It’s almost time for the 2025 US Masters in Reno, and the regional data says the West’s high desert is about to turn into a chemistry lab: one part blinged‑out elites, one part blunt‑force trauma, and a pinch of plain‑vanilla grind. I’ve crunched the spreadsheet and three storylines leap off the page:
1. All That Glitters: The Magic‑Item Arms Race
| Region | Avg Item Pts | Total Units | Unit Strength | Scoring Units |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northeast | 78.8 | 13.1 | 22.9 | 11.1 |
| Midatlantic | 28.1 | 14.6 | 25.8 | 13.5 |
Northeast – The Trinket Tyrants
Nearly 80 points per list poured into artefacts–the equivalent of a free character. That bling tax shows up fast: lowest bodies, lowest US, and the fewest scoring drops. They’re banking on elite pieces doing elite things, plus a toolkit of Shambling, Stealthy, and Regen to keep it all alive. High risk, high highlight‑reel potential.
Midatlantic – The Budget Battalion
Spending less than half the bling and fielding the most scoring units (13.5). More boots, fewer baubles. It’s a philosophy that wins scenarios rather than style points. Think disciplined line troops and throwaway support instead of named artefacts.
Why It Matters
If the Northeast dominates, expect a flood of “less models, more magic” list copycats. If the Midatlantic grinds them out, the pendulum swings back to “boys before toys.”
2. Why I’m Picking the Mountain Region to Win Battle Score
| Stat | Mountain Avg | Field Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Total Units | 16.5 | 1st |
| Power Concentration | 38.2 | 1st |
| Total Attacks | 181.5 | 1st |
| Shots to Hit | 39.1 | 1st |
| Expected Damage | 67.3 | 1st |
Led by Travis Timm’s 24‑drop Goblin avalanche, the Mountain crew stuffs the table with bodies and brings the biggest hammers (which shows up in “Power Concentration“). Highest attacks, top ranged output, top damage projection–this is a region that plans to table you, not edge you on scenario points. It’s “alpha plus backup alpha.”
If they dodge the worst grind lists early (see: the South and Midwest), I’m betting at least one Mountain general is on the podium Sunday.
3. The Midwest: Vanilla or Vintage?
The spreadsheet calls the Midwest “average” almost everywhere–7 stats led, 9 stats lagged–but the color coding hides a theme:
- Nerve Pool: 457.6 (2nd overall)
- Speed: 6.0 (dead last)
- Heal & Iron Resolve: above the median
- Shock + Flanker: lower third
Translation: slow, thick, and hard to shift. No finesse tricks, just disciplined blocks grinding out wins. It might not make YouTube highlight reels, but in a six‑round slugfest, consistency is currency.
Watch List: If a Midwest player hits Mountain hammers, that’s data vs. drama in real time.
Closing Thoughts
Three regions, three philosophies:
- Northeast buys legendary artefacts and prays the math holds.
- Mountain floods the board with dice and dares you to survive.
- Midwest packs a lunch and plays the long game.
One of these theories will look brilliant–and one will be pure cope. I’ll be glued to the live stream with spreadsheets up and coffee on drip–see you in the chat.
