Which faction should I play? / Faction Breakdown

Hey everyone,

This article was one of the first here on the blog and is still by far the most read one every month. That’s why I decided to bring it up to date: March 2025.

The goal of this article is to provide an overview of the basic differences and playstyles of the factions in Conquest and to suggest the best purchases to start with.

The strength of the factions relative to each other is something I cover biannually in separate articles:
➡️ Conquest Meta and Power Ranking in the First Half of 2024 in Germany
➡️ Conquest Meta and Power Ranking in the Second Half of 2024 in Germany

One of the most common questions I see on Discord is: "I want to start playing Conquest, what should I play?" And the standard answer is: "Play what you like visually / what’s fun." This is usually a frustrating answer and less helpful, especially when I myself always choose my factions based on what I enjoy in systems.

What’s important to know about Conquest: each faction has three sub-factions, each allowing different playstyles. These can be mixed without restrictions, giving you three successful list concepts to choose from that are usually competitive. Furthermore, the balancing is currently on an excellent path, and the tournament scenes in both America and Europe agree that the power difference between the factions right now is only -5% to +5%. On the other hand, we currently have a relatively small player base and more of a player meta than a faction meta.

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The Hundred Kingdoms
Who is this army for?
For players who want a flexible army with which they can build many different lists and are okay with not being exceptional in any one area. The Hundred Kingdoms are average everywhere, with only swords, pikes, and lances to counter monsters in EA. High fantasy is nearly absent here: aside from a massive divine golem and a mage, the Hundred Kingdoms are firmly grounded in low fantasy. So, if you’ve always dreamed of leading a crusade, sweeping across the plains with an armored knight army, or simply putting mass units on the table, you’ll feel right at home here.

Pros

• Four unique keywords (Imperial, Theist, Order, Feudal) offer different playstyles and army concepts that can be combined.

• Pure cavalry armies are easily possible.

• Affordable, especially on the second-hand market or with old starter boxes.

• Highly synergistic, making even a simple peasant a decent fighter.

Cons

• The modular rule system can be confusing.

• Templar knights and church characters (Theist) cannot be used together.

• Aside from the Templar knights, many units have rather below-average stats.

• Many old kits.

What should you buy to start with the Hundred Kingdoms?
At the beginning, the key question is: Do you want to follow the path of the church (Theist) or the path of the Templar knights (Order)? Both options can be combined flexibly with the remaining keywords (Imperial and Feudal). This allows you to either rely on a solid infantry base or build a powerful cavalry army. It’s also possible to combine Imperial and Feudal, but for beginners, starter boxes are recommended due to the significant cost savings, and these mainly focus on the two keywords.

The 5th Anniversary Box from 2024 provides a strong start for a cavalry-centered Order force. It contains a large number of Templar knights and offers the best price/performance ratio.
The Supercharger Box from 2025, on the other hand, clearly focuses on the Theist side of the Hundred Kingdoms. In addition to thematically appropriate church units, it also includes a Noble Lord. This makes it possible to build classic Men-at-Arms instead of Crusaders, which adds extra flexibility.
Other expansions might be more useful, and it’s not really worth buying either of these boxes twice.

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Spire
Who is this army for?
For players who have alien vibes, love speed, and want to buff their regiments to absurd levels, the Spire are perfect. However, these buffs usually come at a high price in the form of damage, and even though the Spire have the best healing options in the game, they can hardly make up for the damage from the buffs and must be used thoughtfully. Usually, you rely on quantity rather than quality, for example, having twice as many shots as the Hundred Kingdoms in ranged combat. The limited Cleave options are often a problem, as well-armored regiments can only be destroyed with the help of a Pheromancer or the Incarnates.

Pros

• Relatively stable with lots of healing, regeneration, and regiments with D4.

• No dice rolls required for buffs and debuffs.

• The best buffs and debuffs in the game.

• Cumulative effects that lower the enemy's armor.

• The best ranged fire in the game.

• Very strong in scenarios, usually an army that scores early and tries to hold it.

• Mostly affordable regiments.

Cons

• Many old kits.

• Complex army list building and few overlaps in army concepts, leading to high acquisition costs.

• Quite a few "codex corpses" (outdated units).

What should you buy to start with the Spire?
The best entry into the Spire is the 2024 5th Anniversary Box, which offers a variety of useful units. It provides a solid foundation for your Highborne Warband, although buying this box twice is not recommended.
Fortunately, this box doesn’t overlap with the 2025 Supercharged Starter Box, which is also an excellent choice for starting. Many players recommend buying the Supercharged Box twice instead of the 5th Anniversary Box and combining it with a Siegebreaker and Biomancer, but this is a very specialized tactic that’s not suitable for every playstyle.

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Dweghom
Who is this army for?
The Dweghom are the perfect choice for players looking for a solid, direct, and above all, forgiving army. This faction excels with an impressive combination of strong warriors and the most powerful spellcasters in the game. The Dweghom offer a clear playstyle: either you charge forward with your army of burning, mad berserkers and score early, or you rely on your powerful spellcasters, who are capable of destroying entire enemy regiments with a single spell or protecting your own regiments. Playing with the Dweghom doesn’t require complex maneuvers, instead focusing on strength and precision.

Pros

• Very beginner-friendly, forgiving many gameplay mistakes.

• Very strong spellcasters and ranged attacks.

• Fewer special rules/tricks than other factions.

Cons

• Limited range and movement stats.

• Fewer special rules/tricks than other factions.

• Many old kits.

What should you buy to start with the Dweghom?
The entry into the Dweghom is particularly affordable with the 2024 5th Anniversary Box, which offers unbeatable value for the price. Although the Hold Raegh with its Ironclad actually prefers other regiments, it provides a solid foundation for any Dweghom army—especially since you essentially get the three regiments for free.
Alternatively, the 2025 Supercharged Starter Set is a good choice, focusing heavily on the Tempered faction with the powerful spellcasters of the Dweghom. A good expansion for this box would be a Tempered Sorcerer with a Hellbringer, or alternatively, an Ardent with more Flame Berserkers, which also synergize well with a Hold Raegh as a warlord.

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Nords
Who is this army for?
The Nords are for players who want to play an elite and aggressive army filled with creatures from Nordic mythology. With Jotnars, trolls, wolves, barbarians, and other beings from the frosty expanse of Nordic legends, the Nords offer a fascinating mix of raw savagery and hard-hitting power. This army lives by the principle of "Always be charging": they storm forward with full force, using their high mobility and ability to hit hard in close combat, and they endure this with the additional bonuses their faction rules provide.
I also wrote a review with a tier list for all Nords army choices: Nords Army Review Tier List and Insights for Beginners.

Pros

• A lot of armor-ignoring abilities.

• High mobility (movement).

• Bonuses for charges (more impactful stands, better morale).

• Evasion 2 armies are possible, meaning Cleave is not a problem.

Cons

• Fragility, rarely better protection rolls than 2.

• Many old kits.

• Reliant on charging.

What should you buy to start with the Nords?
For the optimal start, I recommend combining the 2024 5th Anniversary Box and the 2025 Supercharged Starter Set. Unfortunately, no Raiders are included, which often form the backbone of many Nords lists, so at least one regiment of Raiders is recommended – ideally three – even though the kit is a bit older. These models are affordable and provide a strong foundation for any list.
Alternatively, you could buy the 2023 2-Player Starter Box twice and also purchase a character of your choice (such as Blooded or Jarl). For about 90 Euros per box (often found for less), you get a solid foundation. Even though you can only play the character from the box once, the price-performance ratio is unbeatable. Unfortunately, the box doesn't combine well with the current single-player boxes.

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W'adrhŭn
Who is this army for?
The W'adrhŭn are perfect for players who like to plan far ahead, love dinosaurs, have no problem with every gameplay mistake potentially wiping out part of their army, prioritize movement play, and want maximum flexibility on the field. While army lists without dinosaurs are possible, if you didn’t dream of riding a Tyrannosaurus as a child, this faction probably isn’t for you. With the Warchants, the W'adrhŭn can flexibly buff their army, whether it’s increasing movement, ignoring armor, gaining scenario advantages, or adding extra stability. Players who aren’t afraid of high risks and losing entire regiments due to poor decisions, but who value flexibility in gameplay, will have a lot of fun with the W'adrhŭn. I also wrote a detailed guide for all army choices for the W'adrhŭn: W'adrhŭn Guide.

Pros

• Pure dino armies are playable.

• Affordable entry with the 2025 2-Player Starter Box.

• Chants allow flexible buffs without dice rolls.

• Many attacks per stand.

• All new kits.

Cons

• Weak protection values – stability mainly comes from high hit points.

• Elite regiments are all very expensive.

• Equipment is strongly tied to your cult or warlord.

• The faction balancing is still a work in progress; some regiments are clearly stronger than others.

What should you buy to start with the W'adrhŭn?
The entry into the W'adrhŭn is particularly affordable with the 2025 2-Player Starter Box (half of the W'adrhŭn). Just the Quatl / Winglord is more expensive than half of the box, and the Warband integrates easily into almost any list. The box also combines excellently with the 2025 Supercharged Starter Set to expand the army further.
However, if you’re choosing both boxes, I would currently avoid the 5th Anniversary Set for the W'adrhŭn, as it overlaps with the newer boxes and offers little additional value. The same goes for purchasing the Supercharged Starter Box twice.

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Old Dominion
Who is this army for?
The Old Dominion is for players who are fascinated by the dark grandeur of an unstoppable, undead legion. If you’ve always dreamed of leading a disciplined force whose iron will cannot be broken, even in death, then this is the army for you. Imagine an ancient Roman legion, reinforced by ghostly apparitions, centaurs, walking mausoleums, gravestones, and led by a fallen pantheon that can also walk the battlefield. On the battlefield, the Old Dominion embodies the philosophy of ancient Rome: merciless, methodical, and disciplined. Whether as an unwavering advancing phalanx or as a surprisingly fast, flexible assault force, this army now offers an impressive range of playstyles. However, its true terror is unleashed as the battle progresses: every fallen unit, every loss strengthens the dark powers of the ancient gods. At first, it may be challenging to use the complex special rules optimally, but players who show patience and lead their legion wisely will be rewarded with an unstoppable force later in the game.

Pros

• The most stable faction in close combat, as they have no Resolve.

• They get stronger with losses.

• The best Infaction Balancing in the game, no "codex dead weight".

• All new kits.

Cons

• Vulnerable to ranged attacks.

• Some players may find the lack of Resolve tests unfair.

What should you buy to start with the Old Dominion?
A great starting point is the Old Dominion 5th Anniversary Box.
It offers excellent value for money and forms the perfect base for any army, whether for tournaments or casual play. If you appreciate the look of the Bonegolems, it’s absolutely worth buying it twice. For the Duel Kits, I would first go for Moroi and Legionaries. This will give you everything you need.
Additionally, the Anniversary Box combines excellently with the new 2025 Supercharged Starter Set. There, you can build the Duel Kits as Athanatoi and Praetorians, with the latter always being played with 5 stands.

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City States
Who is the army for?
The City States are for players who want to combine Minotaurs, shield walls, epic pike formations, automatons, and the tactical finesse of Greek warriors in a single army. This army evokes the golden age of Greek warfare, combined with a unique magic-punk aesthetic. The heart of the City States lies in their infantry, which can engage enemy troops in an unstoppable shield wall. However, the City States are more than just static warriors: they also offer mobile infantry, which, thanks to numerous buffs, is always one step ahead and can put pressure on the opponent. This army focuses strongly on the first strike and can exploit this advantage in many situations to gain the upper hand. Players who enjoy classic melee combat and seek flexible tactical options in their deck building will feel right at home with the City States. I’ve also written a review with a tier list for all army choices of the City States: City States Army Review Tier List and Insights for Beginners.

Pros

• Regiments have clearly defined roles, strengths, and weaknesses

• Unique tactical options with the strategy deck

• Very strong in scenarios, scoring early and trying to hold it

• Chariots!

• All models are from new kits

Cons

• Very vulnerable to flank attacks; poor positioning can quickly cost the game

• Characters buff regiments and the army massively; losing them often means a 50% strength loss

• Limited access to magic

• Chariots are expensive and extremely powerful in the game

What should you buy to start with the City States?
The most sensible start is the 5th Anniversary Box, as it offers the best price-performance ratio. This set combines perfectly with the 2023 and 2024 2-player starter boxes. After that, you’ll need just two to four additional boxes to build a solid 2000-point army for about 400 EUR. If you can get the content of the 2-player starter box at a good price, you can achieve this even cheaper. I would recommend avoiding the contents of the 2025 Supercharged Starter Set, though. While the cost savings are good, the combination of the included options is more improvable.

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Sorcerer Kings
Who is the army for?
The Sorcerer Kings are the perfect choice for players who want to dive into a world full of mystical powers and mythological magic. Inspired by Hindu traditions and legends, this army not only offers powerful spells and elementals but also a deep game mechanic that has much to offer both beginners and experienced players. The army thrives on the interaction between spells, rituals, and its unique units, which often rely on the support of characters to reach their full potential. Those who enjoy playing with a variety of options and tactical possibilities will enjoy the Sorcerer Kings, especially when it comes to finding the right synergies and outwitting the opponent with clever surprise attacks.
For those who want to dive deeper: I’ve also written an extensive guide to all army choices of the Sorcerer Kings: Sorcerer Kings Guide

Pros

• Warbands are highly flexible and can include up to 5 regiments

• Rituals allow elementals to perform three actions

• Many small healing effects keep the army in play

• Only new kits

Cons

• Many regiments are not usable without synergies with characters – and vice versa

• No truly stable choices, defensively often weak

• Very slow in the first three turns; momentum only builds up with the rituals

• Only one special option for flanking and no rules that positively influence reinforcement rolls

What should you buy to start with the Sorcerer Kings?
The perfect entry into the world of the Sorcerer Kings is the 2025 Supercharged Starter Box.
This box offers outstanding value for money: the Ravanar/Bakasura multi-kit with Sorcerer alone costs almost as much as the entire starter box, and you get three additional regiments on top of that, each fulfilling different roles. In my opinion, this is the best starter box of 2025. However, it only combines somewhat well with the 2024 5th Anniversary Box, as no one really needs more than one regiment of Ghols. For those who enjoy using two large monsters, a double purchase of the Supercharged Box is worthwhile. This provides a solid foundation and allows for targeted expansion. Either way, a Maharajah as an additional character is a good choice, as well as two boxes of Flamecaster / Sword Dancer, with each of these regiments being built a maximum of two times.

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Yoroni
Who is the army for?
The Yoroni are suited for players who have a deep connection to Japanese mythology and folklore. With iconic creatures such as Onis, Kamis, and many other fantastic beings from Japanese legend, the Yoroni offer a unique and refreshing gameplay experience. This faction is particularly good for beginners and players who prefer to operate with fewer models on the battlefield and don't want to focus heavily on deck-building. It offers a simple yet deep gameplay mechanic that doesn't require extensive planning in deck-building but still provides tactical depth.

Pros

• Any card can activate any regiment

• Special bonuses for activating regiments with the right keywords

• A pure brute army is possible, meaning fewer models to paint

• Stands can be mixed into different regiments

• Only new kits with modern models and designs

Cons

• Often outnumbered when using monsters

• Confusing in list-building, with many possibilities and combinations

• No infantry options

• The ability to activate everything with any card is considered unfair by some players

What should you buy to start with the Yoroni?
The ideal starting point for the Yoroni is the 2-Player Starter Box. This box offers not only excellent value for money but also the opportunity to share it with a friend and dive into Conquest: Last Argument of Kings together. This way, you can benefit from significant savings without missing out on key models. The cohort can easily expand the army, as it complements the contents of the starter box perfectly. If you decide to collect the army intensively, a triple purchase of the cohort might be tempting. However, due to the lack of flexibility (three copies of the same character) and repetition, this wouldn't be the optimal choice, as it would make your army less diverse. Additionally, starting in July 2025, monster sets featuring the Jorogumo and Yokai will be released, with the Yokai considered a masterpiece in the tabletop market, making the wait worthwhile.