S4E19 - Army List Reviews August 2025

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

Today we review and rate some army lists submitted by our patrons, armies they have yet to try out!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 Intro00:53 Realms of Men07:32 Buhrdur's Horde13:30 Garrison of Ithilien20:21 Moria26:11 Lothlorien35:15 Grand Army of the SouthOur 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/

It's FAQ season in MESBG, and as usual we are here to break down all of the rules clarifications and errata this time round. 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 01:08 Matched Play Guide01:22 Armies of the Hobbit03:52 Armies of the Lord of the Rings10:56 Armies of Middle-earth14:49 Rules ManualOur 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/

Following our Good tier list, we now break down all the armies of Evil! Join us as we rank all 47 armies.More Ranking Videos: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4AjD8eksrQH5qcVcOHkfDoCWI5d_oxSTTime Stamps:00:00 Introduction01:01 Barad-dur03:10 The Black Riders09:35 Wraiths on Wings15:27 Army of Gothmog18:33 Legions of Mordor22:01 Minas Morgul25:07 Cirith Ungol27:31 The Black Gate31:27 Army of the White Hand33:00 Ugluk's Scouts34:11 Wolves of Isengard36:15 Lurtz's Scouts38:23 Assault Upon Helm's Deep42:11 Muster of Isengard44:52 Usurpers of Edoras47:49 Besiegers of the Hornburg53:56 Depths of Moria56:07 Harad01:00:35 Corsair Fleets01:03:52 Army of Gundabad01:07:27 Goblin-Town01:12:08 Pits of Dol Guldur01:15:57 Rise of the Necromancer01:18:15 Azog's Hunters01:21:46 The Three Trolls01:24:07 Moria01:26:39 Desolator of the North01:27:43 Army of the Great Eye01:30:13 Sharkey's Rogues01:34:39 Umbar01:38:11 Host of the Witch-King01:40:18 Shadows of Angmar01:43:42 Buhrdur's Horde01:47:50 Army of Carn Dum01:49:14 Wolf Pack of Angmar01:51:52 The Serpent Horde01:56:13 The Easterlings01:58:01 Dragons of the North02:01:10 Host of the Dragon Emperor02:05:35 Grand Army of the South02:08:56 Fell Beings of Mirkwood02:10:29 Far Harad02:12:36 Variags of Khand02:13:59 Army of Dunland02:15:39 Ravagers of the Shire02:17:37 Assault on Lothlorien02:19:15 The Spider Queen's Brood02:23:10 Final Thoughts & AdjustmentsPatreon 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/IntotheWestFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/ITWpodInstagram: 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: 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

With the recent release of Armies of Middle-earth and the Legacy profiles, we break down and rank all the Good armies in the game! More Ranking Videos: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4AjD8eksrQH5qcVcOHkfDoCWI5d_oxST Time Stamps: 00:00 Introduction 01:13 The Fellowship03:05 Road to Rivendell04:19 The Shire07:23 Breaking of the Fellowship09:44 Kingdom of Rohan12:15 Road to Helm's Deep14:50 Defenders of Helm's Deep17:00 Ride Out20:20 Riders of Eomer22:00 Riders of Theoden24:53 Army of Edoras29:03 Defenders of the Hornburg30:27 Minas Tirith33:02 Garrison of Ithilien 34:55 Reclaimation of Osgiliath36:16 Atop the Walls38:44 Return of the King41:26 Defenders of the Pelennor42:39 Men of the West44:41 Lindon47:24 Numenor52:00 Rivendell54:22 The Last Alliance 57:47 Lothlorien58:53 Fangorn01:02:15 The Eagles01:05:12 Realms of Men01:07:03 Thorin’s Company01:08:04 Army of Thror01:11:33 The Iron Hills01:14:33 Erebor Reclaimed01:16:49 Army of Lake-town01:18:33 Survivors of Lake-town01:22:26 Garrison of Dale01:24:29 Erebor & Dale01:26:20 Halls of Thranduil 01:27:57 Rangers of Mirkwood01:30:50 Battle of the Five Armies01:32:16 Assault on Ravenhill01:33:55 Radagast’s Alliance01:35:15 The White Council01:37:22 Battle of Bywater01:40:38 Arathorn’s Stand01:44:10 The Grey Company01:45:49 The Beornings01:46:58 Fords of Isen01:49:25 Paths of the Druadan01:53:39 The Fiefdoms 01:55:46 The Grief of Eomer01:58:36 Army of Dale02:00:03 Arnor02:01:21 Battle of Fornost02:03:00 Kingdom of Khazad-Dum02:04:38 Army of Erebor02:08:41 Defenders of Erebor02:11:14 Battle of Greenfields02:13:30 Fields of Celebrant02:18:23 Reclamation of Moria02:20:25 Expedition to the East02:23:14 Final Thoughts & AdjustmentsPatreon 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

We discuss how the Legacy documents released by GW will fit into the MESBG scene and also do a full review of all the profiles and armies!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 Introduction00:38 Discussion on Legacies07:01 Forces of Good Profiles27:19 Forces of Good Armies34:48 Forces of Evil Profiles1:14:38 Forces of Evil ArmiesOur 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: RedlineMusician: EnjoyMusicSite: https://enjoymusic.ai

With the release of all the new profiles and armies in Armies of Middle-earth, we look to see which armies are currently the most powerful!More Ranking Videos: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4AjD8eksrQH5qcVcOHkfDoCWI5d_oxSTTime Stamps:00:00 Introduction02:23 Current Armies Runners Up05:12 Current Armies 4th Pick06:28 Current Armies 3rd Pick07:56 Current Armies 2nd Pick10:49 Current Armies 1st Pick12:34 New Armies Runners Up17:16 New Armies 3rd Pick19:54 New Armies 2nd Pick23:31 New Armies 1st PickPatreon 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/IntotheWestFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/ITWpodInstagram: 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: 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: RedlineMusician: EnjoyMusicSite: https://enjoymusic.ai

It's finally here! With the announcement of Armies of Middle-earth and the Matched Play Guide on the horizon, we break down the preview articles released this week.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 Introduction01:41 Armies of Middle-earth & Matched Play Guide04:20 Prince Imrahil07:35 Khazad Guard11:23 Tom Bombadil & Goldberry13:24 Dragon19:03 Black Dragon WarriorOur 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: RedlineMusician: EnjoyMusicSite: https://enjoymusic.ai

We invite Jake onto the show to talk about his recent travels in Europe, and his experience and success in the MESBG tournaments abroad.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 Intro00:59 NA vs Europe12:12 City of Kings: Terrain20:19 City of Kings: Custom Scenarios21:49 Level of Play33:30 Final ThoughtsOur 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/

Joined by Mitchell of The Durin Show podcast, we dive into the top armies of AdeptiCon this year. Time Stamps:00:00 Introduction04:27 10th Place09:58 9th Place13:49 8th Place16:42 7th Place20:26 6th Place23:20 5th Place26:51 4th Place30:35 3rd Place35:35 2nd Place40:59 1st Place45:48 Final ThoughtsPatreon 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/  More Ranking Videos: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4AjD8eksrQH5qcVcOHkfDoCWI5d_oxST  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/