The transition to Kings of War 4th Edition has sparked a rigorous debate within the community regarding “points creep.” Early community estimates—often based on anecdotal list-building or smaller sample sizes—suggested about a 9% increase. However, my expanded analysis of 812 direct unit matches reveals a more significant global inflation rate of 14.9%.
Yet, looking at this figure in isolation is misleading. The data reveals a surgical, data-driven rebalancing by Mantic, designed to pivot the meta away from high-mobility “toys” and dominant elite heroes in favor of traditional ranked infantry.
Methodology: Matching Across the Divide
Comparing editions of a wargame is rarely a perfect 1-to-1 affair. To ensure the highest level of data integrity, this analysis moves beyond simple name-matching. I accounted for structural shifts in unit sizing that occurred during the edition leap. Specifically, I applied logic to handle Large Infantry, Large Cavalry, and Monstrous Infantry, where the “Standard” unit footprints shifted. In these cases, 3rd Edition Hordes were mapped to 4th Edition Regiments, and 3rd Edition Regiments were mapped to 4th Edition Troops. By matching these units based on their actual battlefield footprint and role rather than just a legacy label, we are able to see the true “cost of living” increase for these elite unit types.
Executive Summary
- Total Units Compared: 812
- Average Point Increase: +11.3 points per unit
- Average Global Inflation: 14.9%
- The Rebalancing Act: The math shows a clear “Core” discount. While the global average is up, the units that form the backbone of a traditional army have effectively become cheaper relative to the rest of the field. Meanwhile, “Individuals” have been aggressively repriced to limit their utility as independent combat pieces.
The Strategic Shift: Infantry over “Toys”
The data confirms a deliberate design philosophy: the return of the “Mass Battle” in Kings of War. The 4th Edition composition rules and pricing structures encourage players to lean heavily into Core Infantry and Heavy Infantry. These units have remained stable or, in the case of Heavy Infantry, actually decreased in cost.
This creates a widening “efficiency gap.” A player who builds a list around solid blocks of infantry is effectively playing with a larger “real” points budget than a player trying to replicate a 3rd Edition “hero-heavy” list. By taxing “toys”—expensive, specialized units—and Individuals, Mantic has effectively reduced the number of elite “extra” pieces a player can bring without sacrificing the integrity of their battle line.
Table A: Inflation by Category
The “Hero Tax” is the most startling trend in the dataset. Champions and Warlords have seen average cost increases of 70% and 39% respectively. In fact, 99% of all “Champion” category units saw a price hike, signifying a total end to the era of the “cheap” support hero.
| Category | Count | Mean % Change | Mean Point Diff | % Increased | % Decreased | Highest Increase Unit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Champion | 97 | +69.9% | +43.0 | 99.0% | 1.0% | Godspeaker (Ind.) – 240.0% |
| Warlord | 86 | +38.6% | +44.3 | 90.7% | 5.8% | Muster Captain (Ind.) – 118.8% |
| Auxiliary | 110 | +8.0% | +5.7 | 71.8% | 16.4% | Orclings (Reg.) – 50.0% |
| Support | 143 | +5.7% | +6.7 | 57.3% | 36.4% | Dragon Breath (WE) – 43.8% |
| Specialist | 200 | +2.7% | +1.4 | 49.5% | 36.0% | Tortured Souls (Reg.) – 58.3% |
| Core | 176 | -1.1% | -4.0 | 38.6% | 50.6% | Warriors (Reg.) – 117.6% |
Table B: Inflation by Unit Size
When looking at unit footprints, the pressure on Individuals is immense, with an average increase of +46.2 points. Conversely, the largest units in the game—Hordes and Titans—have seen a net decrease in average cost. This creates a powerful incentive to bring center-piece models and massive blocks of troops. The “Highest Increase” outliers, like the Godspeaker at 240%, show that specialized spellcasters and utility heroes were targeted most heavily to ensure they are taken for their specific skills rather than as “filler.”
| Size | Count | Mean % Change | Mean Point Diff | % Increased | % Decreased | Highest Increase Unit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Individual | 171 | +58.8% | +46.2 | 96.5% | 1.8% | Godspeaker (Ind.) – 240.0% |
| Monster | 44 | +11.5% | +18.9 | 70.5% | 29.5% | G. Fire Elemental (Mon.) – 28.6% |
| Troop | 211 | +9.5% | +10.3 | 79.1% | 6.6% | Berserkers (Troop) – 42.9% |
| War Engine | 32 | +3.1% | +1.9 | 46.9% | 37.5% | Dragon Breath (WE) – 43.8% |
| Titan | 41 | +0.5% | -3.0 | 46.3% | 48.8% | Monolith (Titan) – 41.7% |
| Regiment | 249 | -1.8% | -5.6 | 32.9% | 55.4% | Warriors (Reg.) – 117.6% |
| Horde | 64 | -1.9% | -4.5 | 35.9% | 57.8% | Dogs Of War (Horde) – 14.3% |
Table C: Inflation by Unit Type
The type-based breakdown highlights Heavy Infantry as the primary beneficiary of the 4th Edition shift. With a 3.7% decrease in cost and nearly 60% of units in the category seeing a price drop, they are the clear “value play.” Large and Monstrous Infantry, while seeing increases, appear much more balanced than early 4e rumors suggested once our size-mapping methodology is applied. This suggests that while they are still elite, they are no longer the auto-include “point-for-point” kings they once were.
| Type | Count | Mean % Change | Mean Point Diff | % Increased | % Decreased | Highest Increase Unit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Infantry | 342 | +24.7% | +16.5 | 68.7% | 22.8% | Godspeaker (Ind.) – 240.0% |
| Large Infantry | 159 | +14.0% | +10.8 | 56.0% | 34.0% | Warlock (Ind.) – 225.0% |
| Monster | 43 | +11.7% | +19.2 | 69.8% | 30.2% | G. Fire Elemental (Mon.) – 28.6% |
| Chariot | 13 | +9.8% | +16.2 | 61.5% | 15.4% | Trident King (Ind.) – 46.5% |
| Large Cavalry | 37 | +9.2% | +12.8 | 70.3% | 18.9% | Wyrmrider Cent. (Ind.) – 43.8% |
| Monstrous Inf. | 17 | +7.9% | +8.5 | 58.8% | 35.3% | Depth Horror Et. (Ind.) – 47.8% |
| Cavalry | 80 | +4.9% | +6.8 | 67.5% | 21.2% | Clarion (Ind.) – 39.1% |
| War Engine | 32 | +3.1% | +1.9 | 46.9% | 37.5% | Dragon Breath (WE) – 43.8% |
| Titan | 41 | +0.5% | -3.0 | 46.3% | 48.8% | Monolith (Titan) – 41.7% |
| Heavy Infantry | 47 | -3.7% | -7.3 | 31.9% | 59.6% | Ancients (Troop) – 20.8% |
Final Thoughts: The Cost of Doing Business
While a 14.9% inflation rate may seem daunting at first glance, it is a targeted inflation. By effectively “taxing” the versatility and power of Individuals and elite support, Mantic has cleared the way for a game defined by its units rather than its characters. Your 2,000-point army will likely feel smaller if you stick to old habits, but it will feel right at home if you return to the massive regiments and heavy infantry lines that define the world of Pannithor.
