Macedon Pike Infantry

Foot Companions

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 Foot Companions

Main Unit Key Gre_Foot_Companions

Land Unit Key Gre_Foot_Companions

Naval Unit Key pel_transport

Soldiers 160

Category Melee Infantry

Class Pike Infantry

Custom Battle Cost 1220

Recruitment Cost 1220

Upkeep Cost 200

Melee Attack 49

Weapon Damage 28

├ Melee Weapon rome_pike_elite

├ Melee Damage Base 24

├ Melee Damage Ap 4

├ Armour Piercing No

├ Bonus vs. Large 0

├ Bonus vs Elephants 0

└ Bonus vs Infantry 0

Charge Bonus 13

Melee Defence 43

├ Base Defence 33

├ Shield pikemen

└ Shield Defence 10

Armour 70

├ Armour spolas_improved

├ Armour Defence 40

└ Shield Armour 30

Health 60

├ Man Entity rome_infantry_very_heavy_pike

├ Man Health 40

└ Bonus Hit Points 20

Base Morale 70

Abilities

• Pike Phalanx
  The unit moves into a deep, close defensive formation.
  Bonus vs cavalry, bracing
  Limited speed

Attributes

• Disciplined
  This unit does not suffer a morale penalty when the general dies. It can also rally after routing more often.
• Encourage
  This unit provides a morale bonus to nearby allies.
• Formation Attack
  The unit will try to stay in formation when in melee.
• Hide (forest)
  This unit can hide in forests until enemy units get too close.

Strengths & Weaknesses

• Very poor hull strength
• Very slow speed
• Weak ramming

• Very good defensive unit
• Low damage but average armour penetration
• Average attack
• Good morale
• Very vulnerable when not in phalanx

Requires Buildings
Lv. 0	Royal Barracks (greek_military_heavy_4) Level 3

Faction Availability
Grand Campaign	Macedon Macedonian Nobles Macedonian Secessionists