the advantage of the iphikrate troop types is that they are better armed with swords and better armoured for the most part

but their spear being used underhand instead of an upperhand way makes them less effectice with the spear then the traditional hoplites so when using them remember to switch to the swords unleass it´s against cavalry

i personally prefer the thorokitai and thurepoi instead of the hoplite versions due to their javelins wich on a long batleline in an huge batle can almost rout out the weakest enemies troops giving you a numbers advantage that allows you to flank better/more flexibility

this is even more true against barbarians altough the kretikoi archers are a must to have against any barbaroi army

altough i must admit i use the skirmishers (not the cheapest one´s i mean the other one´s) as i use my iphikrates troop type except that with them i don´t need to hit alt to change to swords since they imediatly do (on a regular classical greek army i let my skirmishers take the 1st blow and fight it off for a while before retreating behinde the real hoplite resting for a bit and then go on the flanking manouvers)