Pontic phalangites VS. Greek phalangites

[elixEtneicnA]

Pontus was always a bigger threat unless you took them out quite early. Pontus has the phalangites that have a smaller contingent (number-wise) but they have 16 defense as opposed to the 13 defense that the other Greek type phalangites have. They will outright beat most other "normal" units late game. I always hated it when my Greek phalangite units would just get decimated by the Pontus phalanx (not to mention their Bronze Shield pike units were cheaper as well). Of course they utilize the chariots and the ohhhh so annoying Pontic heavy cavalry. It was always annoying after you faced down the Romans and Barbarians, then shift the theatre of war to Pontus to find out that their smaller unit phalangites would eat yours for breakfast. Ai wise, then Pontus in general would always beat Seleucid until the Silver Shield/elephant units would start appearing in their ai roster on the field. Anyways, I haven't seen if this is still in the game or not and I'm sure it was originally implemented to keep Pontus going strong until the player got to that theatre of war.

[Sad but Packin']

Well, early game, Pontic infantry is super weak, Hillmen and Eastern Infantry are MUCH worst than Militia Hoplites and Levy Pikemen.

Compared to the Greek normal Hoplites, Pontic Phalanx Pikemen have more defence and longer pikes, so I guess they indeed must be one of the best mid-game infantry units, but they are just that, mid-game units. They get easily surpased by any elite infantry unit.

Pontus own elites, the Bronze Shields, can be very easily damaged with missiles since they only have a shield stat of 2, they get matched by Silver Shield Pikemen and Legionaries, they are surpassed by Royal Pikemen, Sacred Band infantry, Praetorians and Urbans, Armoured Hoplites and Spartans (btw it's a much more advisable to use AH instead of Spartans when possible to fight BS pikes as Spartans are much better suited to fight against units with shorter weapons, but suffer when fighting units with longer attack reach).

Oh, and the best counters to Scythed Chariots are foot archers and pikes, if you shoot fire arrows into them, they may run amok even before they even recieve any casualty, and cause damage to their own ranks if they're close to friendly units (this only works against Scythed Chariots, not any other chariot unit), and any chariot that charges or moves right into the tip of a pike, will die instantly.

[elixEtneicnA]

Originally posted by Mockey:

Well, early game, Pontic infantry is super weak, Hillmen and Eastern Infantry are MUCH worst than Militia Hoplites and Levy Pikemen.

Compared to the Greek normal Hoplites, Pontic Phalanx Pikemen have more defence and longer pikes, so I guess they indeed must be one of the best mid-game infantry units, but they are just that, mid-game units. They get easily surpased by any elite infantry unit.

Pontus own elites, the Bronze Shields, can be very easily damaged with missiles since they only have a shield stat of 2, they get matched by Silver Shield Pikemen and Legionaries, they are surpassed by Royal Pikemen, Sacred Band infantry, Praetorians and Urbans, Armoured Hoplites and Spartans (btw it's a much more advisable to use AH instead of Spartans when possible to fight BS pikes as Spartans are much better suited to fight against units with shorter weapons, but suffer when fighting units with longer attack reach).

Oh, and the best counters to Scythed Chariots are foot archers and pikes, if you shoot fire arrows into them, they may run amok even before they even recieve any casualty, and cause damage to their own ranks if they're close to friendly units (this only works against Scythed Chariots, not any other chariot unit), and any chariot that charges or moves right into the tip of a pike, will die instantly.

No, I wasn't referencing facing hoplites period yet I was referencing taking my Macedonian/Thracian Phalanx pikemen against the Pontic Phlalanx pikemen. Pikemen in general destroy all the hoplites except the carthaginian "Sacred Band". Yes, I stated that they hold up well in that theatre until the Silver Shields start appearing in Seleucid armies near the end of mid-game. I apologize but I should have been more specific in my title and referenced specifically "Pike Phalangites" but I figured it would be understood due to the fact hoplites are called hoplites and not Phalanx hoplites in Rome I. Sorry I confused you good sir!