The Romans revolutionized warfare with the Legion by combining new weapons and new army formation. Instead of a thrusting spear, the Legionnaire carried a pair of throwing spears called plium; and for close combat, he wielded a short sword. At the same time, battle formations changed. The Romans stepped away from the phalanx and formed into the cohort. In the cohort, Romans spaced men a square yard apart. Thus the Legion turned quickly and maneuvered well on broken ground.