Sarissas and a phalanx' front line

[Phalanx300]

Well the point was to let them out of range so purposely letting them into the spears isn't a good idea.

They could march backwards I gues with enough training but as seen in many battles they marched forward and pushed the enemy back.

And many people think a Phalangite without the Phalanx is helpless, but the 60 cm shield and a 30cm sword makes for a good dueling combination, especially for proffesional soldiers like the Pezhetairoi.