Sabellic Leves

Summary
Leves are cheap missile infantry available to the Sabellic and Sicilian faction groups. They are basic missile fodder available from the start of the game, with a short-ranged missile attack and limited melee capabilities.

"Light infantry taken from the poorest troops, usually with no more equipment than a set of javelins. Used for basic missile support and to harass enemy troops."

- In-game Description

History
Historically, the Leves were properly a Latin rather than Sabellic military unit, formed during the Roman military reforms of the early 4th Century BC as unarmoured javelineers deployed ahead of the Hastati who formed the first main battleline, to harass the enemy in the opening phase of a battle.

The equipment and combat style of the Roman Leves was not at all unique, however, and various ancient Italic armies would have contained warriors that were equipped and deployed in a very similar capacity. As such, the "Leves" act as a stand-in for various light infantry skirmishers in-game, despite the naming not being strictly accurate for Sabellic armies.

Tactics
Leves are the only missile brigade available to the Sabellic faction group before advanced units are unlocked through the military skill tree in the late-game. As such, players will need to include them in their early-game army composition in order to have any kind of missile support for their spearmen and hoplites, unless better ranged units can be recruit from conquered cities of different faction groups or hired as mercenaries.

Leves compensate for their short range by having superior melee combat stats to most long-range missile infantry, and may on occasion be used to charge undefended missile brigades or outflank light infantry, though situations in which this is useful can be rare. They are also very viable as city garrisons to defend the walls and maintain public order, due to their very low gold cost.

Compared to other early-game missile brigades, Sabellic Leves have a better charge strength than Latin Leves though with slightly lower charge blocking. Etruscan Axemen have a shorter range and higher cost, but compensate for this by having much stronger melee stats comparable to spearmen. Gallic and Illyric Slingers and Greek Psiloi are the opposite, with a longer range but much weaker melee stats. Illyric and Greek Peltasts and Gallic Javelineers outclass Leves in both melee and missile combat, but are significantly more expensive.