>>2081740
>I don't think having my pike unit pull out swords is realistic. If their cohesion was disrupted to the point where the pikewall failed the unit would more than likely break
Pikemen commonly had standard drills to prepare to make use of their sidearms during battles, they would stand on the end and draw the sword to deal with horsemen etc who drew too close, or in general if their pike was broken. It was absolutely an integral part of their role in battle and you can find lots of etchings of this sort of thing.