Pantodapoi Phalangitai are the standard levy of the Seleukid Kingdom and others influenced by the Successors. They are a viable phalanx unit, though they are less disciplined and motivated than other more trained troops.

Can Form Phalanx

Pantodapoi Phalangitai are the standard levy of the Seleukidos Kingdom and others influenced by the Diadochoi, including Pontos. They are tough and reliable infantry, but are prone to rebellion and discontent, and are hence more expensive than their Makedonian contemporaries. They are mostly levies of Ioudaioi, Syrioi, and Persai descent that are co-opted into the army. They fight as pikemen, with a soft leather cuirass, pikes, round Illyrian style shields and Phrygian caps. This makes them a viable pike unit, though they are less disciplined and more prone to flee than more reliable Hellenes and Makedones that make up the Pezhetairoi. They can be counted upon to present a solid wall of spear points to the enemy, but their lack of discipline and intensive training makes them even more prone to a flanking attack.

Historically, the Seleukeis and others used pike levies from their various subject peoples to make up parts of the battle line that were facing the enemy’s least valuable troops. They gave decent accounts of themselves at many battles, but were the first line to break in the disasters at Rhaphia against the Ptolemaioi and in Makedonia against the Romaioi. They made up more and more of the Seleukid battle line as time went on, due to the dwindling number of Hellenic recruits that the army could draw upon for the pike units (most went to the more elite units). And although more and more Asian peoples were put into the Pezhetairoi class and given land grants to make up the loss, these more unreliable formations were still used in many places.