After Carthaginian gets their phalanx, they are probably the hardest to beat

[Taiwan Legion]

Even though Greek and Macedon both have phallanx, they don't have auxilaries to back them up. If you have Poeni Infantry as your main battle line, and about 2 units of reserve poeni. Then have elephant as your flank guard. Baelaric Slinger in the back. Couple long shield cavalry. This is probably one of the hardest combination to beat.

If you wanna flank their main battle line, you get stomped on by elephants. If you wanna win with missles, you get stoned by slingers. The only way that I can think of is with siege weapons, but by the time people get siege weapons you probably are already at armored elephants, sacred band and sacred cavalry. And then it's even harder to beat.

[A.Saturnus]

Elephants, phalanx and heavy cav the seleucids get too. Plus they have pikes instead of spears, heavy inf and chariots. The only thing they are lacking are quality archers.

[Alexanderofmacedon]

I agree once the Carthaginians get the Sacred Band, they are a hard enemy, but that's why you open a can of whoop-a*s on em before they can make em!

[GFX707]

It still takes them 2 turns each to turn out sacred band units....and elephants too for that matter....when you consider that a lot of nations can turn out pretty good infantry in 1 turn coupled with how unreliable elephants can be Carthage aren't that great....one of my favourite nations to play as in the campaign though.

Plus the hardest and most important battles will be fought early on against the Romans who have quality low-level infantry....whereas the Carthaginians do not. I think most of my victories in the campaign against the Romans were thanks to city walls....of course as soon as you can field Poeni and a decent amount of elephants (especially against pre-Marian Romans) you win.

[Garvanko]

Greece has easy access to Cretan Archers (which gives their phalanx great support), though, but their Cav selection is ridiculous shallow, and generally weak. Your stuck with Militia and Greek Cav for the entire game, which makes fighting the Romans late on a heavy task, as Im finding out. Armoured hoplites and Spartans are pretty good though.

Nevertheless, Carthage has the best selection, IMO. Better than Seleucids, Egypt or the Romans. Armoured Elephants behind Poeni and Sacred band infantry, Sacred band cav flanking... magic. The Phalanx makes them unstoppable.

[Nelson]

Saturnus is right. A fully developed Seleucid army is very, very tough. Strong phalanx, legion style infantry and great cav, including elephants and chariots. Their army is excellent for every occasion.