Skirmish | Game modes Heroes & Generals Guide

Skirmish map selection screen.

Basics

Skirmish is the game mode you start your adventure in the game with - the first "training" mission is a Skirmish one. You will spend your first few hours in this very game mode, because until you reach the 3rd rank with at least one soldier, this one mode will be the only one available to you. Skirmish's battles take place on three different maps, called Forest Skirmish, Hill Skirmish and Village Skirmish.

The task of each team in this game mode is to fill in the progress bar visible at the top of the screen - blue one for your team, and the red one for the enemy team. In order to fill the progress bar, one of the team has to capture and hold more control points than the opposing team - one, if the enemy lacks any control points, and two, if the enemy has a single control point captured. The bigger the difference in the number of captured control points, the faster the progress bar will fill. Unlike the Assault game mode, the progress bar can't shrink or be depleted - it can only be filled.

Things that differentiate the Skirmish game mode from the Assault one are:

• Only there control points;
• All control points are equally important;
• Fighter Pilots can't play on Skirmish maps - Paratroopers can;
• The encounters are way shorter than those of Assault mode - usually ending before the 15th minute mark;
• They are perfect to farm Credits - missions are short, intense and they offer a huge amount of experience, coupled with Credits.

How to play

Given the fact, that Skirmish encounters take place on smaller maps, as well as the fact that there are only three, equally important control points, most of the action takes place near those very points. Unlike the Assault mode, the defense plays a key role here - capturing a control point is nothing spectacular, but defending it long enough for the progress bar to be filled is another story.

Maps in the Skirmish mode are a lot more intense.

Points are arranged in such a way, so that two of them are relatively close to the bases of both sides, and the last, third one is located directly in the middle of the map. Thanks to that, most of the action takes place exactly there, and most (if not) players tend to concentrate solely on them. If most players are going to that single control point, doesn't it mean that the remaining two will be left unprotected? Exactly. It's worth to concentrate on them (especially the one located near your base, so that if anything goes wrong you can quickly respawn and try again) instead of rushing to the center of the action.

It's almost guaranteed that most of your (and the enemy's as well) team will rush to the central point, so just select one of the remaining two. Capture it and take a good defensive position, preferably with a vantage point so that you are able to protect it. A good place to hide is to use the environment, like brushes, tall grass, a fallen tree, or any other environmental obstacle, which will provide at least basic cover from the enemy fire. Do not stand near the radio (associated with control points), as the approaching enemies will simply flood you with grenades, killing you instantly. Additionally, it's worth (if you can do that) to set up a couple of mines in case a tank wanted to join the fray - remember to set them in such a way so that the enemy won't be able to notice (and safely detonate) them.

While defending a control point, you have a huge firing advantage over the enemy. First things first, there's a bigger chance that you will be able to notice the enemy before he is able to do so, allowing you to make a couple of easy shots. Remember, that after killing an enemy, you should change your position slightly, or use environment to hide - the enemy will surely come back for some revenge and he will be looking in the same place. Finally, while defending the control point, try to let the enemy start the "capturing process" and then shoot him - each enemy you kill, that tried to capture a point belonging to your team will give you additional 60 experience points.

To sum things up, here's a couple of hits I might have for you:

• Focus on defending a single point only - to win your team needs to capture and control at least two control points, so that you don't have to run back and forth to recapture them again and again.
• Look around you and find a good vantage point / cover, especially one located near the line of march of enemy forces.
• Use mines to cover the terrain around the capture point and prevent vehicles from roaming freely, as well as grenades, to kill any enemy hiding behind cover and / or in buildings.
• Don't waste your time running back and forth around the map, looking for enemies - they will surely come to you if you continue to defend the point.
• If you are unable to capture a given control point, do not repeat the whole process (of failure) without end - go to the other one and capture it.
• Remember, that you can block the enemy progress bar, even if your team has no control points. All you have to do is to start capturing a control point and the enemy won't gain anything out of it - you can block the progress of the enemy team even though you lack any control points.