@@kenyaross1986 Pikemen are good but to have only them with a few cav is not. Best use is having a core of 5 pikemen, 2 sword units, 2 spear units, and then either 2 peltast units/javelin units or 2 light infantry units. Personally I prefer the peltasts they usually have good dmg and can fight a melee
I would often do that in my Baktria campaigns. Levy pikes are one of the intial units you can recruit, so you end up having alot. Levy pikes arent actually heavily armored, and when not in pike formation can be used quite effectively to chase down peltasts and bowman.
@@braincell4536 i usually rock 4 pikemen, 4 Spear units, 2 Heavy cavalry, 2 Skirmisher cavalry, 4 missile units, and the rest can be anything (cavalry, shock infantry, or ranged infantry. Sometimes artillery)
Best way to use pikemen is not not use them. A hoplite unit does well enough in that role but can survive missiles and being flanked, and they don’t need the phalanx to kill.
Or someone like me that has onagers or scorpions cuz whenever i see someone playing as greek or hellenic factions im expecting pikes. Hence full on ranged units. In DEI especially. DEI mode javelin units are op asf..... Even more so destroying the pike players making the noob square.
Another way to use pikes is to have another unit “fix” them in place and have the pikes push through the friendly unit and attack the infantry (keep in mind enemy skirmishers)
Yeah, that is a way to do it. But that's called pike stacking and is heavily frowned upon because it shouldn't be possible. Rome 2 unit collision makes it possible and it shouldnt be.
@@Bubinni this is a dirty move but you can put barricade in front(just far enough to where the pikemen don’t auto attack the barricade) of the like men so it blocks all infantry and most missiles
@@Bubinni it seemspossible. Just hold the spears or pikes up towards the sky and have the men push through the gaps. It’s definitely not possible if they just keep the pikes facing towards their Allie’s though.
@@koreancowboy42you know if the pikes are dense enough, someone could walk on it and it won't hurt. Cuz more surface area :) Same reason why some mouse spike traps fail, they put too many spikes
Actually kinda sad that they didn't implement the usage of Cataphract, a especially the Seleucid one in Rome 2, where historically, Seleucid Cathaphracts were used to charge Phalanx head on
I remember the AI being so dumb in this game that I could win any settlement battle with only the garrison vs two full stack armies. A lot of the cred to the pikemen.
I used the hell out of pikemen in my Macedonian playthroughs. Actually, they made up the majority of my armies. Having lots of slingers to soften up enemy units, specifically enemy ranged units, is a must. Companion Cavalry on each flank, and hoplites covering each end of the battleline with extra troops in the rear to fill in any gaps that may form.
Now don't quote me because I don't remember exactly where I read it but I remember reading that the pikes held above the unit actually protected the soldiers from arrows as the dense forest of pikes would interfere with the arrows coming down on them.
This is true. Pikemen had small shields, linthoraxes, and the pike formation actually interrupts a lot of range projectiles. It's a modern video game trope that phalanx units are so vulnerable to ranged fire. They wanted to balance the unit I presume, but just made them fairly useless in the end.
Pikes in a dense formation, probably 6 ranks or more, did well against arrows, but not javelins. My understanding is that a light arrow will bounce around the pike shafts and lose its killing velocity, especially if the pikemen are wearing helmets and other armor. Javelins are heavy enough, however, that even getting bashed about between pikes they still fall with enough force to wound or disrupt the formation, which caused the phalanx to falter in critical moments.
The mainstay of my defence. And to avoid them getting shot to pieces when defending a choke point, I embed a hoplite phalanx or two (depending on how long the defence line is) into the spear wall to protect against the projectiles. They also provide an additional attack quality for when the charge finally comes and any units manage to get close enough without being impaled.
Easy tip, making them even more overpowered: putting a unit of infantry JUST infront, making one row of the unit extrude from the pikemen allows the infantry unit to take the brunt force of the enemy infantry and archers while allowing the pikes to still get just as many kills and ultimately less losses
There was a post about using the useless mob units you get during defensive seiges. I always put them inside pike spears. I find that the unit itself ends up living longer cause both units fight with eachother.
@@Phineasferb010one Yari can hold against Hero Samurai unit if you hold its flanks, straight up decimated three armies worth 3000 gold with two armies of Yari Ashigaru and Bow Ashigaru only costing 200 gold. And I got 4 more of those
@@herrdoctor2895place bow ashigaru with bow warrior monks double range and easily can outshoot the enemy skirmishers and destroy enemy infantry and their numbers the yari wall will finish the clean up. The flanks are easily guarded by yari cavalry, best cavalry in the game aside from the fire cavalry of Takeda and the guard cavalry from Kyoto. Oda clan best clan to use during campaign for yari focused armies. Also hero units in shogun 2 their waste of money, even if you pair them up against a regular unit of No dachi and katana samurai hero units arent worth nothing. Unless their used in defence of fortress/castles but still waste of money Yari samurai is garbage unit, waste of money and sucks at melee. Only good for guarding rhe flanks, however the naginata samurai performs better higher defense in melee and has rapid advance.
@@koreancowboy42 bro like fr, the only reason you can employ those heroes is to just sit at the back with their leadership bonus and to fill sum flanks, and the bow monks already massacred most
vs AI pikes are broken (i guess anything is) cause they will never try to outflank my army so i just have my gigachad pikes in the middle and my shock troops come from behind
It’s also worth noting that Pike formations often had their flanks guarded by cavalry in period. I’ve found that cavalry is an excellent counter to missile units and skirmishers.
They have their shield active in both states. iirc. Their missile block chance is also only like 30%. Regardless if the unit is actually holding it up to block or in some type of formation, the shield is always utilized when shot from the front or shielded side. Regardless of what the troops animation is showing.
@@jacksonperez5615 In Rome 2, even if the unit is not raising the shield or visibly showing it being used, the entity is still tied to the front & left side of the unit. It's still being used. The only side it won't be used on is the right and back side as that is the "unshielded" side. This goes for every unit with a shield. Pike missile block chance is crap. They die either way.
@@jacksonperez5615 If you want to message me on discord or join my server, I can send you a replay I just did testing your theory. I will send it to you.
I've personally never had them out of phalanx mode, but never forget that they can also serve as swordsmen. If you must have more than 6 pike units, have the spares join your skirmishers in flanking maneuvers. This allows some flexibility, as well as make the enemy hesitate in rushing in more expensive cavalry. While not preferable, pike units out of phalanx can be used in hasty hammer-and-anvil tactics when your own cavalry are preoccupied in charging enemy skirmishers or holding off opposing cavalry.
Rome 2 is a great game, and really showcases pikes as the revolutionary tactic they were. In game, you can dominate the entire map save for the barbarians and steppe bandits with them because those factions have horse archers. Have some pikes paired with flanking swords, slingers, and cav, and watch your enemies crumble
Fighting any sword heavy faction are just a nightmare with pile man, all of the sword and shield infantry in the game have like 2 volleys of AP javelins, even before engaging the enemy your pike man would lose like a third of it’s man just from those javelins.
Hoplites inside of pikemans but in front ranks and this all on the streets. Even if hoplites and pikes - militia - even several full melee elite armies won't break through.
As a TW Rome 2 player, I would always recommend defending your Pikemen units with Archers and Skirmishers, otherwise, they would be turkey shoot targets and sitting ducks from Nomadic Horse Archers and other factions using the same units.
9 units of pike 5 units of slingers/javelin 2-4 units of cavalry Fill the rest with spears/rapid infantry depending on who you are fighting Pikes are your anvil and the range units are actually your hammer not the cav Cav is for screening your range mobile infantry is to pin and range flank the enemy to absolutely destroy them Also NEVER use bowmen they are complete trash
Ideal infantry comp for Hellenic factions (at least in campaign) in my opinion is three pikes, four hoplites, and four sword units (usually Thorax Swords or Royal Peltasts). The pikes hold the center in pitched battle, hoplites hold the flanks since they’re more mobile and very good defensively, and the swords push the flanks and act as reserves. Also good to pair the infantry with shock cavalry to hammer from behind.
Pikeman were mostly when armies were fighting head on and seeing who ran out of men first. Pikes usually won. Until you have that one guy who decided to start flanking everyone and pikes pretty much fell off to defensive uses it for Calvary charges.
I mean, Pikes were really introduced by Alexander (or rather, his dad Philipp), and those guys did a lot of flanking. Mostly with their cav. Pikes are great to hold an enemy in place oneven terrain. Everywhere else, not so much
@@535phobos Yep Hammer and Anvil tactics The Sarissa pikes were longer than standard Hoplite spears to beat greece first Then they made a near impenetrable wall of spears to tie up mainline infantry while the Companion cavalry, best cavalry in the world at the time, would flank
I always used encampments with just cheap pikes and a few ranged units. Such a op combo. Set all the pikes in the entrances and watched 3 armies that you baited in die while you have minimal losses.
I've used pikemen online as bait A couple pikes in the second line, with ranged nearby, the enemy will either waste their ammo on tougher front line units, or have to come so far forward to hit the pikes that my ranged can kill them with ease from behind my lines Afterwards I move them up depending on the situation, they can be great at hitting the exposed flank of an already engaged enemy, or to allow my men to pull back or flank the enemy outright, forcing a retreat or be annihated
The first total war had the best glitch if you had wooden palisades. You line them up against the wall during deployment and the spears went through the wall to kill anyone manning the ram. The units would just freeze until they died
One way i use pikes (in multiplayer & single player, if people dont get salty by it online) is to mix 1 pike with 1-2 hoplite in hoplite Wall. Useally heavily negate the archer & slinger effectiveness against the pike unit & also gives them a edge in a fight. Only way to effectivly counter this is to use arty, several pikes or to use javies to thin the ranks. Another way is javies mixed with good melee inf, arty could do this too. Those working together allows the javies to disrupt & disorganize the pike/hoplite line Which allows the inf to get close enough to cut down the pikes in melee.
Once made the enemy to charge out from the city. There I had my heavy pikeman standing and being prepared. The enemy charged in and it was really funny to see, how they're just rushing into the pikes xD
My favorite pike unit use. Center focus and have the hoplites in the left and right encircle the attacking army while cavalry takes and distracts the skirmishers
Even then they still got used and when the only reason pike and shot died was because you could turn your gun into a pike Up untill ww2 bayonet till got used
Oh man, I love to put them into a perfect square, row after row after row vs 4 team of full cavalry. Then a mountain of dead horse and soldiers build up.
I always use javelins units as a vanguard throw away missile spunge melee unit to tie down enemy units long enough for the elite infantry to engage them as a quick follow up.
In my Rome playthrough, defending a settlement with garrison against pikes was always very hard. It is very hard to manoeuvre around them when constrained to the small area set up as otherwise defendable, especially when outnumbered.
Read somewhere that the Macedonian Phalanx was densely packed and the upright sarissas of the back ranks and the slanted sarissas of the front ranks would prevent arrows from failing into their formation
@@adghat7819 I meant when engaged in battle. Not all would point their weapons directly at the enemy. They would slant them at different angles, to be able to push into the backs of their comrades with their shield arm and also protect the formation from arrows with their pikes held upright. I believe the sarissas broke down into two pieces and the phalangites used carrying slings when marching. Hoisting around an 18 foot pike would definitely affect traveling. But who really knows what happened back then
One of my proudest moments online was beating a guy who had a full Spartan army with piles and missiles with my full cavalry Persian army, 5ook me a long time but the hit and run tactic and harrasing them with ranged Cab ultimately got me the dub
Pike and shoot before pike and shoot, to counter range unit use your own range unit. Historically it was the Romans with their heavy infantry that able to beat Phalanx
Most games and movies are retarded-pikes weren't designed to kill but to split up enemy ranks(think skirmish formation vs tight formation) either when they charge you or you charge them. Phalanx was an attacking unit, not usually defensive. Enemy has to move in between the pikes to dodge them and if they use shields, they'll be pushed till there is no man on his direct left and right. The purpose of this tactic is to allow cavalry(originally companion cavalry) to smash infantry in a hammer and anvil. In ancient times, cavalry was light and tight massed formations will not break or get chopped down, cohesion and communication stays strong. But once the unit is broken up it becomes scattered and chaotic and the cavalry can swoop in, cause even more chaos and force people to flee not knowing where their lines are reforming, their officers nowhere around to guide them. Then the mop up operation occurs.
Use 2 pike units in a camp at the gate . +place fences infront of them. U can kill easy 3 k enemys with only that 100 man. Pikes gonna damage the enemy and fences wont let them get near the unit + helps alot vs arrows. And your towers that shoot fire arrows gonna do the rest ❤❤
I always used to put my pikes on the flanks to protect archers and artillery against cavalry flanks They got shredded in the front by enemy missile troops, especially missile cavalry Slapping levy pikes into a chokepoint in a town is the most broken strategy though
Pikes are best used to force your opponent to reassess certain points of attack and draw out skirmishers for counter fire or cav charges only ever useful in siege defense
Unfortunately you can't communicate in the game anymore but things like putting infantry on pikes to block missiles is a social no no. Same as pushing through. Using dirty tricks like this in pvp play is shockingly common but shouldn't be tolerated. Miss clicks happen every now and again but when it's obvious it needs to be punished with no holds bar tactics
This got reshown to me lol. I'ma include a little advice now. If you need to have pikes near the front for whatever reason, bring infantry, place them just Infront of your pikes when they aren't in cover. Up against missiles when you're doing this, try to take the missile advantage, whether it be out positioning or out microing pikemen honestly require some heavy work to use right but they can totally change a battle. It's important to know especially on defense what battles are worth staying in or repositioning from. A trick I used a while ago was putting pikemen in a choke that was too wide for the formation, I covered their flank with tier one infantry for a bit then loosened my defense of that flank that he tried to capitalize on but I caught him fast, by the time I was done with his praetorian guard I retook the chokes full defense.
I literally only use pikemen in my army. If I’m being invaded I’ll put my pikemen in a corner and watch them kill everyone or if I’m in a field I’ll put them in a square and watch the enemy fall
Pikemen will be way too broken for that. Even if its only on the campaign since some factions employ Pikemen. Hellenic on Grand Campaign, and nearly all factions on Empire Divided.
They are SO Broken of Doom against the AI, i defendet Athens against 3 full stack armies with just a Tier 2 Garrision, back in the Days when the enemy dit not attack Walls, and 2 Pikemen directly in Front of the Gate Stoped all 3 fullstack armies XD Good old days
Against very experienced players in multi-player pikeman will be destroyed along side theres a set of rules that some people would set so that pikemen arent double stacked with swordsman or hoplites are infront so the pikeman are safe while the main melee infantry is the one taking damage while the pike gets hundreds of kills. Even more so your limited on how many pikes you can bring. In campaign however its different story cuz AI is stupid. You dont need tips or strategies to beat the bad AI aside from defeating their cavalry and skirmishers. In DEI mod pikeman are weak. Once engaged I use my javelin men to rush around the flanks and begin chewing the enemy pikes with constant javelins along side shock cavalry charges. I play Lusitani btw, most of my infantry is Hellas op in combat and skirmish roles. Pikeman wouldnt reach me in their full numbers
There is such thing as auto run. You click your unit, hold right click and drag. They auto run. If you want them to auto run, double click the move order if you arent dragging.
