Win with Underdog Armies - Middle Earth Strategy Battle Game | MESBG

Our guest from Philadelphia, Alisher, joins the podcast to discuss the nuances and advantages of using armies that are not typically seen on tournament podiums. Following that, we review two underdog armies that have seen competitive success: Alisher’s tournament-winning list, and Ian’s Dol Guldur list.
00:00 Introduction
02:35 Why play underdog armies?
06:52 Alisher’s List
22:22 Ian’s List
34:46 Closing thoughts
Thank you to everyone who contributed their work for this video:
@heroichighlights
Joshua Lawrence - AdeptiCon footage
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[@intothewestpodcast]

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[@NoobsandMen]

Nothing I love more than running an army that isn't often seen and podiuming with it. Dale was my big one, 3 podiums with this army including 1st place. For a while Gondor was struggling in the QLD league and constantly placing in the lower ends of tournaments. I was able to get 1st place on multiple occasions with it. I got a few other examples but already feel like a jerk for mentioning my podiums😅 At the end of the day, I build list towards what I will enjoy playing as opposed to chansing the meta or trying to counter the meta. I always have more fun and tend to do better when I build a list I like even if it's not a traditionally well rounded/thought out list. -Sean

[@intothewestpodcast]

Talk your stuff man, dominating with Dale will always be impressive to me! Nothing wrong with speaking facts!! 😂 100% that's what the hobby is about... And that's my excuse for building crazy lists 😅 -Richard

[@Sierra117Masterchief00]

Hey guys, i think that in the end, you have to find you're "list type" like swarm, elite, heroes centered ecc and then optimize it. For my personal style of game, i NEED a good amount of numbers, because in all my loss i got tabled and my lack of experience turned to suffered a lot low numbers, despite having big choppy choppy heroes that cant close the gap. Btw i think that LL can help a lot even if you're struggling with experience, i got a podium with my rangers of Mirkwood LL slighlty when it was released, and im not a podium player at all

[@intothewestpodcast]

Well said! Finding a list that suits your play style and learning how it plays can often be more effective than just picking the hottest list at the moment. -Charles

[@KieranBartonVO]

What other armies do you consider Underdogs? It seems like most underdog armies require a skilled player, but do you think there are some armies that even the best players would struggle to win with? (I am going to assume one is my poor Sharkey's Rogues)

[@intothewestpodcast]

Hmm good question, I'd say something like Grey Company and Dark Denizens of Mirkwood have potential but are definitely tough to do well with. Haha yes Sharkey's Rogues is not even an underdog anymore it's just a dog 😬 similar to running Fangorn or three trolls, I think those are just purely thematic lists, very unlikely to win a tournament no matter how skilled you are. -Richard

[@jmaccsarmiesofmiddleearth]

Another class episode. I've tried sweaty lists, but I always seem to perform way better when I use my Galadrim spam list as suits my playstyle more. Although defos a few lists there I want to Try now😂

[@intothewestpodcast]

Haha fair enough, it definitely feels good when you can pull off a good showing with pure Lothlorien. Your opponents can't really complain either lol -Richard

[@metascrub285]

Honestly Necromancer is better just using his legendary Legion with trolly nazguls that never die, very unfun for the opponent if they don't know what they are doing.

[@Jewus19]

we locally are in a very magic heavy meta. Angmar is EVERYWHERE. Just to name the elephant in the room. So we usually cannot have cool things (like epic heroes). That makes for very onesided ranged focussed lists, shredding all those angmar players making them frustrated. And *fun* players, playing cool thicc heroes, getting very sad because of the angmar players xD Not a great place to be in, hobby wise.

[@RogueKloral]

What's with the excessive adds guys? Literally every 2-3 mins two 10 secs adds.

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Sorry that was your experience, we have ads enabled but don't have control how often KZbin shows the ads. It's just a way for us to get a little beer money back for the time we put in but if it's really that bothersome then perhaps try Adblock.

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KZbin is ruining their platform with their greed. They are spamming too many adds these days. Plus making them longer, and increasing the amount from one each time to two. They have also increased the 5 sec add to 7 sec. It’s like they want people to use add block. I don’t mind supporting the channels with an add or two. But getting interrupted every 3-4 mins by 20 sec ads is way too much. I liked the system where you got one at the start and one at the end. And maybe a odd one in the middle for longer vids. We also used to be able to see when the ads were coming they took that out too.