First, the typical spreadsheet with generated info from the parsed lists:

Faction Breakdown

The tournament features a diverse range of factions. The most represented factions include Ogres and Dwarfs, each fielding two players. All other factions have only a single representative. With only 16 lists, this represents a small sample size, especially compared to larger events like the UK Clash of Kings, which featured nearly 200 participants. This makes it tough to draw firm conclusions, but it does indicate a relatively balanced field, with no single faction dominating in numbers, highlighting the healthy diversity of the competitive meta.

The wide variety of factions represented shows that players are comfortable experimenting with different playstyles and strategies, instead of consolidating around a perceived “strongest” army. However, given the limited number of participants, view these trends with caution as they may not fully represent broader meta shifts. Additionally, this tournament is being played under the existing Clash of Kings 2024 rules, not the upcoming rebalancing that has already been issued, which may influence players’ list choices differently compared to future events.

Unit Composition Breakdown

The average total number of units per army is between 13 and 15, aligning closely with other major tournaments like the US Masters, Aussie Clash of Kings, UK Masters, and Lonewolf GT, where average drops typically fall in the 13-14 range. For a more in-depth analysis on similar tournaments, refer to this post.

Notably, Andrew Goodman’s Dwarfs army fields 13 units, but maximizes unit strength at 27. He packs a lot of firepower (average expected damage of 83.8). Conversely, Matt Curtis’s Elves bring a lower drop count (11) but with a different distribution of strengths, focusing on speed and tactical flexibility. The average speed of his units is 7.5, and 45% are Nimble, enhancing their maneuverability on the battlefield.

These variations show that players are taking varied approaches to list-building, with some opting for smaller, elite forces while others choose large, multi-unit armies for broader board control. Here is a summary of average army characteristics based on the data:

Magic Items Taken

I’m often fascinated by seeing the various magic items. Here is a summary of the most commonly taken magic items at the tournament:

The J-boots continue to be immensely popular as terrain mitigation, and the Staying Stone is a cheap anti-waiver tool for many lists. The eternal debate about whether the Hammer of Measured Force is a points trap or an essential tool continues, with 3 of 16 lists picking it here.

Standout Lists

Drawing firm conclusions from a field this small and this competitive is challenging. As I mentioned on Countercharge, predicting performance based on list-building alone is highly uncertain. However, Jeffrey Traish’s Abyssal Dwarf build stands out to me. It is surprisingly fast, versatile, and capable of packing a punch—strong in many areas without overcommitting to any single strategy. Adam Story’s Order of the Green Lady is also notable, with 10 drops (7 scoring) and a unit strength of 19. It’s extremely fast and could create match-up issues, especially in a slower, dwarf-heavy meta. However, its low drop count makes it unforgiving. If played well, as Marcelo demonstrated at US Masters, the Order of the Green Lady can be a formidable challenge. The key question is whether Adam can avoid mistakes and make a deep run.

Conclusion

The pre-tournament data for the 2024 Australian Kings of War Masters highlights a diverse and balanced meta. Players are experimenting with a variety of factions, units, and strategies. However, given the small sample size of only 16 lists, it’s important to hedge these conclusions, as they may not fully reflect broader meta trends seen in larger tournaments. While some classic units and magic items dominate in popularity, there is enough variation to show that no single strategy will easily reign supreme. The stage is set for an exciting and unpredictable competition, where adaptability will be key to victory.

I will follow up post-tournament to see how these pre-event analyses translated into results on the table. Stay tuned for more insights as I continue to break down the Kings of War meta!

The Winner: Jeffrey Traish’s Dwarfs

Jeffrey Traish’s victory with his Dwarfs was a testament to the resilience and offensive capabilities of this army. This must be the least-surprising outcome, but it does point to a renewed Dwarf resurgence with Ordered March.

The Runner-up: Damien Madigan’s Salamanders

Damien Madigan, securing the second spot, presented an elite Salamander army. His army composition, characterized by low drops, emphasized quality over quantity. This approach, combined with decent survivability and commendable damage output, proved to be highly effective.

Third Place: Matt Curtis’s Elves

Matt Curtis’s Elves, clinching third place, offered a unique approach with a lower unit strength of 19. His list, unusual for its heavy reliance on chariots and a relatively lighter emphasis on shooting, demonstrated the versatility and tactical depth of the Elves. This unorthodox strategy highlighted the game’s strategic diversity, showing that even less conventional army builds can achieve notable success. Will this drive a change in the typical Elf builds we’re seeing?

Meta-Level Analysis

In forthcoming analysis, I’ll delve into various factors that influenced victory in Clash of Kings Australia, including unit strength and the number of scoring units.

That may take me some time to pull together. In the meantime, I’ll give some preliminary results. First, the overall player results:

And then for faction data:

Preliminary data suggests that Dwarfs have shown significant improvement in this tournament, signaling a potential shift in the meta. This is a small sample size from a single tournament (Clash of Kings Australia), but I do think we’re starting to see the impact of Ordered March.

And finally, a cross-tab to see the faction-vs-faction results:

Stay tuned for a more detailed analysis in future posts, where I plan to dig into the strategic intricacies and data-driven insights from Clash of Kings Australia 2024.