---
title: "Kingmakers: Guns vs Knives, the Wild Medieval War Where Bullets Aren't Everything"
description: "Kingmakers: guns vs knives, the wild medieval war where bullets aren't everything — tanks vs knights, snipers vs cavalry: chaos, tactics and terrain decide every battle."
url: https://after-strategy.com/en/kingmakers-guns-vs-knives-medieval-war-bullets-not-everything/
lang: en
published: 2025-09-17
author: "Simon Dougnac"
author_url: https://after-strategy.com/en/auteur/simon/
game: "Kingmakers"
game_url: https://after-strategy.com/en/jeux/kingmakers/
categories: [rts]
translations:
fr: https://after-strategy.com/fr/kingmakers-fusils-vs-couteaux-la-guerre-medievale-dejantee-ou-les-balles-ne-font-pas-tout/
es: https://after-strategy.com/es/kingmakers-fusiles-contra-cuchillos-la-guerra-medieval-desatada/
publisher: "After Strategy"
---
# Kingmakers: Guns vs Knives, the Wild Medieval War Where Bullets Aren't Everything
> Kingmakers: guns vs knives, the wild medieval war where bullets aren't everything — tanks vs knights, snipers vs cavalry: chaos, tactics and terrain decide every battle.
## [Kingmakers](https://after-strategy.com/en/kingmakers-delayed-may-2026-no-new-date/): Guns vs Knives, the Wild Medieval War Where Bullets Aren't Everything
Imagine a classic medieval battlefield: knights in armor clashing with each other, archers loosing their arrows from the hills, and infantry charging with swords and shields. Now add to that picture crackling tanks, soldiers armed with M16s, and snipers posted on the ramparts. Welcome to **Kingmakers**, the hybrid strategy game that cheerfully mixes eras and technologies to create a tactical chaos as hilarious as it is unpredictable. What makes **Kingmakers** so captivating is its uninhibited approach to clashes. Here, a medieval army can very well hold its own against a modern unit if it is well led. Bullets aren't everything, and a good old knife in the back of a soldier armed with an assault rifle can very well turn the tide of a battle. We're far from the classic strategy games where technology systematically crushes "primitive" units. In **Kingmakers**, victory depends as much on your army's composition as on your ability to exploit your opponent's weaknesses.
### A mix of eras that defies logic (and that's all the better)
At first glance, **Kingmakers** looks like a game that shouldn't work. How can knights in chainmail compete with armored vehicles? How can archers hope to survive against machine guns? The answer is simple: because the game was designed so that every unit, regardless of its era, has its place on the battlefield. The developers carefully balanced the forces at play to prevent one technology from systematically dominating the others. A tank is a formidable war machine, but it is vulnerable to fast units like cavalry or infantry equipped with improvised anti-tank weapons. A modern soldier with an assault rifle can mow down a line of medieval infantry... provided it isn't protected by shields or doesn't charge in tight formation to overwhelm him. The result? Battles where strategy trumps raw firepower. You can very well win a match by relying solely on medieval units if you maneuver them correctly. Conversely, an ultra-modern army that is poorly commanded will be cut to pieces by less-equipped but better-organized opponents.
### Knives against bullets: when close combat makes the difference
One of the most surprising aspects of **Kingmakers** is how effective melee combat remains, even against firearms. In most strategy games, a unit armed with knives or swords stands no chance against a rifle. Here, it's the exact opposite: a well-placed charge can sow panic in the enemy ranks and completely disorganize their firing line. Let's take a concrete example: you have a squad of modern soldiers posted on defense, armed with M16s. Logically, they should dominate any medieval unit that dares to approach. Except that in **Kingmakers**, if a group of armored warriors charges in tight formation, they can absorb the first shots and reach the enemy lines. Once in contact, it's carnage: knives and axes cut as well as bullets, and your modern soldiers find themselves overwhelmed within seconds. It's this dynamic that makes battles so unpredictable. You can't rest on technological superiority: you have to constantly adapt your strategy based on the terrain, the available units and the enemy's movements. A player who bets everything on firearms without planning a defense against melee charges will quickly be caught off guard.
### The importance of terrain and positioning
In **Kingmakers**, terrain isn't just scenery: it's a key element of victory. A well-placed hill can offer a huge tactical advantage to your archers or snipers, while a dense forest allows you to hide a deadly ambush. Buildings, walls and natural obstacles also play a crucial role, especially when it comes to protecting your most vulnerable units. For example, if you want to use medieval units against a modern opponent, you absolutely must exploit the terrain to limit their exposure. A charge in the open field against machine guns is suicide, but if you advance using natural cover (trees, rocks, buildings), you can reduce the damage and reach contact before the enemy can decimate you. Conversely, if you're playing a modern army, you must watch out for blind spots and areas where the enemy can approach without being spotted. A sniper posted on a rooftop may seem invincible... until a group of medieval cavalry charges at him from an adjacent alley.
### Resource management: balancing power and versatility
As in any good strategy game, resource management is essential in **Kingmakers**. You must constantly arbitrate between recruiting powerful but expensive units (like tanks or snipers) and more affordable but less specialized troops (like medieval infantry or militiamen). The classic beginner's mistake? Betting everything on high-tech units, thinking they'll crush the enemy effortlessly. Except that in **Kingmakers**, an unbalanced army is a vulnerable army. If you only have tanks and modern soldiers, you'll be overwhelmed by waves of cheap units that will harass and exhaust you. Conversely, a 100% medieval army may lack firepower against better-equipped opponents. The key is to find a balance between: - **Shock units** (cavalry, heavy infantry) for charges and close combat. - **Support units** (archers, snipers, artillerymen) to weaken the enemy at range. - **Versatile units** (militiamen, light soldiers) to hold the ground and disrupt enemy movements. A well-thought-out army composition can compensate for a technological disadvantage. For example, a combination of fast cavalry (to harass enemy lines) and archers (to weaken units at range) can hold its own against a modern army if you maneuver them correctly.
### Chaos as a gameplay element
What makes **Kingmakers** so addictive is its unpredictability. Even with a well-oiled strategy, a stroke of luck (or bad luck) can tip the scales. A tank shot that misses its target, a cavalry charge that hits an enemy unit at just the right moment, a sniper who eliminates an opposing general with one lucky shot... Anything can happen, and that's what gives battles their unique flavor. Unlike games like **Total War** or **Company of Heroes**, where victory often comes down to precise calculations and perfect execution, **Kingmakers** leaves plenty of room for improvisation. You can very well lose a battle you were dominating because the enemy pulled off a daring maneuver, or win while heavily outmatched. It's this feeling of "anything can still happen" that makes every match exciting. Even when you think you have everything under control, a turn of events can make you lose or win within seconds.
### Why Kingmakers is an oddity in the strategy game landscape?
**Kingmakers** resembles no other strategy game on the market, and that's exactly what makes it charming. While most titles in the genre focus on historical realism or ultra-precise military simulation, **Kingmakers** fully embraces its wild, accessible side. Here's what sets it apart: - **An unapologetic mix of eras**: no qualms about making knights and snipers coexist. - **Tactical but not punishing gameplay**: even beginners can have fun without mastering ultra-complex mechanics. - **Dynamic, unpredictable battles**: no routine, every match is different. - **Smart balancing**: no unit is invincible, it all depends on how you use them. It's a game that appeals to pure strategy fans as much as to players looking for a more relaxed yet equally stimulating experience. Above all, it's a title that proves you can innovate in a genre that is often very conservative.
### Conclusion: in Kingmakers, victory is earned, not declared
If **Kingmakers** teaches us one thing, it's that in war, nothing is ever guaranteed. An over-equipped army can collapse against technologically less advanced but better-organized opponents. A rifle is worthless if you don't know how to use it, and a knife can be the deadliest weapon in expert hands. This game is an ode to pure strategy, where intelligence and adaptability trump raw power. Whether you're a war game veteran or a newcomer looking for thrills, **Kingmakers** has plenty to surprise you. So, ready to lead your knights to victory against tanks? Or to show snipers what a well-sharpened axe is worth? The choice is yours.
## See also
- [Kingmakers' unexpected delay before launch](https://after-strategy.com/en/kingmakers-unexpected-delay-before-launch-2025/)
- [All RTS articles](https://after-strategy.com/en/categorie/rts/)
## Sources
- [Official Kingmakers website](https://www.playkingmakers.com/)
## Sources
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Source : [Kingmakers: Guns vs Knives, the Wild Medieval War Where Bullets Aren't Everything](https://after-strategy.com/en/kingmakers-guns-vs-knives-medieval-war-bullets-not-everything/) — After Strategy