In my Averni campaign I have a couple units of Massilian hoplites roaming around. I have them charge into an enemy formation with their swords and then they switch to spears and start expanding their circle which completely disrupts the enemy line. Plus with their capes they look like superheroes . I also used Alpine phalanxes as the backbone of my army when I fought the Romans.

The flexibility of armies in EB is one of it's greatest charms.