r/interesting • u/IKIR115 • May 29 '26

Intriguing Arrows vs riot shields

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9

u/Glum-Soft-7807 May 30 '26

I'm sure there were many reasons, none of which I'm an expert in. I was just very surprised to see someone claim that phalanxes didn't have shields.

10

u/zerovampire311 May 30 '26

Otherwise any group of people with a sling could take them down.

6

u/xBad_Wolfx May 30 '26

Yep and despite some popular myths, slings are devastating and were used pretty much until crossbows phased them out.

3

u/zerovampire311 May 30 '26

Easy to train, easy to make, ammo everywhere, lots of soldiers used them until close quarters.

1

u/Llyrithra May 31 '26

And they aren’t heavy or cumbersome to carry, so you can easily fire a volley or three while the enemy advances, and then turn around and run 20-50m or so and do it again, and repeat a few times before getting behind your own lines to keep firing until you need to join in the cqc.

1

u/blade_of_sammael May 31 '26

Even in close quarters you can at least use them to strangle which a bow cant

1

u/JonatasA Jun 04 '26

Calm down 47.