Perhaps the best defender in the ancient era, the Greek Hoplite can dominate the Bronze Age world. It replaces the Spearman.
Hoplites were well-trained citizen-soldiers of ancient Greece. Armed with spears and durable armor, they fulfilled the heavy infantry role in most engagements.
Civilopedia entry[]
Hoplites will always be associated with the phalanx unit formation. This tactic involved tightly packed groupings of eight or 16 rows of soldiers, who, against other citizen-soldiers, move and attack in unison scattering less densely organized enemy forces. This tactic worked well, but broke down when facing more mobile and well-trained professional soldiers. The Roman legions victory over the Macedonian phalanx at Pydna in 168 BC effectively ended the Hoplite's battlefield usefulness.