually.

mine go with the order: "LANCE THE BARBARIANS!!"

anyways, I agree with all previous answers about them: guard mode is the only way you can keep the cohesion of the unit in question. prblem is that they sometimes try too hard to stick to formation (I had a phalanx face a carthaginians in an oblique manner-so that only 3 or 4 were actually contacting the enemy-I had to take guard mode off to make them actually face the enemy).