Thorax Pikemen
A phalanx armed with pikes presents a formidable threat.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 Thorax Pikemen |
Main Unit Key Gre_Thorax_Pike |
Land Unit Key Gre_Thorax_Pike |
Naval Unit Key greek_transport |
Soldiers 160 |
Category Melee Infantry |
Class Pike Infantry |
Custom Battle Cost 640 |
Recruitment Cost 640 |
Upkeep Cost 85 |
Melee Attack 26 |
29 |
├ Melee Weapon rome_pike |
├ Melee Damage Base 20 |
├ Melee Damage Ap 9 |
├ Armour Piercing No |
├ Bonus vs. Large 5 |
├ Bonus vs Elephants 7 |
└ Bonus vs Infantry 0 |
Charge Bonus 8 |
64 |
├ Base Defence 43 |
├ Shield pikemen |
└ Shield Defence 21 |
87 |
├ Armour mail |
├ Armour Defence 57 |
└ Shield Armour 30 |
70 |
├ Man Entity rome_infantry_very_heavy_pike |
├ Man Health 55 |
└ Bonus Hit Points 15 |
Base Morale 55 |
Abilities
Thorax Pikemen- Pike Phalanx
The unit moves into a deep, close defensive formation.
Bonus vs cavalry, bracing.
Limited speed - Steady
Improves the unit's ability to endure enemy charges.
Armour, melee defence
Exertion: fatigue
Attributes
- Disciplined
This unit does not suffer a morale penalty when the general dies. It can also rally after routing more often. - 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
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
Requires Buildings | |
---|---|
Lv. 0 |
Hoplite Barracks
(greek_military_heavy_3) Level 2 |
Lv. 1 |
Royal Barracks
(greek_military_heavy_4) Level 3 |
Faction Availability | |
---|---|
Grand Campaign | |
Imperator Augustus |