A fireball spell thrown into a 3 deep formation of pikemen will typically hit between 20 and 30 soldiers. The hail of missiles in used in conjunction with a solid wall of pikes can be particularly lethal. Phalanx Units in a phalanx must be armed with shield and a short stabbing weapon, typically a spear or shortsword. Units in a phalanx overlap their shields, providing increased protection. This adjustment counts against both missile and melee fire, as long as the formation is intact.
Phalanxes typically charge opponents, and gain bonuses when doing so.
If in a given round a frontline warrior is downed, the man directly behind him may gain an immediate free attack. Thus the depth of the formation is crucial to success - the deeper formation will typically win an engagement. A phalanx is more tightly knit than a pike formation. Phalanxes may not move at all in forested terrain. In light forests a phalanx may hold a defensive position, but to move the warriors must break formation.