skirmisher
Loose formation fighter
A skirmisher is a soldier who engages in skirmishes—brief, loosely organized combat encounters rather than pitched battles.
Traditionally, skirmishers operated ahead of or alongside main forces, harassing enemies and probing defenses: Light infantry served as skirmishers during the advance.
In gaming, skirmisher often describes fast, mobile units or characters suited for hit-and-run tactics.
One who reconnoiters
- patrolRegular surveillance route
- vanguardForemost position or group
- outriderMounted attendant ahead
- pathfinderOne who discovers routes
tracker · lookout · spy · infiltrator · observer · sentry · forerunner · advance
Irregular armed fighter
- raiderOne who attacks suddenly
- harasserOne who intimidates repeatedly
- sharpshooterExpert precision shooter
- sniperConcealed precision shooter
irregular · light infantry · jäger · rifleman · archer · slinger · ambush · hit-and-run
scout
One who reconnoiters
pathfinder · tracker · lookout · spy · infiltrator · observer · sentry · forerunner · advance · flanker
guerrilla
Irregular armed fighter
- raiderOne who attacks suddenly
- harasserOne who intimidates repeatedly
- sharpshooterExpert precision shooter
sniper · irregular · light infantry · jäger · rifleman · archer · slinger · ambush · hit-and-run · feint
agile
Limber and quick-moving
- nimbleQuick and light-moving
- swiftMoving with speed
- fleet-footedMoving with quick lightness
quick · evasive · unarmored · mobile · maneuverable · dispersed · flexible · rapid · elusive · screening
infantry
Ground combat troops
- auxiliaryGiving additional support
- militiaNon-professional armed force
- mercenarySoldier fighting for pay
irregular · frontline · vanguard · rearguard · flank · detachment · unit · formation · tactical · maneuver
- soldiersinfantryman, private, grenadier, grenadiers, fusilier
- warriorsfighter, knight, footsoldier, barbarian, samurai
- cavalrycavalry, cavalryman, cavalry brigade, cavalry charges, cavalry officer
- shootersshooter, sniper, rifle, pistol, shotgun
- ancient warfarephalanx, warriors, army, legion, battle
- ancient warriorsgladiator, spartan, samurai, viking, hoplite
skirmisherline infantry
Soldiers in ranked formations
heavy infantry · hoplite · legionary · pikeman · man-at-arms
skirmishershock trooper
Soldier trained for rapid assault
heavy cavalry · lancer · cataphract · dragoon · berserker
skirmisherheavy infantry
Armored foot soldiers
cataphract · heavy cavalry · knight · man-at-arms · hoplite
- border skirmishMinor fight at boundary
- military skirmishBrief armed engagement, limited scale
- skirmish lineExtended infantry formation