Best Elite Phalanx

[spanakoryzo]

Chaonion agema.Limited AoR but still...Their stats are superb and their resiliance legendary.They look great too!

[Elagalabus]

The Chaonion were the bane of my armies while fighting them as the Romani. And those damned Epeirotes didn't just field one or two of them, they had whole battlelines of them facing my armies. Nightmarish battles were the result. To date they are the only unit that has ever managed to rout one of my triarii.

[Atraphoenix]

Argyraspidai , my worst nightmare although I send thousands of horse archers and they fire like machine guns they still stands.
My rush to conquer Seleukeia is for this reason.....

[A Terribly Harmful Name]

Chaonion agema.Limited AoR but still...Their stats are superb and their resiliance legendary.They look great too!

Yup, in a Custom Battle with the AI I made to get a bit better used to phalanxes after a while, the Chaonion took a charge of two prodromoi and one hetairoi on the back and still managed to survive the battle with the smallest casualty count of all my phalanxes. And noone of the others had the same fate.

[Tellos Athenaios]

I'd have voted Argyraspides, but seeing they aren't listed I go with Argyraspidai instead.

All elite phalanx units are about equal in (useful) strength (they will all fight till the last man if the circumstances require it, they will all grind any enemy advance to a halt if asked to); but of them the Seleukid Argyraspides are the most useful because of the relatively wide AOR.

Playing as the Arche you quickly learn to appreciate the benefits of having (at least) 5 different centers capable of recruiting these units as opposed to 2 or 3 (consider that the infrastructure must be fairly well developed before these units become available): 2 more centers essentially means giving 2 more armies enough staying power to withstand 2 more invasions at any given time. And it also means much less time (= money) is required to deploy any given Elite Phalanx unit at the (other) front.

[Centurio Nixalsverdrus]

I have never had any experience with Chalkaspides I must say, but I suspect they're the best looking, if probably not the best fighting.

Elite African Pikemen I have fought and slaughtered in droves because the Carthies tend to spam them. I've literally worked my way from Kyrene to Kart-Hadast through thousands and thousands of these guys. They ain't bad, but not a challenge either.

Chaonion Agema is not bad, but I have almost zero memories of them, they all date back to my 1.0 Carthage campaign where I conquered Greece from the Epeirotes with an army of Hoplites, and although I remember the Chaonioi as tough, I don't think they are tougher than Argyraspides.

Argyraspides I use since ages, and I fight since ages. They are good, but only marginally better than Hysteroi Pezhetairoi. In a Seleukid army they stand out more than in a Makedonian one.

The best of all these is the Klerouchon Agema. The Ptolemaioi have them in every stack they field alongside Klerouchoi, and they are badass. They are always the last to rout and stand out quite a lot in a Ptolemaic phalanx.

Nevertheless, I voted Argyraspides, because they are the most Makedonian one. They have the best AAR of the contestants and do look really good.

[A Terribly Harmful Name]

I'd have voted Argyraspides, but seeing they aren't listed I go with Argyraspidai instead.

This refers to (all) the units, so I thought the use of the plural was correct :~p.

[Centurio Nixalsverdrus]

Aργυρασπις, pl. Αργυρασπιδες (Argyraspis, Argyraspides). "Argyraspidai" is wrong, but Eb is to be blamed for it because they featured "Argyraspidai" I believe till 1.0.

[A Terribly Harmful Name]

I thought it was still the plural form of sg. Argyraspides since it resembles a Latin form, but that's ok.

[Torvus]

I think it's rather obvious that the Chaonian Agema are the "best" elite phalanx, but I prefer the Klerouchon. They have the coolest shield and armor by far, and one of the better AoR's and are pretty much on par with Argyraspides. plus they have awesome heavy infantry to back them up.

[Cute Wolf]

I Choose Argyraspidai because they are widely available to cover most of the regions, and they are the most cost effective.... (guys... in terms of punching powers Chaonion agema is the best... but you couldn't took them to conquer egypt and persia without much depletion... as they are only handy to conquer Hellas as well as burning barbaropolis )

[gamegeek2]

type carthaginian infantry aanatim afrikanim aloophim
dictionary carthaginian_infantry_aanatim_afrikanim_aloophim ; Aanatim Aloopim
category infantry
class spearmen
voice_type General_1
soldier hellenistic_infantry_kleruchoiagema_eliteafricanpikeman_chaeonianagema_argyraspidai_hysteroi_chalkas pidai, 60, 0, 1.45
officer ebofficer_lusitanian_carthaginian_officer
mount_effect elephant -1
attributes sea_faring, hide_forest
formation 1.1, 1, 2.2, 2, 6, square, phalanx
stat_health 1, 1
stat_pri 18, 0, no, 0, 0, melee, blade, piercing, spear, 0 ,0.17
stat_pri_attr long_pike, light_spear
stat_sec 10, 4, no, 0, 0, melee, simple, slashing, sword, 0 ,0.13
stat_sec_attr no
stat_pri_armour 12, 7, 5, metal
stat_sec_armour 0, 0, flesh
stat_heat 4
stat_ground 0, 0, -5, -3
stat_mental 15, disciplined, highly_trained
stat_charge_dist 30
stat_fire_delay 0
stat_food 60, 300
stat_cost 1, 2936, 734, 70, 100, 2936
ownership egypt

type hellenistic infantry argyraspidai
dictionary hellenistic_infantry_argyraspidai ; Argyraspidai
category infantry
class spearmen
voice_type Light_1
soldier hellenistic_infantry_kleruchoiagema_eliteafricanpikeman_chaeonianagema_argyraspidai_hysteroi_chalkas pidai, 60, 0, 1.45
officer ebofficer_hellenic_officer
officer ebofficer_hellenic_standardbearer
mount_effect elephant -1
attributes sea_faring, hide_forest, hardy
formation 1.1, 1, 2.2, 2, 6, square, phalanx
stat_health 1, 1
stat_pri 19, 0, no, 0, 0, melee, simple, piercing, spear, 0 ,0.17
stat_pri_attr long_pike, light_spear
stat_sec 12, 4, no, 0, 0, melee, simple, slashing, sword, 0 ,0.13
stat_sec_attr no
stat_pri_armour 11, 9, 5, metal
stat_sec_armour 0, 0, flesh
stat_heat 3
stat_ground 0, 0, -5, -3
stat_mental 16, disciplined, highly_trained
stat_charge_dist 30
stat_fire_delay 0
stat_food 60, 300
stat_cost 1, 3996, 999, 269, 654, 3996
ownership macedon, romans_julii

If you look at the two, the argyraspidai beat out the africans by 1 attack and 1 armour, though by 2 on the melee attack. The Africans cost roughly 1000 less and 250 less per turn, while still being superior to Pezhetairoi.

Plus the Africans look badass. Though not as badass as the Chaonion Agema, who also say their name in a badass way, and are the strongest of the elite phalanxes.

[Apázlinemjó]

And +1 mental point to Silver-shields. ;o

Anyway, let's see others:

type             greek infantry chaeonian agema
dictionary       greek_infantry_chaeonian_agema      ; Chaonion Agema
category         infantry
class            spearmen
voice_type       Heavy_1
soldier          hellenistic_infantry_kleruchoiagema_eliteafricanpikeman_chaeonianagema_argyraspidai_hysteroi_chalkaspidai, 60, 0, 1.45
officer          ebofficer_hellenic_officer
officer          ebofficer_hellenic_standardbearer
mount_effect     elephant -1
attributes       sea_faring, hide_forest
formation        1.1, 1, 2.2, 2, 6, square, phalanx
stat_health      1, 1
stat_pri         19, 0, no, 0, 0, melee, simple, piercing, spear, 0 ,0.17
stat_pri_attr    long_pike, light_spear
stat_sec         12, 4, no, 0, 0, melee, simple, slashing, sword, 0 ,0.13
stat_sec_attr    no
stat_pri_armour  12, 9, 5, metal
stat_sec_armour  0, 0, flesh
stat_heat        5
stat_ground      0, 0, -5, -3
stat_mental      16, disciplined, highly_trained
stat_charge_dist 30
stat_fire_delay  0
stat_food        60, 300
stat_cost        1, 4056, 1014, 50, 80, 4056
ownership        thrace

type             hellenistic infantry kleruchoi agemata
dictionary       hellenistic_infantry_kleruchoi_agemata      ; Kleruchoi Agema
category         infantry
class            spearmen
voice_type       Medium_1
soldier          hellenistic_infantry_kleruchoiagema_eliteafricanpikeman_chaeonianagema_argyraspidai_hysteroi_chalkaspidai, 60, 0, 1.45
officer          ebofficer_hellenic_officer
officer          ebofficer_hellenic_standardbearer
mount_effect     elephant -1
attributes       sea_faring, hide_forest, hardy
formation        1.1, 1, 2.2, 2, 6, square, phalanx
stat_health      1, 1
stat_pri         19, 0, no, 0, 0, melee, simple, piercing, spear, 0 ,0.17
stat_pri_attr    long_pike, light_spear
stat_sec         12, 4, no, 0, 0, melee, simple, slashing, sword, 0 ,0.13
stat_sec_attr    no
stat_pri_armour  11, 9, 5, metal
stat_sec_armour  0, 0, flesh
stat_heat        3
stat_ground      0, 0, -5, -4
stat_mental      16, disciplined, highly_trained
stat_charge_dist 30
stat_fire_delay  0
stat_food        60, 300
stat_cost        1, 3996, 999, 50, 80, 3996
ownership        numidia

type             hellenistic infantry chalkaspidai
dictionary       hellenistic_infantry_chalkaspidai      ; Chalkaspidai
category         infantry
class            spearmen
voice_type       Heavy_1
soldier          hellenistic_infantry_kleruchoiagema_eliteafricanpikeman_chaeonianagema_argyraspidai_hysteroi_chalkaspidai, 60, 0, 1.45
officer          ebofficer_hellenic_officer
officer          ebofficer_hellenic_standardbearer
mount_effect     elephant -1
attributes       sea_faring, hide_forest
formation        1.1, 1, 2.2, 2, 6, square, phalanx
stat_health      1, 1
stat_pri         18, 0, no, 0, 0, melee, simple, piercing, spear, 0 ,0.17
stat_pri_attr    long_pike, light_spear
stat_sec         10, 4, no, 0, 0, melee, simple, slashing, sword, 0 ,0.13
stat_sec_attr    no
stat_pri_armour  12, 7, 5, metal
stat_sec_armour  0, 0, flesh
stat_heat        5
stat_ground      0, 0, -5, -2
stat_mental      13, disciplined, highly_trained
stat_charge_dist 30
stat_fire_delay  0
stat_food        60, 300
stat_cost        1, 2936, 734, 224, 877, 2936
ownership        carthage

Chalkaspidai has only 13 mental? Wow, that's the reason why they rout so fast compared to the other elites.

[Apázlinemjó]

Hops, double post, sorry.

[Mister V]

Argyraspides are the mainstay of my AS armies, so I'll vote for them. Never seen the Chaonion Agema (possibly because whatever faction fields them is destroyed early on). However the Klerouchon Agema are always a pain, especially when you come to Egypt and find lots of those... they just make too many casualties.

[Apázlinemjó]

Never seen the Chaonion Agema (possibly because whatever faction fields them is destroyed early on).

Epeiros, it is.

[Mister V]

Ah, yes, the one time when they managed to survive and conquer the whole peninsula I was away in Baktria...

I wonder if EB2 is going to change much in terms of unit balance. These units are quite important, and if, for example, the team decides to make less recruitment centres for Argyraspides, that would shift the balance in favour of the enemies of the AS. That is, if the recruitment system's going to be more or less the same?.. Faction units (except Roman legions) will always be limited to their historic AoR, won't they?

[fleaza]

id vote chaonians if they didnt have such a tiny AOR

[bobbin]

Elite African Pikemen are my choice although the Chaonion Agema come a very very close second, both are truly awful to fight against in battle.

[Phalanx300]

The Chaonians.

[the man with no name]

Woohoo 100th vote.

Elite African Pikemen, highly cost efficient and looks damn cool. The Chaonion Agema is the best looks in my book by far, though.

If you look at the two, the argyraspidai beat out the africans by 1 attack and 1 armour, though by 2 on the melee attack. The Africans cost roughly 1000 less and 250 less per turn, while still being superior to Pezhetairoi.

Plus the Africans look badass. Though not as badass as the Chaonion Agema, who also say their name in a badass way, and are the strongest of the elite phalanxes.

Damn straight. Almost. Klerouchon Agema look even more Badass though