Sabellic Light Pilum Swordsmen

Summary
Light Pilum Swordsmen are flexible swordsmen available to the Sabellic and Sicilian faction groups in the mid-late game, capable of melee combat as well as hard-hitting short range missile attacks and easy to recruit en-masse once the prerequisite skill is acquired.

"Modestly equipped soldiers who fought in the front lines with short sword, shield and multiple javelins called pila that can be thrown short range at charging enemies. Swordsmen are faster, more flexible and less reliant on staying in formation than equivalent hoplites."

- In-game Description

History
Several inland Sabellic tribes, most notably the Samnites, are known to have used flexible heavy infantry optimized for guerilla tactics by at least the 4th Century BC, capable of both melee combat and missile harassment. These Sabellic soldiers likely inspired the sword/javelin equipment combination famously used by the Roman Hastati and Principes, which were previously equipped as spearmen instead.

Tactics
Light Pilum Swordsmen have a strong missile attack, but with a very short range, in addition to decent stats for melee combat. Though capable of both melee and missile combat, they are not superior in either role. Archers still deal greater missile damage, and every missile-oriented unit is capable of outranging them. Light Pilum Swordsmen only have a clear advantage over regular Hoplites in melee when the latter's phalanx formation and corresponding defensive buff is broken, and are inferior to Heavy Hoplites in every melee situation.

Instead, they shine because of their flexibility and great accessibility, since they can be recruited in any native city without the need for a barracks upgrade, making it easy for factions to mass recruit them even in cities that aren't set-up to be infantry recruitment centers. They are also notable for being available earlier on than the comparable but stronger Heavy Pilum Swordsmen, and may eventually be replaced by them in the player's army composition.

Light Pilum Swordsmen are slightly better than the nearly identical Latin Hastati, having better charge strength and charge block stats. The equivalent swordsmen brigades of other faction groups are cheaper and superior in melee combat, but lack a ranged attack and do require a barracks to be constructed in their home city, making them slightly harder to mass.