Pool: The best "cheap infantrymen" for staple...

[Celtic_Punk]

Of that list the Phalangitai Deuteroi are probably the best unit classified as levies.

It would depend on your faction, as the Koinen Hellenon the Hoplitai Haploi are a live saver for their quality and money. The Phalangitai Deuteroi as Makedonia are very strong units but then again also have a much higher cost. These units probably followed by the Germanic Levies, they seem to be a somewhat good levy unit as well seeing that had to be worthy of their freedom and were in war since childhood.

if you can't afford proper hoplites then haploi will save your ass, as long as they're flanks are secure they can be depended on. Keep them in the core of your line. They refuse to give ground and give a good account of themselves. They can easily kill over twice their casualties if used correctly. Remember, centre of the line. keep your proper men on the flanks.

A favourite tactic of mine is to pull your haploi centre back, let their men rush forward, and create a long V with your men on the outside and them on the inside. charge with the centre and take them off guardmode, if you have cavalry run them down the centre of the V and everything will rout.

[MerlinusCDXX]

if you can't afford proper hoplites then haploi will save your ass, as long as they're flanks are secure they can be depended on. Keep them in the core of your line. They refuse to give ground and give a good account of themselves. They can easily kill over twice their casualties if used correctly. Remember, centre of the line. keep your proper men on the flanks.

A favourite tactic of mine is to pull your haploi centre back, let their men rush forward, and create a long V with your men on the outside and them on the inside. charge with the centre and take them off guardmode, if you have cavalry run them down the centre of the V and everything will rout.

Sounds like the Hannibal Barca tactic lives on. Does work well though.

I took the 'crazy levies' option. Draps (to CHAAAARRRRGEE) combined with horsearchers ( to draw missile fire from the Draps) works for me.

[antisocialmunky]

Hoplitai Haploi gets mauled by anything with a sword though.

[Zim]

I like the archer spearmen (whatever their faction and flavor) as the best all around levies. As far as acting as the "anvil" I'd say the deutoroi or pantodopai phalangitai, though, and for all around melee I'd likely choose those celtic short swordsmen or Domatai...

[Conqueror]

The levy phalanx, especially the Pantodapoi Phalangitai. Will hold the line against frontal assaults by all except the elitiest of units; just have their flanks secured by other troops and they can keep on pinning forever. Not to mention a BIG area of recruitment. The local ( = Pantodapoi ) variety also has AP axes as their secondary weapon, so they deal surprisingly good damage vs heavily armoured foes if forced to fight out of formation. Their large head count per unit also makes them very effective garrison troops.

[Mikhail Mengsk]

I like the archer spearmen (whatever their faction and flavor) as the best all around levies. As far as acting as the "hammer" I'd say the deutoroi or pantodopai phalangitai, though, and for alla round melee I'd likely choose those celtic short swordsmen or Domatai...

Phalangites are anvils, not hammers

[Maion Maroneios]

Since when are javelineers or archers categorized as infantrymen?

As for the rest that actually fit to the title, I'd go for the Haploi. They are quite reliable in holding a line, even against superior forces and numbers. As long as provided with reasonable protection at the flanks and some decent Strategos to keep them motivated.

Maion

[A Very Super Market]

Heh, don't legionaires count?

[Prussian to the Iron]

archer-spearmen FTW!!!

basically, instead of sitting around when they're in your reserves or deserted flanks, they can provide real archer support, then charge in when needed. they should not be relied on to hold the line against phalanx or elite units, but they can usually hold their own versus most early game units.

[Hooahguy]

i voted for Drapanai. this unit is awesome for low price.
but even such, i didnt recruit them much when i played EB. id rather spend more on better units, since the drapanai rout easily under missile fire.

[Watchman]

Since when are javelineers or archers categorized as infantrymen?

Whenever they weren't sitting on a horse. Duh.

One relatively good one is the Caucasian levy spearmen - they're pretty much just Pantodapoi with different skin and better morale, but dirt cheap and early on in a Hayasdan campaign one is wont to learn how to use them effectively (in tandem with diverse missile troops and FamiCav) to maul those pike stacks the Seleukids keep sending through the passes. Not that I for one didn't replace them with the rather tougher Hai sparabara as soon as the budget allowed, mind you, but scavenger economy is scavenger economy and teaches you to get a good mileage out of the most meager resources.

One option the poll also needs is those el cheapo axemen found from Asia Minor to the Hindu Kush in various versions. Another cheap bunch that sees a lot of use shredding phalanxes.

[Zim]

Fixed.

Phalangites are anvils, not hammers

[godsakes]

Value wise, the casse shortswordsmen are tough to beat

Only cheapo slingers/archers seem to have a lower upkeep - they make cheap garrison troops and decent battle fodder which punch above their weight. Since they're so cheap and easy to replace/retrain you can spam them to overwhelm most of Europe