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Stratego Piece Rankings & Combat Chart

Rank order is the backbone of Stratego combat. Learn the default ladder first, then memorize the two famous exceptions.

Updated 2026-11-157 min readClassic Original focus
10Marshal9General8Colonel7Major6Captain5Lieutenant4Sergeant3Miner2ScoutSSpy
Classic Original combat ranks. Higher numbers beat lower numbers in a fair fight. Spy and Bomb use special exceptions.
On this page
  1. Rank ladder
  2. Fair fights
  3. Exceptions
  4. Practical reading
  5. FAQ

The Classic Original ladder

From strongest to weakest in ordinary combat: Marshal (10), General (9), Colonel (8), Major (7), Captain (6), Lieutenant (5), Sergeant (4), Miner (3), Scout (2), Spy (S).

Fair fights

  • Higher rank removes lower rank.
  • Equal ranks are both removed.
  • The winner occupies the contested square.

Critical exceptions

Bombs

Immobile Bombs destroy almost every attacker. Only Miners remove Bombs safely.

Spy vs Marshal

SSpy attacks→10Marshal fallsDirection matters: the Spy must be the attacker. If the Marshal strikes first, the Spy loses.
Spy versus Marshal: only an attacking Spy defeats the Marshal. This is a one-way exception to normal rank order.

Practical reading of unknown pieces

When an unknown piece refuses to chase or sits still for many turns, consider Bomb or Flag possibilities. When a piece sprints across open files, prioritize Scout hypotheses. Ranking guesses should stay probabilistic—overconfidence is how Marshals die to Spies.

FAQ

Is the Spy rank 1?

The Spy is the lowest combat piece in ordinary fights. Its only promotion is the special attack on the Marshal.

Do Bombs have a rank number?

Bombs are not ranked like officers. They use a special combat rule against attackers.