Anti-archer Skirmisher that cannot attack at close range.
”
—In-game description
“
Ranged anti-archer unit that cannot attack at close range.
”
—In-game description
The Elite Skirmisher is an anti-archerfoot archer in Age of Empires II that can be upgraded from the Skirmisher at the Archery Range once the Castle Age is reached. They have an attack bonus against archers and, as opposed to its predecessor, an extra attack bonus against mounted archers. They also have increased hit points, attack, and pierce armor. This makes Elite Skirmishers more useful against other ranged units even beyond the Castle Age.
The Elite Skirmisher is available to all civilizations except for the Turks.
The Elite Skirmisher upgrade notably grants +1 attack, +1 anti-archer bonus damage, +2 anti-cavalry archer bonus damage, +1 pierce armor, and +1 range. Given the moderately low price of the upgrade, it is almost always worth obtaining early.
Most of the time, Skirmishers are very weak to everything except Archers, Hand Cannoneers, and Pikemen (to a degree). With a weak and slow attack, as well as a minimum range, they deal almost no damage to infantry and cavalry. Nevertheless, their attack bonus against archers and high pierce resilience can make them valuable against any archer-using opponent, especially if the player's civilization bonuses benefit infantry or heavy cavalry. Unless created to retaliate against enemy archers, each unit does poor damage. Elite Skirmishers also have a +4 attack bonus against Pikemen, allowing groups of them to quickly take out approaching Pikemen, but their minimum range still makes them vulnerable. However, they work great as support for cavalry because of this and their cheap cost.
While Elite Skirmishers make poor ranged support in small numbers, they are extremely cheap. As they cost no gold, they are considered trash units and can be easily massed in significant numbers enough to kill units with a single volley. The size of the mob of units should also prevent enemy units from coming close enough to all of the units, allowing them to continue to fire. Therefore the Elite Skirmisher becomes especially important in the late game when gold becomes scarce and players have to rely on a wood and food economy. In a trash war, their bonus against the Spearman line also becomes more useful.
Spanish: Blacksmith technologies that benefit Elite Skirmishers cost no gold. Technologies that benefit Elite Skirmishers provides 20 gold each when researched.
In many Middle Age armies skirmishers were the rabble that was thrown in at the start of a battle and then often overrun by the heavy cavalry of both sides. A few armies trained elite skirmishers who could disrupt enemy formations, fall back, and support the main friendly fighting force from the sides. An army that could put elite skirmishers in the field to support its main army had an advantage over an army that did not. The Swiss, for example, often employed up to a quarter of their force in a skirmish role. Elite Swiss skirmishers supported the dense phalanxes of Swiss pikemen by disrupting enemy troops before the pikes made their attack. In an emergency, the skirmishers could take cover under the rows of pointed pikes and then stand up once more to engage a withdrawing enemy.
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—Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings manual
Trivia[]
Skirmishers are the second cheapest of all military units, tied with the Spearman line and Flemish Militia, costing only 60 resources and no gold (the latter only Spearmen and Skirmishers), only behind the Karambit Warrior (which costs 40 resources but is not a trash unit).
With update 44725, all Native American civilizations have a Castle Age unique technology that benefits the combat strength of Skirmishers.
Gallery[]
The Skirmisher line, with the Elite Skirmisher in the middle.
Fletching (+1)
Bodkin Arrow (+1)
Bracer (+1)
Chemistry (+1)
Atlatl (+1, Aztecs only)
Range
Thumb Ring (increases accuracy to 100% for non-moving targets)
Ballistics (hit moving targets)
Padded Archer Armor (+1 
melee / +1 
pierce)
Leather Archer Armor (+1 
Ring Archer Armor (+1 
Tower Shields (+2 
Devotion (+1 min, +1 max)
Faith (+4 min, +4 max)
Heresy (die upon getting converted)
Conscription (+33%)
Regeneration
Liu Bei (+45 HP/min, Shu only)
Attack speed
Cao Cao (+8.75%, Wei only)
Movement speed
Sun Jian (+15%, Wu only)
Hit points
Vietnamese (+20%)
Tatars (+20% damage {+50% instead of +25%} from higher elevation)
Georgians (-20% damage {-40% instead of -25%} on higher elevation)
Jurchens (-50% friendly fire damage)
Sicilians (-40% bonus damage)
Dravidians (+25%)
Lithuanians (+10%)
Byzantines (-25%)
Inca (-20%/-25% food in the Castle/Imperial Age)
Koreans (-50% wood)
Aztecs (+15%)
Khitans (+25%)
Chinese (-15% cost)
Saracens (+3 vs. standard buildings)
Teutons (+3 min, +1 max)
Britons (+10%)
Portuguese (+25% faster)
Bohemians: Chemistry is available in the Castle Age.
