Druid
A Tier
Cost: 80 | Nerve: 12 | Defense: 4 | Speed: 5
Avg Damage vs Def 5: 0.11 | Durability Index: 1,915 | Unit Index: 23.9
The Druid isn’t as powerful as the previous version, but I still think it’s one of the easiest Champions in the faction to justify.
For only 80 points you get Inspiring and access to one of the most versatile spell selections in the army. Most of the time I’m not taking a Druid because of raw efficiency metrics. I’m taking one because it fills whatever support role my list happens to be missing.
Just like the Gladewalker Druid, I think the Speed 9 mount is extremely difficult to pass up. The increased mobility dramatically improves positioning and lets you get much more value out of whichever spell package you bring.
I often find myself starting lists with at least one Druid. There simply aren’t many characters that offer this much utility for 80 points.
Verdict: Slightly worse than before Fracture, but still one of the better Champions available.
Tribal Songweaver
C Tier
Cost: 95 | Nerve: 12 | Defense: 4 | Speed: 6
Avg Damage vs Def 5: 0.17 | Durability Index: 1,915 | Unit Index: 20.2
I struggle a bit with banner characters this edition, and the Songweaver is a good example of why.
For only a small increase in cost, the Druid gains access to spells that can influence the game in meaningful ways. The Songweaver, by comparison, doesn’t really bring enough to make me excited about including it.
The profile itself isn’t bad. It’s simply difficult to compare it against the Druid and come away thinking this is the stronger option.
I could see it finding a place in armies that don’t care about magical support, but I think those armies are fairly uncommon.
Verdict: Perfectly serviceable, but I rarely find myself choosing it over a Druid.
Ydrin Thorncreeper
C Tier
Cost: 145 | Nerve: 13 | Defense: 3 | Speed: 6
Avg Damage vs Def 5: 3.11 | Durability Index: 1,690 | Unit Index: 11.7
Ydrin has always felt like a character that should be better than his actual tabletop performance.
The design is interesting. He’s clearly intended to be a mobile skirmisher that jumps around the battlefield looking for favorable opportunities. The problem is that Def 3 leaves very little room for mistakes.
The damage isn’t terrible, but neither the durability nor efficiency numbers really stand out. Every time I look at Ydrin I can see what the designers were aiming for, but I struggle to picture situations where I’d rather have him than some of the other Champion options.
I could be missing something, but I’ve never managed to make him feel particularly impactful.
Verdict: Interesting rules, but not a unit I’ve had much success with.
Forest Warden
B Tier
Cost: 160 | Nerve: 13 | Defense: 5 | Speed: 6
Avg Damage vs Def 5: 3.11 | Durability Index: 3,380 | Unit Index: 21.1
The Forest Warden benefits significantly from the changes to Elemental synergy.
Being able to support all Elemental units makes him considerably easier to justify than he would have been under the old Sylvan rules. His offensive output is fairly similar to Ydrin’s, but the Def 5 profile makes him much more forgiving.
Host Shadowbeast is where things get interesting. Once you start factoring that spell in, the damage output becomes respectable enough that he can contribute in combat while still providing support value.
I don’t think he’s an automatic inclusion, but I can absolutely see lists where he earns his points.
Verdict: A solid support character that fits naturally into Elemental-focused armies.
Centaur Chief
B Tier
Cost: 155 | Nerve: 14 | Defense: 4 | Speed: 8
Avg Damage vs Def 5: 2.89 | Durability Index: 2,607 | Unit Index: 16.8
The Centaur Chief is a fairly straightforward mounted character.
Speed 8 is always useful, and while the damage output won’t scare anyone, it’s enough to help finish off damaged units and contribute when opportunities arise.
I actually think the lack of special rules is one of the reasons he’s reasonably priced. There isn’t anything particularly flashy here, but there also isn’t a lot of wasted cost tied up in rules you may never use.
The downside is that he doesn’t really bring anything unique to an army.
Verdict: A dependable utility character, but not one that usually changes how I build a list.
Knight Champion
C Tier
Cost: 155 | Nerve: 13 | Defense: 5 | Speed: 8
Avg Damage vs Def 5: 2.78 | Durability Index: 3,380 | Unit Index: 21.8
If you are planning on running Nature’s Knights or Order of the Thorn, this character becomes considerably more attractive simply because of the unlock requirements.
Outside of those lists, I struggle to get excited about him.
The profile itself is perfectly acceptable. Def 5, Speed 8, and respectable offensive output create a useful mounted character. The problem is that he doesn’t interact particularly well with many of the army’s strongest synergies.
Whenever I start looking at the Human portion of the roster, I usually end up deciding I’d rather invest those points elsewhere.
Verdict: Necessary for certain builds, but not a character I would typically take on his own merits.
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