This article is about the unit in Age of Empires II. For the unit in Age of Empires III, see Skirmisher (Age of Empires III). |
“ | Ranged anti-archer unit that cannot attack at close range. | ” |
—Age of Empires II description |
The Skirmisher is an anti-archer ranged unit in Age of Empires II that can be trained at the Archery Range. Skirmishers are similar to the Slinger in Age of Empires.
Tactics[]
Skirmishers are very weak to everything except archers and spearmen. With a weak and slow attack, as well as a minimum range, they deal almost no damage to infantry and cavalry. However, their attack bonus against archers can make them valuable against any archer-using opponent, especially if the player's civilization's bonuses benefit infantry or heavy cavalry. Their anti-archer role is helped greatly by their impressive base pierce armor, which can highly reduce enemy pierce attacks.
Unless created to retaliate against enemy archers, Skirmishers make poor ranged support. Thus, training Skirmishers should be avoided unless opponents are going heavy on archer units.
As Skirmishers cost no gold, they are considered trash units and as such they become especially important in the late game when gold becomes scarce and players have to rely on a wood and food economy. However, because of their cheap cost and quick build time it is possible (in some circumstances) to overwhelm the opposition with sheer quantity.
Although Skirmishers deal bonus damage against Spearmen, their minimum range can be exploited by them. In small numbers, Spearmen can defeat Skirmishers, but in large groups the Skirmishers will win.
Further statistics[]
Unit strengths and weaknesses | |
---|---|
Strong vs. | Archers, Spearmen |
Weak vs. | Melee units, siege units |
Upgrades | |
Attack | Fletching (+1) Bodkin Arrow (+1) Bracer (+1) Chemistry (+1) Atlatl (+1, Aztecs only) Hul'che Javelineers (Extra spear, Mayans only) |
Range | Fletching (+1) Bodkin Arrow (+1) Bracer (+1) Atlatl (+1, Aztecs only) Yeomen (+1, Britons only) Andean Sling (eliminates the minimum range, Incas only) |
Accuracy | Thumb Ring (increases accuracy to 100%) Ballistics (hit moving targets) |
Armor | Padded Archer Armor (+1/+1) Leather Archer Armor (+1/+1) Ring Archer Armor (+1/+2) Tower Shields (+2 pierce armor, Lithuanians only) |
Conversion defense | Devotion (+1 min, +1 max) Faith (+4 min, +4 max) Heresy (die upon getting converted) First Crusade (+4 min, +4 max, Sicilians only) |
Train cost | Kshatriyas (-25% food, Gurjaras only) |
Creation speed | Conscription (+33%) |
Upgrades | Elite Skirmisher |
Civilization bonuses[]
- Aztecs: Skirmishers are created 11% faster.
- Bulgarians: Researching archer armor and attack upgrades at the Blacksmith costs -50% food.
- Burmese: Researching Devotion and Faith is 50% cheaper.
- Byzantines: Skirmishers are 25% cheaper.
- Celts: Skirmishers can convert herdable animals even if enemy units are next to them.
- Chinese: Technologies that benefit Skirmishers are 5%/10%/15% cheaper in the Feudal/Castle/Imperial Age.
- Dravidians: Skirmishers attack 25% faster.
- Georgians: Skirmishers receive -20% damage (-40% instead of -25%) when fighting from higher elevation.
- Incas: Skirmishers cost -15%/-20%/-25% food in the Feudal/Castle/Imperial Age.
- Italians: Researching Ballistics and Chemistry is 33% cheaper.
- Koreans: Skirmishers cost -50% wood. Armor upgrades are free.
- Lithuanians: Skirmishers move 10% faster.
- Sicilians: Skirmishers take -33% bonus damage.
- Spanish: Blacksmith upgrades that benefit Skirmishers cost no gold. Researching technologies that benefit Skirmishers provides 20 gold each.
- Tatars: Skirmishers deal +20% damage (+50% instead of +25%) from cliffs and elevations. Thumb Ring is free.
- Turks: Chemistry is free.
- Vietnamese: Skirmishers have +20% hit points. Conscription is free.
Team bonuses[]
- Britons: Skirmishers are created and upgraded 10% faster. Researching Thumb Ring is 10% faster.
- Bulgarians: Researching archer armor and attack upgrades at the Blacksmith is 80% faster.
- Lithuanians: Researching Devotion, Faith and Heresy is 20% faster.
- Malians: Researching Ballistics and Chemistry is 80% faster.
- Portuguese: Upgrades that benefit Skirmishers are researched 25% faster.
- Saracens: Skirmishers have +3 attack against standard buildings.
- Teutons: Skirmishers are more resistant to conversion.
Changelog[]
The Age of Kings[]
The Conquerors[]
- Skirmishers receive an attack bonus of +3 against Spearmen.
- Heresy introduced.
- Thumb Ring introduced.
- Britons: Yeomen introduced. It is only available in the Imperial Age.
The Forgotten[]
The African Kingdoms[]
- With patch 4.8, the Elite Skirmisher upgrade costs 200 wood, 100 gold.
- Ethiopians: Initially, all foot archers fired 15% faster. With patch 4.8, Skirmishers no longer have an increased Rate of Fire.
- Italians: With patch 4.8, Pavise does not affect Skirmishers anymore.
Rise of the Rajas[]
- Vietnamese: Initially, Skirmishers have +10%/+15%/+20% HP in the Feudal/Castle/Imperial Age. With patch 5.8, they have +20% HP.
Definitive Edition[]
- Elite Skirmisher upgrade cost increased to 230 wood, 130 gold.
- Bulgarians: Initially, Team Blacksmiths work 50% faster. With update 42848, researching archer armor and attack upgrades at the Blacksmith costs -50% food, and Team Blacksmiths work 80% faster.
- Koreans: Initially, Skirmishers cost -15% wood. With update 39284, they cost -20% wood. With update 42848, Archer Armor upgrades are free.
- Lithuanians: With update 36906, Tower Shields grants +2 pierce armor instead of +1.
- Portuguese: With update 42848, as a civilization bonus, technologies that benefit Skirmishers are researched 30% faster.
Lords of the West[]
- Mayans: Hul'che Javelineers is introduced to replace Obsidian Arrows; Hul'che Javelineers improves Skirmishers by making them throw a second projectile.
Dynasties of India[]
- Skirmishers now deal 0 bonus damage versus the Cavalry Archer Armor class, resulting in additional damage when attacking units with negative values of Cavalry Archer Armor, like Elephant Archers.
- Incas: With update 61321, the new team bonus gives Skirmishers +2 Line of Sight.
- Portuguese: With update 73855, as a team bonus, technologies that benefit Skirmishers are researched 25% faster.
- Incas: With update 81058, the team bonus is replaced and, as a new civilization bonus, Skirmishers cost -20%/-25%/-30% food in the Feudal/Castle/Imperial Age.
- With update 81058, Skirmishers receive a new eponymous armor class.
Return of Rome[]
- Chinese: With update 87863, technologies that benefit Skirmishers are 5%/10%/15% cheaper in the Feudal/Castle/Imperial Age.
- Koreans: With update 87863, Skirmishers cost -50% wood.
The Mountain Royals[]
- Incas: With update 99311, they cost -15%/-20%/-25% food in the Feudal/Castle/Imperial Age.
History[]
“ | Many armies of the Middle Ages used lightly armored skirmishers in support of the main fighting force of armored fighting men. They could be difficult to control and of little value on the battlefield, but some armies used them effectively. Skirmishers were deployed in front of the main battle line and engaged the enemy with bows, slings, and javelins. The intent was to disrupt the enemy force and cause casualties before the main battle lines clashed. The skirmishers would retire to the side of the main battle and harass the enemy as practical. They could also be useful in pursuit of a beaten enemy because they could move more quickly than men wearing armor. If caught in battle against men-at-arms, however, they could not stand and routed quickly. | ” |
—Age of Empires II manual |
Skirmishers were infantry or even cavalry soldiers who were used ahead or alongside a much larger body of friendly troops and were put in a skirmish line to harass the enemy or to protect their own troops from similar attacks by the enemy. They were usually lightly armored so they could move around the battlefield quickly and usually had longer ranged firearms. In earlier battles, skirmishers were often the rabble that was thrown into the battlefield at the start of a battle before being overrun by the cavalry of both sides. As warfare evolved, however, skirmishers became a valuable commodity, harassing fleeing armies and capturing loot.
Trivia[]
- Skirmishers are the second cheapest of all military units, tied with the Spearman line, costing only 60 resources and no gold, only behind the Karambit Warrior (which costs 40 resources but is not a trash unit).
- With 2, the Skirmisher has the weakest base attack of all land units, along with the Battering Ram.
- With 30, the Skirmisher also has the fewest hit points of all military units, tied with the Archer and the Karambit Warrior.
- Medieval skirmishers were generally armed with crossbows and longbows. To be historically accurate, the unit should be named Javelineer.
- With update 44725, all Native American civilizations have a Castle Age unique technology that benefits the combat strength of Skirmishers.