There are 15 different well known types of Gladiators. Each of them fought with different strategies and equipment. They also fought against different Gladiator types. Here are a few different types of Gladiators.
Andabatae: These Gladiators were clothed in chain mail and wore helmets with visors, but without eye holes, so they couldn't see. They fought blindly, and the audience found it amusing when they charged at each other on horses.
Bestiarii: These Gladiators fought beasts and were armed with spears or knives. They usually died in the process. They were trained very well and specialized in different types of beasts.
Dimachaeri: These gladiators had no shields specialized in fighting with two swords, one in each hand. They relied on agility and their reactions because they had hardly any armor, so they could get injured very quickly if they didn't move fast.
Equites: These Gladiators fought on horses with a spear and gladius (an oval shaped shield), dressed in a full tunic (a long, flowy, robe-like garment), and fought only other Equites.
Essedari: These Gladiators rode in chariots while trying to spear their opponent and only fought other Essedari. They are thought to have been brought to Rome by Julius Cesar.
Hoplomachi (Samnite): These Gladiators usually fought against Mirmillones or Thraces. They wore helmets with griffon's painted onto the crest of the helmet, wool quilts wrapped around their legs, and shin guards. Their weapon was a spear and their defense was a mere small shield.
Laquerii: These Gladiators had no armor. Their only weapon and defense was a rope, kind of like a lasso, and used it to snare who they were fighting against.
Mirmillones: These Gladiators wore a helmet with a fish on the crest. They wore an arm guard and carried a gladius. They were mostly paired against Hoplomachi or Thraces.
Provacaories: These Gladiators were paired against Hoplomachi but we don't know for sure what they used to fight because it differed depending on the game.
Retarii: These Gladiators carried a trident, a dagger, and a net. They usually fought Secutores or Mirmillones. If they were lucky, they wore a galerus (a shield on their shoulder) to protect their neck. Other than that, they had no other defense.
Saggitarii: These Gladiators were archers that rode horses. Their bows could shoot a an arrow a very far distance and were extremely deadly, so you would never want to be paired up with one of these guys.
Secutores: These Gladiators were very similar to the Mirmillones; they wore the same armor. However, they also had a gladius. They usually fought the Retiarii.
Thraces: These Gladiators were had a helmet around their whole head, a small shield, and greaves (shin guards). Their weapon was the sica (a curved sword). They usually fought Mirmillones or Hoplomachis.
Velites: These Gladiators fought on foot and threw spears at each other during the battle. They had no defense.
Venatores: These Gladiators specialized in hunting wild animals. They were part of the games in the Colosseum, but not exactly true Gladiators.
Andabatae: These Gladiators were clothed in chain mail and wore helmets with visors, but without eye holes, so they couldn't see. They fought blindly, and the audience found it amusing when they charged at each other on horses.
Bestiarii: These Gladiators fought beasts and were armed with spears or knives. They usually died in the process. They were trained very well and specialized in different types of beasts.
Dimachaeri: These gladiators had no shields specialized in fighting with two swords, one in each hand. They relied on agility and their reactions because they had hardly any armor, so they could get injured very quickly if they didn't move fast.
Equites: These Gladiators fought on horses with a spear and gladius (an oval shaped shield), dressed in a full tunic (a long, flowy, robe-like garment), and fought only other Equites.
Essedari: These Gladiators rode in chariots while trying to spear their opponent and only fought other Essedari. They are thought to have been brought to Rome by Julius Cesar.
Hoplomachi (Samnite): These Gladiators usually fought against Mirmillones or Thraces. They wore helmets with griffon's painted onto the crest of the helmet, wool quilts wrapped around their legs, and shin guards. Their weapon was a spear and their defense was a mere small shield.
Laquerii: These Gladiators had no armor. Their only weapon and defense was a rope, kind of like a lasso, and used it to snare who they were fighting against.
Mirmillones: These Gladiators wore a helmet with a fish on the crest. They wore an arm guard and carried a gladius. They were mostly paired against Hoplomachi or Thraces.
Provacaories: These Gladiators were paired against Hoplomachi but we don't know for sure what they used to fight because it differed depending on the game.
Retarii: These Gladiators carried a trident, a dagger, and a net. They usually fought Secutores or Mirmillones. If they were lucky, they wore a galerus (a shield on their shoulder) to protect their neck. Other than that, they had no other defense.
Saggitarii: These Gladiators were archers that rode horses. Their bows could shoot a an arrow a very far distance and were extremely deadly, so you would never want to be paired up with one of these guys.
Secutores: These Gladiators were very similar to the Mirmillones; they wore the same armor. However, they also had a gladius. They usually fought the Retiarii.
Thraces: These Gladiators were had a helmet around their whole head, a small shield, and greaves (shin guards). Their weapon was the sica (a curved sword). They usually fought Mirmillones or Hoplomachis.
Velites: These Gladiators fought on foot and threw spears at each other during the battle. They had no defense.
Venatores: These Gladiators specialized in hunting wild animals. They were part of the games in the Colosseum, but not exactly true Gladiators.