Most Competitive Sets, Based on Power Rankings

[fireemblemrox]

This may actually belong in the General Discussion board, but with the metagame as it is I was curious to see how "good" respective releases were based on SpiderPoison's rankings.

Basically, each Wave or Set will have a mean score determined from the values of the units available from the set based on the following criteria:

A+ = 10
A = 9
A- = 8
B+ = 7
B = 6
B- = 5
C+ = 4
C = 3
C- = 2
D = 1
F = 0

This isn't to say that a B- unit is straight up half as good as an A+ unit. It is simply a numerical ratings mapping.

Short overview blurbs after each group will follow this format:
Total Units - Mean - (# of A Units (8-10) / # of B Units (5-7) / # of C Units (2-4) / # of D and below Units)

Master Set 1: Rise of the Valkyrie

• Raelin the Kyrie Warrior (RoTV) - 10
• Grimnak - 9
• Krav Maga Agents - 9
• Marro Warriors - 9
• Airborne Elite - 8
• Finn the Viking Champion - 7
• Ne-Gok-Sa - 7
• Sargent Drake Alexander (RoTV) - 7
• Izumi Samurai - 6
• Syvarris - 6
• Mimring - 5
• Thorgrim the Viking Champion - 5
• Zettian Guardians - 5
• Agent Carr - 4
• Tarn Viking Warriors - 4
• Deathwalker 9000 - 2

16 - 6.44 - (5 / 8 / 2 / 1)

Master Set 2: Swarm of the Marro

• Marro Stingers - 9
• Major Q10 - 8
• Sargent Drake Alexander (SotM) - 8
• Marrden Nagrubs - 7
• Tor-Kul-Na - 7
• Marro Hive - 6
• Raelin the Kyrie Warrior (SotM) - 6
• Sonlen - 5
• Marro Drudge - 1
• Shiori - 1

10 - 5.80 - (3 / 5 / 0 / 2)

Master Set 3: Battle for the Underdark

• Darrak Ambershard - 8
• Othkurik the Black Dragon - 7
• Ana Karithon - 6
• Tandros Kreel - 6
• Deepwyrm Drow - 5
• Feral Troll - 5
• Erevan Sunshadow - 4
• Pelloth - 3

8 - 5.50 - (1 / 5 / 2 / 0)

Marvel! The Conflict Begins

• Captain America - 9
• Silver Surfer - 8
• Venom - 8
• Spiderman - 7
• Abomination - 6
• Incredible Hulk - 6
• Iron Man - 5
• Thanos - 5
• Dr. Doom - 4
• Red Skull - 4

10 - 6.20 - (3 / 5 / 2 / 0)

Orm's Return

• Charos - 7
• Brunak - 6
• Su-Bak-Na - 5
• Deathwalker 8000 - 2
• Dund - 2

5 - 4.40 - (0 / 3 / 2 / 0)

Raknar's Vision

• Major Q9 - 10
• Braxas - 8
• Nilfheim - 8
• Theracus - 7
• Jotun - 3

5 - 7.20 - (3 / 1 / 1 / 0)

Aquilla's Alliance

• Zelrig - 8
• Zetacron - 7
• Wo-Sa-Ga - 5
• Gurei Oni - 4
• Sujoah - 4

5 - 5.60 - (1 / 2 / 2 / 0)

Crest of the Valkyrie

• Laglor - 9
• Sir Gilbert - 9
• Ornak - 5
• Acolarh - 2
• Hatamoto Taro - 0

5 - 5.00 - (2 / 1 / 1 / 1)

Promotional/Exclusive

• Agent Skahen - 8
• Nerak the Glacian Swog Rider - 8
• Samuel Brown - 7
• Sir Hawthorne - 7
• Master Win Chiu Woo - 4
• Elite Onyx Vipers - 3

6 - 6.17 - (2 / 2 / 2 / 0)

Terrain Expansion

• Fyorlag Spiders - 4
• Dumutef Guard - 3
• Dzu-Teh - 2
• Obsidian Guards - 1

4 - 2.50 - (0 / 0 / 3 / 1)

Wave 1: Malliddon's Prophecy

• Marcus Decimus Gallus - 8
• Roman Legionnaires - 7
• Venoc Vipers - 7
• Venoc Warlord - 7
• Arrow Gruts - 6
• Blade Gruts - 6
• Omnicron Snipers - 6
• Kelda the Kyrie Warrior - 5
• Taelord the Kyrie Warrior - 5
• Tornak - 4
• Roman Archers - 2

11 - 5.73 - (1 / 8 / 2 / 0)

Wave 2: Utgar's Rage

• 4th Massachusetts Line - 9
• Knights of Weston - 9
• Me-Burq-Sa - 8
• Minions of Utgar - 8
• Krug - 7
• Marro Drones - 6
• Swog Rider - 6
• Anubian Wolves - 5
• Sir Denrick - 5
• Khosumet the Darklord - 3

10 - 6.60 - (4 / 5 / 1 / 0)

Wave 3: Jandar's Oath

• Alastair MacDirk - 8
• Sentinels of Jandar - 8
• Concan the Kyrie Warrior - 6
• Marrden Hounds - 6
• Microcorp Agents - 6
• Johnny "Shotgun" Sullivan - 5
• MacDirk Warriors - 4
• Gorillinators - 3
• Saylind the Kyrie Warrior - 3
• Shaolin Monks - 3
• Deathwalker 7000 - 0

11 - 4.73 - (2 / 4 / 4 / 1)

Wave 4: Zanafor's Discovery

• Gladiatrons - 9
• Sacred Band - 7
• Aubrien Archers - 6
• Guilty McCreech - 6
• James Murphy - 6
• Tagawa Samurai - 6
• Armoc Vipers - 5
• Morsbane - 4
• Valguard - 4
• Parmenio - 3
• Sudema - 3
• Deadeye Dan - 1
• Major X17 - 1

13 - 4.69 - (1 / 6 / 4 / 2)

Wave 5: Thora's Vengeance

• Deathreavers - 10
• Blastatrons - 9
• Crixus - 7
• Spartacus - 7
• Nakita Agents - 6
• Warriors of Ashra - 6
• Kozuke Samurai - 5
• Retiarius - 5
• Deathstalkers - 4
• Ninjas of the Northern Wind - 4

10 - 6.30 - (2 / 6 / 2 / 0)

Wave 6: Dawn of Darkness

• Heavy Gruts - 9
• Eldgrim the Viking Champion - 8
• Kaemon Awa - 8
• Zombies of Morindan - 7
• Tagawa Samurai Archers - 5
• Kee-Mo-Shi - 3
• Einar Imperium - 2
• Empress Kiova - 2
• Runa - 2
• Shades of Bleakwoode - 2

10 - 4.80 - (3 / 2 / 5 / 0)

Wave 7: Fields of Valor

• Isamu - 9
• Cyprien Esenwein - 8
• Marcu Esenwein - 8
• Sonya Esenwein - 8
• Ashigaru Harquebus - 5
• Kyntela Gwyn - 5
• Ashigaru Yari - 4
• Iskra Esenwein - 3
• Rechets of Bogdan - 3
• Templar Cavalry - 2
• Warden 816 - 2

11 - 5.18 - (4 / 2 / 5 / 0)

Wave 8: Defenders of Kinsland

• 10th Regiment of Foot - 8
• Arkmer - 6
• Ulginesh - 6
• Emirroon - 5
• Jorhdawn - 5
• Kato Katsuro - 5
• Chardris - 4
• Otonashi - 4
• Sir Dupuis - 4
• Wolves of Badru - 4
• Grok Riders - 2
• Moriko - 1

12 - 4.50 - (1 / 5 / 5 / 1)

Wave 9: Blackmoon Siege

• Atlaga the Kyrie Warrior - 8
• Axegrinders of Burning Forge - 8
• Marro Dividers - 8
• Brave Arrow - 7
• Capuan Gladiators - 7
• Migol Ironwill - 7
• Mohican River Tribe - 7
• Omnicron Repulsors - 6
• Protectors of Ullar - 6
• Kumiko - 4
• Tul-Bak-Ra - 4

11 - 6.55 - (3 / 6 / 2 / 0)

Wave 10: Valkrill's Gambit

• Deathreavers - 10
• Blastatrons - 9
• Nerak the Glacian Swog Rider - 8
• Sir Hawthorne - 7
• Warriors of Ashra - 6
• Granite Guardians - 5
• Quasatch Hunters - 5
• Deathstalkers - 4
• Elite Onyx Vipers - 3

9 - 6.33 - (3 / 4 / 2 / 0)

Wave 11: Champions of the Forgotten Realms

• Fen Hydra - 9
• Fire Elemental - 8
• Greenscale Warriors - 8
• Mogrimm Forgehammer - 8
• Phantom Knights - 8
• Torin - 7
• Water Elemental - 7
• Air Elemental - 5
• Drow Chainfighter - 5
• Earth Elemental - 5
• Estivara - 5
• Wyvern - 5
• Brandis Skyhunter - 4
• Greater Ice Elemental - 4
• Sharwin Wildborn - 4
• Sahuagin Raider - 2

16 - 5.88 - (5 / 7 / 4 / 0)

Wave 12: Warrior's of Ebberron

• Black Wyrmling - 7
• Goblin Cutters - 7
• Heirloom - 7
• Kurrok the Elementalist - 7
• Red Wyrmling - 7
• Warforged Soldiers - 7
• Iron Golem - 6
• Ogre Warhulk - 6
• Shurrak - 6
• White Wyrmling - 6
• Blue Wyrmling - 6
• Rhogar Dragonspine - 5
• Werewolf Lord - 5
• Mika Connour - 4
• Mind Flayer Mastermind - 3

15 - 5.93 - (0 / 13 / 2 / 0)

Wave 13: Moltenclaw's Invasion

• Death Chasers of Thesk - 8
• Eltahale - 7
• Horned Skull Brutes - 7
• Mezzodemon Warmongers - 7
• Moltenclaw - 7
• Ogre Pulverizer - 7
• Ice Troll Berserker - 6
• Siege - 6
• Death Knights of Valkrill - 6
• Evar Scarcarver - 4
• Frost Giant of Morh - 4
• Master of the Hunt - 4

12 - 6.08 - (1 / 8 / 3 / 0)

And that's all folks! Hopefully this sparks some light hearted discussion.

I immediately concluded that grabbing terrain expansions for competitive figures isn't the right way to go. Raknar's Vision kicks the pants out of any other expansion set, with no real weaknesses bar Jotun. Wave 13 unexpectedly has the highest average of the three DnD waves.

[fireemblemrox]

Here are the sets in order from highest average to lowest average:

• 7.20 - Raknar's Vision
• 6.60 - Wave 2: Utgar's Rage
• 6.55 - Wave 9: Blackmoon Siege
• 6.44 - Rise of the Valkyrie
• 6.33 - Wave 10: Valkrill's Gambit
• 6.30 - Wave 5: Thora's Vengeance
• 6.20 - Marvel! The Conflict Begins
• 6.17 - Promotional/Exclusive
• 6.08 - Wave 13: Moltenclaw's Invasion
• 5.93 - Wave 12: Warriors of Ebberron
• 5.88 - Wave 11: Champions of the Forgotten Realms
• 5.80 - Swarm of the Marro
• 5.73 - Wave 1: Malliddon's Prophecy
• 5.60 - Aquilla's Alliance
• 5.50 - Battle for the Underdark
• 5.18 - Wave 7: Fields of Valor
• 5.00 - Crest of the Valkyrie
• 4.80 - Wave 6: Dawn of Darkness
• 4.73 - Wave 3: Jandar's Oath
• 4.69 - Wave 4: Zanafor's Discovery
• 4.50 - Wave 8: Defenders of Kinsland
• 4.40 - Orm's Return
• 2.50 - Terrain Expansions

[fireemblemrox]

Here is a percentage list. Each wave consists of X percent of each tier, ordered by highest percentage to lower percentage.

A Tier Percentage
60% Raknar's Vision
40% Crest of the Valkyrie
40% Wave 2: Utgar's Rage
36% Wave 7: Fields of Valor
33% Promotional/Exclusive
33% Wave 10: Valkrill's Gambit
31% Rise of the Valkyrie
31% Wave 11: Champions of the Forgotten Realms
30% Swarm of the Marro
30% Marvel! The Conflict Begins
30% Wave 6: Dawn of Darkness
27% Wave 9: Blackmoon Siege
20% Aquilla's Alliance
20% Wave 5: Thora's Vengeance
18% Wave 3: Jandar's Oath
12% Battle for the Underdark
9% Wave 1: Malliddon's Prophecy
8% Wave 4: Zanafor's Discovery
8% Wave 8: Defenders of Kinsland
8% Wave 13: Moltenclaw's Invasion
0% Orm's Return
0% Terrain Expansion
0% Wave 12: Warrior's of Ebberron

B Tier Percentage
87% Wave 12: Warrior's of Ebberron
73% Wave 1: Malliddon's Prophecy
66% Wave 13: Moltenclaw's Invasion
63% Battle for the Underdark
60% Orm's Return
60% Wave 5: Thora's Vengeance
55% Wave 9: Blackmoon Siege
50% Rise of the Valkyrie
50% Swarm of the Marro
50% Marvel! The Conflict Begins
50% Wave 2: Utgar's Rage
46% Wave 4: Zanafor's Discovery
44% Wave 10: Valkrill's Gambit
44% Wave 11: Champions of the Forgotten Realms
42% Wave 8: Defenders of Kinsland
40% Aquilla's Alliance
36% Wave 3: Jandar's Oath
33% Promotional/Exclusive
20% Raknar's Vision
20% Crest of the Valkyrie
20% Wave 6: Dawn of Darkness
18% Wave 7: Fields of Valor
0% Terrain Expansion

C Tier Percentage
75% Terrain Expansion
50% Wave 6: Dawn of Darkness
45% Wave 7: Fields of Valor
42% Wave 8: Defenders of Kinsland
40% Orm's Return
40% Aquilla's Alliance
36% Wave 3: Jandar's Oath
33% Promotional/Exclusive
31% Wave 4: Zanafor's Discovery
25% Battle for the Underdark
25% Wave 11: Champions of the Forgotten Realms
25% Wave 13: Moltenclaw's Invasion
22% Wave 10: Valkrill's Gambit
20% Marvel! The Conflict Begins
20% Raknar's Vision
20% Crest of the Valkyrie
20% Wave 5: Thora's Vengeance
18% Wave 1: Malliddon's Prophecy
18% Wave 9: Blackmoon Siege
13% Rise of the Valkyrie
13% Wave 12: Warrior's of Ebberron
10% Wave 2: Utgar's Rage
0% Swarm of the Marro

D/F Tier Percentage
25% Terrain Expansion
20% Swarm of the Marro
20% Crest of the Valkyrie
15% Wave 4: Zanafor's Discovery
9% Wave 3: Jandar's Oath
8% Wave 8: Defenders of Kinsland
6% Rise of the Valkyrie
0% Battle for the Underdark
0% Marvel! The Conflict Begins
0% Orm's Return
0% Raknar's Vision
0% Aquilla's Alliance
0% Promotional/Exclusive
0% Wave 1: Malliddon's Prophecy
0% Wave 2: Utgar's Rage
0% Wave 5: Thora's Vengeance
0% Wave 6: Dawn of Darkness
0% Wave 7: Fields of Valor
0% Wave 9: Blackmoon Siege
0% Wave 10: Valkrill's Gambit
0% Wave 11: Champions of the Forgotten Realms
0% Wave 12: Warrior's of Ebberron
0% Wave 13: Moltenclaw's Invasion

[Not User Name]

Super interesting! Your hard work is appreciated as this is a very intriguing view on rankings of the waves. You might have to do individual boosters next.

[Dysole]

Worth noting that by assigning the values you did you are functionally counting an A+ unit as worth twice as much as a B- unit. If you assign a standard grading system (A=4, B=3, C=2, D=1, F=0, +/- = +/- 0.25) you get a slightly different ordering of things.



Overall, I'm not surprised to see Raknar's Vision on top and the Terrain expansions on the bottom. Wave 9 kind of surprised me. Also surprised to see Wave 1 so low. Anyways, it's certainly an interesting question.

~Dysole, who will share the whole sheet if you want

[fireemblemrox]

Yes, please do share the whole sheet! I did a 0-10 simply because the number of groupings there suited this particular number.

I did note somewhere near the start that the number assignment implied B- were 1/2 as good as A+ so clearly the numbers I have don't have a good ratio comparison as well (e.g. a 7.5 vs a 5 does not necessarily mean a wave is 1.5 times as good). However, because they all used this standard this at least can show how good the waves were relative to each other in a qualitative sense. The change of variables may have hidden some other relationships, so Dysole, a ranking on that scale would be very much appreciated!

After all, it isn't like DW7K is worth infinitely less than Shirori. :P

[Dysole]

There you go.

~Dysole, who loves the AVERAGEIF function

[SpriteMichaeler]

This is a fantastic resource for new players. Thank you for putting this list together. Will really help newbies prioritize purchases.

[wriggz]

Originally Posted by SpriteMichaeler

This is a fantastic resource for new players. Thank you for putting this list together. Will really help newbies prioritize purchases.

Be careful of prioritizing competitive over fun or synergy. For example wave 5 is a High ranking for competitive, but not as fun (at least to me) as Wave 1. Also you can build some great thematic armies out of the box with Wave 1 and RotV. Wave 2 is the best of both worlds, but not as easy to find.