Pre-tournament predictions often fall to the wayside as the actual matches unfold, emphasizing the importance of the player’s ability to leverage their list’s strengths. The top performers, Chris Lynch with Dwarfs and Tom Robinson with the Northern Alliance, demonstrated exceptional list utilization, translating to a 4-1 win-loss record for both. Their lists, while not appearing extraordinary on paper, were piloted with such finesse that they outmatched their opponents.

For an overview of lists, download this file:

Results

As I have before, I ran a quick parser to generate an Elo report of the results. High-level standings here:

Faction Report

Similarly, though this is a small sample set, I pulled the faction report as well:

For full results from the tournament, please check out the entire file here:

Kings of War List Building

List building is an art in Kings of War, and this tournament’s results have shed light on that. That said, similar to what we saw with https://ohz.wyv.mybluehost.me/backup/strategic-play-over-list-building-lessons-from-the-australian-cok-2024/ success is not merely about the units you select; it’s about how you deploy them, the items you assign, and the objectives you prioritize. The data model I am refining is centered around this aspect of Kings of War, aiming to align army list attributes with game outcomes more accurately.

While we don’t have enough data for definitive conclusions, the trends are telling. High-performing lists from the tournament, such as those of the Elves and Abyssal Dwarfs, balanced offensive capabilities with strategic defense and movement stats. On the other hand, lists with potential like the Ratkin Slaves and Riftforged Orcs fell short, suggesting that even a good list on paper requires adept handling to succeed.

Continuing to collect and analyze game data will refine our understanding of list building in Kings of War. This tournament has been another step in that ongoing process, and I look forward to adding more data points to our model to provide Kings of War enthusiasts with the insights they need to build winning lists. Stay tuned for further analysis and data-driven discussions on the art of list building in Kings of War.

Other Resources for UK Masters

If you’re interested in following one player’s journey through the 2024 UK Masters, check out this great Youtube video!

Similarly, the fantastic channel Death by Dragons has great coverage here:

The US Masters 2023 represented the apex of competitive Kings of War, with seasoned players navigating the CoK 2023 rules to fine-tune their strategies. On the other hand, the Australian CoK 2024, under the fresh CoK 2024 rules, welcomed a broader spectrum of participants, offering a diverse glimpse into army list creativity and strategic experimentation.

Key Insights from the Two Kings of War Tournaments

I pulled data for each list in each of the tournaments, then prepared summary sheets that show overall stats about the various army compositions. An analysis of the army lists from both tournaments reveals fascinating insights into the universal constants and regional variances of Kings of War strategy:

• Damage Output: Surprisingly, the total damage output was almost identical across the tournaments, with a negligible 0.2% difference. This suggests a global consensus on the importance of maximizing damage potential, irrespective of the meta or player experience.
• Speed and Defense: Both tournaments demonstrated similar priorities in terms of army mobility and resilience, highlighting these as crucial elements for success on the battlefield.
• Strategic Divergences: Australian lists showed a preference for chaff units over the more anchor-focused defense units prevalent in US Masters lists. 

Table: Comparative Analysis of US Masters and Aussie CoK Army List Averages

Magic Item Variation

Further, the selection of magic items provides a fascinating lens through which to understand player strategies and regional metagames. A comparative analysis of the 2023 US Masters and the 2024 Clash of Kings Australia tournaments reveals intriguing patterns in how participants prioritize assigning magic items. The tournaments have similar numbers of players, and the US Masters used 43 different items, while CoK Australia used 45. 

What can we draw from the breakdown? Everyone loves the J-Boots. This item, slightly more favored in the Australian context, underscores a global consensus on the tactical advantage of maneuverability through terrain. The Herfindahl-Hirschman Index (HHI), a measure of concentration, further illuminates these trends. With an HHI of 386 for the US and 423 for Australia, the data indicates a tighter concentration of item selections in the Australian tournament. This suggests a more pronounced consensus among Australian players regarding the efficacy of certain items, compared to their American counterparts who exhibited a broader distribution of preferences. Does this concentration reflect random noise, responses to the CoK 2024 rules, or simply more fine-tuned lists in the US Masters invitation-only tournament? It’s tough to say, but I wanted to note it.

What are the top items taken? 

Top 5 Items

• Sir Jesse’s Boots of Striding
  • 2023 US Masters: Chosen 22 times (9.7% of selections)
  • 2024 Clash of Kings Australia: Chosen 23 times (10.9% of selections)
• Brew of Strength
  • 2023 US Masters: Chosen 13 times (5.8% of selections)
  • 2024 Clash of Kings Australia: Chosen 16 times (7.6% of selections)
• Brew of Sharpness
  • 2023 US Masters: Chosen 11 times (4.9% of selections)
  • 2024 Clash of Kings Australia: Chosen 8 times (3.8% of selections)
• Staying Stone
  • 2023 US Masters: Chosen 10 times (4.4% of selections)
  • 2024 Clash of Kings Australia: Chosen 6 times (2.8% of selections)
• Blade of Slashing
  • 2023 US Masters: Chosen 10 times (4.42% of selections)
  • 2024 Clash of Kings Australia: Chosen 14 times (6.6% of selections)

Faction Variances

In both tournaments, the diversity of factions showcases the game’s balanced design and the players’ ingenuity in leveraging the strengths of their chosen armies. Notably, the 2024 Clash of Kings Australia saw a distinct preference for Abyssal Dwarfs and Empire of Dust, among others, possibly reflecting a regional affinity or a strategic response to the current meta. As I noted in my Abyssal Dwarf Army Review, I expected to see a strong bounceback in Abyssal Dwarf lists under the CoK 2024 rules.  The 2023 US Masters, on the other hand, was dominated by Dwarfs, Forces of the Abyss, and Elves, hinting at a different tactical landscape or perhaps a different interpretation of the game’s balance prior to the CoK 2024 changes. 

Here’s a snapshot of the faction participation and differences:

What do you think is driving the differences between these Kings of War tournaments? CoK 2024? Regional changes? Statistical noise?

Conclusion

The comparison between the 2023 US Masters and the 2024 Australian Clash of Kings highlights the rich strategic diversity within the Kings of War community. It showcases not only the adaptability of players to new rulesets but also the creativity and innovation that define the game. As we look forward to future tournaments, these insights offer insight for players aiming to refine their tactics and adapt to the evolving meta. I encourage readers to share their thoughts and experiences, further enriching our collective understanding of Kings of War strategy.