Quote Originally Posted by gurakshun
Actually the huge difference in armor from a levy phalanx (p. phalangitai) to a medium phalanx makes a HUGE difference in combat, levy phalanxes will get chewed up, even from the front, if they don't receive help in a short period of time where with the medium and elite phalanxes you have a lot more time and flexibility to break enemies that are pinned on your phalanxes. The medium and elites lose a lot less men on average per battle too, compared to the p.phalangitai. It's much better to use at least the medium phalanxe, since these don't have more than 2 to 3 points of armor difference from the elites.

Agreed. Also, they are pure phalanxes in that they are dead if flanked. With The other units you have more time to react. But they do very well on hills. I took few casualties facing Kleuruch phalangites who just got mauled. It was painful to see them do a Dead Zone/Dario Argento like move. How can you keep walking up a hill with a pike through your chest?Ouch.