Greetings, Kings of War enthusiasts! The third iteration of Kings of Warfare is upon us, promising thrilling battles and dynamic strategic play. This year, the event features armies built at 1,995 points—a shift from the more common 2,300-point format. This reduced point cap will likely cut down on spam-heavy lists and challenge players to make more thoughtful army compositions. Today, we’ll delve into the data behind the event—the key statistics, emerging trends, and standout lists. You can find all the submitted lists for this tournament here.
For further details about the event itself, check out the official tournament page. Kings of War Tournament at Warfare 2024 is a 1,995-point Kings of War 3rd edition tournament, featuring five games spread across November 16th and 17th, 2024. Players will be competing under the KoH scoring system while also adjusting to new terrain rules. Entry to the Warfare trade and demo show is included with tournament participation.
If you’re just looking for the pre-tourney stats, you can find that here:
The Tournament at a Glance
This tournament features some intriguing statistics that provide insight into the current meta. With an average of 12.2 drops and 21.5 unit strength per list, players will need to find a balance between flexibility and hitting power to dominate objectives and outmaneuver opponents. Notably, Greg Joynson’s Halflings and Matthew Rose’s Empire of Dust are each bringing 26 unit strength, making them formidable in objective-driven scenarios.
Faction diversity at the event is also impressive, with 22 factions represented, resulting in a Herfindahl-Hirschman Index (HHI) of 607. This indicates a healthy level of diversity, rather than dominance by any single faction. Goblins are the most popular, fielded by five players, while Kingdoms of Men, Nightstalkers, and Ogres each have four representatives. Players have employed a range of strategies, from overwhelming numbers to elite, high-impact units.
Top 5 Represented Factions:
| Faction | Count |
|---|---|
| Goblins | 5 |
| Kingdoms of Men | 4 |
| Nightstalkers | 4 |
| Ogres | 4 |
| Forces of the Abyss | 3 |
Power Concentration: A New Metric for Analysis
A new statistic I’m calculating for this tournament writeup is Power Concentration. This metric indicates how concentrated a list’s offensive power is. A high score suggests heavy reliance on a few high-damage units, whereas a lower score indicates that the offensive capability is distributed more evenly across the army. Here are the top three lists by Power Concentration:
| Faction | Player Name | Power Concentration |
| Twilight Kin | Simon Tanner | 52.6 |
| Kingdoms of Men | Florence Anna Maunders | 50.5 |
| League of Rhordia | Mr. David Musgrave | 48.6 |
These lists rely on powerful hammers, complemented by support units that function as chaff or utility. It will be interesting to see how these concentrated builds perform against more balanced approaches. Notably, Florence Maunders’ Kingdoms of Men is particularly top-heavy, with significant damage output even at 20+ inches, making it a formidable threat capable of projecting force across the battlefield.
The Magic Items: Popular Picks and Trends
As always, some favorite magic items are emerging among the players, and it’s interesting to observe which items are most frequently chosen. Here are the top magic items and their respective counts:
| Magic Item | Count |
| J-boots | 21 |
| Lute of Insatiable Darkness | 12 |
| Staying Stone | 10 |
| Helm of the Drunken Ram | 8 |
| Brew of Sharpness | 8 |
| Conjurer’s Staff | 7 |
| Blade of Slashing | 7 |
| Hammer of Measured Force | 7 |
| Healing Brew | 6 |
| Blessing of the Gods | 6 |
| Brew of Strength | 6 |
| Fire-Oil | 6 |
It’s no surprise that the J-boots (Sir Jesse’s Boots of Striding) remain the most popular choice, providing critical capabilities for key charges. The Lute of Insatiable Darkness is another common selection, frequently used add an extra push with Bane Chant.
Damage Output and Threat Ranges
A detailed analysis of damage output adds another layer to understanding the lists. The chart below is a violin plot that highlights the distribution of damage output across units, showcasing notable powerhouses such as Florence Maunders’ Knight Horde. Florence’s list can also deliver substantial damage at a range of 20+ inches, making it highly versatile in its offensive reach.
Another noteworthy observation is Nigel Emsen’s Undead list, which boasts a damage-weighted threat range of 17.3 inches. The list, featuring three hordes of werewolves, two regiments of werewolves, and a vampire on an undead dragon, is built for speed and lethality. It’s refreshing to see such a werewolf-heavy composition late in the 2024 tournament season, adding an exciting dynamic to the competition.
My Picks for the Top Lists
While each list in the tournament has its own strengths, a few stand out to me for their unique combinations of flexibility, power, or tactical nuance.
- Jonathon Quayle’s Nightstalkers
This list is highly objective-focused, featuring 15 drops, 24 unit strength, and 14 scoring units. What impresses me most about this list is its Power Concentration of 22.2, which indicates it isn’t overly reliant on any single unit for damage. However, this also means that it lacks the ability to project overwhelming force in a small area. With nimble units, a deep nerve pool, and screening Scarecrows, this list is well-rounded and equipped for the long game. Soulflayers and Phantoms bring speed and harassment potential, making it both versatile and resilient. - Florence Maunders’ Kingdoms of Men
This list brings an incredible punch to the battlefield, with a combination of a knight horde and two hordes of beast cavalry. These units are backed by a pegasus wizard, a regular wizard, and generals on winged beasts. This combination provides tremendous board control and aggressive striking power. The list’s speed allows it to apply pressure early, and though it may face challenges against shooting-heavy armies, its sheer mobility might mitigate those risks. - Chris Lynch’s Forces of the Abyss
Chris has opted for a balanced approach, bringing a list with an average speed of 7.5, three nimble units, and the perks of regeneration and lifeleech. While it may not be the most offensively dominant, it remains strong in multiple areas, making it a consistent performer. Additionally, Chris adds some flavor to his abyssal horsemen regiments with creative names. Effective use of tortured souls has been extensively documented on TastyBagel’s battle report blog, and it’s clear that this unit type has proven its value time and again.
Wrapping Up
Kings of Warfare III presents a diverse array of playstyles, with approaches ranging from concentrated power-heavy lists to versatile, strategic armies. With such varied compositions, the action promises to be unpredictable and engaging.
Whether you are cheering for an elite, hammer-heavy faction or a balanced, adaptable force, one thing is clear—the upcoming battles will serve as a great showcase of strategic thinking, smart positioning, and tactical execution. Stay tuned as we witness which players and armies emerge victorious in this exciting competition!
