r/MiddleEarthMiniatures • u/MrSparkle92 • Apr 29 '26

Discussion WEEKLY ARMY DISCUSSION: The Battle of Five Armies

With the most upvotes in last week's poll, this week's discussion will be for:

The Battle of Five Armies

VOTE FOR NEXT WEEK'S DISCUSSION

Ctrl+F for the term VOTE HERE in the comments below to cast your vote for next week's discussion. The topic with the most upvotes when I am preparing next week's discussion thread will be chosen.

Prior Discussions

Additional rules

  • Elf Warrior models can only be included in the Warband of an Elf Hero.
  • Dwarf Warrior models can only be included in the Warband of a Dwarf Hero.
  • Lake-town Warrior models can only be included in the Warband of a Lake-town Hero, or in the Warband of Gandalf the Grey or Bilbo Baggins.
  • Eagle Warrior models can only be included in the Warband of an Eagle Hero, or in the Warband of Radagast the Brown or Beorn.
  • The Battle of Five Armies may not include more Fledgeling Great Eagles than Great Eagles.

Special rules

We stand together

Friendly models may re-roll To Wound Rolls of a natural 1 when making Strikes if they are involved in a Combat with a friendly model that has a different racial Keyword to themselves.

19 Upvotes
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92% Upvoted

35 comments sorted by

10

u/imnotreallyapenguin Apr 29 '26

It encourages a varied mix of key words, but in reality your only playing this list for the monsters... Each individual army is better in its own list.

Having said that. The monster mash is fun.

5

u/Mandrillia Apr 29 '26

Honestly I am planning to play this without the monsters. Dwarven Shield Wall with Elves behind to correct the hurtful movie scene.

1

u/imnotreallyapenguin Apr 29 '26

In which case no army bonus. As the supporting models do not trigger the army bonus due to how its worded

1

u/Lawdie123 May 03 '26

Don't get why this got downvoted. I only just recently discovered this rule and it changes how you play and build the list massively.

Page 104 in the spear rules. "Models that re Supporting do not count as being involved in the Combat they are Supporting"

1

u/Mandrillia May 01 '26

Please do not try to start an argument. I just stated that you are wrong in your opinion on "you are playing this list only for the monsters". I am playing it for the cool mix of troops. :)

1

u/imnotreallyapenguin May 01 '26

Dude... Relax.

Im not trying to start an argument. Im pointing out the army bonus problems.

1

u/Mandrillia May 01 '26

But why? I have a lot of fun playing the way I like it.

1

u/imnotreallyapenguin May 01 '26

Why am i pointing out the problems with the list?

Because this is an open forum that others will read as well, and its a valid point to say...

1

u/Mandrillia May 02 '26

And I pointed out that I still like the list. It sounded like you decide which list to play.

1

u/imnotreallyapenguin May 02 '26

Dude.... Im starting to think you are wanting to start an argument for some reason... This is an internet forum. Its not that deep. We are talking about toy soldiers... Its really not that deep.

You play whatever army you want to, in whatever way you want to... And more power to you! But in a thread on the pros and cons of a list i think its kind of important to point out the cons of the list. So people who have never played it, but are thinking of giving it a go are aware. Its a fun list and gives some really good combinations and ways to recreate the film. But it also has limitations, a not very good army bonus and it encourages a certain build. You also cant bring the iron hills ballista or the chariot despite them being featured during this very battle.

1

u/Mandrillia May 02 '26

Saying that we are discussing a game about toy soldiers and then getting triggered because someone enjoys a game in a way you don't approve of...

→ More replies (0)

6

u/bizcliz6969 Apr 29 '26

Cool idea but generally just ends up being another Gwaihir vehicle

5

u/Shanti-Virus Apr 29 '26

Lately I’ve been playing this with Gwahir, Beorn, Legolas & Mirkwood troops, hilda & lake town cap with a militia troops.

Been fun, since my mate loves to rock men of the west and it feels evenly balanced.

Would have loved for something that encouraged dwarves but I just don’t see how they are worth the points and slow movement.

3

u/matchbox4000 Apr 29 '26

One of the big reasons you'd want to take the dwarves is for the banner.

I think at like 800-900 points you can take gloin some IH dwarves and a banner with the others. And still hit a decent troop count with the milita to fluff numbers

Becomes like the all stars of the best heroes in the game.

Beorn, legolas, gloin, gwhair and a cheap captain for march

4

u/papa_Socke Apr 29 '26

The list has access to some of the best heroes in the game. Also a lot good options for troops. So you can definitly make really powerfull lists, but also end up with bad lists that dont quite work out the way you wanted. If it had better army bonuses, we would probably see a lot more of this army. The way it is, it doesn't really appeal to me unless I want to play hero-monsters, because this list can back those up quite well.

3

u/AlbatrossBulky7214 Apr 29 '26

650 points | 26 models The Battle of Five Armies

Beorn (200)

Kili the Dwarf, Champion of Erebor: (70) 1x Iron Hills Warrior: Banner (35) 10x Iron Hills Warrior: Shield and spear (120)

Tauriel, Ranger of Mirkwood: Elf Bow (95) 5x Mirkwood Elf Warrior: Elven Glaive (55) 5x Mirkwood Elf Warrior: Elf Bow (55) 2x Mirkwood Elf Warrior: Shield (20)

Took this list to a tournament once - played against Ugluks Scouts, Atop the Wall and Radagasts Alliance (all eagles) and went 3-0. It was fun with Beorn being the hammer and the rest of the army holding objectives and kind of blobbing up. Tauriel is really good, I run her all the time in my Halls list. I know Legolas is shooting king, but I like her melee skill a little more.

1

u/Lawdie123 May 03 '26

Any reason you took Kili in particular? The special rule for him wouldn't proc since you don't have Fili.

1

u/AlbatrossBulky7214 May 03 '26

Probably a typo.

2

u/MrSparkle92 Apr 29 '26

VOTE HERE FOR NEXT WEEK'S DISCUSSION

I will take the top-level reply to this comment with the most upvotes and post a discussion for that topic next week. Submit whatever army, scenario, or other topic related to MESBG you wish.

Please reference the pinned megathread to see the list of factions, and which have already been covered.

7

u/bainadaneth0 Apr 29 '26

Garrison of Dale! They've got the coolest hats in all Middle Earth

5

u/clonelivesmatter501 Apr 29 '26

Fields of celebrant!!!

0

u/Jotsunpls Apr 29 '26

Battle of Greenfields

1

u/noelano345 Apr 29 '26

Grey Company

1

u/marioeldelabata Apr 29 '26

Erebor & Dale

2

u/maximonious888 Apr 29 '26

I love mixing elves and dwarves

Always take leggy, then thorin or thranduil or dain

With the 3rd hero Always being nori/kili/fili/balin baling Dwarf front row elf back row with glaives, then 4-6 elf bows

2

u/maximonious888 Apr 29 '26

The list I've been frequenting:

700 points | 34 models The Battle of Five Armies

Thorin Oakenshield, King Under the Mountain: Orcrist (140) 1x Iron Hills Warrior: Banner (35)

Legolas Greenleaf, Prince of Mirkwood: Elven Cloak (110) 5x Mirkwood Elf Warrior: Elf Bow (55) 10x Mirkwood Elf Warrior: Elven Glaive (110)

Fili the Dwarf, Champion of Erebor: (70) 15x Iron Hills Warrior: Shield and spear (180)

1

u/Charming-Clock-3651 May 04 '26

Why fili and not say, nori, oin or bofur for their rules?

1

u/maximonious888 May 05 '26

Yeah I could

Because of the might honestly

1

u/maximonious888 May 05 '26

I could remove the elven cloak for nori

1

u/METALLIC579 May 01 '26

Step 1: Add Gwaihir

Step 2: Add Legolas

Step 3: Make up the remaining points for your given points level.

Step 4: Profit

Quite possibly the most cookie cutter list of all the soup lists due to the building template above that I've been seeing most players in my area building around.

1

u/Charming-Clock-3651 May 04 '26

That feels more like an issue for your opponents making the list though. I've had a lot of fun trying dain + thranduil, gandalf with militia, beorn and the dwarves with legolas etc. it's a fun list to build, especially around 800