Skirmisher (Age of Empires III)

This article is about the unit in Age of Empires III. For the unit in other games of the series, see Skirmisher.

Skirmisher
Information
Introduced in	Age of Empires III
Type	Infantry Light infantry* Ranged infantry Gunpowder trooper Rifle infantry*
Civilization(s)	See description
Age	Fortress Age Commerce Age (Dutch)
Training
Trained at	Barracks Fort Galleon Fluyt (Dutch) American Citadel
Cost	50 Food 65 Coin 1 Population
Train time	33 seconds
Statistics
Hit points	120
Resistance	30% Ranged
Speed	4.0
Line of Sight	24
Train XP	12
Kill XP	12
Ranged attack
Damage	15 Ranged
Range	2-20
Rate of Fire	3.0
Bonus damage	2.5× vs. Light ranged cavalry 2.5× vs. Ranged shock infantry 2.0× vs. Heavy infantry 0.6× vs. Cavalry 0.6× vs. Shock infantry*
Siege attack
Damage	12 Siege
Range	6
Rate of Fire	3.0
Hand attack
Damage	6 Hand
Rate of Fire	1.5
Bonus damage	2.0× vs. Light ranged cavalry 2.0× vs. Ranged shock infantry 2.0× vs. Heavy infantry 0.75× vs. Cavalry 0.75× vs. Shock infantry

“	Skirmisher with low hitpoints, but a long-ranged attack. Good against infantry.	”
—In-game description

The Skirmisher is a ranged gunpowder infantry in Age of Empires III that can be trained at Barracks, Fort, and Galleons/Fluyts once the Fortress Age is reached.

Skirmishers are available to European civilizations except British (who have Rangers instead), Knights of St. John (Act I: Blood campaign), Maltese (who have Order Cassadores instead), Ottomans (who have Abus Gunners instead), Portuguese (who have Cassadores instead), Russians (who have Streltsy instead), Swedes (who may always train Jaegers at their Taverns instead), and Italians (who have Bersaglieri instead).

Overview

Skirmishers have a long-ranged attack that is suited to kiting the enemy from afar. They are strong at countering and defeating heavy infantry and ranged cavalry, but highly vulnerable to melee cavalry and artillery due to their relatively low hit points and a weak hand attack. They cost a relatively high amount of coin and it is not cost effective to use them against melee cavalry.

Typically they are used to create a strong mass ranged platform to support the rest of the army. Their long range ensures they can put all their damage to use as early as possible and makes them easy to control while kiting. They are effective against enemy Skirmishers and other ranged infantry, but their counter damage wards off cheaper heavy infantry attacks in melee, as well as harassment from fast ranged cavalry. When in position near enemy Settlers their range also makes them effective at harassing them while not committing too much to a bad position should a fight occur. When fighting heavy infantry it is advisable to take an Arsenal towards the time of the Industrial Age, in order to unlock Counter Infantry Rifling for an effective extra 50% damage against those units. Skirmishers are capable of sieging buildings, but this is a risky strategy due to the poor positioning required to do so, along with slow speed and low siege damage. It may be better to use them defensively in support of Falconets or Halberdiers instead.

If picking The Marksman for advancing to the Fortress Age with the French or Germans, the player gets six Skirmishers.

Comparisons

Spanish Unction-boosted Skirmishers will inflict 45.12 damage before multipliers with all attack upgrades that do not require an ally or minor native upgrade. French Skirmishers have the highest stand-alone HP in the endgame (as Imperial Voltigeurs), as they have a Royal Guard Upgrade (10%) and 15% and 20% hit point Home City Cards available to them.

The Cherokee Rifleman and Klamath Rifleman are comparable to Fortress Age Skirmishers but with much higher hit points and may be useful for civilizations that lack access to regular Skirmishers. They are available on maps featuring the Cherokee or Klamath, and available earlier in the Commerce Age. Note that these units cost wood instead of coin.

Upgrades

Age	Upgrade	Cost	Effect	Civ.
	Veteran Skirmishers	Automatically	Upgrades Skirmishers to Veteran (+20% hit points and damage)	All
	Guard Skirmishers	600 wood 600 coin	Upgrades Skirmishers to Guard (+30% hit points and damage)	Spanish
	Voltigeurs	750 wood 750 coin	Upgrades Skirmishers to Voltigeurs (Guard Skirmishers with +10% hit points and damage)
	Prussian Needle Guns		Upgrades Skirmishers to Needle Gunners (Guard Skirmishers with +10% hit points* and -0.25 ranged attack Rate of Fire)
Imperial Age	Imperial Skirmishers	1,500 wood 1,500 coin	Upgrades Skirmishers to Imperial (+50% hit points and damage); Requires Guard Skirmishers	Spanish
	Imperial Voltigeurs		Upgrades Voltigeurs to Imperial (+50% hit points and damage); Requires Voltigeurs
	Imperial Needle Guns		Upgrades Needle Gunners to Imperial (+50% hit points and damage); Requires Prussian Needle Guns

Civilization differences

• As seen above, the French and Germans can upgrade Skirmishers to Royal Guard and Imperial Guard.
• Dutch Skirmishers can be trained from the Commerce Age; they will be automatically upgraded to Veteran once the player reaches the Fortress Age.
• John Black's Mercenaries can only upgrade Skirmishers to Guard.
• United States in Act III can upgrade Skirmishers to Imperial.
• The Inca can get Skirmishers through the "Tupac Rebellion" Home City Card, which turns Jungle Bowmen into Guard Skirmishers.

Karelian Jaeger

Karelian Jaeger
Information
Introduced in	Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition
Type	Infantry Light infantry* Ranged infantry Gunpowder trooper Rifle infantry*
Civilization(s)	Finland
Age	Revolution
Training
Trained at	Town Center Barracks (if revolting from the Swedes) Blockhouse Fort Galleon American Citadel
Cost	100 Wood 1 Population
Train time	33 seconds
Train limit	99
Statistics
Hit points	120
Resistance	30% Ranged
Speed	4.0
Line of Sight	24
Ability	Gathers resources from crates Gathers wood from trees Builds some buildings (see description)
Train XP	12
Kill XP	12
Ranged attack
Damage	15 Ranged
Range	2-20
Rate of Fire	3.0
Bonus damage	2.5× vs. Light ranged cavalry 2.5× vs. Ranged shock infantry 2.0× vs. Heavy infantry 0.6× vs. Cavalry 0.6× vs. Shock infantry*
Siege attack
Damage	12 Siege
Range	6
Rate of Fire	3.0
Hand attack
Damage	6 Hand
Rate of Fire	1.5
Bonus damage	2.0× vs. Light ranged cavalry 2.0× vs. Ranged shock infantry 2.0× vs. Heavy infantry 0.75× vs. Cavalry 0.75× vs. Shock infantry

“	Skirmisher with low hitpoints, but a long-ranged attack. Good against infantry. Gathers from trees, resource crates, and constructs Blockhouses.	”
—In-game description

The Karelian Jaeger is an upgrade of the Skirmisher unique to Finland, which replaces Revolutionaries with the following differences:

• Costs 100 wood and has a train limit of 99.
• Can gather resources from crates and wood from trees.
  • With the "Northern Wilderness" Home City Card, Karelian Jaegers can gather all resources as a Settler does at equal rate (except from Mills and Haciendas).
• Can build Torps, Trading Posts, Blockhouses, Stables, Artillery Foundries, Markets, Church, Arsenals*, Taverns, Native Embassies, and Docks.

Gathering rates

Resource	Source	Gathering rate
		per second	per minute
All resources	Crate	8	480
Food	Crate of Surströmming
	Herded animal	2	120
	Hunted animal	0.84	50.4
	Berry Bush	0.67	40.2
	Cherry Orchard
Wood	Tree	0.75	45
	Mango Grove
Coin	Mine	0.6	36
	Estate

Upgrades

The Karelian Jaeger automatically gets Veteran and Guard level (total +50% hit points and damage) upon revolting to Finland.

Variants

• Prussian Needle Gunner
• Voltigeur

Prussian Needle Gunner
Information
Introduced in	Age of Empires III: The Asian Dynasties
Type	Infantry Light infantry* Ranged infantry Gunpowder trooper Rifle infantry* Consulate unit
Civilization(s)	Chile Chinese
Age	Fortress Age
Training
Banner army	German Expeditionary Force German Expeditionary Army
Trained at	Consulate (Chinese)
Cost	1 Population
Statistics
Hit points	120
Resistance	30% Ranged
Speed	4.0
Line of Sight	24
Kill XP	12
Ranged attack
Damage	15 Ranged
Range	2-20
Rate of Fire	2.75
Bonus damage	2.5× vs. Light ranged cavalry 2.5× vs. Ranged shock infantry 2.0× vs. Heavy infantry 0.6× vs. Cavalry 0.6× vs. Shock infantry*
Siege attack
Damage	12 Siege
Range	6
Rate of Fire	3.0
Hand attack
Damage	6 Hand
Rate of Fire	1.5
Bonus damage	2.0× vs. Light ranged cavalry 2.0× vs. Ranged shock infantry 2.0× vs. Heavy infantry 0.75× vs. Cavalry 0.75× vs. Shock infantry

“	Skirmisher with low hitpoints, but a long-ranged attack. Good against infantry.	”
—In-game description

The Prussian Needle Gunner (Prussian Needle Gun before the Definitive Edition) is a counterpart of the Skirmisher, which starts with +10% hit points and damage.

Upgrades

The Prussian Needle Gunner is automatically upgraded in the Fortress Age, Industrial Age and Imperial Age:

• +20% hit points and damage
• +30% hit points and +20% damage
• +50% hit points and damage

Civilization differences

• The Chinese can get Prussian Needle Guners by allying with the Germans at the Consulate, which provides German Expeditionary Force, German Expeditionary Army, and German Brigade that includes 7, 18 and 15 Prussian Needle Gunners respectively.

Revolutions

• Chile can get Prussian Needle Gunners through the "Military Parade" Home City Card, which includes 15 Prussian Needle Gunners.

Voltigeur
Information
Introduced in	Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition
Type	Infantry Light infantry Ranged infantry Gunpowder trooper Rifle infantry Consulate unit
Civilization(s)	Mexicans
Age	Fortress Age
Training
Cost	1 Population
Statistics
Hit points	120
Resistance	30% Ranged
Speed	4.0
Line of Sight	24
Kill XP	12
Ranged attack
Damage	15 Ranged
Range	2-20
Rate of Fire	3.0
Bonus damage	2.5× vs. Light ranged cavalry 2.5× vs. Ranged shock infantry 2.0× vs. Heavy infantry 0.6× vs. Cavalry 0.6× vs. Shock infantry*
Siege attack
Damage	12 Siege
Range	6
Rate of Fire	3.0
Hand attack
Damage	6 Hand
Rate of Fire	1.5
Bonus damage	2.0× vs. Light ranged cavalry 2.0× vs. Ranged shock infantry 2.0× vs. Heavy infantry 0.75× vs. Cavalry 0.75× vs. Shock infantry

“	Skirmisher with low hitpoints, but a long-ranged attack. Good against infantry.	”
—In-game description

The Voltigeur is a counterpart of the Skirmisher, which starts with +10% hit points and damage.

Upgrades

The Voltigeur is automatically upgraded in the Fortress Age, Industrial Age and Imperial Age:

• +20% hit points and damage
• +30% hit points and damage
• +50% hit points and damage

Civilization differences

• The Mexicans can turn Salteadores into Voltigeurs through the "Plan of Miramare" Home City Card.

Further statistics

Unit strengths and weaknesses
Strong vs.	Heavy infantry, light ranged cavalry, ranged shock infantry
Weak vs.	Heavy cavalry, hand shock infantry, counter-skirmishers, artillery
Improvements
Hit points	Grand Encampment (+25%; campaign United States only) Flint Lock (+10%) Cree Tanning (+5%) Navajo Weaving (+5%) Tar Kilns (+5%)
Attack	Paper Cartridge (+15%) Iroquois Lacrosse (+10%; vanilla Age of Empires III only) Smokeless Powder (+10%) Armatoloi (+5%) Yoga (+5%) Clenched Fist (+25% hand attack) Somali Jile Daggers (-35% hand attack Rate of Fire) Counter Infantry Rifling (+1.0 multiplier vs. heavy infantry) Kalthoff Repeaters (+0.1 multiplier vs. light infantry)
Resistance	Somali Oryx Hide Shields (+5% ranged resistance) Hualcana (+5% resistance; Inca only)
Speed	Tilly's Discipline (+20%; Germans only) Military Drummers (+10%) Quechuan Mountaineering (+10%) Akan Fontomfrom (+5%) Apache Endurance (+5%)
Line of Sight	Town Watch (+3) Schützenfest (+1)
Range	Schützenfest (+1)
Cost	Mapuche Ad-mapu (-10% coin cost) Golden Liberty (-5% coin cost)
Train time	Standing Army (-25%) Akan Fontomfrom (-20%) Quechuan Diet (-15%) Immigrants (-10%)
Other	German Brigade (delivers 19 Prussian Needle Gunners; Chinese only) Jagiellonian Legacy (delivers 8 Skirmishers if The King's Musketeer was chosen for the Dutch; delivers 6 Skirmishers if The Marksman was chosen for the French and Germans) Meritocracy (-20% upgrade cost)
Penalties	Grand Encampment (-25% speed; campaign United States only) Tilly's Discipline (+10% cost; Germans only)

Home City Cards

Click for a list of Home City Cards related to the Skirmisher

Some cards are highlighted with:
Green	TEAM Shipment that is sent to each player in a team
Purple	Shipment that can be sent an INFINITE number of times
Red	Shipment that can be sent twice
Blue	Shipment that arrives fast (5 seconds)

• Definitive Edition
• The Asian Dynasties

Shared

Card	Description	Age
TEAM Senegalese Riflemen	Ranged infantry damage +10%; French and Hausa-only ranged infantry damage +15% instead
Liberation March	Infantry, cavalry, and shock infantry train time -35%, speed +5%

• "TEAM Senegalese Riflemen" is available to the French and Hausa.
• "Liberation March" is available to the Mexicans (also revolting to California and Rio Grande) and Spanish (also revolting to Chile).

Chinese

Card	Description	Age
TEAM Yongle Infrastructure	Delivers 1 Mongol Scout; infantry, land villager, healing unit, Envoy, and Disciple speed +5%
Western Reforms	Unit hit points and damage +8%
Acupuncture	Unit (except monk) train time -20%; Summer Palace banner army, Flying Crow, and Heavy Cannon spawn time -5%
Banner School	Banner army train time -30%; Summer Palace banner army spawn time -7%
Good Faith Agreements	Consulate unit train time -50%; Consulate technology cost -40% (-300 export for Brigades), research time -50% (except Brigades)

• "TEAM Yongle Infrastructure" does not stack with the Inca "TEAM Inca Bridges" card.

Dutch

Card	Description	Age
Infantry Attack	Pikeman, Halberdier, Skirmisher, Revolutionary Sharpshooter, and Musketeer damage +15%
TEAM Infantry Hitpoints	Infantry hit points +10%; Dutch-only infantry hit points +15% instead
Infantry Combat	Pikeman, Halberdier, Skirmisher, Revolutionary Sharpshooter, and Musketeer hit points and damage +15%
Dutch States Army	Mercenary train time -15%, speed (except Napoleon Gun and Li'l Bombard) +7%; mercenary shipment arrive time -20%; enables Highlander to be trained at Barracks and Taverns, Royal Horseman at Stables and Taverns; Pikeman, Halberdier, Skirmisher, Hussar, and Ruyter cost +10%
Wanderlust	Land military and land villager hit points +5%; land villager and construction wagon speed +5% (can be sent 3 times)

• "Wanderlust" is available upon revolting to South Africa.

Ethiopians

Card	Description	Age
TEAM Coffee Consumption	Ranged infantry speed +5%

Europeans

Card	Description	Age
7 Skirmishers	Delivers 7 Skirmishers
9 Skirmishers	Delivers 9 Skirmishers
8 Skirmishers	Delivers 8 Skirmishers
12 Skirmishers	Delivers 12 Skirmishers
14 Skirmishers	Delivers 14 Skirmishers
Fencing School	Infantry (except Warrior Priest and Skull Knight) and shock infantry train time -40%
Colombian Army	Enables Imperial upgrades for Independence Guards, Cassadores, Skirmishers, Landwehrs, and Ordinance Riflemen; Imperial upgrades for Independence Guards, Cassadores, Skirmishers, and Landwehrs cost -60%
Northern Wilderness	Enables Karelian Jaegers to gather all natural resources and build Livestock Pens
Jaeger Combat	Jaeger hit points and damage +15%; Karelian Jaeger and Counter Jaeger hit points and damage +20%
Morgan's Continental Sharpshooters	Delivers 12 Revolutionary Sharpshooters; transforms all Skirmishers/Bersaglieri/Rangers into Revolutionary Sharpshooters; enables Revolutionary Sharpshooters to be trained at Forts
Pennsylvania Long Rifles	Skirmisher, Ranger, Bersagliere, and Papal Zouave Line of Sight +3, ranged attack range +2; State Militia, Militiaman, and Spy Line of Sight and ranged attack range +4

• "7 Skirmishers", "9 Skirmishers", and "8 Skirmishers" are available to the Dutch, French, and Germans.
• "12 Skirmishers" is available to the French and Germans.
• "14 Skirmishers" is available to the Dutch and French.
• "Fencing School" is not available to the French and Spanish.
• "Colombian Army" is available to the Germans, Portuguese, and Spanish upon revolting to Gran Colombia.
• "Northern Wilderness" and "Jaeger Combat" are available to the Russians and Swedes upon revolting to Finland.
• "Morgan's Continental Sharpshooters" and "Pennsylvania Long Rifles" are available to the British, Dutch, French, Italians, and Swedes upon revolting to the United States.

French

Card	Description	Age
Tirailleurs	Transforms all Crossbowmen into Skirmishers
Ranged Infantry Hitpoints	Crossbowman, Musketeer, Skirmisher, and Revolutionary Sharpshooter hit points +15%
TEAM House of Bonaparte	Enables Skirmisher, Cassador, Forest Prowler, Wakina Rifle, Sharpshooter, Neftenya, Imperial Army, and Territorial Army to be trained from the Commerce Age; Bersagliere from the Fortress Age; Strelet, Jaeger, Longbowman, Salteador, Otontin Slinger, Gurkha, Yumi Archer, Jungle Bowman, and Desert Archer train time -20%; Leather Cannon train time -40%
Royal Fencing School	Delivers 3 Royal Musketeers; infantry and shock infantry train time -40%
Wilderness Warfare	Coureur des Bois, Cree Coureur des Bois, native warrior, Skirmisher, and Settler hit points +20%
12 Skirmishers	Delivers 12 Skirmishers
Grande Armée	Enables to research Imperial upgrades for military units at -50% cost; Sansculotte cost +25%

• "12 Skirmishers" is available upon revolting to Canada.
• "Grande Armée" is available upon revolting to Revolutionary France.

Germans

Card	Description	Age
Long-range Infantry Hitpoints	Crossbowman, Skirmisher, and Landwehr hit points +15%, +4 Uhlans

Haudenosaunee

Card	Description	Age
TEAM Scout Infantry	Delivers 1 Native Scout; infantry Line of Sight +8

Inca

Card	Description	Age
Road Building	Land military speed +10%
TEAM Inca Bridges	Delivers 1 Chasqui; infantry, land villager, healing unit, and Envoy speed +5%
Tupac Rebellion	Transforms all villagers into Revolutionaries, Plumed Spearmen into Guard Musketeer, Chimu Runners into Guard Hussars, Jungle Bowmen into Guard Skirmishers, Bolas Warriors into Veteran Dragoons, Huaracas into Guard Grenadiers, and Macemen into Guard Soldados; costs 1,500 food, 1,500 wood, 1,500 coin

• "TEAM Inca Bridges" does not stack with the Chinese "TEAM Yongle Infrastructure" card.

Indians

Card	Description	Age
TEAM Shivaji's Tactics	Unit hit points and damage +5%

Japanese

Card	Description	Age
TEAM Sengoku	Unit upgrades cost -20%

Maltese

Card	Description	Age
TEAM Knights of the Round Table	Delivers 1 Hospitaller for each Town Center and Command Post present on the map; unit hit points +2%

Mexicans

Card	Description	Age
Guerrilla Tactics	Rifle infantry hit points and damage +15%; Salteadores get Big Ability Batton: if not in combat Salteadores will automatically be stealthy with no speed penalty - for a short duration
Plan of Miramare	Transforms all Salteadores into Voltigeurs; rifle infantry Line of Sight, charged and ranged attack range +2; costs 750 food, 750 wood
TEAM Mariachi	For the next 30 seconds, military building training and research work rate +400%, unit speed +10%
Colegio de San Nicolas	Delivers 1 Large Collection of Books (500 XP); unit Line of Sight +4; building (except Wall) Line of Sight +8; reveals enemy units' positions for 20 seconds
National Servant	Unit (except herded animals) hit points +10%; Padre heal work rate +200%	Imperial Age
Pok Ta Pok	Infantry train time -10%, speed +10%

• "Colegio de San Nicolas" is available upon selecting the Michoacán Federal State.
• "National Servant" is available upon selecting Estado de México Federal State.
• "Pok Ta Pok" is available upon revolting to the Maya.

Portuguese

Card	Description	Age
TEAM Gunpowder Infantry Hitpoints	Gunpowder trooper hit points +15%

Russians

Card	Description	Age
Ransack	Infantry siege attack damage +50%
Dueling School	Infantry train time -25%

Spanish

Card	Description	Age
Peninsular Guerrillas	Ranged infantry damage +20%, musket infantry damage +10% instead; Skirmishers now see the Line of Sight of enemies they attacked for 3 seconds
TEAM Spanish Inquisition	Delivers 1 Inquisitor; military and economic unit Line of Sight +10
Military Parade	Delivers 15 Prussian Needle Gunners and 10 Prussian Uhlans; costs 2,200 coin

• "Military Parade" is available upon revolting to Chile.

Chinese

Card	Description	Age	HC level
Western Reforms	All units get +8% hit points and damage		40
Acupuncture	All units' (except Shaolin Masters, Heavy Cannons, Flying Crows, and Summer Palace banner armies) train time -20%		40
Banner School	Banner army train time -30%; Summer Palace banner army spawn time -7%		10
Good Faith Agreements	Consulate units' train time -50%; Consulate technologies' cost -40% (-400 export for Brigades) and research time -50% (except Brigades)		1

Dutch

Card	Description	Age	HC level
Infantry Attack	Pikemen, Halberdiers, and Skirmishers get +15% damage		10
TEAM Infantry Hitpoints	Infantry get +15% hit points		10
Infantry Combat	Pikemen, Halberdiers, and Skirmishers get +15% hit points and damage		25

Europeans

Card	Description	Age	HC level
7 Skirmishers	Ships 7 Skirmishers (also +3 Uhlans for the Germans)		1
9 Skirmishers	Ships 9 Skirmishers (also +4 Uhlans for the Germans)		1
8 Skirmishers	Ships 8 Skirmishers (also +3 Uhlans for the Germans)		10
12 Skirmishers	Ships 12 Skirmishers (also +4 Uhlans for the Germans)		10
14 Skirmishers	Ships 14 Skirmishers		25
Fencing School	Infantry train time -40% (also +2 Uhlans for the Germans)		10

• "7 Skirmishers", "9 Skirmishers", and "8 Skirmishers" are available to the Dutch, French, and Germans.
• "12 Skirmishers" is available to the French and Germans.
• "14 Skirmishers" is available to the Dutch and French.

French

Card	Description	Age	HC level
Tirailleurs	Turns all Crossbowmen into Skirmishers		40
Ranged Infantry Hitpoints	Crossbowmen and Skirmishers get +15% hit points		10
TEAM Ranged Infantry Attack	Gunpowder trooper and archers get +15% damage		10
TEAM Early Skirmishers	Skirmishers, Cassadores, Forest Prowlers, Wakina Rifles, Imperial Army, and Territorial Army can be trained in the Commerce Age; Longbowman, Strelet, Otontin Slinger, Gurkha, and Yumi Archer train time -20%		25
Wilderness Warfare	Coureurs des Bois, Skirmishers, and native warriors get +20% hit points		25

Germans

Card	Description	Age	HC level
Long-range Infantry Hitpoints	Crossbowmen and Skirmishers get +15% hit points; +4 Uhlans		1

Indians

Card	Description	Age	HC level
TEAM Shivaji's Tactics	All units get +5% hit points and damage		25

Iroquois

Card	Description	Age	HC level
TEAM Scout Infantry	Infantry get +8 Line of Sight		10

Japanese

Card	Description	Age	HC level
TEAM Cheaper Unit Upgrades	Unit upgrades cost -20%		1

Portuguese

Card	Description	Age	HC level
TEAM Gunpowder Infantry Hitpoints	Gunpowder trooper get +15% hit points		10

Russians

Card	Description	Age	HC level
Dueling School	Infantry (except Skull Knights), Old Han Army, and Territorial Army train time -25%; Black Flag Army, Standard Army, Ming Army, and Imperial Army train time -12%		25

Spanish

Card	Description	Age	HC level
TEAM Inquisition	All units get +10 Line of Sight		10

Treasure guardian

Deserted Skirmisher
Information
Introduced in	Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition - Knights of the Mediterranean
Type	Guardian
Civilization(s)	Mother Nature
Statistics
Hit points	120
Resistance	30% Ranged
Speed	7.0
Line of Sight	24
Kill XP	10
Ranged attack
Damage	24 Ranged
Range	15
Rate of Fire	3.0
Siege attack
Damage	24 Siege
Range	6
Rate of Fire	3.0
Hand attack
Damage	5 Hand
Rate of Fire	1.5

The Deserted Skirmisher is a treasure guardian variant of the Skirmisher. It uses slightly modified stats from the base unit.

Changelog

The Asian Dynasties

• With patch 1.01, the Skirmisher has a ×2.0 ranged multiplier against light ranged cavalry and Eagle Runner Knights, and ×0.75 against cavalry and Coyote Runners.

Definitive Edition

• Fixed a bug where the Skirmisher starts at the Veteran level instead of Guard when the player starts a Post-Industrial Age match as the Dutch.
• The Skirmisher has a ×2.0 ranged multiplier against light ranged cavalry and ranged shock infantry, and ×0.75 against cavalry and hand shock infantry.
• With update 23511, the Skirmisher is tagged as Rifle infantry.

The African Royals

• With update 43871, the Skirmisher portrait has been updated to align with his in-game appearance.
• With update 47581, the Skirmisher portrait has been updated to more accurately represent the in-game unit.

Knights of the Mediterranean

• With update 13.9057, the Skirmisher is tagged as Light Infantry.
• With update 13.58326, the Skirmisher has a ×2.5 ranged multiplier against light ranged cavalry and ranged shock infantry, ×0.6 vs. cavalry and ×0.5 vs. shock infantry.
• With update 14.43676, Skirmishers have a ×0.6 ranged multiplier against shock infantry. The Dutch Skirmisher in the Commerce Age, the Karelian Jaeger, and Voltigeur and Prussian Needle Gun upgrades received new models.

Trivia

• The Russians originally had the Skirmisher; the Russian Skirmisher's voice files are reused for the Russian Grenadier.
• French Royal Guard Skirmishers are named after the Voltigeurs.
• German Royal Guard/Consulate Skirmishers are named after the Dreyse needle gun they use.

History

“

Skirmishers were lightly armed and armored riflemen who used their speed to move quickly about the battlefield and perform a number of military roles. They defended flanks, helped artillerymen with cannon, dragged wounded soldiers off of the battlefield, and performed hit-and-run attacks on advancing enemy armies. Napoleonic-era skirmishers were effective against rigid ranks of musketeers because the fire of musketeers was less effective on the loose, informal skirmisher lines. Many skirmishers in the nineteenth century were armed with rifles; the range and accuracy of these weapons made skirmishers dangerous enemies. Early rifles could only be fired once every minute or two, though later breechloading and repeating models could fire much more rapidly. One model fired so fast, a commander ordered his men to focus their fire on a single enemy skirmisher so that they could recover his rifle to examine it.

”

Gallery

An in-game (Veteran) Skirmisher

A Guard/Imperial Skirmisher

Skirmisher concept art

(Veteran) Skirmisher model

Guard/Imperial Skirmisher model

Skirmisher image from the Compendium section

An in-game (Veteran) Skirmisher in the Definitive Edition

An in-game Guard Skirmisher in the Definitive Edition

An in-game Imperial Skirmisher in the Definitive Edition

In-game Karelian Jaeger

In-game Dutch Skirmisher in the Commerce Age since update 14.43676

In-game (Imperial) Voltigeur Skirmisher since update 14.43676

In-game (Imperial) Prussian Needle Gunner Skirmisher since update 14.43676

In-game Karelian Jaeger since update 14.43676

In-game Deserted Skirmisher and Skirmisher

See also

• Ranger – British counterpart
• Landwehr – alternative German rifle infantry
• Abus Gunner and Nizam Fusilier – Ottoman counterpart and analogue
• Cassador and Ordinance Rifleman – Portuguese counterparts
• Strelet – Russian counterpart
• Forest Prowler – Haudenosaunee counterpart
• Wakina Rifle – Lakota counterpart
• Arquebusier – Chinese counterpart
• Gurkha – Indian counterpart
• State Militia, Owlhoot, and Sharpshooter – United States counterparts
• Neftenya – Ethiopian counterpart
• Salteador and Bandido – Mexican counterparts
• Schiavone and Bersagliere – Italian counterparts