Rifleman

Riflemen are highly skilled sharpshooters^[1] armed with rifles. While dwarves were among the first to invent and use them, many races since took up these weapons.

Third War

This section concerns content related to Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos or its expansion The Frozen Throne.

Main article: Rifleman (Warcraft III)

The brave dwarven riflemen have faithfully protected their mountain kingdom of Khaz Modan for hundreds of years. Yet, as new threats arose to threaten their hard-won freedom, they offered their expert skills and tenacity to the Alliance. Using the legendary single-shot Blunderbuss Long Rifles, riflemen are excellent marksmen and can shoot both land based and airborne opponents.^[2]

A dwarven mountaineer aiming his rifle, World of Warcraft
Rifleman in Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos
Rifleman unit icon in Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos
Art with a dwarf rifleman supporting Alliance troops
Concept art
Rifleman unit icon in Warcraft III: Reforged

World of Warcraft

This section concerns content related to the original World of Warcraft.

Many dwarven riflemen take up the role of mountaineer.

Deadeyes are orc riflemen introduced by the Kor'kron of the True Horde but later also deployed by the Iron Horde and the Fel Horde of Draenor, using modern firearms against the enemies of their respective Warchiefs. Years later, Deadeyes can still be found in the ranks of the Mag'har. The [Wolfslayer Sniper Rifle] is common among their ranks.

Notable riflemen

Types

This section concerns content related to the original World of Warcraft.

In the RPG

This section contains information from the Warcraft RPG which is considered non-canon.

The typical dwarven rifleman is a native of the Ironforge clans who specializes in use of the long rifle. Typically, they use their climbing skills to work their way into a good vantage point, then rain death upon their enemy from above. Riflemen usually have long beards and wear blue, hooded cloaks. They carry a long rifle against their shoulder and scowls on their faces.

A rifleman's tactics are fairly basic; find a nice corner from which he can survey as much of the surrounding area without being spotted as possible, plot an escape route, and wait for his target to walk into his sights. They are the dwarf sharpshooter Ironforge dwarf warrior racial iconic class.^[3]

Bravery Brew has become the favorite of many dwarven riflemen companies.

Pandaren rifleman

Recently introduced to the pandaren are firearms, which are beginning to take a more important role in the way the pandaren wage war. While only a few of the shao'dins have rifle regiments, the pandaren have taken to the rifle like a dwarf to ale. Some pandaren riflemen even go so far as to travel abroad to learn the shooting techniques of other races, and bring the best techniques back to Pandaria. These riflemen mark a new evolution in the way the pandaren wage war, a change to traditions that most likely have not altered in millennia.^[4]

Trivia

The dwarven rifleman description during the Warcraft III alpha was as such: "The stoic warriors of Ironforge and Khaz Modan have long been renowned for the craftsmanship of their steel and their ability in battle. With the aid of the inventive Gnomes, new and deadlier weapons have been brought into play as the Dwarven Demolition Squads find new ways to use their explosive black powder with more refined effect."^[5]