The Skirmisher is countered by Champion, Two-Handed Swordsman and Knight. It is a Archer / Counter Unit unit of the Skirm Line, and it wins against Archer, Cavalry Archer and Hand Cannoneer.
- Class
- Archer / Counter Unit
- Line
- Skirm Line
- Available to
- All civilizations
- Elite upgrade
- Elite Skirmisher
- Cost
-
25 
35
Skirmisher stats
The Elite Skirmisher upgrade changes the values marked below. Everything else — cost, class and the civilization bonuses that apply — stays the same.
| Stat | Skirmisher | Elite |
|---|---|---|
 Hit points | 30 | 35 |
 Melee attack | 0 | 0 |
 Pierce attack | 2 / 3s | 3 / 3s |
 Range | 4 (min. 1) | 5 (min. 1) |
 Melee armour | 0 | 0 |
 Pierce armour | 3 | 4 |
 Speed | 0.96 | 0.96 |
| Accuracy | 90% | 90% |
 Line of sight | 6 | 7 |
 Training time | 26s | 22s |
What counters the Skirmisher?
The Skirmisher is weak against units at close range.
Hard counters deal bonus damage against this unit — they beat the Skirmisher even at a cost disadvantage. Soft counters win the fight through cost-efficiency or mobility, without a dedicated bonus.
| Counter | Type | Why it works |
|---|---|---|
 Champion | hard | High melee attack, good armor |
 Two-Handed Swordsman | hard | High attack, hits Skirms hard |
 Knight | hard | High damage, Skirms have no armor vs. melee |
 Eagle Warrior | hard | High pierce armor and speed – Skirmisher arrows do almost nothing |
 Monk | soft | Conversion |
What does the Skirmisher counter?
The Skirmisher is strong against Ranged Soldiers and Spearman-line.
One representative per unit line — the whole line behaves the same way in this matchup.
-
Archer hard -
Cavalry Archer hard -
Hand Cannoneer hard -
Eagle Scout soft
Unique units the Skirmisher beats
-
Arambai hard -
Blackwood Archer hard -
Camel Archer hard -
Chakram Thrower hard -
Chu Ko Nu hard -
Composite Bowman hard -
Conquistador hard -
Fire Archer hard -
Flaming Camel hard -
Gbeto hard -
Genitour hard -
Genoese Crossbowman hard -
Grenadier hard -
Janissary hard -
Kipchak hard -
Longbowman hard -
Mangudai hard -
Plumed Archer hard -
Throwing Axeman hard -
War Wagon hard -
Organ Gun soft -
Rattan Archer soft
Other units the Skirmisher beats
-
Ratha (Ranged) hard -
War Chariot (Barrage) hard - War Chariot (Focus Fire) hard
-
Champi Scout soft -
Fire Lancer soft -
Petard soft -
Rocket Cart soft
Unit lines the Skirmisher has a damage bonus against
Civilizations that improve the Skirmisher
19 civilizations have a bonus or unique technology that affects this unit.
Aztecs
- Atlatl (unique tech): Skirmishers +1 attack, +1 range
Britons
- Yeomen (unique tech): Foot Archers and Skirmisher-line +1 range; Watch Tower-line +2 attack
Byzantines
- Camel Riders, Skirmishers and Spearman-line cost -25%
Cumans
- Archery Ranges and Stables cost -75 wood
Dravidians
- Skirmishers and Elephant Archers attack +25% faster
Gurjaras
- Frontier Guards (unique tech): Camel Riders and Elephant Archers +4 melee armor
Inca
- Andean Sling (unique tech): Skirmishers and Slingers no minimum range; Slingers +1 attack
Khitans
- Skirmishers, Spearman-, and Scout Cavalry-line train and upgrade +15% faster
- Lamellar Armor (unique tech): Infantry and Skirmishers reflect 25% melee damage back to the attacker
Koreans
- Archer armor and tower upgrades free (Bombard Tower requires Chemistry)
Lithuanians
- Spearman-line and Skirmisher-line move +10% faster
- Tower Shields (unique tech): Spearman-line and Skirmishers +2 pierce armor
Mapuche
- Settlements can train Spearman-line and Skirmishers
- Infantry, Slingers and Skirmishers +5/10/15 HP in Feudal/Castle/Imperial Age
- Malon (unique tech): Bolas Riders, Slingers and Skirmishers deal pass through damage
Maya
- Hul'che Javelineers (unique tech): Skirmishers fire an additional projectile
Muisca
- Champi Warriors and Archery Range Units +1/2/3 melee armor in Feudal/Castle/Imperial Age
- Herbalism (unique tech): Archer-line and Champi Warriors move +15% faster
Persians
- Kamandaran (unique tech): Archer-line gold cost replaced by additional wood cost
Shu
- Archery Unit technologies at the Archery Range and Blacksmith cost -25%
- Bolt Magazine (unique tech): Archer-line, War Chariots and Lou Chuans fire additional projectiles
Tupi
- Archery Range and Barracks upgrades cost -50% food
Vietnamese
- Archery Range units and Fire Lancers +20% HP
Vikings
- Bogsveigar (unique tech): Archer-line and Longboats +1 attack
Wu
- Red Cliffs Tactics (unique tech): Demolition Ships and Fire Archers deal fire damage to ships and buildings
The Skirm Line
- Skirmisher
-
Elite Skirmisher -
Imperial Skirmisher
For the strategy behind these matchups — when to build counters, how to mix them and which civs do it best — see the Archer Counters guide.
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