‘Warhammer: The Old World’- The Nine Best Elite Heavy Infantry Units
Take a look at some awesome heavy infantry units from Warhammer: The Old World to punch up your list.
We’ve all had our hands on The Old World for over a year now. We’ve gotten a decent look at what is good and bad and how people like to play. The truth is as things are shaking out infantry, are kind of on the bottom of the pile. However this doesn’t mean all infantry is bad at all. I already looked at some very basic infantry that might still be worth taking. But on top of that we do need to take a look at more elite types of infantry. These are in a bit of a better spot, while they still suffer from being slow and not getting the charge off a lot, they bring a lot more to the table. These are units you are far more likely to see and build an army about.
These tend to be units that can both take and deal out good damage and, while costly, can be important to armies. So lets take a look at these units. I’m going to split elite infantry up into heavy and light groups, and focus on heavy today as they play a different role. I’m also leaving out monstrous infantry for their own. Lasty- just to keep verity, no army gets more than one entry on this list.
9. Bestigors –Beastmen
Bestigors, as we all know, are the best of the Gors. That being said, stats-wise, they don’t really stack up all that amazingly to most of the other elite heavy infantry on this list. While they have the very important S&T 4, they only rock a single attack and can’t get better than a 5+ save. These are pretty big bummers, and I would normally take them out of the running for me. But they have a few pretty nice buffs. Warband is a great rule, and they have the option to upgrade to both Veteran and Stubborn, making them a very reliable unit. On top of that Move 5 makes them pretty fast for heavy infantry. Combined with the re-roll from Warband, they’ve got the best charge chances on the list. Still I think they are the bottom of this list.
8. Bloodletters – Daemons of Chaos
First up we’ve got some demonic buddies in the classic Bloodletters of Khorne. They’ve got a few things going for them. Move 5 and I4 are decent. WS 5 is also very solid. S4, Hellbaldes and being Khorne gets then S5 on the charge with no initiative loss and cleaving blow, so pretty scary! On top of that, they are demonic. This means they won’t run away and get a (limited) ward save.
Sadly, their upsides kind of end there. They are by far the most fragile unit on the list (or indeed of any Legacy heavy infantry). At only T3 and with a 6+ save they will take a lot of wounds. Anything that is magical and bypasses their ward will rip them apart. Being unbreakable, of course, is nice, but Instability isn’t and a lot of the other heavy infantry have ways around breaking. Still, used correctly, Bloodletters can do some damage.
7. Temple Guard – Lizardmen
It’s Lizard time! Lizardmen have two heavy infantry units, but the Temple Guard are so much better it’s not really a contest. S and T4. Heavy Armor and a shield. These are all the things you’d except. Stubborn and Shieldwall remain a great combo. Cold Blooded is also nice. They are good with a Slann around. These are pretty solid things. But the big thing they have going for them is 2 Attacks. This simply lets them outfight most other infantry and put out a lot of pretty good attacks. On the downside WS 4 isn’t amazing and I1 is a real detriment, not only meaning they hit last pretty much all the time, but also makes anything that forces I tests very deadly.
6. Black Orcs- Orcs and Goblins
A step up from the others, we have the ever-popular Black Orcs. These are true heavy infantry and can take a real hit. They’ve got S&T 4- which is great. They’ve also got a base 4+ save with full plate and the option to take shields for a sweet 3+ save. They can also swap things up with an extra hand weapon or a great weapon (though Choppa also means going hand weapon and shield isn’t bad). Motley Crew actually lets them mix and match for some interesting combos.
Their big downside is being stuck at a single attack base. Yes, they can take two hand weapons for an extra attack, but that has its own downsides. They do gain an attack on the charge, but that’s a lot harder to count on. Still they have the option to get more than one attack. They also have the option, for one unit to upgrade to Stubborn and/or Veteran, both great rules. Quell Animosity also gives them a good place in an army.
5. Infernal Ironsworn – Chaos Dwarfs
Infernal Ironsworn are effectively the Chaos Dwarf version of normal Dwarf Iron Breakers. They are a solid unit with some of the best infantry saves in the game. WS 5, S and T 4, two attacks- these are the stats you really want to see. They can take shields and choose between Halbreds and Great Weapons, for lots of options about being tank-y or kill-y. Sheildwall, Stubborn, Drilled, Veteran, these are some of the best rules you can have. They get a bonus vs flaming attacks, which is rare. They also get magical AP -1 hand weapons, which is very nice if you need magical attacks or want to be tank-y.
The unit is really held back of course by being Dwarfs. Movement 3, and less movement tricks than regular Dwarfs these days, makes it harder for them to get into combat (I2 isn’t great either). Without ranged threat they can suffer. On top of that they lack the great unit buffing runes that normal Dwarfs have. Infernal Ironsworn is still a solid unit.
4. Ironbreakers – Dwarfs
Let’s turn away from the bad guys for a bit and take a look at the great heavy infantry the good guys get, it’s a much… shorter… list. Dwarf’s, of course, clearly make up a chunk of that list. For diversity’s sake, however, I’m going to focus on what I think is the best of the elite Dwarven Heavy Infantry – Ironbreakers. These guys are a tough unit, with Full Plate and shields they rock a 3+ save and can re-roll 1s on their saves. They also get a native 6+ ward save vs non-magical attacks – and have some options to improve that if needed. S&T 4 and WS 5 mean they are hard to hit and wound and make a lot of saves. Stubborn and Shieldwall mean they can take a charge and stop it.
Their main trade-off is when it comes to offensive power. They are stuck with a single S4 attack. Gromrill weapons does bump this to AP -1 at least. I think for this reason a lot of people will go for Hammerers instead, they hit harder and when charged get two attacks. That seems to make them better, but I would argue it doesn’t. The issue with Hammers is going from a 3+/6++ to a 5+ save. Despite their extra attacks, the Hammerers rarely actually get to make them. They are also more vulnerable to shooting. Ironbreakers on the other hand, play the long game. In particular, using them with the Master Rune of Hesitation to get rid of lancers/cav spears, can really tank the AP of the enemy. They can also take Irondarke detachments, which gives them some extra flexibility. Of the Dwarf units they are the ones I’d take.
You could argue that they belong below Ironsworn and they do have less damage output. However I think the combo of runic upgrades and better movement tricks in Dwarfs makes them a more overall more potent.
3. Swordmasters of Hoeth – High Elfs
It might be time for another hot take. High Elfs also have a good stock of Elite “Heavy” (For Elves) Infantry. Of them, to me, the best one, and really the one worth taking, has got to be Swordmasters. Now, a lot of people go for Phoenix Guard, but they just don’t cut it for me. White Lions have their whole own army, but still don’t quite do it.
On the face of it Swordmasters kind of seem on the weak side. S&T 3 is a big downside, and they are stuck with only a 5+ save. This is a fragile unit. They also only have a single attack. All of those things should kick them off the list. Even getting a 6++ save vs non-magical shooting only helps a little. So why are they on this list? Well, it’s mostly for their weapon and speed. With I6 and a +1I on the first round of combat they will normally strike either at the same time, or often first, even when charged. You have to be base I5 to hit before them and there aren’t a lot of non-elf units that are. This means the vast majority of the time they will be getting full attacks even when charged. And with S5 AP -2 attacks that are going to hit pretty much any non-character in the game a 3+ these attacks matter. Cleaving blow doesn’t hurt and HE have good options to give them a second attack.
In Warhammer: The Old World, the truth is: most of the time infantry are going to get charged. Swordmasters are one of the few units for who that doesn’t matter a ton. Put them in a nice line and cav will think twice about going into them.
2. Grave Guard – Vampire Counts
Grave Guard are the most dangerous unit in Warhammer: The Old World. Just ask anyone who has slammed their hand down on top of their ranked up metal halberds or great weapons. I’ve seen the blood flow. They are also pretty good in the game. S and T 4 are what you’d expect from a heavy unit. Beyond that, they don’t have amazing stats, WS 3 is pretty meh, and move 4 isn’t anything exciting. Somehow, their I3 makes them one of the faster units on this list – which is something! They do get heavy armor and a shield, but have to give up the shield to take great weapons, giving them a pretty bad save, though Reg 6+ helps a bit. Overall, from their stats they are pretty mid.
It’s everything else that helps them out. Being able to give some Drilled is nice. Implacable Defense and Undead means you can make it so they just don’t ever go anywhere, though there are tricks that make this maybe not a great buy. Cleaving Blow is nifty. What they really have for them of course is cost and being undead. At 11 pts, they are a fair bit cheaper than other units on the list. Undead is also a strong rule. Unlike daemons of course, who have a similar rule, Grave Guard can be brought back. The option to heal them makes them a really really strong unit that can outlast most enemies and is really hard to score points off of. They also have some of the best buff options open to them. Within the context of their army, they become far far more than their stats suggest.
1. Chosen Warriors Of Chaos – Warriors of Chaos
And here we come to it, probably the Ur-Example of Elite Heavy Infantry. Chosen Warriors of Chaos have it all. S&T 4, WS 5. Access to a 3+ save and a native 6++ save. Two attacks base. The choice of extra hand weapons, great weapons or even halberds. Stubborn, Drilled and a choice of marks. This a brick of a unit that can be super tank-y, has a scary punch and can be super flexible. Any way you look a them, they are pretty scary. Now, they aren’t cheap and suffer from getting charged, but boy can they lay on the hurt when used correctly.
Chaos, of course, are a bit spoiled for heavy infantry. There is a solid argument that Forsaken are actually a better choice. They are also a super strong heavy infantry choice, but just having this list be all Chaos would be a bit boring. I think Forsaken do garner an honorable mention. Unlike Chosen, who are limited to one unit and are special, they are cheaper and are a basic core unit. This makes them a really strong choice. Stacked up against each other however, Chosen come out as the more reliable unit and aren’t hampered by loner and impetuous. For that I’ve, heh, Chosen them as the top of the list.
Let us know what your list is, down in the comments!
