Greek Toxotes are strong against infantry, but weak against fast-moving units such as cavalry. Like all archers, they are more effective when fighting in groups.

After centuries of warfare that was decided by Hoplite battle, the Greeks began using a variety of units weapons after the superiority of combined arms was demonstrated convincingly by Philip’s Macedonian army. The Greeks added light troops, mainly Peltasts and cavalry. They were slower to add archers, whom they called Toxotes, because they did not have the long tradition of archery practice that created bowmen of sufficient quality for the battlefield.