The "Myth" of the "Dacian Falx" as a super weapon

[Matthew Amt]

Then again, consider that the flax is a shock weapon. You hit the lines, break up the formation, and then the rest of your troops follow through and exploit this. Hard, decisive strokes could well have been the norm as the intent of the weapon was not the prolong the combat but to break formations quickly.

Put your falx men out in front of the spearmen as "shock troops", and few of them will survive the pilum volleys. They have to be intermingled with shieldmen, or behind them.

Matthew