Lifeguard Foot

The Lifeguard are disciplined, elite soldiers used to protect the Tsar and his household.

Picked from the finest noble families of Russia, these guardsmen have a position of respect in the Russian army. Chosen for their size and strength, they are easily recognizable on the battlefield, inspiring other units with their presence and boundless moral strength. Their unfailing discipline means these men have excellent accuracy and their reload times are almost unrivalled. These skills do not come cheaply, and their only real vulnerabilities are when facing artillery and wily skirmishers.

Historically, the Lifeguards were the most ornate unit of the Tsar’s entire army. Hand-picked for looks and stature, they even had their jackets padded around the chest and shoulders to enhance their impressive physiques. Generally recruited from among the nobility, these men soon earned themselves an unfavourable reputation amongst other European nations for their conduct during a banquet held in their honour. Napoleon’s own guards were appalled to see the Russians tearing meat with their hands, draining glasses of wine in one gulp, and even vomiting to make room for further excesses!