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so...Minions army...good or bad? simple enough right.

depends on what you consider good. minions are a new "faction" and therefore suffer from low model count. they also cannot mix very well like mercs can. so you choose gators or pigs.

pigs hit harder, but are pidgeon holed to taking carver if you want the farrow to do anything decent. arkadius is really tricksy but squishy, and i have zero experience with SnG.

gators have better base troops, the gator posse have 8 wounds and a tool box prayer system. gator beats dont hit as hard as pig beasts, but they have more shenanigans like the popular "gator toss". barnabas is the best warlock all round for them. calaban is more of a caster with some decent spells to biff and debuff models. Maelok is new, and likes to buff gator armor, and bring them back when they die.

It 100% depends on what defines a "good" army for you.


Both Minion pacts ( and you must choose one ) have very limited model selection. You have to either like the Gator aesthetic or the Farrow aesthetic to get anything out of them.


Gators are by far the more popular choice and have more releases. They also seem to be much more competitive than the Farrow. Wider warbeast selection to be sure, which is kind of a big deal.



Honestly, I'd go with gators if only because the Farrow model count is like... 10 or something obscenely low.

Lord Carver
Arkadius
Sturm & Drang
Warhog
Gunboar
Farrow Bone Grinders
Farrow Brigands
Farrow Razorback Crew
Farrow Slaughterhausers
Road Hog ( to be released, basically flamethrower piggy )
Rorsch & Brine
Saxxon Orrick
Targ

I think that's their complete list. Not 100% sure. It's not many different models, but then half of those are units of infantry, where gators have less infantry and more beasts.

Bloody Barnabas
Calaban
Maelok
Blackhide Wrastler
Bull Snapper
Ironback Spitter
Witch Doctor ( to be released )
Bone Swarm ( to be released )
Giant... uh... squid thing ( to be released )
Gatorman Posse
Bog Trog Ambushers
Swamp Gobber + Bellows Crew
Wrong Eye + Snapjaw
Croak Hunter
Totem Hunter
Thrullg
Feralgeist
Victor Pendrake




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To me the largest drawback is like, being limited to only 2-3 solos per faction. It's not like mercs where you can make whatever you want.

There are no "bad" armies in Warmahordes, its not GW where there are clear differences in the power level of the factions. Minions are a bit limited in their options, but they get more choices with every book. Also there are 2 sub categories of minions:
The blindwater congregation: The Gatorman
The thornfall alliance: The Farrow

There are no "mixed" minion armies

well...I wanted to do a gator army who doesn't like gators...i mean really. I really like the protectrate of menoth...and I am haveing a hard time choosing which army to do....Minions or protectrate..I know...warmachine/hordes...yada yada.

I either wanted to have Barnabas or Maelok as my lock...I was leaning more towards Maelok. What are pros and cons of each...what are their playstyles?

Barnabas is a power house, and as his title bloody signifies his ability to make his forces wreck face while also being able to provide protection to his forces as they close the gap. Melee centric caster.

Maelok makes a unit undead, helps his forces close the gap by raising them from the dead, and then feats to make those gators go incorporeal, fly through the enemy lines and assassinate. Witch Doctor helps him achieve this as well by adding another undead unit with tough.

I think Barnabas is still the better caster overall between the two, but both are valid. Calaban isn't bad either but he is more about buff/debuff.

Even though they have more limited options, I feel both factions are viable, but tend to struggle with specific lists.