Over the past year I’ve been tinkering with a machine learning model to answer a deceptively simple question: What makes a winning Kings of War list?
I previewed the approach here, looking at traits like unit count, drops, unit strength, power concentration, and speed. The model was trained on thousands of tournament lists and outcomes, with the goal of predicting which lists would perform best before dice ever hit the table.
Think of machine learning like this: instead of me hand-picking “good” lists based on gut feel or reputation, the model looks at the same data we use for post-event analysis and finds the patterns that correlate most strongly with high scores. It doesn’t know who wrote the list or what their paint scheme looks like—it just crunches numbers on composition and stats.
Below you’ll find the ten strongest lists as ranked by the model, in no particular order. Each entry includes the original PDF, a short note on what makes it dangerous, a quick tip on how to beat it, and key stats so you can see at a glance why it scores well.
TL;DR
- Big drops and high unit strength still rule scenario play.
- Combined-arms shells with modest power concentration also score well when they stack healing, Rallying, and reliable shooting.
- If you want to beat these lists: threaten war engines early, deny flanks, and trade cheaply into their high‑US screens.
How the model works (quick)
- Inputs: composition features like drops, unit strength, unit types, speed, shooting volume, Inspiring/Rallying, and my power concentration metric.
- Labels: historical tournament performance from my database.
- Output: a score that estimates on‑paper winning potential.
- Power concentration: measured with the same Gini‑style method I outlined here: Understanding Power Concentration in Kings of War Lists.
2024 US Masters – Travis Timm (Goblins)
The list that put “Travis Timm Goblins” into the meta lexicon: huge drops, tons of shooting, and enough board control to strangle scenario play before the opponent gets rolling.
How to beat it: Get into war engines and Winggits early—force the Goblins to commit their hammers before they’re ready.
Key Stats: Drops: 24 | Unit Strength: 27 | Power Concentration: Low | Shooting: High
2025 US Masters – Travis Timm (Goblins)
An updated take with similar philosophy and an even better list name—unit spam, overlapping threat bubbles, and a shooting core that punishes any slow deployment.
How to beat it: Push pressure on multiple fronts so the Goblins can’t simply redeploy their shooting core.
Key Stats: Drops: 24 | Unit Strength: 27 | Power Concentration: Low | Shooting: High
2024 UK Clash of Kings – Simon Brand (Ratkin)
Combines fast, hard-hitting Tunnel Runners with durable hordes and layers of Rallying and Inspiring. A balance of board control and lethal counterpunch.
How to beat it: Disrupt Rallying bubbles and block Tunnel Runner charges with chaff.
Key Stats: Drops: 17 | Unit Strength: 27 | Power Concentration: Moderate | Speed: Above Average
2025 Adepticon – Jeff Schiltgen (Varangur)
A hammer-heavy build with Snow Trolls, Frostfang Thegns, and support heroes. High mobility, high durability, and a nasty alpha strike threat.
How to beat it: Delay their alpha—force hindered charges and keep your scoring units safe until late game.
Key Stats: Drops: 16 | Unit Strength: 27 | Power Concentration: High | Speed: High
2025 Adepticon – Sean Troy (Ratkin)
Phalanx-backed Shock Troops and elite shooting create a list that grinds as well as it shoots. Scenario presence from a mix of hordes and durable heroes.
How to beat it: Neutralize key shooting units early and avoid frontal charges into Phalanx blocks.
Key Stats: Drops: 17 | Unit Strength: 26 | Power Concentration: Moderate | Shooting: Strong
2024 US Masters – Chet Dudick (Goblins)
Mixes expendable rabble with accurate war engines, a Winggit for Lobber buffs, and just enough hammers to close games out.
How to beat it: Target the Winggit early to weaken the Lobber synergy.
Key Stats: Drops: 22 | Unit Strength: 28 | Power Concentration: Low | Shooting: Strong
2024 Australian Masters – Max Kay (Goblins)
Another Goblin masterclass: Phalanx infantry to block charges, Winggits for air control, and war machines for steady attrition.
How to beat it: Flank the Phalanx blocks and apply early pressure on artillery.
Key Stats: Drops: 22 | Unit Strength: 27 | Power Concentration: Low | Shooting: Strong
2025 Adepticon – Tyler Schulz (Brothermark)
Heavy on resilient infantry like Paladin Monster Slayers, backed by Phoenix healing and solid ranged support. Plays the long game well.
How to beat it: Apply concentrated damage to overwhelm their healing advantage.
Key Stats: Drops: 15 | Unit Strength: 29 | Power Concentration: Moderate | Healing: Strong
2024 UK Clash of Kings – Daniel Wright (Dwarfs)
A wall of Defense 5/6, multiple Steel Behemoths, and enough shooting to force movement. Tough to break and punishes overextension.
How to beat it: Force them to split—spread the board and avoid frontal grinds against Defense 6+.
Key Stats: Drops: 14 | Unit Strength: 24 | Power Concentration: High | Defense: Extreme
2024 US Masters – Ed Fiske (Ogres)
Siege Breakers in bulk, backed by flexible warlocks and Nomagarok’s vicious buffs. Brutal in every sense of the word.
How to beat it: Control the charge game—don’t let Siege Breakers hit first.
Key Stats: Drops: 14 | Unit Strength: 25 | Power Concentration: High | Crushing Strength: Extreme
Why it matters:
These aren’t necessarily the most fun lists to play against—but they are what the data says are most likely to win. The model highlights archetypes that consistently overperform across events, giving us a snapshot of the current competitive meta. Studying them reveals more than just unit choices: it shows how top players balance scenario play with raw damage output, when to trade high nerve for speed, and where to invest points for maximum board control.
If you’re aiming to win big, these examples show the trade-offs that work, the combinations that deliver results, and the pressure points they exploit. And if you’re looking to beat them, knowing these patterns is the first step toward building a counter that can go toe-to-toe with the toughest lists out there.
