In the dynamic world of Kings of War, tournaments like the 2023 US Masters and the 2024 Australian Clash of Kings (CoK) are more than just competitions; they are vibrant showcases of strategic evolution and community engagement. As an avid analyst and enthusiast, I've taken a closer look at these tournaments to uncover what the army lists tell us about the strategic minds at play and how they adapt to different rulesets and competitive environments.
The US Masters 2023 represented the apex of competitive Kings of War, with seasoned players navigating the CoK 2023 rules to fine-tune their strategies. On the other hand, the Australian CoK 2024, under the fresh CoK 2024 rules, welcomed a broader spectrum of participants, offering a diverse glimpse into army list creativity and strategic experimentation.
Key Insights from the Two Kings of War Tournaments
I pulled data for each list in each of the tournaments, then prepared summary sheets that show overall stats about the various army compositions. An analysis of the army lists from both tournaments reveals fascinating insights into the universal constants and regional variances of Kings of War strategy:
- Damage Output: Surprisingly, the total damage output was almost identical across the tournaments, with a negligible 0.2% difference. This suggests a global consensus on the importance of maximizing damage potential, irrespective of the meta or player experience.
- Speed and Defense: Both tournaments demonstrated similar priorities in terms of army mobility and resilience, highlighting these as crucial elements for success on the battlefield.
- Strategic Divergences: Australian lists showed a preference for chaff units over the more anchor-focused defense units prevalent in US Masters lists.
Table: Comparative Analysis of US Masters and Aussie CoK Army List Averages
| Metric | US Masters Avg | Aussie CoK Avg | Difference | % Difference |
| Item Pts | 62.9 | 59.5 | -3.4 | -5.4% |
| Total Units | 14.3 | 13.9 | -0.4 | -2.8% |
| Unit Strength | 24.1 | 24.3 | 0.2 | 0.8% |
| Scoring Units | 11.7 | 11.2 | -0.5 | -4.3% |
| Avg Speed | 6.7 | 6.7 | 0.0 | 0.0% |
| Nimble | 4.4 | 3.6 | -0.8 | -18.2% |
| Shambling | 1.3 | 1.9 | 0.6 | 46.2% |
| Avg Defense | 4.5 | 4.4 | -0.1 | -2.2% |
| Nerve Pool | 219.6 | 215.5 | -4.1 | -1.9% |
| Expected Damage | 62.1 | 62.2 | 0.1 | 0.2% |
| Leader | 3.8 | 3.5 | -0.3 | -7.9% |
| Buffer | 2.4 | 2.8 | 0.4 | 16.7% |
| Shock | 2.6 | 3.0 | 0.4 | 15.4% |
| Flanker | 3.9 | 4.0 | 0.1 | 2.6% |
| Chaff | 1.4 | 1.6 | 0.2 | 14.3% |
| Battleline | 6.0 | 6.3 | 0.3 | 5.0% |
Magic Item Variation
Further, the selection of magic items provides a fascinating lens through which to understand player strategies and regional metagames. A comparative analysis of the 2023 US Masters and the 2024 Clash of Kings Australia tournaments reveals intriguing patterns in how participants prioritize assigning magic items. The tournaments have similar numbers of players, and the US Masters used 43 different items, while CoK Australia used 45.
What can we draw from the breakdown? Everyone loves the J-Boots. This item, slightly more favored in the Australian context, underscores a global consensus on the tactical advantage of maneuverability through terrain. The Herfindahl-Hirschman Index (HHI), a measure of concentration, further illuminates these trends. With an HHI of 386 for the US and 423 for Australia, the data indicates a tighter concentration of item selections in the Australian tournament. This suggests a more pronounced consensus among Australian players regarding the efficacy of certain items, compared to their American counterparts who exhibited a broader distribution of preferences. Does this concentration reflect random noise, responses to the CoK 2024 rules, or simply more fine-tuned lists in the US Masters invitation-only tournament? It’s tough to say, but I wanted to note it.
What are the top items taken?
Top 5 Items
- Sir Jesse's Boots of Striding
- 2023 US Masters: Chosen 22 times (9.7% of selections)
- 2024 Clash of Kings Australia: Chosen 23 times (10.9% of selections)
- Brew of Strength
- 2023 US Masters: Chosen 13 times (5.8% of selections)
- 2024 Clash of Kings Australia: Chosen 16 times (7.6% of selections)
- Brew of Sharpness
- 2023 US Masters: Chosen 11 times (4.9% of selections)
- 2024 Clash of Kings Australia: Chosen 8 times (3.8% of selections)
- Staying Stone
- 2023 US Masters: Chosen 10 times (4.4% of selections)
- 2024 Clash of Kings Australia: Chosen 6 times (2.8% of selections)
- Blade of Slashing
- 2023 US Masters: Chosen 10 times (4.42% of selections)
- 2024 Clash of Kings Australia: Chosen 14 times (6.6% of selections)
Faction Variances
In both tournaments, the diversity of factions showcases the game's balanced design and the players' ingenuity in leveraging the strengths of their chosen armies. Notably, the 2024 Clash of Kings Australia saw a distinct preference for Abyssal Dwarfs and Empire of Dust, among others, possibly reflecting a regional affinity or a strategic response to the current meta. As I noted in my Abyssal Dwarf Army Review, I expected to see a strong bounceback in Abyssal Dwarf lists under the CoK 2024 rules. The 2023 US Masters, on the other hand, was dominated by Dwarfs, Forces of the Abyss, and Elves, hinting at a different tactical landscape or perhaps a different interpretation of the game's balance prior to the CoK 2024 changes.
Here's a snapshot of the faction participation and differences:
| Faction | Count_US | Count_Australia | Difference |
| Abyssal Dwarfs | 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Basileans | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| Dwarfs | 8 | 3 | -5 |
| Elves | 6 | 3 | -3 |
| Empire of Dust | 2 | 5 | 3 |
| Forces of Nature | 4 | 1 | -3 |
| Forces of the Abyss | 6 | 2 | -4 |
| Free Dwarfs | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Goblins | 4 | 4 | 0 |
| Halflings | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Kingdoms of Men | 0 | 4 | 4 |
| League of Rhordia | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Nightstalkers | 3 | 4 | 1 |
| Noble Undead | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Northern Alliance | 2 | 3 | 1 |
| Ogres | 5 | 3 | -2 |
| Orcs | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Ratkin | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Salamanders | 4 | 1 | -3 |
| The Herd | 3 | 4 | 1 |
| The Order of the Green Lady | 2 | 1 | -1 |
| Trident Realm of Neritica | 3 | 2 | -1 |
| Undead | 3 | 4 | 1 |
| Varangur | 3 | 3 | 0 |
What do you think is driving the differences between these Kings of War tournaments? CoK 2024? Regional changes? Statistical noise?
Conclusion
The comparison between the 2023 US Masters and the 2024 Australian Clash of Kings highlights the rich strategic diversity within the Kings of War community. It showcases not only the adaptability of players to new rulesets but also the creativity and innovation that define the game. As we look forward to future tournaments, these insights offer insight for players aiming to refine their tactics and adapt to the evolving meta. I encourage readers to share their thoughts and experiences, further enriching our collective understanding of Kings of War strategy.
