In the Mind: The Best Model in MESBG!

 What is the Best Model in the Game?

Well the best model in the game... I have another hot take for everyone today. The best model/profile in the game is... The Ranger of the North. mic drop. End the blog here. I WILL DIE ON THIS HILL. Actually, I really wont but I do think they are truly some of the best models ever. I have been playing them in multiple lists from the Greenfields, Grey Company, Fornost, Arnor, to the Pellenor fields and hopefully soon the Arathorn's Stand list as well. 

Why is it the best?
Well lets break it down. For the cost of 25 points they are a really affordable option. I always take them with spears so I take them at 26 points each. 

Let us compare them to the Beorning profile since they are in man ways similar. Altogether the Beornings have a fight value, 2 wounds, some instances an extra attack, access to a burly weapon. The rangers have, the better shot value, and heroic stats. Heroic stats normally in this game follow some major themes. Normally they fall under the idea that each might will fate is worth 5 points. This makes then in essence 10 point models that can have infinite bows, solid fight value and 2 attacks in most scenarios or extra might in the others or other remarkable buffs. In almost every scenario they will be near a banner, they also normally receive movement bonuses. 

Ultimately they function in many faceted areas. In Fornost, Arnor, and Pellenor they fulfill the role of the crucial heroic move, or combat in a specific area. That 1 point of might is so diverse and is quite affordable. In Arnor they get free fate bonuses and will be near a banner effect instead of having 2 attacks, In Fornost they receive the upgrade of being able to take hobbits which in itself is plenty, Then they gain resistant to magic. In Pellenor (my personal favorite) they are those flexible unit having that banner effect with Halbarad and more then that they all receive a free combat. They receive an additional might point for free. Not only that but this rises exponentially when you take 2 of them. You take two they do what a captain does with sure fight 4 but 4 points of might instead of 2 for 50-52 points. They again add a shooting threat which I then combine with Blackroot vale archers and some Rohan riders to make an elite shooting force that can tear through an army in combat. 

Take this list as an example for Pellenor Fields:

Coming in with a whopping 18 bowshots a turn PLUS d6 from the bolt thrower makes it quite the force to be reckoned with in shooting. Additionally it has 15 might to start and 10 free heroic combats. With the 2 knights, and 5 dead, you have quite a bit of speed as well in addition to a nice defensive amount of troops to help play the game when combat is reached. It is a micro managing list but one that is super powerful. 

Then there is the grey company, currently my main bread and butter. This list is weak on paper and weak on the table in the inept hand. But in the hand of a player who knows what they are doing it is quite lethal. In 3 games so far with it on the table versus, White hand (lead from the front), Minas Morgul (Domination), and Rangers of Mirkwood (Hold Ground) I have lost at most in a singular game 4 models. The rangers of Mirkwood game I had half of my force one one side of the board and half on the other. Aragorn, Elladan, Elrohir and about 6 rangers killed his entire army ultimately board wiping him. Legolas spent so much of the game running that he and his 4 rangers got 2 sets of shots off all game but did secure the objective. Against white hand i took out about 4 uruks, a fate on the oathmaker through like 5 in the ways, and a wound one 2 separate birds as well as 1 wildman. We then made combat in this weird area between a fence and a rock formation and Aragorn and the twins held it while a few rangers held the fence line and Legolas and a few held the backside of the choke in an anti fly. It resulted in a massive win through a disengage play I did to take out several birds in one turn. Minas morgul was simple, i sank 3 might took out the fell beast turn one, turn two took out 2 spectres and an orc then made combat in a nice area flanked by a building and some woodland terrain. I just kept bouncing around in that area and just walked through all the orcs and applied so much pressure with my heroes to the witch king that he couldn't ever safely throw the witch king in. I broke him got into the witch king killed him and watched his army flee and took 4 of the 5 objectives losing just 2 models. Here is the list:

It is super fun and hits insanely hard but must always be moving and disengaging in order to survive. Cav are always the priority to shoot out then focus on a hero or some other priority target. Needless to say when you have some big heroes that protect the rangers well they will flourish. It is not easy but they are super powerful and can be very efficient. 

Throw down your comments to try to tell me how stupid I am for thinking these models are amazing. But... maybe one day we will meet on the table and Ill be lucky enough to have some rangers with me to prove myself!!