Andabatae: (1st cent. BC) Clad in chainmail like eastern cavalry (cataphracti), wore visored helmets without eye holes. They charged blindly at one another on horseback as an ancient precursor to the medieval joust.

Bestiarii: (beast fighters) originally armed with a spear or knife, these gladiators were condemned to fight beasts with a high probability of death. In later times, the Bestiarii were highly trained, specializing in various types of exotic, imported beasts.

Dimachaeri: Used two-swords, one in each hand.

Equites: Fought on horseback with a spear and gladius, dressed in a full tunic, with a manica (arm-guard). Generally, the Eques only fought gladiators of his own type.

Essedari: Celtic style charioteers, likely first brought to Rome from Britain by Caesar.

Hoplomachi (heavily armed): Fully armored, and based on Greek hoplites. They wore a helmet with a stylized griffin on the crest, woollen quilted leg wrappings, and shin-guards. They carried a spear in the Hoplite style with a small round shield. They were paired against Mirmillones or Thraces.

Laquerii: Laqueatores used a rope and noose.

Myrmillones: Derived from Greek word murex for a spike or cliff, they wore a decorated helmet, as well as an arm guard (manica). They carried a gladius and an oblong shield in the Gallic style. They were paired with Hoplomachi or Thraces.

Provocatores: It was the only empire-wide and long lasting gladiator class to wear some form of thoracic armour, in the form of a pectorale over the breast.  He was equipped with the standard manica, a medium sized scutum, gladius, a knee high greave, and a close fitting helmet modeled on Celtic design.  The provocator was usually matched against another provocator.

Retiarii: Carried a trident, a dagger, and a net, a larger manica extending to the shoulder and left side of the chest. They commonly fought secutores or mirmillones. Occasionally a metal shoulder shield, or galerus, was added to protect the neck and lower face.

Saggitarii: Mounted bowman armed with reflex bows capable of propelling an arrow a great distance.

Samnites: Derived from the warriors of Samnium, early opponents of the Romans, and armed with a scutum, one greave, decorated helmet, and a
gladius.  The samnite disappears by Augustus' time, probably replaced by the newer myrmillo.

Secutores: The Secutor was equiped with a smooth helmet, manica, a  oblong shield and a gladius. They were the usual opponents of retiarii.

Scissores: Little is known of this type of gladiator but what little we know is that he was equiped like the Secutor.  A smooth helmet, manica, and body armour (chainmail, breat plate, scale).

Thraces: The Thracian was equipped with a broad-rimmed helmet that enclosed the entire head decorated with a head of a griffin, a small round or square-shaped shield, and two thigh-length greaves. His weapon was the Thracian curved sica. They commonly fought myrmillones or hoplomachi.

Velites: Fought on foot, each holding a spear with attached thong in strap for throwing. Named for the early Republican army units of the same name.

Venatores: Specialized in wild animal hunts. Technically not gladiators but still a part of the games.

Noxii: Criminals who fought each other, often one was blindfolded and armed against an un armed opponent.

One more type deserving mention is the Praegenarii who were used as an ancient opening act to get the crowd in the mood. They used a rudis (wooden sword) and wore wrappings around body. As they fought, they were accompanied by music (cymbals, trumpets, and hydraulis water organ).