[Agema]

Pikes were pretty effective generally. They were so long that there were probably 4 rows of pikeheads in front of the whole formation. To engage them from the front would involve getting past the huge number of spearheads, a very unhappy prospect for anyone.

Their weakness was manoeuverability. Uneven terrain could disrupt a phalanx's cohesion, and "holes" in the wall of spearpoints could be exploited. Whilst devastating to anything in front of them, they were very poor to the flanks and rear, and as they were so clumsy changing facing and direction, this was a big vulnerability.