Battle formation is a military tactic used to organize troops in order to maximize their effectiveness in combat. The term can refer to a variety of formations, including the phalanx, DEPLOY, and LINE. The phalanx is a formation in which soldiers stand shoulder-to-shoulder in a close formation, usually with shields overlapping. Deployment is the process of arranging troops in a specific formation prior to battle. Finally, a LINE formation is a formation in which troops are arranged in a single LINE, allowing for maximum firepower.