What is the best Phalanx unit?

[MarcusAureliusAntoninus]

I agree, the Elite African Pikemen seem to be the best unit in the game. I had them completely waste my Argyraspides without even breaking a sweat.

[Intranetusa]

I agree, the Elite African Pikemen seem to be the best unit in the game. I had them completely waste my Argyraspides without even breaking a sweat.

I pwned one unit of elite African Pikemen with one unit of mercenary hellenic pikemen + 44 (1/3 unit) Cretan Archers shooting at them from behind. :p

[Ymarsakar]

I do recall seeing a Ptolemaic elite phalanx surrounded by three Cats from Baktria. The phalanx didn't break even when they were down to 22 men.

That kind of dependability is nice to have. High morale and disciplined traits for phalanxes would be worth the large upkeep and long supply lines.

[konny]

I pwned one unit of elite African Pikemen with one unit of mercenary hellenic pikemen + 44 (1/3 unit) Cretan Archers shooting at them from behind. :p

I had once killed one of that kind with nothing but three units of Equites (the Roman cavalry isn't really that bad).

Always a good phalanx are the classical Hoplites. If you use them the proper way in guard mode without making attacks that require changes of direction, (that is not like a Barbarian warband, what the AI always does) even Successor elite phalanx has serious problems to get through them. The Makedonian Phalanxes usually only win by superior numbers within the units against the classicals.

[Boyar Son]

I had once killed one of that kind with nothing but three units of Equites (the Roman cavalry isn't really that bad).

Arent that bad??

every battle that I use them _all_ but 1-3 DIE and then route....

Equites are just...well I havent found a use for them yet :P

[Ymarsakar]

Arent that bad??

every battle that I use them _all_ but 1-3 DIE and then route....

Equites are just...well I havent found a use for them yet :P

Equites doesn't have AP and only about .15 lethality or something, so I don't know how you can use them to kill Phalanxes, unless you rout the phalanx through double envelopment and shock tactics.

Far better to just use the equites extraordinarii.

[Cyclops]

Don't play a lot of AS or Pt but the Macedonian silver shields are a very satisying unit, and more widspread than the pre-reform pezhets.

Ymarsakar makes a great pouint about versatiluity and teven the humble panto phalanx does a job, especially morale/experience boosted.

[overweightninja]

Imho a phalanx is a phalanx, of course Argyspides and Sacred Bands are desirable, but if you use a Pantodapoi Phalangitai unit or something simmilar effectively, it'll do just as good a job for a hell of a lot less (just don't let them get flanked! ).
Cheers