Elite Skirmisher

Overview

An upgraded skirmisher with improved range and combat strength.

Availability and investment

Elite Skirmisher becomes available in Castle Age. Its listed production context is Archery Range. The listed cost is 25 Food, 35 Wood and the training time is 22 seconds. This tells you when it can first join an army and which resources must be reserved alongside Villager production, upgrades, and other military lines.

• Upgrade path: Skirmisher → Elite Skirmisher → Imperial Skirmisher (Vietnamese only)
• Upgrade path: Skirmisher → Elite Skirmisher

Combat profile

The available combat values are included here so the numbers can be read as a profile rather than an isolated list. Hit points and armor describe how long the unit can remain exposed; attack and any bonus damage describe what it threatens; range, reload, accuracy, and movement describe how reliably it can engage or disengage. A value shown for a whole upgrade line applies to the listed stages as recorded, so compare the stage names instead of treating the line as one base unit.

• Ranged attack: 3
• Hit points: 35
• Melee armor: 0
• Pierce armor: 4
• Ranged attack: 3
• Range: 5
• Minimum range: 1
• Line of sight: 7
• Reload time: 3 seconds
• Movement speed: 0.96

Field use

Preserve space between this unit and melee attackers so it can keep firing. Pair it with a screen, focus fire on reachable targets, and avoid letting a faster force surround it.

Armor classes and counters

Armor-class bonuses are separate from base attack and the target’s melee or pierce armor. The class list below shows the unit’s documented combat categories and bonus-damage relationships; use it to judge matchups instead of relying on the unit label alone.

• Armor class: Archer
• Armor class: Skirmisher
• Elite Skirmisher deals +4 bonus damage to units in the Spearman class
• Elite Skirmisher deals +4 bonus damage to units in the Archer class
• Elite Skirmisher deals +2 bonus damage to units in the Cavalry archer class
• Elite Skirmisher deals +2 bonus damage to units in the Mameluke class

Related unit plan: Elite Skirmisher anti-archer upgrade timing

Elite Skirmisher: Elite Skirmishers strengthen the anti-archer role with more range and protection, making the upgrade valuable when enemy ranged units are a central threat. They are a resource-efficient support line when gold is being reserved for other units Scout archer production, then upgrade a surviving Skirmisher group before the next large fight. Keep them behind infantry or near workers at risk and focus the opposing ranged mass. Use another unit to deal with targets outside their specialty Skirmishers are weak against most infantry and cavalry and have a minimum range. Do not keep them in front of the army after the opponent changes composition