Hordes: Unleash the Beasts of the Wild!
Hordes Mk2 Primal is coming. Here’s some of the basics on what to expect when playing against these forces, or when starting a new army of your own.
As many of you probably know, Privateer Press is set to release Hordes: Primal MkII this month. If you’re facing a Hordes force for the first time, or starting a new force yourself, here are some things worth keeping in mind. We’ve gone over the differences between Warmachine and Hordes before, but it’s worth reviewing the basics.
*Warmachine and Hordes are 100% compatible. Yes, you can (and are encouraged to) play Hordes forces against Warmachine forces.
*Hordes forces will tend to have higher DEF and lower ARM than their Warmachine counterparts. The POW and P+S damage they’ll deal out will also tend to be lower, but Hordes forces make up for it with higher SPD and more mobility.
*When fighting against a Hordes warband, go after the Warbeasts before trying to kill the opposing Warlock. A Warlock sitting on several Fury and with multiple Warbeasts will often be able to dodge assassination runs that would kill a Warcaster. Killing the Warbeasts first will deny Fury generation as well as possible damage transfer options.
Here are a few more tips for those of you starting your own Hordes army.
*Fury is a completely different mechanic than Focus, and it’s worth taking your time to learn the rules.
*You MUST take Warbeasts in your force. Most people find they like to have enough beasts to generate 1.5 – 2 times the amount of Fury their Warlock can leech. So, for a 6 Fury Warlock, you should think about having enough Warbeasts to generate 9-12 Fury at any one time. This allows your force to take some casualties and still have enough Fury generation to fuel your Warlocks.
*I mentioned above that Hordes forces tend to be more mobile than Warmachine forces. Use that mobility to isolate and destroy your opponents’ force one model or unit at a time.
*A Warlock with 3-4 Fury and several undamaged Warbeasts with Fury to take is a tough model to kill. Don’t be afraid to expose your caster a little in those situations.
The call of the wild awaits! Keep an eye out for battle reports and tactics articles featuring Hordes armies.
