If I can raise an ideal Makedonian army, when in battle I have a unit of argyraspidai or hysteroi pezhetairoi on both extreme ends of my pikemen line, with the deuteroi phalangite guys making up the inner part of the battle line, but with two additional units of argyraspidai or hyst. pez. right in the center. I have a unit of strong flank guards (not pikemen) at each end of the line to protect both sides of the line. I also have cavalry, usually at least two units of thraikian medium cavarly stationed far back, behind, and at the center of my battle line.

Under ideal circumstances and when battle commences, I split my battle line, right down the center, so that I have a unit and a half's width between the two center argyr./hyst. pez. units in the center, thus forming two seperate battle lines, and making it slightly longer, and having a seemingly vulnerable gaping hole in my line. I station my general to the right of the hole, nto too far behind the pikemen; right behind each of the two center argyr./hyst. pez., I try to station a thraikian peltast unit for support, or whatever else is handy and that doesn't mind melee combat. Any other missile troops I have are stationed to the left of the hole, more or less right behind the pikemen.

When the enemy closes the distance, they will often try to go for that center hole in my line, as it is vulnerable and my general is right near there. I let them go for it, and they end up attacking, and have to concentrate their attention on the argyr./hyst. pez. units there, their bodies turned at almost a right angle to my battle line in order to wrap around the pikemen. I then charge with my cavalry, right in the center, causing massive casualties to the enemy, and it usually takes only two or three charges, in wedge formation, to break any units attacking my center. It seems like a fairly effective strategy in battle.

The make-up of the army is based on if I was losing a war to Rome, and had lost Greece proper, so that I had the thraikian lands and that would be where I would raise such an army.