The Kings of War community eagerly anticipates the faction lists for the US Masters each year, and the 2024 tournament has delivered some fascinating shifts in player preferences. One of the most significant indicators of the evolving meta is the increase in faction diversity, as reflected by the Herfindahl-Hirschman Index (HHI), which has decreased from 2023 to 2024. The HHI is a simplified way to track whether we’re seeing more or less diversity within a particular market (in this case, the “market” for factions). This decrease suggests a more balanced and varied competitive environment, which is great news for the game’s overall health and player engagement.
Overall Faction Distribution
The following table compares the faction distribution between the 2023 and 2024 US Masters, highlighting the changes in popularity for each faction:
| Faction | Count 2023 | Count 2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dwarfs | 8 | 5 | -3 |
| Forces of the Abyss | 6 | 2 | -4 |
| Elves | 6 | 2 | -4 |
| Ogres | 5 | 6 | +1 |
| Salamanders | 4 | 1 | -3 |
| Goblins | 4 | 4 | 0 |
| Forces of Nature | 4 | 0 | -4 |
| Trident Realm of Neritica | 3 | 2 | -1 |
| Nightstalkers | 3 | 7 | +4 |
| Undead | 3 | 4 | +1 |
| Varangur | 3 | 1 | -2 |
| The Herd | 3 | 0 | -3 |
| Empire of Dust | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| The Order of the Green Lady | 2 | 3 | +1 |
| Northern Alliance | 2 | 7 | +5 |
| Abyssal Dwarfs | 1 | 2 | +1 |
| Halflings | 1 | 2 | +1 |
| Orcs | 1 | 0 | -1 |
| Basileans | 1 | 2 | +1 |
| Ratkin | 1 | 2 | +1 |
| Twilight Kin | 0 | 4 | +4 |
| Riftforged Orcs | 0 | 2 | +2 |
| Free Dwarfs | 0 | 1 | +1 |
| Noble Undead | 0 | 1 | +1 |
The table above clearly shows that while some factions have maintained their popularity, others have seen significant shifts. The rise of factions like Northern Alliance and Twilight Kin suggests a changing meta, while the decline in others, such as Forces of the Abyss and Elves, points to players exploring new strategies or reacting to recent changes in game balance.
Three Rising Factions
- Northern Alliance: Northern Alliance saw the most substantial increase, with participation jumping from 2 players in 2023 to 7 in 2024. Coming off a faction refresh, I’m not surprised to see this data. The RC did a great job redoing the Northern Alliance to make them more engaging with a higher skillcap. As I mentioned in my earlier post, Pack Hunters are one of the most-taken units–and presumably the top players see how good they are and are building around them. Adding in Frostclaw Riders also gave Northern Alliance players another tool in the toolkit for an army that lacked many speedy options.
- Nightstalkers: Another big mover was Nightstalkers, which increased from 3 players in 2023 to 7 in 2024, a rise of 4 participants. The faction’s unique abilities to disrupt enemy plans with stealthy, fear-inducing units seem to be gaining traction in the competitive scene after the rework. Everyone agreed they were too good in 2022, but the rework hasn’t taken anything away from them.
- Twilight Kin: Twilight Kin, a faction absent in 2023 because of their rework, entered the 2024 scene with 4 players. While many complained earlier this year that they were too good, it seems the RC has done a fantastic job adding flavor without making them too overpowered.
Three Declining Factions*
- Forces of the Abyss: The most significant drop was seen in Forces of the Abyss, which fell from 6 players in 2023 to just 2 in 2024, a decline of 4 participants. Most of the 2023 lists were grind-heavy, and it could be that this style of list just isn’t working as well in the current meta.
- Elves: Elves also saw a considerable decrease, dropping from 6 players in 2023 to 2 in 2024. It’s not clear what’s causing this drop (other than elves not really getting love in the latest CoK updates).
- The Herd: The Herd, which had 3 players in 2023, is no longer represented in 2024. The Herd has always been a bit of a niche faction. The lack of official model support doesn’t help, and if you’ve followed Regnum Aeternum, they’re a tough army to play well.
*Yeah, I know I’m leaving off FoN, but I thought the Herd move was more interesting.
Understanding the Herfindahl-Hirschman Index (HHI)
The Herfindahl-Hirschman Index (HHI) is a measure of market concentration, often used to evaluate the level of competition within an industry. In the context of Kings of War, it helps us understand how concentrated the player preferences are around certain factions.
- HHI for 2023: 683
- HHI for 2024: 666
What Do These Numbers Mean?
- Higher HHI (2023): A higher HHI indicates that fewer factions dominated the tournament, meaning there was less diversity in faction choices. The concentration was higher, with more players gravitating towards a smaller number of factions.
- Lower HHI (2024): A lower HHI in 2024 suggests a more diverse distribution of factions, meaning players spread their choices across more factions. This increase in variety is generally seen as a positive trend because it reflects a healthier, more balanced competitive environment where multiple factions are viable and popular.
Why Is This Decrease Good?
The decrease in the HHI indicates that the 2024 US Masters will likely feature a wider array of tactics and army compositions. This variety not only makes the games more interesting and challenging but also promotes a more dynamic and inclusive meta where different factions can shine. It reflects the balance that the game designers have strived to achieve, ensuring that no single faction becomes overwhelmingly dominant, which in turn encourages creative list-building and strategic depth.
The fact that most of the big gainers were factions reworked by the RC is, I think, good for the overall health of the game. They’re not overwhelming the competition, but they are in a good, solid place for top players, which suggests to me that the RC has done a nice job balancing them.
Conclusion
The decrease in the HHI and the shifts in faction usage from 2023 to 2024 highlight the increasing diversity within the Kings of War community. This variety not only makes for a more dynamic and unpredictable tournament but also indicates a healthy, evolving game where players are continually exploring new strategies and adapting to changes in the meta.
As we head into the 2024 US Masters, players will need to be prepared for a broad range of opponents, each with unique strengths and tactics. This diversity ensures that the tournament will be a true test of skill and adaptability, making it one of the most exciting events on the Kings of War calendar. Make sure to follow the live updates on Dash28!
