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Dwarf Captain
- Shield
- Throwing axes

28 Khazâd Guards

13 Dwarf Warriors w. Dwarf Bows

499pts

Most oponents should have a bit of a pickle trying to take down the Khazâd guards, whilst the archers go for either enemy archers or try to flank the bulk and shoot down any spear- or pikemen they can. The captain sticks to the backside of the Guards, walking in to finnish off enemies where they are weakest to let loose the guards' flanks and allow them to kill off the enemies in a rather slow manner (using their normal hand axes generally when outnumbered to increase the chances of winning the fights, using the 2h axes to execute the enemies when they're even numbers or outnumber them).

I am considering to exchange the archers for Iron Guards, but then I'll have nothing to shoot with (but a very mean close-combat combo with their fighting skill and attacks, teamed up with the Khazâd guards' 2h axes).

I'd then have 29 Khazâd Guards and 7 Iron Guards (and be at 500pts on the dot!).

I don't see any need of getting either of Vault Wardens or Ballistas at 500pt games. Or am I wrong 'bout that?

Wow! 28 Khazád guard, that sounds brutal. Iron guard are good simply for the extra attack and IIRC the throwing axes that they come with, but because they have the lowest defence in your force they are likely to recieve all of your opponents ranged shots, and the luck I have with them they seem to die pretty quickly for me, and I run 8 of them, but that's not to say that will happen to you.

On the subject of the vault wardens they run better if you use multiple teams, as if you use for example 1 or 2 they are likely to get flanked and cut down. This is why I like to use 4 vault warden teams, but this would use up 100 points and that's a good 20% of your army so I wouldn't reccomend it in a 500pt list. I also personally hate ballistas with a passion, after I killed Saruman with one in the first game I played one I decided to keep using it hoping to kill more stuff but Saruman remains the only thing that it has ever killed, so I think you're right not to take either the Vault Wardens or the Ballista in this list.

One thing that I really enjoy doing with my Khazád dum army is taking Durin and watching him mince his way through anything near him, so what you could consider doing is dropping the Captain and the Dwarf Archers and taking Durin and changing the number of Khazad guard to fit the points accordingly (i can't remember what it is off the top of my head and I can't be bothered to go and fetch the Khazad Dum book, but I think Durin is 165pts). I know Durin is expensive at 500pts but if your force includes nothing other than Durin (D9 IIRC) and a load of Khazad Guard (D7 IIRC) then the opponent is going to find it very hard to hurt you at range and so will have to get you in close combat, where your elite warriors will cause no end of problems. Add to this Durins might points to call heroic action, and stuff will die.

Your list is looking really good already though.

I've changed it a bit now, dropping the archers for more armor (mainly because of their low defense and that I'd hate buying a set of warriors just for the bowmen)

Balin
- Durin's Axe

9x Iron Guards
24x Khazad Guards

I prefer the Iron Guards to the bowmen because of their extra-attack and high strength. When I noticed Balin's cost and that he got Durin's axe I felt like dropping the captain for a more heroic hero. Could swap one Khazad Guard for another Iron Guard, but as they come 3 by 3 in Blisters I figured I'd just go for nine. Their job will be to walk behind the Khazad Guards, leap out when they reach mellee, and use their 2 attacks to help winning the fight whilst the Khazad Guards use their 2h axes to chop stuff down. (I remember having to roll 6's to kill Uruk Hai, 4+ for them, or any others with heavy armor! Whilst anyone attacking me back will have to roll 6 still, unless they have 2h weapons, or more strength!)

Yeah that sounds much better, as a mob of khazad guard is basically a massive walking shield. Just sit and watch as your opponents are needing to roll 6's or 6's and 4+'s to hurt your Khazad guard, and then the large number of attacks from the Iron guard in combination with the high strength attacks of the khazads and Balins combination of the 2 should make your force devastating in combat and nigh impenetrable from anywhere else.

You could probably swap out durin's axe for another iron guard, 'cause personally I don't think it's really that good.

You might also consider replacing the iron guard with dwarf rangers with longbows if you have any, as you won't always be able to get every model into combat.

cookie_man wrote:You could probably swap out durin's axe for another iron guard, 'cause personally I don't think it's really that good.

You might also consider replacing the iron guard with dwarf rangers with longbows if you have any, as you won't always be able to get every model into combat.

Dwarf Rangers w. Bows have half the strength and just one shot, and won't be able to team up with the Khazad Guards in the same way in mellee (where their 2 attacks with 1h weapons will increase the chance of winning the fight so the Khazad Guard can cleave with his 2h axe) Also they have lower armour than the Iron Guards. The Iron Guards have throwing axes, and anyone that tries to do anything at range will find that they'll need 6-4 or 6-5's to harm a Khazad Guard.

I like the idea of changing Durin's Axe for another Iron Guard to some extent, but whilst it may be tactically better in most cases, there will be times that you throw your hero against another hero, in which case Durin's axe is great. I'm not sure yet, and as the Iron Guards come 3 per blister I like having 9 of them, for starters atleast.

Really fond of your khazad guard aren't you?

Have a few more iron guard because throwing axes are useful because you have a good combat force but a few more ranged weapons could help