What the description of Sphacteria has to tell us

[hoplite14gr]

If you face a hail of missiles the chance of being wounded in your unprotected parts of your head are more even if you wear a metallic pilos.
The chances are less with "chalcidic" or corinthian
The Atheninas expected the masses salvoes of missles todo the trick rather than accuracy. The Spartans could not advanced quickly enough because of the condition to root the Athenian hoplites and then finish off the rubble.

If you are an Athenian the idea is to stave them off as much as possible and let the time work for you. We say in Greek "I diarkeia troei ton pekti" = the duration "eats" the player an it was proven correct in Sphacteria.

Kind regards