Militia vs Trained

[JeffBag]

The Macedonian Pike Phalanx is not the same as the Hoplite Phalanx of the Peloponessian wars. The Spartans only ran when they saw the Athenian Hoplites forming up; the peltasts mainly decimated their morale. Only 250 of the 600 were killed in total, including those killed during the rout, so the peltasts initial volleys probably weren't that damaging, especially since the peltasts were able to engage all around the Spartans, avoiding their shields.

At Issus and Gaugamela the phalanx was under tremendous strain, if you follow tradition numbers given for that battle. It is obvious to see why they needed to be bailed out. The fact that they did held on for so long proves something. Anyway, the phalanx was designed to be part of a military system which incorporates infantry, cavalry, and archers, and it required all systems to work in order to fight properly, which is in the hammer and anvil system. If the hammer was not functioning, as Kraxis has said earlier, then obviously the system will fail. The Legion was designed to require no other support, therefore in a pure Legion vs Phalanx match the Legion will win of course, but thats like saying that a man without arms will lose to another with arms in a boxing match.

The phalanx could have been 'just a bunch of guys with sharp sticks going poke-poke-poke', and it wouldn't have mattered; since they only supposed to hold down the enemy, while minimalising casualties. The kills will come from the cavalry and the light and medium infantry.