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Medic adds one special player to each team. When anyone else is hit they are only wounded: they kneel where they fell until their medic reaches them and taps them back into the game. But if the medic is hit, they are out for good.

It rewards teamwork more than any other mode, and it is brilliant for groups of mixed ability, because weaker players get second chances and stronger ones get a clear job: protect your medic, find theirs.

At a glance
Players 6 to 20, in two even teams
Ages 9 and up, supervised
Field Backyard to full field
Round length 5 to 8 minutes
Gear The core kit plus two medic vests in a contrasting color

Setting up the field

Use the elimination field. Each team secretly or openly chooses one medic, who wears a vest in a contrasting color so everyone can spot them. Agree before the start whether the medic can shoot or only heal.

Setup: one medic per team

Setup: one medic per teamRED BASEBLUE BASE1234123423Red playerBlue playerBunkerMedic
Each team picks one medic (circled), wearing a different colored vest. Everyone else plays as normal.

How to play

1. Hit means wounded

A hit player kneels where they are, hand up, and can’t shoot or move.

2. The medic heals with a touch

The medic reaches a wounded teammate and taps their shoulder. The teammate is back in immediately.

3. A hit medic is out for good

When a medic is hit, they leave the field and can’t be healed.

4. Win by eliminating the other team

Once a medic is gone, every hit on that team is final. The last team with players standing wins.

Wounded, then healed

Wounded, then healedRED BASEBLUE BASE11Hit: kneel3Medic touch = back inRed playerBlue playerFoam-arrow shotBlue movesMedic
Blue 1 is hit and kneels where they fell. The blue medic runs to Blue 1 and touches their shoulder, and Blue 1 is back in.

Protect the medic

Protect the medicRED BASEBLUE BASE213Medic hit: out for good12Red playerBlue playerOutFoam-arrow shotMedic
A medic who is hit is out for good, so smart teams screen their medic behind cover and pick off the other medic first.

Rules that keep it fair and safe

  • Wounded players kneel with a hand up and stay still. Don’t shoot at a kneeling player.
  • Medics heal with a light shoulder tap, never a shove.
  • A medic can’t heal themselves.
  • Wounded players who haven’t been healed by the end of the round count as out.
Before the first arrow: masks on for every player, light bows, inspected foam-tip arrows and a referee with a whistle. Our safety standard has the full checklist.

Variations

Secret medic. Each team tells only the referee who its medic is. Opponents have to work it out from who is healing.

Bleed-out timer. A wounded player who isn’t healed within 30 seconds is out.

Get the gear for this game

Medic needs the core kit plus two contrasting vests for the medics. Team pinnies work well. See our complete kits for everything else.

See our complete kits