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Elite infantry are a type of unit in Empire: Total War, Napoleon: Total War, and Fall of the Samurai.

Empire: Total War[]

Life Guard

Unit art of Life Guard, Prussian elite infantry

In Empire: Total War, most elite infantry are functionally similar to line infantry, with a large number of men per regiment, firing drills, and good morale. As with line infantry, they form the main line of battle, doing much of the killing and dying. They differ in several key aspects, however: they have far better statistics in most categories than their standard line infantry; most elite infantry utilize Platoon Firing instead of Fire by Rank once it's researched; finally, nearly all guards inspire nearby units in a similar manner to that of generals, improving their morale.

All western factions have access to elite infantry. The Ottoman Empire is the only middle eastern faction to have elite infantry, while the Indian factions lack elite infantry of any kind. Native American factions have access to small regiments of infantry technically titled elite infantry, but are functionally very distinct from their western counterparts.

The superb statistics of guards allow them to simply replace line infantry on the battlefield in some situations, but they nearly all have regiment limits.

Napoleon: Total War[]

Old Guard

Old Guard, an elite infantry unit

Elite infantry return in Napoleon: Total War, and fill a similar role to their Empire: Total War incarnation: superior line infantry who also serve to inspire nearby units. They are more similar to line infantry with the removal of firing drills.

Unlike Empire: Total War, where nearly all Western factions have access to some elite infantry, a sizable number of factions in Napoleon: Total War cannot train elite infantry. Among the playable factions, France has a very substantial pool of elite infantry to draw from; on the other end of the extreme, Austria lacks elite infantry of any kind.

Fall of the Samurai[]

Imperial Guard Infantry FOTS

Unit art of Imperial Guard Infantry, a type of elite infantry in Fall of the Samurai.

Elite infantry return in Fall of the Samurai, functioning in a similar role to their earlier counterparts. In Fall of the Samurai, factions are divided into Imperial, Shogunate, or Republican allegiances; they accordingly have access to Imperial Guard Infantry, Shogunate Guard Infantry, or Republican Guard Infantry respectively, though these units are practically identical in terms of function. Despite having superior statistics, elite infantry are just as vulnerable as any other infantry in the face of artillery or rifle fire or melee attacks. They function best in open sightlines against infantry and cavalry, but can suffer in rough terrain or weather when fighting traditional melee troops.

All factions also have the opportunity to trade with the United Kingdom, France, or the United States, giving them access to Royal Marines, Infanterie de marine, and United States Marines respectively. Unlike the natively raised guard regiments listed earlier, these troops do not inspire nearby units, but have even better statistics.

Finally, the Choshu have access to Kihetai, elite infantry that are statistically poorer than their counterparts, but can be trained in unlimited number.

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