Melee Infantry are a type of unit in the Total War series. They are defined as infantry that exclusively use melee weapons. While missile troops can engage in melee combat, generally melee-exclusive troops tend to be superior in this regard.
Empire: Total War[]
In Empire: Total War, melee infantry play a much smaller role than in games set in earlier time periods due to the prevalence of gunpowder weapons. Nevertheless, they can still fulfill their roles effectively if they can get within melee range without getting too tired or damaged. They tend to have better melee statistics than missile infantry. While most Western factions have one or two types of melee infantry, Native American and Eastern factions make much more liberal use of them.
Melee infantry tend to fare better earlier in the campaign, where light infantry, skirmishers, and various artillery types aren't in play. Additionally, line infantry lack firing drills or bayonet technologies in the earlier game, making them easier to approach and engage in melee combat with. Melee infantry benefit at all stages of the game from uneven terrain or other forms of cover, allowing them to advance without taking too many casualties.
Napoleon: Total War[]
Cemaat Janissaries, melee infantry of the Ottoman Empire
In Napoleon: Total War, there are only a few types of melee infantry restricted to a few factions, but they can impact the battlefield in powerful ways. Their melee stats are considerably better than their musket and rifle armed cousins: Cemaat Janissaries, for instance, have better melee attack than even the elite Old Guard. Melee infantry can thus win nearly any engagement one-on-one unless they are tired, are fighting on disadvantageous terrain, or have suffered casualties beforehand.
Of all the factions, only the Ottoman Empire has access to melee troops, giving them a unique playstyle option.
Melee infantry share much the same strengths and weaknesses as melee cavalry, and thus can achieve their maximum effectiveness if used in the same way: attacking when well-rested, using terrain to their advantage, and avoiding giving missile troops a clear line of sight.
Total War: Shogun 2[]
In Total War: Shogun 2, melee infantry play a very prominent role and consist of over half of all infantry types. Without exception, they have better melee statistics than ranged infantry.
Melee infantry are divided into three categories of quality: ashigaru, samurai, and warrior monks. Ashigaru have the worst statistics but are the cheapest and most numerous per regiment; warrior monks are low on number but have excellent melee skills. Samurai are somewhere in between, but also boast the advantage of having the best armor.
Melee infantry are further distinguished from each other by the weapons they wield: katana-armed infantry are excellent at fighting other infantry but do poorly against cavalry, while yari-armed infantry are the reverse. Naginata armed infantry are well-rounded and can fight infantry and cavalry with equal competence.
Fall of the Samurai[]
Melee infantry are present in Fall of the Samurai, but occupy a very hazardous place in the battlefield. As gunpowder weapons can fire at greater rates, ranges, and accuracy than in any other Total War game, melee infantry can be routed or even utterly destroyed without inflicting any casualties if caught in the open. To make up for this, they are now much better at melee combat than their rifle-armed counterparts, and can inflict heavy casualties if they can manage to close the gap. This makes melee infantry superb at defending forts or hilly terrain.