well after some extensive testing since ive started playing the papacy and many custom battles it seems that halberdiers are better versus infantry out of spearwall. but best against cav with spearwall on and braced.

pikemen dont need to be braced to hurt cav when they are charged but halberdiers will suffer big time if they are not braced.also they work best if used in blocks like hoplites. whereas pikemen work best when spread out the halberds work best the other way.