As the US Master’s tournament approaches, Kings of War players are once again gearing up for intense battles and strategic showdowns. Among the perennial powerhouses, the goblin trash list continues to be a force to be reckoned with. But what if we could take the essence of this strategy and apply it to a different faction? Enter the Brothermark “Human Goblins” list.
The Goblin Trash Strategy
Before we dive into the Brothermark twist, let’s revisit why the goblin trash list is so effective.
The key lies in its high drop count and flood of cheap, expendable units. This strategy forces opponents into a difficult choice: either focus on killing the numerous low-point units to deny scenario play, or target the more dangerous elements and risk losing on objectives. The sheer volume of units on the table creates a tactical headache for opponents, often overwhelming them with choices.
Goblins: The Brothermark Approach
Inspired by this strategy, I wondered if we could recreate a similar effect with the Order of the Brothermark. The result? A “Human Goblins” list that takes the core concept of the trash list and adds a uniquely resilient twist. I’ve been playing around with multiple versions (including various war engines and penitent lineups), but here’s one horde-heavy example:
At the heart of this list are the Villein Penitents. At just 75 points for a regiment and 125 points for a horde, these units can flood the board much like their goblin counterparts. However, they come with some significant advantages:
- Crushing Strength (1): Unlike standard goblin rabble, Penitents can dish out some damage in combat.
- Iron Resolve: Many Brothermark units have Iron Resolve. This ability allows them to heal when holding steady, increasing their staying power.
- Rally and Heal support: With abundant sources of Rally and Heal in the list, cheap penitent units become surprisingly difficult to remove.
Behind this wall of resilient chaff, the list packs a punch with either war engines (Siege Artillery and Heavy Arbalests) or Exemplar Hunters (along with, in this list, the notorious alchemist curse mage to deal with high-defense walls). The units provide the ranged threat that forces opponents to push through the Penitent screen. Adding to this firepower are the Phoenixes, which serve a dual purpose – they can either rain down fire with their Firesparks or support the frontline with healing.
Comparing the Lists
While this particular Brothermark list doesn’t quite match the raw numbers of the goblin trash list (21 units and 24 US compared to the goblins’ 24 units and 26 US), it makes up for it in resilience. The combination of Iron Resolve, abundant healing, and Rally abilities means that the Brothermark units are significantly harder to remove than their goblin counterparts.
The trade-off comes in speed and raw damage output. The Brothermark list is slightly slower on average (5.4 speed compared to 5.9) and puts out less expected damage (50.1 vs 64.1). However, what it lacks in alpha strike potential, it more than makes up for in staying power.
Strategic Implications
This Brothermark list presents a different kind of challenge to opponents. While it may not overwhelm with sheer numbers like the goblin list, it creates a grinding attrition game that many armies will struggle to outlast. The resilience of even the cheapest units means that objectives can be held more reliably, and the flying Phoenixes provide late-game scoring potential.
Opponents will face a similar dilemma to that posed by the goblin list – do they focus on clearing the cheap Penitents, or do they try to push through to the more valuable targets? The difference is that choosing to target the Penitents is now an even less attractive option, as they’re significantly harder to remove than goblin rabble.
Conclusion
While the goblin trash list remains a potent force in the Kings of War meta, this Brothermark “Human Goblins” list presents an intriguing alternative. It takes the core concept of flooding the board with cheap units but adds a layer of resilience that could prove even more frustrating for opponents to deal with. As we head into the US Master’s tournament, it will be exciting to see if this kind of list can make an impact and possibly reshape our understanding of the “trash” archetype.
What do you think of the concept? What would you tweak to make the Brothermark list able to do the trash archetype competitively? I’ll be getting some games of it in this weekend, so we’ll see how it goes!
Other Resources
Check out Page Neo’s Youtube channel, which has numerous battle reports showcasing the goblin’s effectiveness.
