/vt/ - Virtual Youtubers

During the Samnite Wars, the Romans found that their phalanxes were being beaten by the Samnite light infantry and cavalry, who were used to fighting the mountainous terrain of Samnium. The Romans switched to the maniple system, which deployed smaller units in a checkerboard and was called a "phalanx with joints." This was a much more maneuverable unit than the huge phalanx that mainly operated at the anvil against which the hammer of Hellenistic heavy cavalry could crash.

When the Romans fought the Macedonians, especially at Cynoscephalae in 197, they were able to use the better maneuverability of the maniples and the ability to deputize them (they are much better articulated than the clunky phalanx) to force the Greeks onto unfavorable ground where they could disrupt the formation and flank it.

So no, the Romans could not get past the spears of the phalangites, but in the end they didn't need to. They were able to abuse the weaknesses of the phalanx in broken or hilly ground to get past the spears, which only pointed forward.