S4E28 - February 2026 FAQ Review

Andrew of Tabletop Admiral and Now For Wrath YouTube channel returns with all-new tournament stats. Our friend Rob also joins in, as we take a look at the numbers behind the highest performing armies, and the most popular armies.Follow along to all of the stats here:https://tournaments.tabletopadmiral.com/podiums/Middle-Earth%20Strategy%20Battle%20Game%20-%202024Our Links:Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/IntotheWestFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/ITWpodInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/intothewestpodcast/More Open Topic Episodes: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4AjD8eksrQEbY6i8_wCaxxMH9ULExZ6_Time Stamps:00:00 Introduction01:37 Top Podium Armies12:01 Bottom Podium Armies16:50 Most Played Armies19:17 Least Played Armies22:10 Open Discussion26:34 Post-FAQ Predictions40:44 Stats we would like to see44:48 Final ThoughtsCredits:Music: Tavern Loop One by Alexander Nakarada (www.serpentsoundstudios.com) Licensed under Creative Commons BY Attribution 4.0 License https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Another FAQ has been released, and we are here to discuss all the changes, clarifications, and the ways this FAQ may shift the MESBG meta in the coming months. Our Links: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/IntotheWest Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ITWpod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/intothewestpodcast/ More Open Topic Episodes: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4AjD8eksrQEbY6i8_wCaxxMH9ULExZ6_ Time Stamps: 00:00 Intro 01:35 Armies of LotR21:40 Armies of the Hobbit23:59 Armies of Middle-earth33:38 Matched Play Guide39:34 Rules Manual50:15 Final ThoughtsCredits: Music: Tavern Loop One by Alexander Nakarada (www.serpentsoundstudios.com) Licensed under Creative Commons BY Attribution 4.0 License https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Stephen is back in our latest list review episode, taking a look at lists submitted by our patrons over on Patreon. This time, the theme is lists with one or more monsters.Our Links:Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/IntotheWestFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/ITWpodInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/intothewestpodcast/More Open Topic Episodes: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4AjD8eksrQEbY6i8_wCaxxMH9ULExZ6_Time Stamps:00:00 Intro00:52 Shadows of Angmar (Owen)07:39 Cirith Ungol (Eli)13:40 Buhrdur's Horde (Orc Pilled)16:45 The Black Gate (Alex)22:56 Host of The Witch-King (Jonathan)27:43 Legions of Mordor (Chris)32:28 Minas Morgul (Brandon)Credits: Music: Tavern Loop One by Alexander Nakarada (www.serpentsoundstudios.com) Licensed under Creative Commons BY Attribution 4.0 License https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

To kick off the new year, we break down some of the easiest and best armies for new players getting into MESBG! Friend of the channel, Stephen, joins in on the discussion and shares some of his own picks.Our Links: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/IntotheWest Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ITWpod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/intothewestpodcast/ More Open Topic Episodes: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4AjD8eksrQEbY6i8_wCaxxMH9ULExZ6_ Time Stamps: 00:00 Introduction 01:44 Stephen's Pick 07:54 Richard's Pick 11:15 Charles' Pick15:57 Honourable Mentions 38:22 What about other Evil armies? 43:40 Outro Credits: Music: Tavern Loop One by Alexander Nakarada (www.serpentsoundstudios.com) Licensed under Creative Commons BY Attribution 4.0 License https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Music: Redline Musician: EnjoyMusic Site: https://enjoymusic.ai

We come to the end of 2025 with some reflection on the first year of the current edition. Our guest Bazuso joins in as we all share some of our hopes and dreams for the coming year. Our Links: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/IntotheWest Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ITWpod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/intothewestpodcast/ More Open Topic Episodes: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4AjD8eksrQEbY6i8_wCaxxMH9ULExZ6_ Time Stamps: 00:00 Introduction 07:04 The Next Supplement 10:22 Balance Updates19:32 Tournament Scene 23:44 TrophiesOur Sponsor: Baron of Dice With dice for all wargaming systems, including MESBG, go check them out! Link: https://baronofdice.com/?ref=WEST 5% off Promo Code: WEST Credits: Music: Tavern Loop One by Alexander Nakarada (www.serpentsoundstudios.com) Licensed under Creative Commons BY Attribution 4.0 License https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Into the West is joined by friend of the channel, Bazuso, to discuss the most challenging armies to play in the game! We each share a few of our picks, and then go through a list of honourable mentions.Thumbnail: Arwen by @stevelangeloOur Links: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/IntotheWest Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ITWpod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/intothewestpodcast/ More Open Topic Episodes: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4AjD8eksrQEbY6i8_wCaxxMH9ULExZ6_ Time Stamps: 00:00 Introduction 05:18 Ian's Pick11:18 Charles' Pick17:28 Richard's Pick24:00 Baz's Pick 29:11 Ian's 2nd Pick34:00 Honourable mentionsOur Sponsors: Baron of Dice With dice for all wargaming systems, including MESBG, go check them out! Link: https://baronofdice.com/?ref=WEST 5% off Promo Code: WEST Mithril Brush, An online painting competition dedicated to Middle-earth. For more information on how you can enter or support this competition, visit https://www.patreon.com/TheMithrilBrush & https://www.instagram.com/mithrilbrush Credits: Music: Tavern Loop One by Alexander Nakarada (www.serpentsoundstudios.com) Licensed under Creative Commons BY Attribution 4.0 License https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

This episode we are joined by the Hobby Hobbits to cover the top winning lists from Canada's largest tournament, Clash on the Coast 2025, one of the premier tournaments in North America hosted by MTM Printworks! Longshanks Event: https://www.longshanks.org/event/25840/Time Stamps: 00:00 Introduction 03:13 Master's Winning List 04:17 Doubles 06:19 The Grand Tournament07:20 10th Place11:49 9th Place 18:15 8th Place 23:32 7th Place30:58 6th Place 40:01 5th Place 48:47 4th Place 55:29 3rd Place 01:05:10 2nd Place 01:12:43 1st Place 01:19:51 Conclusion and Shoutouts Our Links:Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/IntotheWestFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/ITWpodInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/intothewestpodcast/More Open Topic Episodes: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4AjD8eksrQEbY6i8_wCaxxMH9ULExZ6_Our Sponsors:Baron of Dice With dice for all wargaming systems, including MESBG, go check them out! Link: https://baronofdice.com/?ref=WEST 5% off Promo Code: WESTMithril Brush, An online painting competition dedicated to Middle-earth. For more information on how you can enter or support this competition, visit https://www.patreon.com/TheMithrilBrush & https://www.instagram.com/mithrilbrushCredits:Music: Tavern Loop One by Alexander Nakarada (www.serpentsoundstudios.com) Licensed under Creative Commons BY Attribution 4.0 License https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Music: Redline Musician: EnjoyMusic Site: https://enjoymusic.ai

We're back with a tier list, and this time the topic is monsters! Join us as we discuss and rank all the monster profiles of the game! Time Stamps:00:00 Introduction00:44 Treebeard05:24 Beechbone07:50 Birchseed11:40 Ent14:33 Gwaihir16:40 Great Eagle19:12 Fledgeling Eagle21:16 Radagast on Eagle24:36 Beorn28:48 Grimbeorn32:58 Bofur on Troll Brute37:08 Troll Brute41:32 Sauron45:16 Mordor Troll Chieftain47:55 Shelob51:39 Mordor Troll54:26 Mordor War Catapult Troll55:53 Great Beast of Gorgoroth58:25 Witch-King on Fellbeast01:00:15 Ringwraith on Fellbeast01:02:37 Smaug01:05:44 Dragon01:07:16 Isengard Troll01:10:03 The Balrog01:14:03 The Watcher in the Water01:17:49 Cave Drake01:20:03 Cave Troll01:21:50 Dweller in the Dark01:23:07 Buhrdur01:25:38 Hill Troll01:27:47 Gulavhar01:31:35 Mumak War Leader01:33:31 Mumak01:34:40 The Spider Queen01:38:39 The Snow Troll01:41:52 Catapult Troll01:45:24 Gundabad Ogre01:48:14 Gundabad Troll01:50:41 The Goblin King01:53:42 The Three TrollsMore Ranking Videos: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4AjD8eksrQH5qcVcOHkfDoCWI5d_oxSTPatreon Promotion: We have a new Patreon promotion to announce! After a month of joining, all patrons will receive a set of our new custom Baron Into the West dice (while supplies last)! Our Links: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/IntotheWest Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ITWpod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/intothewestpodcast/ Our Sponsors: Baron of Dice With dice for all wargaming systems, including MESBG, go check them out! Link: https://baronofdice.com/?ref=WEST 5% off Promo Code: WEST Mithril Brush, An online painting competition dedicated to Middle-earth. For more information on how you can enter or support this competition, visit https://www.patreon.com/TheMithrilBrush & https://www.instagram.com/mithrilbrush Credits: Music: Tavern Loop One by Alexander Nakarada (www.serpentsoundstudios.com) Licensed under Creative Commons BY Attribution 4.0 License https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Music: Redline Musician: EnjoyMusic Site: https://enjoymusic.ai

This episode we cover the top winning lists from the NOVA Open 2025, one of the premier tournaments in North America! Time Stamps: 00:00 Introduction03:22 15th Place06:54 14th Place09:30 13th Place12:40 12th Place16:32 11th Place19:40 10th Place22:48 9th Place26:35 8th Place31:40 7th Place (+Frank's Batreps)40:30 6th Place45:21 5th Place47:45 4th Place52:32 3rd Place55:34 2nd Place58:24 1st Place01:01:19 Conclusion and ShoutoutsOur Links:Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/IntotheWestFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/ITWpodInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/intothewestpodcast/More Open Topic Episodes: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4AjD8eksrQEbY6i8_wCaxxMH9ULExZ6_Our Sponsors:Baron of Dice With dice for all wargaming systems, including MESBG, go check them out! Link: https://baronofdice.com/?ref=WEST 5% off Promo Code: WESTMithril Brush, An online painting competition dedicated to Middle-earth. For more information on how you can enter or support this competition, visit https://www.patreon.com/TheMithrilBrush & https://www.instagram.com/mithrilbrushCredits:Music: Tavern Loop One by Alexander Nakarada (www.serpentsoundstudios.com) Licensed under Creative Commons BY Attribution 4.0 License https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Music: Redline Musician: EnjoyMusic Site: https://enjoymusic.ai

Eliott from Gollum's Gamers joins the podcast this week to break down the top winning lists from the largest MESBG tournament in the world, ArdaCon!Time Stamps:00:00 Introduction07:01 ArdaCon Masters11:30 10th Place18:06 9th Place23:33 8th Place28:13 7th Place31:59 6th Place36:56 5th Place40:57 4th Place43:31 3rd Place46:24 2nd Place50:55 1st Place55:31 Final ThoughtsOur Links:Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/IntotheWestFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/ITWpodInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/intothewestpodcast/More Open Topic Episodes: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4AjD8eksrQEbY6i8_wCaxxMH9ULExZ6_Our Sponsors:Baron of Dice With dice for all wargaming systems, including MESBG, go check them out! Link: https://baronofdice.com/?ref=WEST 5% off Promo Code: WESTMithril Brush, An online painting competition dedicated to Middle-earth. For more information on how you can enter or support this competition, visit https://www.patreon.com/TheMithrilBrush & https://www.instagram.com/mithrilbrushCredits:Music: Tavern Loop One by Alexander Nakarada (www.serpentsoundstudios.com) Licensed under Creative Commons BY Attribution 4.0 License https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Music: Redline Musician: EnjoyMusic Site: https://enjoymusic.ai