Pontikoi Thorakitai Phalangitai
(Pontic Thorax Pikemen)A phalanx armed with long pikes presents a formidable threat to any battle line.
Historically, the Macedonian phalanx innovated the use of the fearsome sarissa: a pike of up to 21 feet in length. First introduced to the army by Alexander the Great’s father, Phillip II, the sarissa was cumbersome but created an almost impregnable phalanx formation. Presenting a wall of pikes from five files of men, it protected more of the front ranks and created a much bigger killing zone than the traditional hoplite phalanx. Defensively, the Macedonian phalanx could not only withstand and repel any cavalry or infantry charge to the front, it could also deflect incoming arrows, as the back rows kept their pikes vertical until needed. Arrows were caught up in the raised pikes and fell harmlessly to the ground, where they could be repurposed by the deadly Cretan archers fielded to support the pikes. Thusly, the Macedonian attack, whilst slow-moving, could also be unstoppable: if coordinated and disciplined, it simply steamrollered its enemies from the field. Following his untimely death, the 'Diadochi' - Alexander's 'Successors' - continued to use and further refine pike phalanx combat.
Unit Name Pontikoi Thorakitai Phalangitai |
Main Unit Key Pon_Thorax_Pike |
Land Unit Key Pon_Thorax_Pike |
Naval Unit Key pel_transport |
Soldiers 256 |
Category Melee Infantry |
Class Hoplite/Pike Infantry |
Custom Battle Cost 1104 |
Recruitment Cost 1104 |
Upkeep Cost 221 |
Melee Attack 33 |
9 |
├ Melee Weapon pike3 |
├ Weapon Damage 9 |
├ Weapon Deadliness 0 |
├ Armour Piercing No |
├ Bonus vs. Cavalry 3 |
├ Bonus vs. Elephants 8 |
└ Bonus vs Infantry 0 |
Charge Bonus 10 |
67 |
├ Base Defence 15 |
├ Shield shield5 |
└ Shield Defence 52 |
14 |
├ Armour arm8 |
├ Armour Defence 14 |
└ Shield Armour 0 |
20 |
├ Man Entity medium_heavy |
├ Man Health 20 |
└ Bonus Hit Points 0 |
Base Morale 55 |
Abilities
Pontikoi Thorakitai Phalangitai- Stamina (low)
Governs how fast the unit tires and restores fatigue, and is dependent on type of unit, weight and approach to combat. - Pike Phalanx
The unit moves into a deep and close pike phalanx formation that increases frontal defense and attack but movement speed is reduced and the unit is vulnerable to flanking attacks.
Attributes
- Disciplined
This unit does not suffer a morale penalty when the general dies. It can also rally after routing more often. - Hide (forest)
This unit can hide in forests until enemy units get too close.
Strengths & Weaknesses
Transport- Very poor hull strength
- Very slow speed
- Weak ramming
- Good defensive unit
- Low damage but average armour penetration
- Average attack
- Normal morale
- Very vulnerable when not in phalanx
Faction Availability | |
---|---|
Grand Campaign | |
Imperator Augustus |