Answering TastyBagel’s Call: What Unit Types Are Dominating the Field?
Recently, TastyBagel of Regnum Aeternum raised an intriguing question on the Kings of War forum: What unit types are appearing most often in tournament play? This seemingly simple inquiry holds the key to understanding evolving metagames, player preferences, and even the strategic trends shaping the Kings of War community. To answer this, I analyzed data from three major events: the US Masters 2024, the Aussie Masters 2024, and the UK Warfare III tournament.
By combining datasets from these tournaments, I created a fairly thorough picture of unit usage. The analysis revealed insights into both the relative frequency of unit types and the role of size classifications (e.g., troops, regiments, hordes). In this post, I’ll share key findings and visualizations to shed light on the state of the game.
Data Overview
The combined dataset represents hundreds of army lists from these premier events. Units were categorized by type (e.g., Infantry, Large Infantry, Cavalry) and size (e.g., Troop, Regiment, Horde). This allows us to examine not only which types dominate the field but also how different sizes contribute to their popularity.
Key Findings
1. Infantry and Large Infantry Continue to Dominate
From a high-level perspective, Infantry and Large Infantry remain the backbone of many armies. Together, they account for a significant portion of unit selections across tournaments. This isn’t surprising given their versatility: Infantry provides solid foundational units, while Large Infantry offers high-damage, high-durability options that anchor the battleline.
2. Size Matters: Regiment Usage Surges
The analysis of size reveals that Regiments are the most frequently fielded size across almost all unit types. This trend suggests that players value the balance regiments offer between durability, attacks, and cost-efficiency. Hordes, while still common, appear to have a narrower role, often reserved for specific unit types like Large Infantry or Monsters.
3. Cavalry: A Competitive Option
Cavalry remains a popular choice, particularly in its regiment form. The combination of speed, high melee stats, and tactical flexibility ensures it has a strong presence in competitive play. While less numerous than Infantry, Cavalry regiments often dictate the tempo of engagements, highlighting their strategic importance.
4. Monsters and Titans: Niche but Impactful
Monsters and Titans, though fewer in number, hold a distinct role in tournament play. Their presence often aligns with specific army strategies, such as board control or psychological pressure. In the heatmap, their smaller numbers are offset by their tactical weight.
5. Regional Variations
One fascinating aspect of this dataset is the subtle differences between tournaments. For instance:
- The UK Warfare III data leans heavily into Infantry and Monsters.
- The US Masters displays a balanced distribution across unit types.
- The Aussie Masters has a slight overrepresentation of Large Infantry.
Visualizing the Data
Stacked Bar Chart: Unit Type by Size
The stacked bar chart highlights the distribution of unit sizes within each type. For example, while Infantry sees a balanced mix of troops and regiments, Cavalry is overwhelmingly represented as regiments. This visualization underscores the dominance of specific combinations, such as Large Infantry hordes.
Heatmap: Frequency by Type and Size
The heatmap complements the bar chart by providing a detailed matrix of unit type and size frequencies. It’s particularly useful for spotting outliers, such as the disproportionately high count of Infantry regiments or the niche usage of Titans.
Insights for Players and Organizers
For players, understanding these trends can inform army-building decisions. If Regiments dominate the field, should you consider countering them with hordes, or adopt a similar approach? Should Monsters play a larger role in your list, or are you better served focusing on core units?
For organizers, the data offers an opportunity to reflect on tournament formats. Terrain density, scoring systems, and scenario design all influence unit selection. A heavy focus on objectives might explain the prevalence of regiments, while monsters could thrive in scenarios with fewer objective points.
Conclusion: The State of the Kings of War Battlefield
This analysis highlights the nuanced decisions players make in building their armies. While Infantry and Large Infantry dominate the raw numbers, the diversity within unit types and sizes reveals a healthy and evolving meta. Players are clearly experimenting with a variety of strategies, ensuring that no single approach reigns supreme.
Thanks (as always) to TastyBagel for posing this thought-provoking question. Kings of War is as much about strategy as it is about community discussion, and I’m excited to hear how others interpret this data. Feel free to share your own observations or favorite unit combinations in the comments! And if you have other things you’d like me to look into, let me know!
