 First made famous by Philip of Macedon, it allowed Macedonian infantry to "outrange" the opposition's existing spear formations by several feet.The "sarissa" would have been largely useless in single combat, but a compact, forward-facing infantry formation employing it would have been almost impossible to challenge.The first five ranks of the phalanx would have their "sarissai" projecting horizontally to face the enemy, with the remaining ranks angling theirs in a serried fashion, often leaning against their fellows' backs.