[EB] Phalanx Noob Box - And how to beat it?

[Jebivjetar]

Your friend deploys his phalangites in a box-formation? What kind of a game is that anyway?
If i was in your place, i would instantly quit the match.

[Maion Maroneios]

Your friend deploys his phalangites in a box-formation? What kind of a game is that anyway?
If i was in your place, i would instantly quit the match.

Or he could do something much better; namely, he could force him to accept playing on Arcade Mode which basically gives you an unlimited amount of ammo.

So you could go Carrhae on him. In a way.

[Skullheadhq]

Thanks all, I will try this tomorrow. And if I win, he'll probably stop using the tactic and I can get some Heroic Victories again!
Feel free to post more strategies against the box.

[Macilrille]

Well, you really want Fluvius to respond, AFAIK he is MP champion is he not?

[Skullheadhq]

Oh wait, he always has some Cretans which might prove nasty with unlimited arrows.


@Fluvius
Kom op, ik weet dat je dit wel eens eerder gezien hebt, als je zo goed ben in MP als zij beweren.

[Macilrille]

6 Medininkas then, not even Cretans can stand up to that firepower and they can actually melee a bit if needs be.

He he he, did I ever mention that I can read passibly Dutch.

[Apázlinemjó]

A HA based army could easily beat the phalanx box, moreover if you are fast enough your opponent won't even have the time to form one.

Or

If you are playing with a Hellenistic faction, then just concentrate your phalangites (if it's allowed stack them on each other) on one of the side of the box until it breaks up, then swarm inside the box with the more mobile infantry. After that, the box's other sides will probably turn around and you can bring your cavalry against their rears.

[athanaric]

6 Medininkas then, not even Cretans can stand up to that firepower and they can actually melee a bit if needs be.

Medininkas have 25 ammo, Cretans have 35 plus far better protection.
Focus fire is the magic word.
Medininkas can also be used to mop up, allowing you to field more of them and have minimal cavalry. This might be a risky move though, if he changes tactics.

And unlimited arrow mode is lame, plus it might backfire (ha ha) if he has enough Cretans.

Off course there are no(!!!) archer armies, who can defeat Phalanx boxes, simply because one unit of archers in EB hasnt enought arrows to kill one units of phalangitai. Further many phalanx boxes also have archers in there middle, but still its not neccesary. The two things, that easily break Phalangitai are:
Heavy infantry exploiting the klick behind the unit trick. They just storm into the phalanx destroying it in melee. Still its nearly useless against agyraspidai and difficult agains eastern levy phalangitai...(Axes) . The other thing is to just bring your own phalangitai and just use them in overwhelming numbers on one side.

I can tell you from experience that Sreni Pattya Yoddaha can shred Panda Phalanx in a few seconds, if they attack at the right angle. I've learned the hard way not to use too many phalanxes when assaulting Indian towns.

Polybian Principes or Legionaries are also good for wearing a phalanx down, or for massed assault.

My favourite method is:
1.Shoot less protected phalangitai with archers or slingers in the back,
2.exhaust the enemy elite phalangitai with hoplite just standing in front of the enemy pikes. (They wont take too much casualties and the phalangitai will tire)
3. Atack with heavy infantry or medium infantry with AP weapons. The phalangitai wont kill too much, when they are exhausted.
If you dont wannt to exploit the klick behind trick you will need phalangitai by yourself or gesatae in the corners.

I concur. My tips were also meant to work without the exploit.