Isengard 500 points army.

samoht · **Posted:** Tue Mar 25, 2014 2:44 am

Hey gang. I have a tournament coming up. It's my first one and I want to play competitively just so I stand a fighting chance against the experience gamers.

I am fielding isengard. I have already submitted the army list so it can't change. I would like your feedback and some advice on strategy. Bear in mind I could be up against anything.

The force is as follows.

Warband 1
Uruk-Hai captain with Heavy armour and shield (leader of the army)
2 Uruk-Hai scouts with shields
4 Uruk-Hai warriors with Pikes
2 Feral Uruk-Hai
3 Berserkers

Warband 2
ugluk
3 Uruk-Hai warriors with shields
4 uruk-Hai warriors with pikes
1 feral Uruk-Hai
3 Berserkers

Warband 3
Vrasku
6 Uruk-Hai warriors with crossbows

I guess my strategy will change depending on each opponents force but the general idea is that Vrasku and the crossbowmen will reak havoc from a distance and the other two warbands will just march in and try and butcher as many enemies as possible (and take objectives if I can).

JamesR · **Posted:** Tue Mar 25, 2014 3:25 am

My main thing is don't take Ugluk. There's literally no benefit to him in your force over Mahur or Lurtz.
His head taker ability isn't with losing the Uruk-hai IMO maybe an Orc, but they're half as many points. I'd recommend replacing him with a shaman because Fury+Uruk-hai = ultimate psychological killer lol. Also if you do the swap add some crossbow. I'd always try ahs max them out with how useful they are

rigg1313 · **Posted:** Tue Mar 25, 2014 4:38 am

^ same, ugluk's a no no when there are better options available.

Also although you say you can't change it, as someone who plays against isengard regularly I see scouts as easy pickings and can normally decimate a full warband easy with half as many elves, the heavy armoured uruks are in another league always go heavy armour.

but on tactics, get those beserkers and ferals in the thick of it and use them to annihilate enemy heroes which I believe thats what they are best at. And against heroes never 2 hand! 1 v 1s against regular soldiers go 2 hand so that you can be wounding on 4+ though or even 3+ and wood elves and the sort!

If you havnt already make vrasku your leader.

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

I wouldn't say Ugluk isn't worth it - he is still a 3 might model and that is very useful. His rule won't necessarily help every game but i am sure when you deploy against a Golden King and two ringwraiths you will thank the gods you chose Ugluk.

JamesR · **Posted:** Tue Mar 25, 2014 9:51 am

SuicidalMarsbar wrote:

I wouldn't say Ugluk isn't worth it - he is still a 3 might model and that is very useful. His rule won't necessarily help every game but i am sure when you deploy against a Golden King and two ringwraiths you will thank the gods you chose Ugluk.

As the mentioned combo is no doubt rare, I think the relief you allude to also will be lol. In this semi-rare case Lurtz does everything Ugluk does for you, only better as he can shield and has his bow

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

My valid point is that there are plenty of situations where getting off a 12" stand fast is helpful. There can even be situations where insta killing your own men is worth it. A special rule trumps a s2 bow every day of the week for me.

Gshaw · **Joined:** Wed Jan 22, 2014 11:20 pm **Posts:** 99

Do you have any idea of the scenarios?

Valadorn · **Posted:** Tue Mar 25, 2014 6:04 pm

But what about Mauhur instead of both Ugluk/Vrasku?

1 less M but omg A3 on F5 with 60 pts!
Marauder rule is good too if you need fast models for flanking not sure though, never tried em.

whafrog · **Posted:** Tue Mar 25, 2014 6:43 pm

I'd field Ugluk because I like the pose and flavour

But now that the orc sandwich doesn't work (pikes can't back spears) he's lost some value for sure, and doesn't bring as much to the table as the others. Killing an uruk to get standfast feels is more self-damage than killing an orc.

I know the list can't change, but if you want Ugluk for future reference...consider changing Ugluk's warband to be ferals backed by orc spears. The ferals still get 3A which is plenty, and Ugluk gets some cheap standfast. The tough Uruk captain can lead the legion portion, and the point change might give you enough for another xbow or two.

LordoftheBrownRing · **Posted:** Tue Mar 25, 2014 9:19 pm

^Hes also a 3 might her when Mauhur has 2 and other generic captains do as well.

As for the Original poster--ALWAYS max out your crossbows. I have a 750 pt tournament Im going to and im taking 18 crossbow shots per round including vrasku.

samoht · **Posted:** Wed Mar 26, 2014 10:16 am

Thanks for your feedback guys. Very much appreciated.

The scenarios will be

Reconnoiter
Hold Ground
Lords of Battle
To the Death

What I have learned for the future:
ALWAYS max out crossbows.
Ugluk is not the best choice. I think I'd be better off getting another uruk captain with heavy armour and a shield or maybe an A3 Mahur

LordoftheBrownRing · **Posted:** Fri Mar 28, 2014 3:17 am

Well people discount Ugluk, but his rule can be very helpful at the right moment. Plus, he has 1 more might than a generic captain, which I like........But yeah Im taking him in a 750 pt force because my other choices are Shaman, and Mauhur which have 1 and 2 might only then Vrasku but hes not going to be using a lot of might for close combat stuff. So Ugluk needed to be there for me I guess.

Isengard 500 points army.

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