# Fixes to end the skirmdemic in pro games **URL:** \ **Category:** II - Discussion\ **Created:** [September 15, 2026, 4:45pm UTC](https://forums.ageofempires.com/t/fixes-to-end-the-skirmdemic-in-pro-games/289667 "2026-09-15T16:45:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Thire7](https://forums.ageofempires.com/user_avatar/forums.ageofempires.com/thire7/32/171912_2.png) [@Thire7](https://forums.ageofempires.com/u/Thire7)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2026, 3:18am UTC](https://forums.ageofempires.com/t/fixes-to-end-the-skirmdemic-in-pro-games/289667/21 "2026-09-25T03:18:49Z")
Soooo… While I was thinking about the situation I thought of something, and I wonder if I am correct in this: I don’t think it will be possible for skirmishers to be an effective counter to archers and not meta. Here’s why: In your army composition you need a ranged unit that you can mass up, it doesn’t really matter what the rest of the stats are as long as you can mass it. In Feudal Age there’re only two ranged units, Archers and Skirmishers. If you go archers, your opponent can straight up counter you by going skirms; but if you go skirms the best your opponent can do is also go skirms and have parity. This does rely on two assumptions, but I believe you’ll agree that these assumptions are correct: one, that you need a ranged unit, and two, that the ranged units will fight each other at some point. So, based on this, there’s only two possible ways to make skirmishers not meta: make ranged units not meta, or make skirmishers not counter archers at all. I don’t see how either option could possibly be viable; the first because it requires overhauling way too many core game mechanics, and the second because it would violate the game design. What do you think, am I correct in my assessment of the situation? Are my assumptions correct? Are these all the possible ways of fixing the situation? Is the game doomed to always have skirms be meta? ---
**Author:** ![SMUM15236](https://forums.ageofempires.com/user_avatar/forums.ageofempires.com/smum15236/32/29763_2.png) [@SMUM15236](https://forums.ageofempires.com/u/SMUM15236)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2026, 4:27am UTC](https://forums.ageofempires.com/t/fixes-to-end-the-skirmdemic-in-pro-games/289667/22 "2026-09-25T04:27:07Z")
> [@Thire7](#): > > 1. Thumb Ring no longer applies to them. Barely makes any difference. They have practically 93% accuracy at their max 7 range. Having 7% more is negligible. ---
**Author:** ![JasuniSmith](https://forums.ageofempires.com/user_avatar/forums.ageofempires.com/jasunismith/32/31627_2.png) [@JasuniSmith](https://forums.ageofempires.com/u/JasuniSmith)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2026, 4:48am UTC](https://forums.ageofempires.com/t/fixes-to-end-the-skirmdemic-in-pro-games/289667/23 "2026-09-25T04:48:54Z")
> [@Thire7](#): > > This does rely on two assumptions, but I believe you’ll agree that these assumptions are correct: one, that you need a ranged unit, and two, that the ranged units will fight each other at some point. > > So, based on this, there’s only two possible ways to make skirmishers not meta: make ranged units not meta, or make skirmishers not counter archers at all. I don’t see how either option could possibly be viable; the first because it requires overhauling way too many core game mechanics, and the second because it would violate the game design. Several few civs get by without using ranged units, and paladin/halb is a viable army composition sometimes used by civs like Teutons and Franks. But range is a powerful advantage, so ranged units are used frequently. And even the most melee focused civs still have a frequently used ranged attack in their castles and trebuchets. And civs with poor archery ranges often have some good siege options (some of which are ranged). But realistically, you’ll often see ranged units in a game. Not always in Feudal age (players don’t always add a second unit to their comp, especially if they want to advance to castle age). But so long as 1. archers have a place in the meta, and 2. skirms counter archers, it’s pretty safe to say that skirms will have a place in the meta. Skirms are used a lot less in team games though. Mainly because archers often get paired with scouts from a teammate, and scout/archer beats scout/skirm ---
**Author:** ![casusincorrabil](https://forums.ageofempires.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/c/5f8ce5/32.png) [@casusincorrabil](https://forums.ageofempires.com/u/casusincorrabil)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2026, 7:27am UTC](https://forums.ageofempires.com/t/fixes-to-end-the-skirmdemic-in-pro-games/289667/24 "2026-09-25T07:27:48Z")
> [@Thire7](#): > > only two possible ways to make skirmishers not meta: make ranged units not meta, or make skirmishers not counter archers Third option: Make a melee unit that counters Skirms that isn’t as easily countered by a harmonious switch like the current skirm = spear switch. Either add a new unit that isn’t countered by spearmen (specialised infantry unit) or change the costs of skirms and spears up so the switch isn’t as harmonic. Then scout openers would naturally counter skirms. [Previous page](https://forums.ageofempires.com/t/fixes-to-end-the-skirmdemic-in-pro-games/289667.md?page=1)