Spear Infantry

What does this unit counter?

Cavalry and sword units in general.

Counters to this unit type

The main units that counters spear is pikemen, ranged and artillery: they have a bonus against them and are therefore extremly effective in melee against them. They can also form a phalanx which will negate your charge and deal damage to your unit.

A pike phalanx will counter infantry very effectively, in the same way as the hoplite phalanx.

Finally, due to their somewhat low speed they suffer from the same vulnerableties as sword infantry which is to missile fire, and artillery.

General playstyle and general tips

Those tips can be used when playing every infantry type listed below, but their effectiveness varies according to the type of infantry/faction being used

Factions

Greece

Spear Infantry

Units

Tier	Unit name	Description
T1	Mycenaean Hoplites	When arrayed in a phalanx these hoplites are a potent defensive force.
T2	Archaic Hoplites	These men can form a solid phalanx that can deflect most head-on attacks.
T3	Theban Hoplites	These hoplites are ready to hold the line in a solid phalanx or push forward to victory.
T4	Athenian Hopiltes	Maybe the Spartans can fight better, but can they compose a Socratic dialogue while skewering a Persian?
T5	Macedonian Hoplites	These hoplites are excepional defensive warriors, products of rigorous training.
T6	Foot Companions	A fierce spear phalanx, well-equipped and ready to follow their commander to the ends of the earth.
T7	Agema Spears	The men even the elite call elite.
T8	Sacred Band	The tightest of bonds hold these men together on the battlefield.
T9	Hypaspists	Elite hoplites hand-picked by one of the greatest military minds of the Classical era.
T10	Royal Spartans	Come and get them.

Characteristics

Those medium spear units are flexible units capable of forming a great defensive Hoplite Phalanx.

Pike Infantry

Units

Tier	Unit name	Description
T4	Levy Pikemen	When braced, this unit should be able to resist almost any frontal assault.
T5	Theban Pikemen	Few will be able to overcome a formed-up phalanx of theses men, at least not head-on.
T6	Athenian Pikemen	Athenian brain and brawn combine into a formidable defensive unit.
T7	Macedonian Pikemen	The formation that built an empire, a bristling wall of pikes almost immune to frontal assaults.
T8	Thorax Pikemen	The longer these tough pikemen stay in place, the harder they will be to shift.
T9	Hellenic Pikemen	Defence perfected.
T10	Sliver Shield Pikemen	The immovable object.

Characteristics

Pike infantry can form an unbreakable (from the front) pike phalanx. However, they are weak when out of phalanx, or when attacked from the flanks in phalanx.

Premium units

Tier	Unit name	Description
T4	Telesillas Argives	Whether young or old, free or slave, the people of Argos stood united in the face of their foes.
T5	Thorax Spearmen	Tough spearmen who pack a potent punch.
T6	Spartan Holites	The military prowess of the Spartans is legendary - these hoplites are faster and more agile than those from the rest of Greece.
T6	Thureos Spearmen	More lightly-armoured than a standard hoplite, these soldiers rely on their large oval shield for defence.
T8	Myrmidons	Ancient warrior from an age of myth, each Myrmidon is a worthy companion to the heroes of old.

Commanders who can play them effectively

Leonidas
Miltiades

Alternative choice:
Alexander the Great
Cynane

Roman Empire

Spear Infantry

Units

Tier	Unit name	Description
N/A	N/A	N/A

Characteristics

Although they lack the discipline of their Greek counterparts, those roman spear units can form a good phalanx to make a nearly unpenetrable wall.

Premium units

Tier	Unit name	Picture	Description
T7	Triarii	These spear-armed veterans are the third and final line of defence.
T8	Auxilia Palatini	Drawn from across the Empire, these spearmen are a powerful complement to the sword-armed legionaries.

Commanders who can play them effectively

Germanicus
Scipio
Sulla

Alternative choice:
Caesar

Barbarians

Spear Infantry

Units

Tier	Unit name	Description
N/A	N/A	N/A

Characteristics

They trade their lack of discipline for a more aggressie approach with their deadly spear phalanx. Like all barbarian units, they are vulnerable to missile fire.

Premium units

Tier	Unit name	Picture	Description
T4	Spear Brothers	In the spear wall, each man must trust the others like his own kin
T7	Cimbri Spear Warriors	The priestess-warriors of the Cimbri inspire the bribe with blood-soaked prophecies.

Commanders who can play them effectively

Arminius
Vercingetorix

Alternative choice:
Boudica

Carthage

Spear Infantry

Units

Tier	Unit name	Picture	Description
T1	Mercenary Rabble	Coin can be as effective a motivator as loyalty.
T2	Mercenary Spears	Tougher and more skilled than the average mercenary band.
T3	Phoenician Warriors	These well-trained Phoenicians can employ the Greek phalanx to maintain a strong line.
T4	Carthaginian Hoplites	Armed levies, whipped up and ready to stab some romans.
T5	Libyan Hoplites	Hardened mercenaries with a lust for glory and a burning hate of the Roman Empire.
T6	Punic Hoplites	The regular infantry of the Carthaginian army.
T7	Boii Spearmen	Who needs discipline when you're this fired up by hatred of Rome?
T8	Veterans of Trebia	Buoyed by victory against Romans, these veterans stand among the finest Carthaginian infantry.
T9	Veterans of Cannae	Unstoppable, unforgiving killing marchines, curators of the massacre at Cannae.
T10	Band of Carthage	These noble warriors will go to any lengths to advance their city's cause.

Characteristics

Those heavy or light (depending on the tier) spearmen can form a mobile phalanx while still being able to hold a line. Their phalanx is more aggressive than the greek's.

Premium units

Tier	Unit name	Description
T4	Greek Hoplites	Classic infantry warriors of the ancient world, setting the standard for later soldiers.

Commanders who can play them effectively

Hasdrubal
Hannibal