The 3 Most UNDERRATED Units In MESBG (And 1 That's Overrated)

Thumbnail: Games Workshop

 

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Above all, MESBG is a war game, and that means rules, balancing, and competitive play. 

Despite (mostly) really great internal balancing across much of the range, there are some units that sadly get overlooked. Some are dismissed as too niche. Others are eclipsed by more obvious choices. And some are only ever taken when a list demands it.

But overlooked does not mean weak.

In many cases, these units offer real value to those who understand where they fit, and how they are meant to be used.

It’s also worth considering that no unit exists in isolation. A profile that struggles in one list can excel in another, depending on synergy, heroes, and scenario play.

With that in mind, let’s look at three of the most underrated units in MESBG.

Credit: New Line Cinema - The Two Towers

1. Gimli, Son of Gloin

I bet this wasn't what you were expecting. 

Gimli is one of the main characters of the story, the dwarven warrior-poet known for his axes, stubbornness, and an ongoing rivalry with a certain elven princeling. 

On the table, that translates to a Defence of 8, every kind of Axe, and 3 points of Might and Fate. He's tough, reliable, and more than capable in a fight. 

So how the hell is he underrated? Well, argumentative strawman, I'll tell you.

The answer is simple: Legolas.

(As if there wasn't enough reasons to hate elves already)

I won't mince my words here, Legolas is overpowered this edition. He shoots like PPSH (any CoD: World At War fans in here?), he's accurate, and best of all, he can still Shoot when in Close Combat, meaning that this arrow-slinging machine gun cannot be locked down as he could in previous editions of the game.

What's more, he appears in almost every list that Gimli does, and with most of these lists forcing the Player to buy a big hero like Aragorn to start, it’s no surprise that, when players are choosing where to invest their points, Gimli gets left behind.

The mistake people make however is comparing Gimli against Legolas.

The two characters might have a rivalry, but their roles are entirely different. Legolas is a ranged powerhouse, while Gimli is a tank. 

In almost every list that can take him, from The Fellowship, to Men of the West and even Road to Helm's Deep, Gimli fills that niche. Others might hit harder, or shoot better, but few can take quite so much punishment and stay standing. 

In the right situation, that is invaluable. 

 

Credit: Games Workshop

2. Easterling Warriors

Easterlings are without a doubt one of the coolest evil human armies in the game. With their iconic golden scales and crested helms, curved swords, and a ‘fight to the last man’ attitude, they are more than a match for most Good Warriors in a straight fight.

In game, they're Fight 4, have the Phalanx Special Rule, and their spears can double up as Two-Handed Weapons!

Fun Lore: At the Battle of the Pelennor Fields, the Easterlings were among the last of Sauron’s forces to hold formation, withdrawing in good order toward the Anduin and fighting to destruction rather than routing.

So, they look good, fight well, and have solid rules, so why are they underrated?

The answer is of course the Black Dragons. 

The Black Dragons are the elite of the Dragon Emperor's legions, filling the same battlefield role as the rank and file, with extra Courage, and the ability to get to Fight 5 when near a Black Dragon Hero, and all for just 2pts more per model. 

On paper, they are simply the more efficient choice, and it’s easy to see why most players gravitate toward them. Reducing the Warriors to being little more than the men you take, when the A-team (not that one) isn't available.

But this is exactly where Easterling Warriors are overlooked.

What they offer is efficiency at scale. They are cheaper, more widely available across army lists, and easier to field in meaningful numbers. In an army built around tight formations and pike support, that often matters more than a marginal increase in stats.

More bodies means more Attacks and better control. It also makes you harder to break, which is a huge bonus in objective-based scenarios, where presence often outweighs raw killing power.

Black Dragons may be the elite, but they come at a cost. While Easterling Warriors can fill the same niche, without restricting your numbers.

And that is why they remain underrated; not because they are too specialised, but because they are not specialised enough.

 

Credit: New Line Cinema: The Return of the King

3. Gothmog's Enforcer

Stay with me on this one. 

Gothmog's Enforcer is one of those Characters where you take one glance and immediately dismiss.

His stats are...'whelming' to say the least, with Fight 4, 2 Attacks, and only 1 Might, and all for the same cost as a Morannon Orc Captain, who has higher Strength and Might.

On paper, the choice is clear. So why take him at all? 

The answer is a little complicated.

The Enforcer has 3 points of Will, Heroic Defence, and (most importantly) the Gothmog's Right Hand Special Rule, which allows Gothmog to burn the Enforcer's Will Points to call a Heroic Move or March. All of which makes him a solid (if not particularly scrappy) technical Character - but only if he stays near Gothmog.

Now, for many players, that is a tall order, because Gothmog can ride a warg, meaning that the Enforcer will simply be unable to keep close enough to remain useful. 

But the thing is, in this edition, Gothmog is no longer the aggressive combat piece he once was. With reduced Attacks and a more limited Heroic toolkit, his value lies in command, not raw damage output. (Which makes total sense given how physically crippled he is.) 

I know many tournament die-hards will be waiting for me in the car park after this. But don't be afraid to leave the warg in the stable. You won't lose mobility, because you can call up to 3 Heroic Marches extra per game, saving Gothmog's precious Might for where it counts.

Is Gothmog's Enforcer a meta choice? Hell-no. But he is an excellent force-multiplier in a Gothmog-centric list. 

Credit: Games Workshop - Two Towers Sourcebook (Man, I miss these crowded battle shots)

The Overrated Unit: Rohan Royal Guard

I'm going to catch some heat for this one, but Rohan Royal Guard are overrated.

That's not to say that they're bad, far from it, but they are more highly regarded than they probably should be.

Compared to the humble Rohan Warrior, they have better armour, a higher Fight Value, and the Bodyguard special rule.

All of this is fantastic on paper, but what are you actually getting for your points? 

The answer is Heavy Armour and Fight 4. 

You know who else has Heavy Armour and Fight 4? Basically every mid-tier Warrior Unit in the game, and often for less points. I'm talking:

• Warriors of Minas Tirith
• Easterling Warriors
• Warriors of Arnor
• Uruk-Hai Warriors
• Axemen of Lossarnach 

The kicker is of course the Bodyguard Special Rule, which is fantastic assuming that your general is alive and on the board, but if he's not...You're left with some really expensive Warriors of Minas Tirith (you know, without the Shieldwall Special Rule). 

Now, they can be Mounted on Horses, and here they really do shine, with so many competitive ploys open to them that it's easy to understand why they're so popular.

The Arise Special Rule makes them Fight 5 on the Charge, if they're Mounted and within 12" of a Rohan General, and the addition of Throwing Spears makes them even deadlier.

But even here, the question remains: are they the most efficient way to achieve that?

Standard Riders of Rohan can also take Throwing Spears and bring additional flexibility through bows and lower cost. For similar points, you can often field more models, more utility, and more board presence, without relying on conditional buffs.

And that’s the heart of it.

Rohan Royal Guard are strong - but their reputation often exceeds their efficiency. They are a solid unit in an army that frequently benefits more from numbers and mobility than from marginal stat increases.

 

Credit: Games Workshop: Two Towers Sourcebook (I also miss hand-made terrain)

 

"But What About Legends?"

You may have noticed that none of these choices are from the Legends List. I chose not to include them because sadly Legends Units are not really built with competitive play and balancing in-mind. I do love them however, and will be writing about them soon, watch this space! 

 

A Question For You

What do you think is the most underrated or overrated Unit in the game?

 

 

Like articles like this? Be sure to like and follow on Social Media (Instagram and Facebook), and if you want to support what I do, check out my store (or Etsy)