Stratego Pieces and Ranks
By Rank & Flag · Updated
Every army has the same 40 pieces: ten ranked soldiers from the Marshal down to the Spy, plus Bombs and a Flag that never move. A higher number beats a lower one, with three twists that make the game interesting: the Spy can take down the Marshal, only Miners can clear Bombs, and Scouts can cross the board in one move. Here is each piece, how many you get, and how to use it. For the full rules of movement and battle, see how to play.
Every Piece at a Glance
Marshal
Rank 10 · 1 per player · moves 1 square
Highest rank. Beats every moving piece, but loses to the Spy when the Spy attacks first.
Tip: Keep it away from unknown pieces that could be the Spy, and use it to clear known high ranks.
General
Rank 9 · 1 per player · moves 1 square
Second highest. Only the Marshal beats it in a normal attack.
Tip: Once the enemy Marshal is gone, your General rules the board.
Colonel
Rank 8 · 2 per player · moves 1 square
Strong attacker that beats everything from 7 down.
Tip: A good piece to lead an attack on one side of the board.
Major
Rank 7 · 3 per player · moves 1 square
Mid-high rank that beats 6 and below.
Tip: Use Majors to hunt Captains and Lieutenants that have revealed themselves.
Captain
Rank 6 · 4 per player · moves 1 square
Solid middle piece that beats 5 and below.
Tip: Captains make reliable defenders on the front row.
Lieutenant
Rank 5 · 4 per player · moves 1 square
Beats Sergeants, Miners, Scouts and the Spy.
Tip: Good for chasing away Scouts and Miners near your bombs.
Sergeant
Rank 4 · 4 per player · moves 1 square
Low rank that beats Miners, Scouts and the Spy.
Tip: Trade Sergeants to learn where the enemy keeps its stronger pieces.
Miner
Rank 3 · 5 per player · moves 1 square
The only piece that can defuse a Bomb. It wins any attack on a Bomb and takes its square.
Tip: Save a few Miners for the endgame, when you need to break through bombs to the Flag.
Scout
Rank 2 · 8 per player · moves any distance
Moves any number of empty squares in a straight line, and can attack at the end of that move. It cannot jump over pieces or lakes.
Tip: Send Scouts at unknown pieces to find out their rank before you commit a strong piece.
Spy
Rank 1 · 1 per player · moves 1 square
Lowest rank, but defeats the Marshal when the Spy attacks. Loses to everything else, and loses if the Marshal attacks it.
Tip: Keep the Spy close to your General so it can strike a Marshal that comes to take it.
Bomb
No rank · 6 per player · cannot move
Cannot move. Any piece that attacks it is removed, except a Miner, which defuses it.
Tip: Bombs protect the Flag best when they are mixed with a few decoy groups elsewhere.
Flag
No rank · 1 per player · cannot move
Cannot move. Capture the enemy Flag to win the game.
Tip: The back row is the safest place, ideally with bombs beside it.
Stratego Pieces Summary Table
The same numbers the game uses, in one table. The counts add up to 40 pieces per player.
| Piece | Rank | Count | Special ability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marshal | 10 | 1 | Highest rank. Beats every moving piece, but loses to the Spy when the Spy attacks first. |
| General | 9 | 1 | Second highest. Only the Marshal beats it in a normal attack. |
| Colonel | 8 | 2 | Strong attacker that beats everything from 7 down. |
| Major | 7 | 3 | Mid-high rank that beats 6 and below. |
| Captain | 6 | 4 | Solid middle piece that beats 5 and below. |
| Lieutenant | 5 | 4 | Beats Sergeants, Miners, Scouts and the Spy. |
| Sergeant | 4 | 4 | Low rank that beats Miners, Scouts and the Spy. |
| Miner | 3 | 5 | The only piece that can defuse a Bomb. It wins any attack on a Bomb and takes its square. |
| Scout | 2 | 8 | Moves any number of empty squares in a straight line, and can attack at the end of that move. It cannot jump over pieces or lakes. |
| Spy | 1 | 1 | Lowest rank, but defeats the Marshal when the Spy attacks. Loses to everything else, and loses if the Marshal attacks it. |
| Bomb | – | 6 | Cannot move. Any piece that attacks it is removed, except a Miner, which defuses it. |
| Flag | – | 1 | Cannot move. Capture the enemy Flag to win the game. |
| Total | 40 | pieces per player |
How the Ranks Work Together
Think of the ranks in three groups. The officers (Marshal, General and Colonels) win most fights and decide the middle game, but losing one is a heavy blow, so they should attack known targets rather than guess. The middle ranks (Majors, Captains and Lieutenants) hold the front line and trade with enemy pieces of similar value. The specialists (Sergeants, Miners, Scouts and the Spy) are cheap, but each has a job: Scouts find out what enemy pieces are, Miners open the way to the Flag, and the Spy waits for one perfect moment against the Marshal.
Because every capture reveals both pieces, information is almost as valuable as material. Spending a Scout to learn where the enemy General is can be a great trade. To turn these ideas into plans, read the Stratego strategy guide or try one of the formations you can load.
Stratego Pieces FAQ
What beats a 10 in Stratego?
Three things can stop the Marshal (10). The Spy defeats it, but only when the Spy makes the attack. A Bomb destroys it if the Marshal attacks the Bomb. And when the two Marshals meet, both are removed, because equal ranks always trade.
What is the strongest piece in Stratego?
The Marshal, rank 10, beats every other moving piece in a normal fight. Its only weaknesses are the enemy Spy attacking it and Bombs, which is why many players keep their Marshal away from unknown pieces until the Spy has been found.
How many pieces does each player have?
Each player has 40 pieces: 33 that can move and 7 that cannot (6 Bombs and the Flag). Scouts are the most numerous piece, with 8 per side.
Which pieces cannot move?
Bombs and the Flag stay on the square where you placed them for the whole game. Every other piece moves one square at a time, except the Scout, which can move several squares in a straight line.
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