Dysole's Draft Rankings

[Dysole]

After winning OHS S51 which was a sideboard drafting event, I have now won multiple drafting events of varying types which has given me a lot of insight into how to construct a pool that gives you high odds of success. I've toyed with creating a ranking for draft for a while because a lot of principles hold compared to standard play but there are definitely different dynamics at work.

A few caveats.

This ranking is primarily about building the pool, not the actual gameplay.

Power rankings by OEAO, Jexik, dok, or vegie (among others) are still going to hold basically true for the actual playing of the game. Draft introduces some more dynamics and a lot jankier armies but usually a figure that's good in standard play will be good in an actual game of draft

These rankings are built assuming you're not sabotaging yourself.

Figures like Warriors of Ashra or Mezzodemons are assuming you're including something that counters their difficult to play against abilities. Bonding squads are generally assumed to have one or more figures they bond with in the pool. You're not going to necessarily build a great draft pool by throwing together a bunch of high ranking figures that don't have any synergy with each other.

I mean specific things with the letter grades I'm handing out.

I'm using the standard A, B, C, D, F with +/- values. Generally speaking, this corresponds to
A - You will pretty much never regret including this
B - Solid option
C - You can make this work but it'll take some effort and careful planning
D - It's not impossible to make this work, but it's going to be very hard
F - Most of the time it will be dead weight

If a figure is a plus or minus in its tier, I think it's either a step above or a step below the other things in its tier

These rankings are assuming the whole VC catalog and standard pricing for games that will end up in the 400-600 range.

I've put the VC units into spoiler boxes in their tiers, but classic units are ranked assuming those units are available. These should still be pretty close to accurate even with that. A few units (like Guilty McCreech, as an example) are probably ranked a bit higher but I don't think VC made anything jump several tiers in either direction. If you see an unfamiliar unit in a Classic figure's description, then you can probably assume that the ranking is impacted by that VC unit and probably drop it down a slot or two.

When it comes to Delta pricing, if my notes talk about the cost of something, adjust that based on Delta pricing. Generally speaking, if something goes up or down by 10 points or less, it will probably not change my thoughts that much. Otherwise, anything that goes up in price significantly probably drops a tier and anything that drops in price significantly probably goes up a tier.

There are three different types of rankings.

I have three rankings that I've built out. Draft pool, Sideboard, and Pod (also known as Cluster). Figures do shift a bit on rankings between these formats but they are all fairly drafty and I felt like not mentioning all of them would be doing a disservice. These are the standard format assumptions I'm going with.

Draft pool - Both players bring a pool of X points worth of units, combine the pool and then draft to Y points in a snake draft fashion (First person picks one pick, and then players alternate two picks each until both players have created an army)

Sideboards - Both players bring a pool of X points worth of units, build an army of Y points from their own pool and reveal their chosen armies simultaneously

Pod/Cluster - Both players bring a number of pods (2-4) of X points worth of units, combine all pods, and then draft pods in a snake draft fashion (with each player ending up with typically 2-3 pods)



A few things I noticed while building these rankings. Cheapness, ability to work in smaller numbers, having a number of useful abilities especially counter abilities, synergy, and good stats tended to rank you higher in roughly that order.

Anyways, enjoy!

~Dysole, who will do her best to keep this updated as new information/results occur or additional VC units are released

[Dysole]

POOLED DRAFT RANKINGS

A+
Axegrinders of Burning Forge
Death Chasers of Thesk
Deathreavers
Eldgrim the Viking Champion
Guilty McCreech
Kaemon Awa
Marcu Esenwein
Me-Burq-Sa
Phantom Knights
Roman Legionnaires

Spoiler Alert!

Bol
Dreadgul Raiders
Kira Jax

A
10th Regiment of Foot
Black Wyrmling
Darrak Ambershard
Fen Hydra
Marro Dividers
Marro Stingers
Mezzodemon Warmongers
Nerak the Glacian Swog Rider
Red Wyrmling
Warriors of Ashra

Spoiler Alert!

Arktos
Ashi-Dhulu
Asterios
B-11 Resistance Corps
Beorn Boltcutter
Brute Gruts
Cathar Spearmen
Gen. Simon Fraser
Major J15
Nhah Scirh Cultists
Olog
Quorik Warwitch
Red Mantis Blade Dancers
Specters of Aldorn
Swaysil

A-
Arkmer
Death Knights of Valkrill

Spoiler Alert!

12th Caucus Rifles
Augamo
Beakface Sneaks
Cal the Smuggler
Himmelskralle
Kate Crawford
Kursus
Louis "Mad Dog" Malone
Maltis Tez
Seleena

B+
Agent Skahen
Airborne Elite
Arrow Gruts
Ashigaru Harquebus
Brave Arrow
Crixus
Drow Chainfighter
Finn the Viking Champion
Grimnak
Heavy Gruts
Heirloom
Isamu
Krav Maga Agents
Krug
Major Q10
Mohican River Tribe
Nakita Agents
Ne-Gok-Sa
Otonashi
Sir Gilbert
Syvarris
Tagawa Samurai Archers
Theracus
Thorgrim the Viking Champion
Valguard
Wyvern
Zetacron

Spoiler Alert!

Azurite Warlord
Boreos
Buccaneers of Tortuga
Elaria the Pale
Haduc
Havech Eradicators
Jarek Guy
Kuthnak
Motley Max
Pel the Hill Giant
Rygarn
Sentinels of Grax
Shieldsmiths of Granite Keep
Siiv
Soontir Van
Ulfrid Hornwrangler
Van Nessing
Varkaanan Quickblades

B
4th Massachusetts Line
Alastair MacDirk
Blade Gruts
Blastatrons
Brunak
Concan the Kyrie Warrior
Cyprien Esenwein
Elite Onyx Vipers
Eltahale
Evar Scarcarver
Gladiatrons
Horned Skull Brutes
Izumi Samurai
James Murphy
Johnny "Shotgun" Sullivan
Knights of Weston
Kyntela Gwyn
Laglor
Major X17
Marcus Decimus Gallus
Marrden Hounds
Marrden Nagrubs
Migol Ironwill
Mimring
Mogrimm Forgehammer
Ninjas of the Northern Wind
Ornak
Sacred Band
Samuel Brown
Sonlen
Tarn Viking Warriors
Warden 816
Warforged Soldiers
White Wyrmling
Zelrig

Spoiler Alert!

Akumaken
Avernus
Capt. John Varan
Clayton Pierce
Crypt Guardian
Darkprowl Thrall
Executioner 616
Gorillitroopers
Heracles
Honor Guard of the Blasted Lands
Josie Whistlestop
Kha
Lilja
M-43 Resistance Fighters
Microcorp Troopers
Morgan's Riflemen
Morgoloth
Myrddin
Nicholas Esenwein
Patrick Ferguson
Re-Tak-Shi
Red Ants of Aunstrom
Rendar Fy
Skull Demon
Teeth of the Makwa
Tomoe Gozen
Varkaanan Greyspears
Varkaanan Swiftfangs
Wastewalker Gage
Yi Feng
Z'thoth Mouth of the Abyss
Zettian Deathwings
Zettian Infantry
Zogross Hardscale

B-
Charos
Fyorlag Spiders
Kozuke Samurai
Moltenclaw
Swog Rider
Werewolf Lord

Spoiler Alert!

Banshees of Durgeth Swamp
Clawfoot Interceptor
Ebon Armor
Hoplitron
Kon-Tar-Na
Kozil
Otar
Racheim
Tomb Skeleton Archers

C+
Air Elemental
Anubian Wolves
Deepwyrm Drow
Frost Giant of Morh
Goblin Cutters
Marro Drones
Tandros Kreel

Spoiler Alert!

Azazel the Kyrie Warrior
Goblin Slashers
Marro Gnids
Ranjit Singh
The Varja
Tyrian the Kyrie Warrior

C
Ana Karithon
Armoc Vipers
Aubrien Archers
Braxas
Einar Imperium
Estivara
Gorillinators
Granite Guardians
Gurei-Oni
Ice Troll Berserker
Iskra Esenwein
Kumiko
MacDirk Warriors
Minions of Utgar
Omnicron Repulsors
Omnicron Snipers
Othkurik The Black Dragon
Parmenio
Protectors of Ullar
Quasatch Hunters
Raelin the Kyrie Warrior [SotM]
Rhogar Dragonspine
Roman Archers
Sahuagin Raider
Sentinels of Jandar
Sgt. Drake Alexander [RotV]
Sgt. Drake Alexander [SotM]
Shaolin Monks
Shurrak
Siege
Sir Hawthorne
Sonya Esenwein
Taelord the Kyrie Warrior
Tagawa Samurai
Tornak
Venoc Vipers
Venoc Warlord
Wolves of Badru
Zettian Guards
Zombies of Morindan

Spoiler Alert!

20th Maine Volunteers
Acolytes of Vorganund
Amberhive Protectors
Arthur of Sherwood
Count Raymond
Deltacron
Emperor Andask
Gothlok
Hrognak [unmounted]
Koggo
Makwa Tribesman
Martial La Hire
Prince al'Kahora
Priscus
Sir Orrick
Suskra
Urk
Varkaanan Blade Dancers
Varkaanan Darkclaws
Viceron the Blood Knight
Vulcanmech Incendiborgs
Xualtica Fire Ants
Zaeus
Zhen Yuan

C-
Deadeye Dan
Deathstalkers
Dumutef Guard
Greenscale Warriors
Jorhdawn
Jotun
Khosumet the Darklord
Marro Drudge
Master of the Hunt
Master Win Chiu Woo
Microcorp Agents
Mind Flayer Mastermind
Moriko
Morsbane
Ogre Pulverizer
Ogre Warhulk
Tor-Kul-Na
Tul-Bak-Ra
Water Elemental

Spoiler Alert!

53rd North Carolina Sharpshooters
Bahadur
Beakface Rogue
Bloodburst Thrall
Breach
Brimstone
Brontos
Bugbear Basher
Calibrax the Kyrie Warrior
Cormin the Dark
Deathcommander Mark 3
Deathstrike Thrall
Garrett Burns
Kantono Daishi
Knights of Blackgaard
Master Lao Xin
Mok
Omegacron
Preyblood Thrall
Shadow Binder
Shadow Fiend
Shadow Hound
Tombstone Gunslinger

D+
Sir Denrick

Spoiler Alert!

Chen Tang
Durgeth Ravagers

D
Atlaga the Kyrie Warrior
Brandis Skyhunter
Capuan Gladiators
Erevan Sunshadow
Hatamoto Taro
Major Q9
Marro Warriors
Nilfheim
Raelin the Kyrie Warrior [RotV]
Retiarius
Shades of Bleakwoode
Sharwin Wildborn
Shiori
Su-Bak-Na
Sujoah
Ulginesh
Wo-Sa-Ga

Spoiler Alert!

Axentia
Corvor the Tainted One
Eilan Sidhe
Manauvi
Quahon
Skeletons of Annellintia
Talingul
Tetraites
Tomb Skeletons
Xundar

D-
Blue Wyrmling
Chardris
Deathwalker 7000
Deathwalker 8000
Deathwalker 9000
Dünd
Feral Troll
Fire Elemental
Greater Ice Elemental
Iron Golem
Kee-Mo-Shi
Kelda the Kyrie Warrior
Marro Hive
Mika Connour
Rechets of Bogdan
Sudema
Templar Cavalry
Torin

Spoiler Alert!

8th Infantry Pathfinder
Achillean Gladiatrix
Arashara Goshiri
Bramcephys
Command Courier
Grigor & Rogirg
Hrognak [mounted]
Locksley
Marutuk
Millerson
Nottingham Brigand
Uzog
Wildwood Monarch
Wildwood Runner
Wildwood Sentinel

F+
Ashigaru Yari
Kurrok the Elementalist

Spoiler Alert!

None

F
Acolarh
Agent Carr
Dzu-Teh
Emirroon
Empress Kiova
Grok Riders
Obsidian Guards
Pelloth
Sir Dupuis
Spartacus

Spoiler Alert!

Cxurg'gyath

F-
Earth Elemental
Kato Katsuro
Runa
Saylind the Kyrie Warrior

Spoiler Alert!

Zombie Hulk

[Dysole]

SIDEBOARDS RANKINGS

A+
10th Regiment of Foot
Axegrinders of Burning Forge
Black Wyrmling
Death Chasers of Thesk
Deathreavers
Eldgrim the Viking Champion
Guilty McCreech
Isamu
Kaemon Awa
Major Q9
Marcu Esenwein
Marro Warriors
Me-Burq-Sa
Phantom Knights
Raelin the Kyrie Warrior [RotV]
Roman Legionnaires

Spoiler Alert!

Bol
Brute Gruts
Cathar Spearmen
Dreadgul Raiders
Kira Jax
Rygarn
Vulcanmech Incendiborgs

A
Darrak Ambershard
Fen Hydra
Heirloom
Krav Maga Agents
Major Q10
Marro Dividers
Marro Stingers
Mezzodemon Warmongers
Ne-Gok-Sa
Nerak the Glacian Swog Rider
Nilfheim
Red Wyrmling
Warriors of Ashra

Spoiler Alert!

Arktos
Ashi-Dhulu
Asterios
Azazel the Kyrie Warrior
B-11 Resistance Corps
Beorn Boltcutter
Clayton Pierce
Gen. Simon Fraser
Heracles
Major J15
Nhah Scirh Cultists
Olog
Quahon
Quorik Warwitch
Red Mantis Blade Dancers
Specters of Aldorn
Swaysil
Varkaanan Greyspears

A-
Airborne Elite
Arkmer
Sir Gilbert
Syvarris

Spoiler Alert!

Augamo
Beakface Sneaks
Boreos
Cal the Smuggler
Ebon Armor
Himmelskralle
Kate Crawford
Kursus
Louis "Mad Dog" Malone
Seleena
Varkaanan Swiftfangs

B+
4th Massachusetts Line
Arrow Gruts
Blade Gruts
Blastatrons
Braxas
Cyprien Esenwein
Drow Chainfighter
Eltahale
Finn the Viking Champion
Grimnak
Heavy Gruts
Izumi Samurai
Knights of Weston
Krug
Marcus Decimus Gallus
Mimring
Mogrimm Forgehammer
Nakita Agents
Otonashi
Swog Rider
Tagawa Samurai
Theracus
Thorgrim the Viking Champion
Valguard
White Wyrmling
Wyvern
Zetacron

Spoiler Alert!

12th Caucus Rifles
Azurite Warlord
Brontos
Buccaneers of Tortuga
Gorillitroopers
Haduc
Havech Eradicators
Honor Guard of the Blasted Lands
Jarek Guy
Kuthnak
Microcorp Troopers
Morgoloth
Motley Max
Nicholas Esenwein
Pel the Hill Giant
Sentinels of Grax
Siiv
Soontir Van
Ulfrid Hornwrangler
Varkaanan Quickblades

B
Agent Skahen
Alastair MacDirk
Aubrien Archers
Brave Arrow
Brunak
Concan the Kyrie Warrior
Crixus
Death Knights of Valkrill
Evar Scarcarver
Frost Giant of Morh
Gladiatrons
Greenscale Warriors
Horned Skull Brutes
James Murphy
Johnny "Shotgun" Sullivan
Kozuke Samurai
Kyntela Gwyn
Laglor
Marrden Hounds
Marrden Nagrubs
Marro Drones
Migol Ironwill
Mohican River Tribe
Morsbane
Ninjas of the Northern Wind
Ornak
Sacred Band
Samuel Brown
Sonlen
Tagawa Samurai Archers
Tandros Kreel
Tarn Viking Warriors
Warden 816
Warforged Soldiers
Zelrig

Spoiler Alert!

Akumaken
Avernus
Bahadur
Banshees of Durgeth Swamp
Calibrax the Kyrie Warrior
Capt. John Varan
Clawfoot Interceptor
Crypt Guardian
Darkprowl Thrall
Deathcommander Mark 3
Deltacron
Eilan Sidhe
Elaria the Pale
Executioner 616
Hoplitron
Josie Whistlestop
Kantono Daishi
Kha
Kon-Tar-Na
Kozil
Lilja
M-43 Resistance Fighters
Maltis Tez
Master Lao Xin
Morgan's Riflemen
Myrddin
Omegacron
Patrick Ferguson
Re-Tak-Shi
Rendar Fy
Shadow Binder
Shadow Fiend
Shadow Hound
Shieldsmiths of Granite Keep
Skull Demon
Suskra
Talingul
Teeth of the Makwa
Tomoe Gozen
Van Nessing
Varkaanan Darkclaws
Wastewalker Gage
Yi Feng
Z'thoth Mouth of the Abyss
Zaeus
Zettian Deathwings
Zettian Infantry
Zogross Hardscale

B-
Ashigaru Harquebus
Charos
Elite Onyx Vipers
Fyorlag Spiders
Hatamoto Taro
Moltenclaw
Werewolf Lord

Spoiler Alert!

Otar
Racheim
Red Ants of Aunstrom
Tomb Skeleton Archers
Xualtica Fire Ants

C+
Air Elemental
Deepwyrm Drow
Goblin Cutters
Gorillinators
Jorhdawn
Kurrok the Elementalist
Taelord the Kyrie Warrior
Ulginesh
Zombies of Morindan

Spoiler Alert!

Acolytes of Vorganund
Emperor Andask
Goblin Slashers
Marro Gnids
Ranjit Singh
The Varja
Tyrian the Kyrie Warrior

C
Ana Karithon
Anubian Wolves
Armoc Vipers
Atlaga the Kyrie Warrior
Chardris
Deathstalkers
Dumutef Guard
Einar Imperium
Estivara
Fire Elemental
Granite Guardians
Ice Troll Berserker
Iskra Esenwein
Jotun
MacDirk Warriors
Major X17
Marro Hive
Microcorp Agents
Minions of Utgar
Ogre Pulverizer
Ogre Warhulk
Omnicron Repulsors
Omnicron Snipers
Othkurik The Black Dragon
Parmenio
Protectors of Ullar
Quasatch Hunters
Raelin the Kyrie Warrior [SotM]
Rechets of Bogdan
Rhogar Dragonspine
Roman Archers
Sahuagin Raider
Sentinels of Jandar
Sgt. Drake Alexander [RotV]
Sgt. Drake Alexander [SotM]
Shaolin Monks
Shiori
Shurrak
Siege
Sir Hawthorne
Sonya Esenwein
Sudema
Tor-Kul-Na
Tornak
Tul-Bak-Ra
Venoc Vipers
Venoc Warlord
Water Elemental
Wolves of Badru
Zettian Guards

Spoiler Alert!

20th Maine Volunteers
53rd North Carolina Sharpshooters
8th Infantry Pathfinder
Achillean Gladiatrix
Amberhive Protectors
Axentia
Bugbear Basher
Corvor the Tainted One
Count Raymond
Deathstrike Thrall
Durgeth Ravagers
Garrett Burns
Gothlok
Hrognak [unmounted]
Knights of Blackgaard
Koggo
Makwa Tribesman
Martial La Hire
Mok
Nottingham Brigand
Preyblood Thrall
Prince al'Kahora
Priscus
Sir Orrick
Tombstone Gunslinger
Urk
Varkaanan Blade Dancers
Viceron the Blood Knight
Wildwood Monarch
Wildwood Runner
Wildwood Sentinel
Xundar
Zhen Yuan

C-
Deadeye Dan
Khosumet the Darklord
Kumiko
Marro Drudge
Master of the Hunt
Master Win Chiu Woo
Mind Flayer Mastermind
Moriko

Spoiler Alert!

Beakface Rogue
Bloodburst Thrall
Breach
Brimstone
Chen Tang
Cormin the Dark
Locksley

D+
Sir Denrick

Spoiler Alert!

Tetraites

D
Capuan Gladiators
Deathwalker 7000
Deathwalker 8000
Deathwalker 9000
Dünd
Dzu-Teh
Emirroon
Erevan Sunshadow
Feral Troll
Greater Ice Elemental
Iron Golem
Kee-Mo-Shi
Kelda the Kyrie Warrior
Retiarius
Shades of Bleakwoode
Sharwin Wildborn
Su-Bak-Na
Sujoah
Templar Cavalry
Torin
Wo-Sa-Ga

Spoiler Alert!

Bramcephys
Grigor & Rogirg
Hrognak [mounted]
Manauvi
Marutuk
Skeletons of Annellintia
Tomb Skeletons
Uzog

D-
Acolarh
Blue Wyrmling
Brandis Skyhunter
Gurei-Oni
Earth Elemental
Kato Katsuro
Runa
Saylind the Kyrie Warrior
Mika Connour

Spoiler Alert!

Arashara Goshiri
Arthur of Sherwood
Command Courier
Millerson

F+
Ashigaru Yari

Spoiler Alert!

None

F
Agent Carr
Empress Kiova
Grok Riders
Obsidian Guards
Pelloth
Sir Dupuis
Spartacus

Spoiler Alert!

Cxurg'gyath

F-
Earth Elemental
Runa
Saylind the Kyrie Warrior

Spoiler Alert!

Zombie Hulk

[Dysole]

POD/CLUSTER RANKINGS

A+
10th Regiment of Foot
Axegrinders of Burning Forge
Deathreavers
Eldgrim the Viking Champion
Guilty McCreech
Kaemon Awa
Marcu Esenwein
Me-Burq-Sa
Phantom Knights
Roman Legionnaires

Spoiler Alert!

Bol
Dreadgul Raiders
Kira Jax

A
4th Massachusetts Line
Black Wyrmling
Darrak Ambershard
Death Chasers of Thesk
Marro Dividers
Marro Stingers
Mezzodemon Warmongers
Nerak the Glacian Swog Rider
Red Wyrmling
Warriors of Ashra

Spoiler Alert!

Arktos
B-11 Resistance Corps
Beorn Boltcutter
Brute Gruts
Cathar Spearmen
Gen. Simon Fraser
Heracles
Major J15
Nhah Scirh Cultists
Olog
Quorik Warwitch
Red Mantis Blade Dancers
Rygarn
Specters of Aldorn
Swaysil

A-
Arkmer
Death Knights of Valkrill
Fen Hydra

Spoiler Alert!

12th Caucus Rifles
Beakface Sneaks
Cal the Smuggler
Himmelskralle
Kate Crawford
Kursus
Louis "Mad Dog" Malone
Seleena

B+
Brave Arrow
Brunak
Concan the Kyrie Warrior
Drow Chainfighter
Eltahale
Finn the Viking Champion
Fyorlag Spiders
Heavy Gruts
Heirloom
Isamu
Izumi Samurai
Knights of Weston
Kozuke Samurai
Krug
Laglor
Major X17
Marcus Decimus Gallus
Mogrimm Forgehammer
Mohican River Tribe
Nakita Agents
Ne-Gok-Sa
Nilfheim
Ornak
Otonashi
Tagawa Samurai Archers
Theracus
Thorgrim the Viking Champion
Warden 816
Warforged Soldiers
White Wyrmling
Wyvern
Zelrig
Zetacron

Spoiler Alert!

Akumaken
Ashi-Dhulu
Augamo
Banshees of Durgeth Swamp
Boreos
Buccaneers of Tortuga
Clawfoot Interceptor
Clayton Pierce
Darkprowl Thrall
Elaria the Pale
Haduc
Havech Eradicators
Honor Guard of the Blasted Lands
Jarek Guy
Kuthnak
Morgan's Riflemen
Motley Max
Patrick Ferguson
Pel the Hill Giant
Quahon
Sentinels of Grax
Shieldsmiths of Granite Keep
Skull Demon
Soontir Van
Ulfrid Hornwrangler
Van Nessing
Varkaanan Quickblades

B
Agent Skahen
Alastair MacDirk
Anubian Wolves
Arrow Gruts
Ashigaru Harquebus
Braxas
Crixus
Cyprien Esenwein
Grimnak
Horned Skull Brutes
Iskra Esenwein
James Murphy
Johnny "Shotgun" Sullivan
Krav Maga Agents
Kumiko
Kyntela Gwyn
Major Q10
Migol Ironwill
Mimring
Ninjas of the Northern Wind
Raelin the Kyrie Warrior [SotM]
Sacred Band
Samuel Brown
Sir Gilbert
Swog Rider
Syvarris
Tagawa Samurai
Tandros Kreel
Tarn Viking Warriors
Valguard

Spoiler Alert!

53rd North Carolina Sharpshooters
Asterios
Brontos
Capt. John Varan
Crypt Guardian
Ebon Armor
Executioner 616
Hoplitron
Josie Whistlestop
Kantono Daishi
Kha
Kon-Tar-Na
Kozil
Lilja
Maltis Tez
Microcorp Troopers
Morgoloth
Myrddin
Nicholas Esenwein
Re-Tak-Shi
Red Ants of Aunstrom
Rendar Fy
Shadow Binder
Shadow Fiend
Shadow Hound
Teeth of the Makwa
Tomoe Gozen
Varkaanan Greyspears
Varkaanan Swiftfangs
Wastewalker Gage
Yi Feng
Zettian Deathwings
Zettian Infantry
Zogross Hardscale

B-
Charos
Gladiatrons
Greenscale Warriors
Marrden Hounds
Marrden Nagrubs
Moltenclaw
Sonlen
Werewolf Lord

Spoiler Alert!

20th Maine Volunteers
Omegacron
Otar
Racheim
Suskra
Tomb Skeleton Archers
Z'thoth Mouth of the Abyss
Zaeus

C+
Air Elemental
Airborne Elite
Deepwyrm Drow
Dumutef Guard
Frost Giant of Morh
Goblin Cutters
Jorhdawn
Major Q9
Roman Archers

Spoiler Alert!

Deltacron
Emperor Andask
Goblin Slashers
Gorillitroopers
Marro Gnids
Master Lao Xin
Ranjit Singh
The Varja
Tombstone Gunslinger
Varkaanan Blade Dancers
Viceron the Blood Knight

C
Ana Karithon
Armoc Vipers
Blade Gruts
Estivara
Evar Scarcarver
Gorillinators
Granite Guardians
Gurei-Oni
Ice Troll Berserker
Jotun
Marro Drones
Marro Drudge
Master of the Hunt
Microcorp Agents
Mind Flayer Mastermind
Minions of Utgar
Ogre Pulverizer
Omnicron Repulsors
Omnicron Snipers
Othkurik The Black Dragon
Parmenio
Protectors of Ullar
Quasatch Hunters
Rechets of Bogdan
Rhogar Dragonspine
Sahuagin Raider
Sentinels of Jandar
Sgt. Drake Alexander [RotV]
Sgt. Drake Alexander [SotM]
Shaolin Monks
Shiori
Shurrak
Siege
Sir Hawthorne
Sonya Esenwein
Taelord the Kyrie Warrior
Tor-Kul-Na
Tornak
Tul-Bak-Ra
Venoc Vipers
Venoc Warlord
Water Elemental
Wolves of Badru
Zettian Guards

Spoiler Alert!

8th Infantry Pathfinder
Arthur of Sherwood
Azazel the Kyrie Warrior
Azurite Warlord
Bahadur
Brimstone
Bugbear Basher
Calibrax the Kyrie Warrior
Count Raymond
Deathcommander Mark 3
Deathstrike Thrall
Garrett Burns
Gothlok
Hrognak [unmounted]
Koggo
M-43 Resistance Fighters
Makwa Tribesman
Martial La Hire
Nottingham Brigand
Preyblood Thrall
Prince al'Kahora
Priscus
Sir Orrick
Tetraites
Tyrian the Kyrie Warrior
Urk
Varkaanan Darkclaws
Vulcanmech Incendiborgs
Wildwood Monarch
Wildwood Runner
Wildwood Sentinel
Xualtica Fire Ants
Xundar
Zhen Yuan

C-
Aubrien Archers
Blastatrons
Deadeye Dan
Deathstalkers
Elite Onyx Vipers
Khosumet the Darklord
Master Win Chiu Woo
Moriko
Morsbane
Ogre Warhulk

Spoiler Alert!

Amberhive Protectors
Avernus
Beakface Rogue
Bloodburst Thrall
Bramcephys
Breach
Chen Tang
Cormin the Dark
Mok

D+
Fire Elemental
Greater Ice Elemental
Kurrok the Elementalist
MacDirk Warriors
Sir Denrick

Spoiler Alert!

None

D
Brandis Skyhunter
Capuan Gladiators
Chardris
Deathwalker 7000
Deathwalker 8000
Deathwalker 9000
Dünd
Einar Imperium
Erevan Sunshadow
Feral Troll
Hatamoto Taro
Iron Golem
Kee-Mo-Shi
Kelda the Kyrie Warrior
Marro Warriors
Raelin the Kyrie Warrior [RotV]
Retiarius
Shades of Bleakwoode
Sharwin Wildborn
Su-Bak-Na
Sujoah
Torin
Ulginesh
Wo-Sa-Ga
Zombies of Morindan

Spoiler Alert!

Corvor the Tainted One
Durgeth Ravagers
Eilan Sidhe
Grigor & Rogirg
Knights of Blackgaard
Manauvi
Marutuk
Skeletons of Annellintia
Talingul
Tomb Skeletons
Uzog

D-
Acolarh
Atlaga the Kyrie Warrior
Blue Wyrmling
Marro Hive
Mika Connour
Sudema
Templar Cavalry

Spoiler Alert!

Achillean Gladiatrix
Acolytes of Vorganund
Axentia
Command Courier
Hrognak [mounted]
Locksley
Millerson

F+
Ashigaru Yari
Emirroon
Obsidian Guards

Spoiler Alert!

None

F
Agent Carr
Dzu-Teh
Empress Kiova
Grok Riders
Pelloth
Sir Dupuis
Spartacus

Spoiler Alert!

Arashara Goshiri
Cxurg'gyath

F-
Earth Elemental
Kato Katsuro
Runa
Saylind the Kyrie Warrior

Spoiler Alert!

Zombie Hulk

[Dysole]

NOTES ON UNITS

• 10th Regiment of Foot - Solid anti melee range that works with almost everything and has good synergies.
• 4th Massachusetts Line - They're good but no guarantees on valiant defense keep them a step behind
• Acolarh - Some synergy but he costs a lot for a small effect
• Agent Carr - None of Carr's abilities are that great
• Agent Skahen - Stealth dodge and Cover Fire both give a lot of useful abilities but she's a bit too fragile to hit the top tier
• Air Elemental - They're useful filler especially if you have Death Knights
• Airborne Elite - They're very useful but can be a bit dangerous to put in a pool or a pod.
• Alastair MacDirk - Big attack and bonding synergy is solid. Price is the only thing keeping him in this tier.
• Ana Karithon - She has useful tools but it's hard to build an Ana pod that will compete well in a draft event
• Anubian Wolves - A bit inconsistent which means several bad rolls could cause them to play poorly for you in their small numbers. Still their stats are solid.
• Arkmer - Even with zero synergy, Arkmer has enough tools to cover everything you want to do
• Armoc Vipers - Fast and decent stats but outclassed by a lot of things. Can do some work with Zogross.
• Arrow Gruts - Cheap enough that you could add them into a lot of options. Requiring finesse to play is a bonus here.
• Ashigaru Harquebus - They're cheaper 4th so they're easier to swap in but their low defense mean they could struggle to anything with a multi attack
• Ashigaru Yari - Kato can rarely be built in draft. If you want a swarm unit or a special attack, there are much better choices
• Atlaga the Kyrie Warrior - Ranged flying and kyrie bonuses are neat but Bolt of Witherwood is super risky to give to your opponent
• Aubrien Archers - 7 range is neat but Frenzy is dangerous to give your opponent
• Axegrinders of Burning Forge - Dwarves are the most splashable bonding squad in the game and they provide a good counter to large/huge units
• Black Wyrmling - Auto wounds are amazing and they're really easy to squeeze in
• Blade Gruts - You'll likely not going to be able to build a great Blades build, but they have options and they're cheap
• Blastatrons - They're good, relatively cheap, and have good synergy, but the nature of draft means they're going to be a step behind where they usually are.
• Blue Wyrmling - Blues are helped by other wyrmlings existing but they're not great
• Brandis Skyhunter - He's not bad and could be an interesting counter unit. I just don't think he'll ever quite match other figures for his point cost
• Brave Arrow - Concealment is good, scout synergy is good, pseudo Mohican bonding is good. Nothing is amazing and that's all that keeps him in this tier
• Braxas - Braxas is very good against a lot of units. She's only so low because she eats up a lot of points making it easier for your opponent to counter.
• Brunak - Good special attack and carry are really helpful at a respectable cost
• Capuan Gladiators - Reliance on Spartacus hurts them super bad. Priscus helps some.
• Chardris - He has some elf synergy but it's going to be hard to draft enough to give him a good effect
• Charos - Nothing is bad about him other than his price. He could be a monster to take down if your opponent started a draft melee heavy
• Concan the Kyrie Warrior - Solid package of stats and a lot of useful synergy.
• Crixus - Big attack and hard to kill makes him very useful even without bonding
• Cyprien Esenwein - Swarms are less likely to show up in draft formats but he's a risky unit to bring to anything where your opponent could draft him
• Darrak Ambershard - Cheap, can hit for 6 dice pretty easily, and bonds with the best drafting squad in the game
• Deadeye Dan - The special attack can be useful, but his abilities going away when he gets engaged hurt a lot of his potential
• Death Chasers of Thesk - They work great in small numbers and bond with a lot of useful units
• Death Knights of Valkrill - Lots of bonding options and soul weapons give you lots of tools for draft
• Deathreavers - Even a single squad of rats is good. If your opponent has access to your units, I would not have more than 2 squads
• Deathstalkers - Some interesting tools but they cost a lot
• Deathwalker 7000 - Bonds with Hoplitrons which isn't nothing but his toolset is just easily avoided
• Deathwalker 8000 - Useful special attack but so many points on such a fragile body
• Deathwalker 9000 - Useful special attack but so many points on such a fragile body
• Deepwyrm Drow - Poison weapons and Hide In Darkness could do a lot of work. They're pretty d20 dependent though
• Drow Chainfighter - Solid filler unit
• Dumutef Guard - There are some things you can do with them but most games they're not going to be worth much
• Dünd - He costs a lot and his ability could be super powerful, but it's so hard to make it work
• Dzu-Teh - On a snow map they're great. Off it they're pretty mediocre.
• Earth Elemental - Elementals are so hard to make work in draft and Earth is the worst of them
• Einar Imperium - They're so expensive that it's hard to make them work well in draft
• Eldgrim the Viking Champion - Amazing filler with a spirit ability
• Elite Onyx Vipers - They're a solid anti range unit. Bit pricy though.
• Eltahale - Thunder Step and Thunder Ram are very good. She's just pretty expensive.
• Emirroon - It's going to be so hard to make him do anything useful in a draft game.
• Empress Kiova - Imperium aren't great and she's basically only a synergy piece for them
• Erevan Sunshadow - He's not good but he does have a special attack
• Estivara - Spider synergy is useful as is her special attack but nothing is great
• Evar Scarcarver - A bit expensive but has a lot of abilities he can use
• Fen Hydra - Very good unit, just a bit expensive
• Feral Troll - Can be an annoying endgame piece but just lacks tools compared to other units
• Finn the Viking Champion - Attack bonus and spirit are very useful
• Fire Elemental - Elementals are hard to make work in draft. Fires are the best option.
• Frost Giant of Morh - Can throw a lot of dice and indomitable is very good. Expensive though.
• Fyorlag Spiders - Spiders have some interesting choices. Their best option tends to be a pod with Wyverns
• Gladiatrons - They're good with Blasts but it's so hard to make them fit in well. They have good anti melee abilities and that's what keeps them here
• Goblin Cutters - Cutters really want to swarm but they are cheap enough that you might be able to sneak something in if your opponent doesn't have a good special attack or bonding
• Gorillinators - Expensive but super annoying if your opponent doesn't have special attacks
• Granite Guardians - Decent stats but hard to get a lot of mileage out of them
• Greater Ice Elemental - Anti melee ability is the only thing keeping GIE from the bottom
• Greenscale Warriors - It's really hard to draft these without signaling you're going for a dragon and telling your opponent what to expect and they might just take the dragon themselves.
• Grimnak - Chomp is very good. He's just going to have less of a screen than normal
• Grok Riders - Expensive, die to range, and their bonding options aren't great
• Guilty McCreech - Amazing filler with great synergy
• Gurei-Oni - It's hard to make the anti range ability work and his guard bonding is helpful but not great
• Hatamoto Taro - Super expensive for minimal effect
• Heavy Gruts - Disengage on 4 3/3 bodies are good even before we add in orc champs
• Heirloom - Great special attack and very survivable. If you include him in a pool your opponent can get access to, make sure to include some way to kill him
• Horned Skull Brutes - Good stats and Barge into Battle works great for draft type games
• Ice Troll Berserker - Useful attack and healing but cost is a bit awkward
• Iron Golem - He's good against special attacks and packs a hit but you can usually get that somewhere else for cheaper
• Isamu - He's very good but it can be dangerous letting your opponent use him. Most games it won't matter though.
• Iskra Esenwein - She's cheap and has life drain which is nice. She's just not particularly great at anything.
• Izumi Samurai - Solid unit without being overwhelming. If it's one where your opponent could deal with them make sure you have a way around 5 defense counter strike
• James Murphy - Whip and a good special attack are very nice pieces to have in a pool
• Johnny "Shotgun" Sullivan - No whip gives him less utility but being cheaper allows him to slot into builds easier
• Jorhdawn - Explosion attacks are nice but it's real hard to maximize her value
• Jotun - He can be an interesting pod option and bonds with Dreadguls but he's just so expensive it's hard to justify taking him in draft
• Kaemon Awa - Solid standalone unit that fits in well to most builds but isn't so overpowering as to make him hard to take down
• Kato Katsuro - Kato wants big games with predetermined units
• Kee-Mo-Shi - Toxic Skin has some uses but no synergy, high point cost, and the chance that your opponent is the one who gets the mindshackle keeps her down
• Kelda the Kyrie Warrior - It's just super hard to justify spending points on a midgame healer
• Khosumet the Darklord - Death knight bonding is the only thing saving the dude with the most lying bio in all of Scape
• Knights of Weston - Lots of useful options. No guaranteed Gilbert hurts though.
• Kozuke Samurai - 3 defense means losing one of them hurts but being able to slam into your opponent with multiple 5 dice attacks is very good
• Krav Maga Agents - Krav are good. It can be dangerous to let your opponent have them unless you have answers.
• Krug - Krug is great and has some good synergy. Does require you to make sure you have something that answers him.
• Kumiko - There are usually going to be better places to put your points but a multi attack special isn't nothing
• Kurrok the Elementalist - The Elemental build is very hard to make work in drafting
• Kyntela Gwyn - It's hard for filler to rank low but she's usually not going to do much more than eat 2 Wannok wounds.
• Laglor - Bit expensive but has a special attack and really good synergy
• MacDirk Warriors - Expensive and fragile but if you plan it right they can hit very hard
• Major Q10 - Two very good specials. He's a bit expensive though but he'll pretty much always be useful
• Major Q9 - Q9 is very good but is super dangerous to give your opponent access to
• Major X17 - X17 is harder to make work than the other soulborgs but he can lock down a whole area and should not be underestimated there
• Marcu Esenwein - Always a great option to have in a pool. Could become an automatic first pick in a draft with Wannok on the board.
• Marcus Decimus Gallus - Excellent synergy means he'll pretty much always have a home
• Marrden Hounds - They can be a bit hard to squeeze into armies but their biggest issue is that at low numbers, low move numbers really hurt
• Marrden Nagrubs - Lots of good Hivelord options and they're cheap enough to usually allow something else
• Marro Dividers - Solid screening unit with offensive power
• Marro Drones - They really want to swarm but they're not too bad if you can get at least 9 of them
• Marro Drudge - They're not great but they are a cheap source of range
• Marro Hive - You're almost always better off having more squads
• Marro Stingers - Even only a handful of Stingers will be useful
• Marro Warriors - I hesitate to hand my opponent Marro Warriors but they are good
• Master of the Hunt - Good anti hero abilities but javelin is inconsistent and he costs a lot
• Master Win Chiu Woo - Good stats and Masters Assault are great but 140 points mostly coming from Master's Influence really hurts
• Me-Burq-Sa - Excellent synergy, cheap, and paralyzing stare. Could easily be a first round pick in the right pool.
• Mezzodemon Warmongers - As long as you include some special attacks having these in your army can be a nightmare to deal with
• Microcorp Agents - Stealth Armor is good but they're a bit too spendy to make work
• Migol Ironwill - Not the best dwarf hero option but an amazing beatstick for them
• Mika Connour - None of her abilities are great for the 110 you need to drop on her
• Mimring - Cheap dragon with a good special attack
• Mind Flayer Mastermind - You can do some interesting things but most of the time you're hoping for good dice rolls
• Minions of Utgar - Expensive but they hit hard
• Mogrimm Forgehammer - Spendy but dwarf bonding and his abilities are excellent
• Mohican River Tribe - Lots of useful abilities here. Concealment being unreliable is the only thing holding them back.
• Moltenclaw - Super tricky to play and play against and single space makes him usually worth the high point cost
• Moriko - Special attack can do some work but for 110 she doesn't deliver a ton of value
• Morsbane - Morsbane being able to negate a figure can be great but in a lot of games it's not going to be worth 100 points to you
• Nakita Agents - Their powers can be very nasty if they roll hot but can feel overpriced if they don't.
• Ne-Gok-Sa - An absolute tank with great synergy. Could be risky to include in a draft pool on the off chance your opponent gets the mindshackle
• Nerak the Glacian Swog Rider - There's a lot of orcs and Nerak bonds with most and gives a buff to the rest.
• Nilfheim - He's a great dragon. I'd hesitate giving an opponent access to him. Decent single pod though
• Ninjas of the Northern Wind - Could be really frustrating if the opponent doesn't have special attacks.
• Obsidian Guards - They're not great, they're expensive, and they're a terrain unit.
• Ogre Pulverizer - Usually gets outclassed by the other Chaser options but double attack of 4 is no joke
• Ogre Warhulk - A lot of the time you can make Flail Hurricane work for you. He's just expensive.
• Omnicron Repulsors - They're cheap and anti soulborg but not amazing
• Omnicron Snipers - Deadly Shot can do a lot of damage but it'll often be overkill
• Ornak - Bonding and Utgar Hero synergy are great. Can be a bit hard to work in all the tricks you want.
• Othkurik The Black Dragon - Cheapest dragon availabe with some tricks but you're usually better off with other options.
• Otonashi - She's never going to win you games and she won't lose you any either. If Bol didn't exist she'd be in the top tier.
• Parmenio - Being able to make any figure disciplined can allow for some shenanigans but he's not great
• Pelloth - He has synergy. It's all bad.
• Phantom Knights - One of the best anti range units in the game
• Protectors of Ullar - Being able to just murder a hero at your leisure is nice but even with ranged flight they're a bit too expensive
• Quasatch Hunters - They're a bit spendy but anti soulborg and multi attack aren't bad at all
• Raelin the Kyrie Warrior [RotV] - Raelin is great. She's an auto first pick in any format where your opponent can get access to the pool
• Raelin the Kyrie Warrior [SotM] - Version 2 is less great and she's costly. You can make her work with stuff but you're usually better off with something else
• Rechets of Bogdan - You need Iskra for them to work. Can be potent but they're a bit too easy to counter draft
• Red Wyrmling - Like Black Wyrmlings, even one of these are going to have something useful to do.
• Retiarius - He's the worst gladiator but can probably slot into a build easier than Priscus or Tetraites can
• Rhogar Dragonspine - Healing and a special attack is nice but for 110 points I want more.
• Roman Archers - Ranged special attack can be very useful but Roman Archers are slow and the special is very easy to disrupt
• Roman Legionnaires - Great bonding options and cheap enough that they tend to be able to fit into draft pools easily
• Runa - Helm is unreliable and she's expensive
• Sacred Band - No bonding with MBS but they can still do a number of decent things
• Sahuagin Raider - It's hard for filler to be bad, but this comes close
• Samuel Brown - Ranged special attacks at affordable prices are always welcome
• Saylind the Kyrie Warrior - Too unreliable for a mediocre effect to be considered useful
• Sentinels of Jandar - Very annoying to kill without the right tools but also expensive
• Sgt. Drake Alexander [RotV] - Could be an interesting option in a pool that wants a cheap beatstick
• Sgt. Drake Alexander [SotM] - Does a lot of things well but usually not enough to justify the point cost
• Shades of Bleakwoode - Way too easy for this to go wrong. I honestly would like them a lot more if they were just 2/4 stealth fliers that didn't have Soul Shackle
• Shaolin Monks - Shaolin Assault and stealth leap are very useful powers. The problem is that they only have 3 defense and cost 80 points
• Sharwin Wildborn - Sharwin's toolkit is interesting but not great
• Shiori - Can be somewhat useful with Daishi. Otherwise leave her at home.
• Shurrak - Sweeping Sword is good but Shurrak is a lot of points for effects you can get elsewhere
• Siege - If Siege was like 20 or 30 points cheaper I'd like him a lot more as a draft option as the ability to gain Whirlwind Assault on command is very useful
• Sir Denrick - Denrick isn't useless but he's just really outclassed by everything else
• Sir Dupuis - Dupuis isn't even cheap. Tactical disengaging (unlike the opponents who are being cowards when they do it) is useful but that and synergy aren't nearly enough to save him
• Sir Gilbert - He's good especially if you can build something with a lot of Jandar squad figures
• Sir Hawthorne - Special attack is good but Stab in the Back is dangerous to bring to a draft game
• Sonlen - He's expensive but all the abilities play
• Sonya Esenwein - She's not bad and she's cheap but it's hard to justify including her over other options
• Spartacus - It's so hard to justify him at all
• Su-Bak-Na - He's expensive and fragile which is a bad combination. Still synergy isn't nothing
• Sudema - She's okay with Crypt Guardians but her price tag makes her hard to justify
• Sujoah - Very expensive with a mediocre special. Hard to justify
• Swog Rider - Easy to fit in and bonds with multiple squads
• Syvarris - Be a bit wary of giving your opponent 9 range to play with but Syvarris is fragile enough that it usually ends up not being as dangerous
• Taelord the Kyrie Warrior - Expensive but +1 attack is useful
• Tagawa Samurai - Really good abilities but a bit pricy
• Tagawa Samurai Archers - They don't hit very hard but their abilities are all useful
• Tandros Kreel - Kreeloy Jenkins does a little bit of everything well but is also 120 points. Still really tough to kill
• Tarn Viking Warriors - Useful synergy and cheap. They will rarely wow you but they will also rarely disappoint you
• Templar Cavalry - If they were cheaper they'd give a lot of interesting options as Galloping Charge can be really good
• Theracus - Carry is great and on a cheap figure it's much better
• Thorgrim the Viking Champion - You'll probably want a bonding squad or carry figure but spirit and defense buff are nice
• Tor-Kul-Na - TKN is good but very spendy
• Torin - There's some synergy here but it's very hard to make it work
• Tornak - Ornak usually fits into orc builds better but he's got a decent set of stats
• Tul-Bak-Ra - His best use is usually getting him to a good spot and using him as a landing spot. It's not a great strategy for his price point but he has the abilities to make himself annoying
• Ulginesh - It's just so hard to make elf wizards decent
• Valguard - Bonding with two of the best drafting squads are amazing. He's also a pain to kill and constantly underrated.
• Venoc Vipers - Frenzy is very annoying to have against you but they are cheap which helps if you need to use them as filler
• Venoc Warlord - You generally only want him for the +2 bonus. Warlord bonding is also good
• Warden 816 - Guard synergy is nice and he's got a good special attack
• Warforged Soldiers - They can be a bit annoying to kill, but tactical switch is a power with lots of uses
• Warriors of Ashra - Great against any melee unit. Make sure there's range or a special attack in your pool if you bring them.
• Water Elemental - They're decent filler because of the ranged attack but that's really about it
• Werewolf Lord - While a bit spendy, Moon Frenzy can do some work. Gets a lot better with all the hybrid options out there
• White Wyrmling - You probably only need one but they're a great piece for any kind of Wyrm build
• Wo-Sa-Ga - She bonds with Nagrubs and hits hard but she's not great
• Wolves of Badru - Some solid bonding options and a special attack are nice but they are very spendy
• Wyvern - Even without spiders, Talon Grab can mess with opponents
• Zelrig - Fewer swarms means he's less good but it's hard for a 7 range explosion special attack to be bad
• Zetacron - Very useful filler but deadly strike at 8 range might not be as fun if your opponent aims it at you
• Zettian Guards - 7 defense is good but it's really hard to squeeze value out of them
• Zombies of Morindan - Swarm tactics are a zombie's whole game. It's much harder to get that in draft.

Spoiler Alert!

• 12th Caucus Rifles - Gas Grenades is super useful. 2 figure squad holds them back in sideboards but they can absolutely pull their weight
• 20th Maine Volunteers - Despite feeling like a natural fit for a hodgepodge draft army, they're just going to be a step behind things
• 53rd North Carolina Sharpshooters - Useful tech but none of their abilities are great
• 8th Infantry Pathfinder - Limited synergy pool and having to draft them one at a time really hurts their potential in pooled, but you can build something decent with sideboards
• Achillean Gladiatrix - Pretty much the same thing as 8th but with an even worse synergy pool for pod
• Acolytes of Vorganund - They really need their bound heroes to be good and it's a bit too easy for those to get sniped from them
• Akumaken - A lot of useful abilities. If he was cheaper, he'd be in top tier.
• Amberhive Protectors - They really need to swarm and draft formats don't usually give you that opportunity
• Arashara Goshiri - A neat power and cool synergy are the only things keeping her out of the basement as 200 point cost is hard
• Arktos - Spirits play well in draft and you only need one other Vark squad to make him work
• Arthur of Sherwood - Tools are interesting in pool or pod but Brigands aren't amazing and his tools are usually found somewhere else for cheaper
• Ashi-Dhulu - Ashi is a bit pricy but can be an amazing counter to a number of units.
• Asterios - Great potential counter to units and a special attack give him a lot of options
• Augamo - The rock golem is greatly suited for a lot of roles. Slight downgrade for pod because of price.
• Avernus - Multiple searing intensities can be amazing to have at your disposal but he can get tied up just a little too easily
• Axentia - Axentia is a lot of points and I'd really need to see her perform well before I consider moving her up
• Azazel the Kyrie Warrior - It's much harder to make Azazel shenanigans happen in draft and it's a dangerous figure to let your opponent have access to
• Azurite Warlord - High cost drops Azzy in pod, but he is very good to build around
• B-11 Resistance Corps - Very useful unit that isn't too strong to put in your opponent's hands and has lots of good synergy in lots of places
• Bahadur - Tends to get squeezed out with Varks but can do a lot of good things for them and spirits are very nice.
• Banshees of Durgeth Swamp - Autokills are good. Stealth flying is good. 2 defense and 2 figure squad keep them from jumping up a tier
• Beakface Rogue - They're never going to be bad but they're unlikely to be good
• Beakface Sneaks - Sneaky anti range unit that can cover the board faster than you think.
• Beorn Boltcutter - Amazing synergy and bonds with one of the best draft squads in the game
• Bloodburst Thrall - Thralls could be good in draft formats but I think they still lack one or two key tools to really work
• Bol - Amazing filler that you will never be upset to have
• Boreos - Amazing counter to melee units. Knocked down a bit when your opponent has access to him as well since there's probably something to neutralize him
• Bramcephys - He's just so expensive but he could be an interesting single pod option
• Breach - You can probably get whatever he provides elsewhere
• Brimstone - Brimstone could be interesting to play with, but his stats and powers make me feel he's probably just a bit too expensive for what he needs to do.
• Brontos - Brontos has a lot of great abilities. High cost keeps him down.
• Brute Gruts - Everything about this unit works great for a drafting format.
• Buccaneers of Tortuga - You probably want more than the handful of Buccaneers you're going to get but all their abilities are very useful in drafting formats
• Bugbear Basher - Some synergy but not enough to be super helpful
• Cal the Smuggler - Great anti range, cheap, and ability to be placed anywhere on the board is really useful in draft
• Calibrax the Kyrie Warrior - Calibrax can provide some useful tools but he really needs a good support cast
• Capt. John Varan - Cheap, soldier synergy, and a useful SA make him a userful piece
• Cathar Spearmen - Even in small numbers, they provide excellent deterrents for melee units
• Chen Tang - Whirlwind Assault and Quivering Palm will usually have something to play with. Bit pricey for his effects though.
• Clawfoot Interceptor - Very useful abilities and cheap source of 5 attack. Only one attack keeps them in check
• Clayton Pierce - Sheriff is not bad by himself and if you can get even one or two cowboys with him, it could be very useful.
• Command Courier - Cheap and a potentially interesting ability. Since it requires adjacency it's bad.
• Cormin the Dark - He could be an interesting assassin unit, but he'll often be a crapshoot of a unit.
• Corvor the Tainted One - High cost and threatening your own figures make him a very difficult unit to put in a draft format.
• Count Raymond - Useful abilities but it feels rare you'll want to expend the order marker to make it happen
• Crypt Guardian - They bond with a lot and tough is very good if your opponent doesn't have special attacks
• Cxurg'gyath - He costs a lot and he helps a niche unit.
• Darkprowl Thrall - A filler unit that can do an attack of 5 is hard to hate especially if you give it some bonding options
• Deathcommander Mark 3 - He has an interesting special attack and a lot of synergy, but it's hard to get it to work super well
• Deathstrike Thrall - Thralls could be good in draft formats but I think they still lack one or two key tools to really work
• Deltacron - He has a good special attack but the overall package is kinda lacking
• Dreadgul Raiders - Like dwarves, they give you options even if you don't draft any bonders and they have a lot of bonders
• Durgeth Ravagers - Die super hard to special attacks, are very terrain dependent, and their pseudo bonding options are just okay
• Ebon Armor - Ebon have such good synergy with a lot of useful pieces. A bit expensive for pod and a bit easy for your opponent to steal good stuff from you in draft
• Eilan Sidhe - They are so good on tree maps that including them in a pool is asking for trouble
• Elaria the Pale - Lots of useful tools in a fun synergistic package
• Emperor Andask - Expensive but the aura is no joke
• Executioner 616 - Synergy with every soulborg. A bit expensive but deadly strike isn't to be underestimated
• Garrett Burns - He has some decent anti range but he's just not very good.
• Gen. Simon Fraser - Great filler for any soldier build.
• Goblin Slashers - Slashers also want to swarm and don't have the options Cutters have but also lack their vulnerability to special attacks
• Gorillitroopers - Tend to do okay even if there's a special attack in play. They are just very vulnerable to auto wounds. Can pack a lot of punch though
• Gothlok - Nice synergy and bonds but is just really expensive to fit in nicely
• Grigor & Rogirg - He's expensive. Could be interesting in sideboards or a pod but there are other more interesting choices
• Haduc - Solid on his own without elf wizards. Could be annoying to kill in the endgame
• Havech Eradicators - Good stats are good
• Heracles - Amazing unit. Great single pod option. Eats up a bit too many points in a pooled draft though
• Himmelskralle - Himmel can wreak havoc on a board and requires your opponent to play carefully around her
• Honor Guard of the Blasted Lands - They usually want more figures than draft allows but their abilities are great.
• Hoplitron - They have a lot of options. Bit hard to make work well in pooled draft
• Hrognak [mounted] - Expensive and the abilities aren't even that great
• Hrognak [unmounted] - He gives a ranged attack and bonding for a decent price
• Jarek Guy - If he was cheaper he'd be in the top tier. Does a little bit of everything well even if he does nothing great.
• Josie Whistlestop - Solid multi attack is solid. Loves spirits
• Kantono Daishi - Daishi works best when you can get a bunch of ninjas with him. That's easier in a pod or sideboards format.
• Kate Crawford - Kate is just solid filler
• Kha - A real fun interesting set of abilities
• Kira Jax - One of the best fillers in the game
• Knights of Blackgaard - High point cost holds them back. There's a lot of good relentless stuff to pair with them though. It just can be too easy for your opponent to leave you playing short
• Koggo - He's not bad filler but he's not especially great
• Kon-Tar-Na - High point cost keeps him down but he's really solid
• Kozil - Lots of good things here. A bit pricey but solid
• Kursus - Solid filler with a special attack that can't be ignored and some synergy
• Kuthnak - You're usually going to have less units to throw around but he is not to be underestimated
• Lilja - Can be a bit fragile for 115 but double attack of 4 is no joke.
• Locksley - He's got a good ranged attack. Everything else is pretty niche and reliant on treasure glyphs being available
• Louis "Mad Dog" Malone - Double assault and good stats at a cheap cost are great even before synergy comes into play
• M-43 Resistance Fighters - Fun synergy web allows for a lot of options but they are a bit weaker of a unit
• Major J15 - Amazing special attack and good against large/huge and Hoplitron bonding are all great
• Makwa Tribesman - The Tribesman isn't bad but he's also just not that good
• Maltis Tez - Tez has a lot of fun tricks and some fun synergy to work with
• Manauvi - He's just not great compared to a lot of other Vark options that even the spirit isn't that helpful
• Marro Gnids - Fast and good anti hero abilities while being cheap. The problem is they also die pretty fast before they can take advantage of that
• Martial La Hire - He's just okay
• Marutuk - Heracles does everything she does better and she's super expensive to make work
• Master Lao Xin - He's got some fun synergy but it's better for non draft games
• Microcorp Troopers - Special attack on a squad and hard targets means that even small numbers of them can do some work
• Millerson - He has good range and potential multi attack but for 105 points it's not a lot
• Mok - Most of the time his abilities would drop him down a tier or two but dwarf synergy keeps him here
• Morgan's Riflemen - No Valiant guarantee but their abilities are very useful
• Morgoloth - Great standalone and has some solid synergy
• Motley Max - Motley's price tag is the only thing keeping him in this tier as he can just wreck things
• Myrddin - Special attack and potential help to any figure rolling a d20 are not things to overlook
• Nhah Scirh Cultists - Anti special attacks are a very good thing to have especially on a 4 figure squad
• Nicholas Esenwein - Overextend with Life Drain is good. Sadly thralls aren't that great.
• Nottingham Brigand - They're basically 2 attacks from range which is really just okay. Common hero status hurts.
• Olog - Great filler and he bonds
• Omegacron - Omegacron is decent on his own but the figures he works with can be hard to all get in the same place for draft
• Otar - Cheap bonder. He's just not great.
• Patrick Ferguson - Not being able to use him as a sniper on sleepiing units holds him back from the top tier
• Pel the Hill Giant - Despite only negative powers, good stats and synergy are good
• Preyblood Thrall - Thralls could be good in draft formats but I think they still lack one or two key tools to really work
• Prince al'Kahora - He has some useful tools but costs a bit much.
• Priscus - He helps Gladiators but they're not great here so arguably his special attack is the most valuable tool he has
• Quahon - Like Nilfheim, she's good and I wouldn't want to give an opponent access to her outside of a single pod.
• Quorik Warwitch - Flutter is such a good power as is Pain Orb. You need to have some range if you're going to fight her.
• Racheim - Triple attack and a special attack is nice but he's also expensive and has no synergy
• Ranjit Singh - He's expensive and that puts him here. Could create for a neat pool though
• Re-Tak-Shi - She has lots of fun synergy at a not too expensive cost
• Red Ants of Aunstrom - Great synergy, cheap four figure squad that doesn't lose a lot of value as the number of ants you can bring decreases. Solid choice.
• Red Mantis Blade Dancers - Even a single squad of RMBD can give you value especially with hot Stealth Armor.
• Rendar Fy - Fun set of abilities on an affordable package
• Rygarn - Amazing obvious first pick in a draft pool but can also do wonderful things for you in a sideboards or pod pool.
• Seleena - Filler units are great and she's one of the better ones
• Sentinels of Grax - Good stats are good and they have a win condition
• Shadow Binder - Shadows have interesting tools. Binder you can probably get away with a single one in your army
• Shadow Fiend - Fiends can kill a lot of things but is hampered by being a common hero
• Shadow Hound - Hounds can pack a punch but being a common hero hurts
• Shieldsmiths of Granite Keep - Indomitable on a squad is really useful and immovable has some moments where it comes in handy. Even a squad or two of these guys are great
• Siiv - Useful filler especially against anything that has a defensive buff
• Sir Orrick - He's not bad, but he's also not great
• Skeletons of Annellintia - They're really expensive and it's hard to get both a good number of them and a good Lord in a draft format
• Skull Demon - Bonds with Death Knights and boosts the attack of lots of figures
• Soontir Van - 50 points for a ranged attack that can be hard to kill and has some fun synergies? I like this a lot
• Specters of Aldorn - 4 figure squad with relevant abilities at a cheap price point is very hard to pass up
• Suskra - All the abilities are useful and has some fun synergy
• Swaysil - Auto wounds on a cheap ranged figure is amazing
• Talingul - Constructs are harder to make work in draft but they have a lot of options and Talingul has good ranged stats
• Teeth of the Makwa - Shield makes them a bit inconsistent but synergy and a relatively easy way to get multiple range attacks of 4 sees play
• Tetraites - He's more expensive than I want to pay for auto wounds and will rarely have his bonding squad
• The Varja - Immunity to range is nice. Storm ability is also really nice with spread out Order Markers being more likely. Being 160 points with 3 defense is less than great.
• Tomb Skeleton Archers - They're cheap enough that you can usually grab several of them. They're not great but at this price point that's not as much of a concern.
• Tomb Skeletons - No real good synergy and their stats are really not great
• Tombstone Gunslinger - The outlaws work best as sideboards heroes rather than with gunslingers but they're cheap enough that throwing in a few can't hurt
• Tomoe Gozen - Tomoe gives samurai squads a lot of tools and works great with Ebon
• Tyrian the Kyrie Warrior - Flying ranged double attack is solid. He's just super fragile for 110 points.
• Ulfrid Hornwrangler - A wonderful set of abilities and dwarf bonding
• Urk - Interesting goblin synergies but he's not great
• Uzog - He mostly is a beatstick unless you have Durgeth but he doesn't really cover their weaknesses
• Van Nessing - His counter abilities won't often come into play but a free turn is really good especially with those stats
• Varkaanan Blade Dancers - Expensive but can be an absolute pain for melee units to deal with
• Varkaanan Darkclaws - Double attack is good but they're spendy
• Varkaanan Greyspears - The best Vark squad
• Varkaanan Quickblades - Their special attack is an excellent tool to have
• Varkaanan Swiftfangs - Another very good Vark squad with a lot of potential at the beginning of the game
• Viceron the Blood Knight - Expensive but with a lot of potential
• Vulcanmech Incendiborgs - Very good and I'd be hesitant to let my opponent have access to them since they have immunities to lots of things unique squads are weak to
• Wastewalker Gage - Bonds with Dreadguls and has a solid special attack
• Wildwood Monarch - Wildwoods are just so easy to counter draft that it's going to be hard to get good value out of them
• Wildwood Runner - Wildwoods are just so easy to counter draft that it's going to be hard to get good value out of them
• Wildwood Sentinel - Wildwoods are just so easy to counter draft that it's going to be hard to get good value out of them
• Xualtica Fire Ants - They really want to swarm. Still auto wounds aren't bad
• Xundar - He's more expensive than Kurrok, but it's going to be easier to get shadows than Elementals
• Yi Feng - Very useful package in a 60 point figure
• Z'thoth Mouth of the Abyss - Expensive, but the figure movement and special attack have a lot of utility
• Zaeus - 130 points is a lot but he can deliver a whallop
• Zettian Deathwings - Cheap and with a special attack that can do a lot of damage. Having a squad or two available is a great call.
• Zettian Infantry - ZIs bond with a lot of solid things and give them some insurance.
• Zhen Yuan - If he was cheaper I'd like him more. As is, it's hard to justify him over other figures
• Zogross Hardscale - Has lots of good synergy and auto wounds. While he is 120 points, he's not easy to take down
• Zombie Hulk - Really hard to justify including in almost any build

[vegietarian18]

Really great and admirably thorough post.

This is really valuable for helping understand the ways in which you want to construct your draft pools. Q9 is still good once he hits the table, but putting Q9 in your pool puts you at a big disadvantage because your games will often come down to who can safely draft Q9 first.

The one note I'll make is that building a draft or pod draft pool solely out of the A+ figures can create weird secondary effects if your opponent is also doing the same. Very often players who know their pools well and use top tier figures go far. I've had two Pod Draft finals games where I've had to draft very differently because my opponent also brought Phantom Knights, which just makes those finals games messier.

[Foudzing]

Wow you're rough on Agent Carr, I'd rate him higher than Kee-mo-shi, but never had the guts to try him in an actual competitive game.

Also I think Guilty McCreech is overrated as a filler (not with Dreadguls, Clayton) in theory you can do very nice things for super low points but in practice he's super hard to use and often get slashed in one or 2 turns.

[Dysole]

Carr is probably better than KMS in a vacuum but I can see myself occasionally considering KMS in a draft but I'm not coming up with anything where I would pick Carr.

Guilty without any of the stuff from VC that helps him (Dreadguls or Clayton or Ebon) is probably A-.

~Dysole, informationally

[Foudzing]

Originally Posted by Dysole

Carr is probably better than KMS in a vacuum but I can see myself occasionally considering KMS in a draft but I'm not coming up with anything where I would pick Carr.

Got you, that definitely makes sense.

Originally Posted by Dysole

Guilty without any of the stuff from VC that helps him (Dreadguls or Clayton or Ebon) is probably A-

Still I don't agree, I think Guilty is a bait in most draft instances, that's said he is a high-skill celling unit, good players or players experienced with him will have less trouble extracting any value from him in the game, if that's your goal of your pool he's definitely a good unit to include in your pool.

I'd love to do a draft tournament with random pools one day, I think it would make us discover some weird and cool synergies and "counters".

[Dysole]

I plan on updating these once all the figures from the AoA set are revealed.

~Dysole, already mulling where she'd put the AoA stuff