Strategy and Doctrine

Macedonian Combined Arms Tactics

Also Known As Combined Arms Tactics

Ancient, Macedon

Citation Formats

General Reference

War and Military Atlas. "Macedonian Combined Arms Tactics." Accessed August 30, 2026. https://military.interactiveatlas.org/doctrines/macedonian-combined-arms-tactics.

APA Style

War and Military Atlas. (n.d.). Macedonian Combined Arms Tactics. Retrieved August 30, 2026, from https://military.interactiveatlas.org/doctrines/macedonian-combined-arms-tactics

BibTeX

@misc{warandmilitaryatlas-macedonian-combined-arms-tactics,
  author = {War and Military Atlas},
  title = {Macedonian Combined Arms Tactics},
  year = {2026},
  url = {https://military.interactiveatlas.org/doctrines/macedonian-combined-arms-tactics},
  note = {Accessed August 30, 2026}
}

Known as the hammer-and-anvil tactic, this doctrine paired the Macedonian phalanx as a fixing force that pinned the enemy's infantry frontally with the Companion cavalry as a mobile striking force delivering the decisive blow against an exposed flank, usually led personally by Alexander. The system was built by Philip II of Macedon; Alexander employed and further refined it in his own campaigns.

Facts

Core Claim

Pin the enemy line with the phalanx, then break it with a decisive Companion cavalry charge against an exposed flank. 1

Origin Year

359 BCE 2

Cross-Tradition Connections

Developed By

Alexander the Great

Philip II of Macedon built the sarissa phalanx and Companion cavalry system; Alexander employed and further refined these tactics in his own campaigns.

Source Wikipedia: Military tactics of Alexander the Great

Sources

1. Wikipedia: Military tactics of Alexander the Great

WikipediaSet-piece battle section

Quote, Set-piece battle section