For other uses of the term, see Militia.
Militia are a unit type in the Total War series.
Empire: Total War[]
In Empire: Total War, militia are cheap, poor-quality troops that are useful as either garrison troops to keep regions under control, or for certain roles in battles.
Militia share certain traits with line infantry: they have numerous men per regiment, can use bayonets, and have average range. However, they lack many abilities line infantry possess: they do not utilize Fire by Rank, Square Formation, or Fire and Advance. They are statistically much worse in almost every category. In particular, their poor morale mean that they break easily unless adequately supported by other units. They play a particularly useful role in early game battles, in situations where a faction may be too poor or lack the training facilities to field enough line infantry. They may even have a purpose in the late game as human shields, sacrificing themselves to prevent losses in more expensive and useful regiments.
Militia are very useful when guarding forts. A militia unit stationed on a wall can hold off superior troops, particularly if those troops had tired themselves out beforehand.
Many militia have a bonus to garrison policing. This, coupled with their lower training costs and upkeep, make them excellent garrison troops.
Napoleon: Total War[]
Militia return in Napoleon: Total War. They function in a very similar way to their predecessors, serving as cheap, low quality troops that have value in garrisoning cities.
Whereas most militia in Empire: Total War are statistically identical or very similar, militia in Napoleon: Total War have varying statistics. Prussian Landwehr, for example, have fairly good reloading capabilities, while Russian Opelchenie have a very good charging bonus but otherwise very poor stats. With abilities such as Rally or Inspire Unit, militia can hold steady for longer periods of time than their cost and their capabilities may suggest. However, they are still no match for dedicated line infantry, and their inability to use Square Formation makes them very vulnerable to cavalry when unsupported. If used to form the line of battle, militia perform best when protected in the flanks and rear, with a general or other inspiring unit nearby to keep them from breaking.
Militia can be used to shield more valuable units from small arms fire. This is more difficult to take advantage of as units reload very quickly in Napoleon: Total War: it is much harder to take advantage of any gaps in firing due to reloading than it was in Empire: Total War. On the other hand, as units are generally more accurate than they were in Empire: Total War, such a tactic is even more worthwhile in terms of reducing casualties in Napoleon: Total War.
With nearly no exception, militia have a bonus to garrison policing. In Napoleon: Total War, where players are given the option to peacefully occupy regions (thereby reducing resistance to foreign oppression) or even outright liberate regions, this bonus is somewhat less useful than in Empire: Total War. However, it is still useful in regions such as the home regions of major factions such as France or Great Britain (where unrest can be high even if a region was peacefully occupied). Even if they are much less likely to occur, preventing rebellions is still important as rebellions are much larger and more dangerous than they were in Empire: Total War.
Militia generally replenish much more rapidly than other units: whereas most infantry and cavalry replenish more quickly from army buildings only and most artillery replenish more quickly from ordnance buildings, militia gain bonus replenishment from any region capital building. This makes them more expendable in battle as long as they are not completely destroyed.
Total War: Shogun 2[]
Militia do not exist in Total War: Shogun 2. Their role as cheap garrison troops are largely replaced by Yari Ashigaru.
Fall of the Samurai[]
Militia return in Fall of the Samurai, functioning in a similar way to their predecessors. They are cheap, easily available, low-quality troops that are excellent at keeping the peace in regions but inferior units on the battlefield.
Early in the campaign, limited funds force most factions to use militia-based armies. They are a fair substitute for line infantry as long as they are not attacked directly by cavalry or rifle fire. As factions become richer, militia can be replaced with line infantry, who have all the advantages of militia save cost, and much better accuracy and reload skill. Militia still retain usefulness in being stationed at regions with high unrest, however: due to their low cost they are the most effective at adding repression to regions.