Quote Originally Posted by Irishmafia2020 View Post
I myself find that Hoplites (classical and even FM bodyguard) do not fare well against phalanxes.
There are basically two ways of fighting phalanx with classical Hoplites:

(1) Place one unit of them in a thin line in guard mode in the way of an approaching phalanx. Don't order any attack, just stay there and block the phalanx. They won't do any damage to the phalanx, but won't suffer much casualties either. The phalanx is pinned and ready to be flank by other Hoplites, Peltasts or Thureophoroi. That's how proper Greeks would do the job.

(2) A more radical way, used by Romans, Galatians and other Barbarian folks, can also be done by Hoplites. Fall with superior numbers on a single phalanx by ordering your men to run behind the phalanx. They will start fighting as soon as they are in touch with the enemy soldiers, what is allready behind the pikes! The phalanx is broken and I have seen levy phalanxes instantly routing with more than 200 men alive when beeing attacked that way. The AI tries the same from time to time but uses Pantodapoi and the like weak units for it, who all get slaughtered when trying to get through the pikewall. KH bodyguards, Roman Extraordinarii and heavy armoured Celts will survive the charge in sufficient numbers.