how to beat a balrog with 400 points?

origami chicken · **Joined:** Thu Jun 28, 2012 10:15 pm **Posts:** 40

My friend and I are just getting into the game, however the only figure he has is the balrog. I have nothing that can even harm it reliably. and i havr no idea what will help me.
I have dwarves and haradrim.
Any help is appreciated.

SidTheSloth · **Posted:** Sun Jun 02, 2013 4:24 pm

Being an owner of a Balrog I know that they get bogged down very easily in troops. Wear the Balrog down with ranged weapons (dwarvish throwing axes) and then surround it with shields and 2H's. If you have any heroes with special axes be sure to get them wounding it. avoid too much grouping to prevent too much damage from monstrous throws

origami chicken · **Joined:** Thu Jun 28, 2012 10:15 pm **Posts:** 40

Okay, thanks for the advice, i will be sure to try it out next time.

SuicidalMarsbar · **Joined:** Sun Apr 24, 2011 1:14 am **Posts:** 1712

Do everything Sid said but also get a hero (preferably 2) with at least 2-3 might each and use heroic strike to boost your fight value. The Balrog cannot counter this as it has no might and you can beat it in the first round of combat. Easy mode.

JamesR · **Posted:** Sun Jun 02, 2013 6:46 pm

SuicidalMarsbar wrote:

Do everything Sid said but also get a hero (preferably 2) with at least 2-3 might each and use heroic strike to boost your fight value. The Balrog cannot counter this as it has no might and you can beat it in the first round of combat. Easy mode.

I was going to suggest that too lol. I'm not sure if I like the fact it auto-boosts to 10. I think doubling would be better, so a Goblin Capt couldn't suddenly outduel Elrond lol.

SuicidalMarsbar · **Joined:** Sun Apr 24, 2011 1:14 am **Posts:** 1712

It doesn't auto boost it to 10, it raises your fight by d6, but that still means all an elf captain needs is a 4 or more to equal the Balrog, and you can always drain more might into boosting the roll.

Denizen · **Joined:** Sun Mar 03, 2013 8:15 pm **Posts:** 156

Lots of axes, lots and lots of them

Boromir is very nice too. Or Gil-Galad, having an auto F10 with Heroic Strike.

So: heavy heroes with lots of axe carrying troops. Range weapons depends on the starting distance.

Goldman25 · **Posted:** Sun Jun 02, 2013 8:15 pm

Dwarves would be much better than Haradrim, get a load of Khazad/Iron Guard, with their Bodyguard special rule they don't need to take Courage tests (if I remember correctly), allowing you to easily charge every time. Dain, Balin or Durin can use their magic axes to do more damage, and the +1 of the two-handed axes, and the Piercing special strike, makes it a good deal easier to wound.

JamesR · **Posted:** Sun Jun 02, 2013 8:38 pm

SuicidalMarsbar wrote:

It doesn't auto boost it to 10, it raises your fight by d6, but that still means all an elf captain needs is a 4 or more to equal the Balrog, and you can always drain more might into boosting the roll.

You're right I was thinking WOTR Epic Strike I believe.

Goldman25 wrote:

Dwarves would be much better than Haradrim, get a load of Khazad/Iron Guard, with their Bodyguard special rule they don't need to take Courage tests (if I remember correctly), allowing you to easily charge every time. Dain, Balin or Durin can use their magic axes to do more damage, and the +1 of the two-handed axes, and the Piercing special strike, makes it a good deal easier to wound.

Khazad Guard do, Iron Guard do not have the Body Guard rule

Goldman25 · **Posted:** Sun Jun 02, 2013 8:42 pm

Do they not? I couldn't remember. Khazad Guard would probably be the better choice anyway, with 2-handed axes instead of single-handed axes/swords.

origami chicken · **Joined:** Thu Jun 28, 2012 10:15 pm **Posts:** 40

Thanks everyone for your help!
Now to wait for a few weeks until my birthday when I will be able to get khazad guard.
I already have Balin, Dain and Gimli. So warriors instead of rangers and kahzad and iron guard.
Would the new dwarves (grim hammers and Erebor dwarves) and Thorin's company help in anyway?

Bilbo · **Posted:** Sun Jun 02, 2013 11:51 pm

Try a load of dwarf ballista's with siege engineers!

origami chicken · **Joined:** Thu Jun 28, 2012 10:15 pm **Posts:** 40

So then, khazad guard lead by a named hero with special axe, lots of axed armed warriors and dwarf ballistas.
Thanks for all the help everyone!

JamesR · **Posted:** Mon Jun 03, 2013 12:35 am

Bilbo wrote:

Try a load of dwarf ballista's with siege engineers!

That's what I do lol two hits and the Balrog dies.

Grungehog · **Posted:** Mon Jun 03, 2013 10:14 am

It takes 4 hits to kill a balrog with a balista
10-5 5-2 2-1 1-dead
that is how I have always played it

Ring_of_Gyges · **Posted:** Mon Jun 03, 2013 8:33 pm

Mob of Khazad Guard will do the trick nicely. The Balrog will get a 6 about half the time with his four dice, when he doesn't he gets hit. When he does, heroic strike makes the fight tied and he loses half of those. 75% of the time he's getting hit. 25% of the time he's doing 2 or 3 wounds to someone.

When the Guard win they'll be using axes and striking at a defense of at most 8, so they'll wound on a 5.

1:3 wounding means ~30 strikes to kill the Balrog, with doubling for being trapped 15 Guard should do it. Call it a full warband of Khazad Guard (132pts) plus a hero or two to ensure you get a 6 when the Balrog doesn't (a pair of Dwarf Kings would do nicely at 150pts) and you're out 283pts.

Well below the Balrog's cost and almost certain to take him down in two victories, call it two or three rounds of combat.

The Khazad Guard are your boys because they're bodyguards (so they all charge the Balrog each round), have Axes and S4 (so they can wound the Balrog on 6's), and have two handed weapons (so they can wound on 5's).

There are stronger hero options than the Kings, but Balin & Gimli would work just as well if you don't mind spending a few more points.

Goldman25 · **Posted:** Mon Jun 03, 2013 8:37 pm

On a side-note, can the Balrog use the Whip special strike? If it can, that might make mobbing a bit more risky.

JamesR · **Posted:** Mon Jun 03, 2013 10:44 pm

Grungehog wrote:

It takes 4 hits to kill a balrog with a balista
10-5 5-2 2-1 1-dead
that is how I have always played it

I went back and looked at the rulebook an I believe you are correct. I had always read it as wounds of 10 before being hit. Major change must be made to a few strategies of mine lol

Grungehog · **Posted:** Tue Jun 04, 2013 5:47 pm

No sweat man I used to think S10 hits always had the same effect, ie instant kill but re-read the rules only to find nothing of the sort, the ammount of times my spider queens died from a unlucky roll of 3 at the end of an enrage beast spell.

Draugluin · **Posted:** Wed Jun 05, 2013 4:31 pm

Calling a heroic strike really isn't worth it. You aren't guaranteed to roll high enough for it to matter, so save your might for those times the balrog rolls a 5.

how to beat a balrog with 400 points?

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