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I'm still on the hunt for my next AoS army, and am now looking at the possibility of Grots as Destruction is the one Grand Alliance neither my wife nor I really own. How are Grots as an army? As per my previous thread, are they remotely competitive? I don't necessarily mean top-table EZ mode, but do they have strong options?

Similarly, do they have multiple valid ways to be competitive? I tend to really enjoy armies where I can eventually play fairly wildly diverse lists. I know their three sub-factions vary greatly, but is one clearly better than the others, etc...?

Also, did they inherit any of the pure fun rules from WHFB? Surprise Fanatics, Catapulting Gliders... etc?

They are middle of the road. Against a min max list they die pretty fast. There are a couple tricks you can bring it up to a high C or low B list, but I would say against the high powered armies they are a wet rag. If you are up against a poor player fielding a high powered list and you are a good player fielding what would constitute a "competitive" grot list, it would be a decent game. A good player with a high powered list however will mop you up most of the time.

Yes, they are among the most diverse and flexible armies in the game when it comes to viable lists.

All three can do well. Probably the best is Moonclan with Troll support. The Trolls are crazy good for their points amd you can stack a lot of minus to hit in the book.

They kept the surprise! Shroom addled Fanatics and added a new type that buffs the number of attacks of nearby units and shrouds your vulnerable characters from sight until the enemy deals with the fanatics.

The new Squig cav are strong but you need to protect them from Battleshock and are much better on the charge.

Mangler Squigs are still very good and there is now the ability to put a Boss on them which is very powerful.

Our new Gobbo Overlord is a really cool character and worth his points.

I would agree that 60-man blob squads and trolls are your best options. Trolls are actually pretty OP right now but their low bravery means certain armies can simply roll over them.

That actually sounds really fun. I'm craving a big, diverse army to play and paint, and I accept that my aspirations for "tanky, durable" just doesn't align with AoS' ethos.

Even being mid-tier is entirely fine with me, and a few higher end options should elevate it just enough to keep me intrigued.

I'll probably pick up the book this weekend, and maybe a couple token units. I still own 90 Spear/Shield Grots from my WHFB days... should I expect to need more?

Also, and traps here, regarding purchases? For example, I have hear netters are important, but only come two to a box...?

Anything I should go out of my way to avoid, or purchase?

My girlfriend plays grots, and has made several netters by using thread because netters are pretty good and you want as many as you can get (IMO).

You probably want to get the book and go through all of the warscrolls and do your own preliminary power scan.

Netters are three-per-20 now, meaning you get what you need in the box (however players with the old battle for skull pass goblins will need to convert them). The trick is that your command group models can be netters, so converting netter music/banners/champion is a good way to go.

NewTruthNeomaxim wrote:
That actually sounds really fun. I'm craving a big, diverse army to play and paint, and I accept that my aspirations for "tanky, durable" just doesn't align with AoS' ethos.

Even being mid-tier is entirely fine with me, and a few higher end options should elevate it just enough to keep me intrigued.

I'll probably pick up the book this weekend, and maybe a couple token units. I still own 90 Spear/Shield Grots from my WHFB days... should I expect to need more?

Also, and traps here, regarding purchases? For example, I have hear netters are important, but only come two to a box...?

Anything I should go out of my way to avoid, or purchase?

Just make sure you use the latest points, posted on the FAQ here: https://www.warhammer-community.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Age_Of_Sigmar_GloomspiteErrataPoints.pdf


As far as traps go, I don't personally play the army, but I do have a buddy that does. He told me that there is zero reason to use squig hoppers over Boingrot bounders. They are just much better for 10 points more.

I don't think a lot of people use the sneaky shufflers either.

Trolls got several points decreases in the FAQ, and are really good now.

Overall, the army is pretty solid middle of the pack. There are a few dud units, but as long as you are not going against super tuned tournament lists, you should be fine.

I actually really like the catharsis of painting large numbers of fairly simple models, so a horde of Stabbas with Fanatics seems like a fun place to start.

I'll likely get the book first, and go from there, unless we suddenly hear that the Orruk book offers similar levels of diversity. I like quirky armies that need at least some finesse though, which Ironjawz traditionally are not. :-p

Thanks all.

Just as an update... I won a pretty healthy sized, event this weekend, and walked out with...

The Battletome and Datacards
Skagrott the Loonking
Fungoid Shaman
40x Grots
30x Hoppers/Bounders
5x Fanatics

We're actually moving closer to our in-laws soon, and upon seeing them, my mother-in-law just had to have them as "her" army, asking me to teach them both casual AoS. My super cool father-in-law, a forest ranger, and nature warden... shockingly... asked for Sylvaneth. :-p

I guess I have hobby projects sorted for the next six months or so. ;-)

For those moonclan grots. Grab the Loonshrine terrain whenever you get a chance. it lets you resurrect your grots midgame if they die.

Thanks. We're definitely aware... but as plans are shifting to this becoming a whole family hobby endeavor, we might as well treat it more like a slow-grow, so it isn't quite as overwhelming. :-p

I'm sure it time they'll want to try a little of everything in their books, and it will be refreshing to play for the joy of the thing, and not worry remotely about "competitive" play, at least for a while.

NewTruthNeomaxim wrote:
Thanks. We're definitely aware... but as plans are shifting to this becoming a whole family hobby endeavor, we might as well treat it more like a slow-grow, so it isn't quite as overwhelming. :-p

I'm sure it time they'll want to try a little of everything in their books, and it will be refreshing to play for the joy of the thing, and not worry remotely about "competitive" play, at least for a while.

With that bit in mind, I'd actually reiterate the mention of the Loonshrine.

It's not just a competitive element, mind you. It's also a great focal piece for smaller games to play with them as objectives. Same thing goes for the Wyldwoods.

It is definitely on the top of the list of future purchases! I'm starting to acclimate them using Warcry as well, whenever possible. (No Sylvaneth there... at least thus far)

NewTruthNeomaxim wrote:
It is definitely on the top of the list of future purchases! I'm starting to acclimate them using Warcry as well, whenever possible. (No Sylvaneth there... at least thus far)

Serious statement: show your father in law the Idoneth as well. There's a 'big' warscroll battalion in the book called "The Alliance of Wood and Sea".
It consists of:
-Isharann Tidecaster
-2 units of Akhelian Guard
-1 unit of Akhelian Allopex
-1 unit of Namarti Thralls
-1 unit of Namarti Reavers
-1 Branchwych
-2 units of Dryads
-1 Treelord Ancient

If he's anything like my dad, who worked for Fish & Game? He'll love the eels and sharks.

Additionally, it will open up some options for WarCry for him that are all in that list for the AoWaS.

Thanks for the heads up. He was actually also in the Navy so it kind works on levels. :-p

Worth mentioning then that either faction's Start Collecting might be a good buy-in with him.

It helps that the Sylvaneth and Idoneth are allies as well.