Garrison forces
Parthian Spearmen + Persian Archers + Slingers. Very cheap combination, great against cavalry.
Persian Archers are pathetic in melee, but have a higher range and more ammo than Archer-Spearmen. Meaning they are better as static wall defences, especially when deployed on a stone wall as close as possible to enemy forces before the sally. If you use them on a wall, make sure to put them on "guard mode" and turn skirmish mode off (same goes for slingers). Use them to shoot enemy HAs, axemen, and Dahae Skirmishers.
Slingers are good vs heavy cavalry, especially Cataphract HAs. Secondary use is against mercenary phalanxes or other heavy infantry.
Parthian Spearmen make good melee troops if you use them against cavalry or foot archers. From the fron, they are quite resistant to arrows.
Field army
Archer-Spearmen + Parthian Spearmen + phalanx + whatever else is available.
Prodromoi are quite good against light cavalry or as chargers against anything. Use them to pursue and isolate enemy cavalry units. They have a decent resistance to missiles.
Don't use full stacks as the enemy in this case always retreats during mid-battle. Use slingers to decimate the enemy's bodyguards as much as possible. Then try to isolate them by luring them away. Charge with own cavalry.
Hide in woods whenever possible. Axemen and light spearmen types can destroy enemy cavalry in an ambush. Also, archers are less powerful in forests.
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