Hello everyone,
welcome to the fifth Meta Report on this site. This time, we're taking a look at the first half of 2026, a period in which the Conquest meta shifted noticeably. Anyone who expected the major updates of the previous months to gradually stabilize the balance of power was proven wrong during the first six months of this year.
Without a doubt, the biggest influence came from the extensive Spires rework in January, which significantly shook up the faction landscape. But that was not the end of it. In March, the reworks for Old Dominion and Nords followed, and just a few weeks ago the Weaver Courts also received their major overhaul. Few other periods in Conquest 2.0 have been shaped by so many fundamental changes within such a short amount of time.
According to T3, 14 tournaments were held across Germany during the first six months of the year. A total of 187 players participated. This is almost exactly the same number as in the first half of 2025 and shows that the tournament scene remains stable and active.
As with all analyses of this kind, the usual limitation applies: the raw numbers only tell part of the story. Especially in a comparatively small tournament scene, individual highly active players can have a noticeable impact on the statistics. If a faction achieves a particularly high number of tournament victories, this does not necessarily mean that the faction itself is stronger. Sometimes it is simply because one or two players had an exceptionally successful half year. We will come back to this point later.
First, let's take a look at how faction representation has developed compared to the second half of 2025. Before that, however, here is a picture of Nauthi's impressive Steel Legion, which he unfortunately did not manage to finish in time for the painting competition.
📊 Faction Distribution: Comparison H2 2025 vs. H1 2026
| Faction | Share H2 2025 | Share H1 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spires | 7.50% | 14.97% | +7.47 |
| Hundred Kingdoms | 9.17% | 13.90% | +4.73 |
| W’adrhŭn | 15.00% | 13.37% | −1.63 |
| Nords | 13.33% | 12.30% | −1.03 |
| Yoroni | 13.75% | 11.23% | −2.52 |
| Old Dominion | 15.00% | 9.63% | −5.37 |
| Dweghom | 10.83% | 9.09% | −1.74 |
| City States | 8.75% | 7.49% | −1.26 |
| Sorcerer Kings | 5.83% | 4.28% | −1.55 |
| Weaver Courts | 0.83% | 3.74% | +2.91 |
The faction distribution already reveals the first major development of the half year. After years in the lower ranks, the Spires have made a remarkable comeback. The extensive rework in January breathed new life into the faction and, with a share of almost 15%, made them the most played army at German tournaments. Many veterans brought their old models back from storage, while at the same time numerous players switched to the faction.
The faction affected most strongly by this development was Old Dominion. Although the undead faction received its own rework in March, it lost a significant number of players compared to the second half of 2025. The now familiar effect of “rework tourism” was likely the main reason. Many players wanted to try out the new Spires and temporarily switched factions. However, a slight countertrend is already emerging, with the first returning players appearing at tournaments again.
Directly behind the Spires are the Hundred Kingdoms. The faction’s rework remains one of the most popular of the entire second edition and continues to provide stable player numbers. The faction was even able to increase its share further and has now become one of the most played armies in the country.
W’adrhŭn, on the other hand, only lost a small amount of their share and remain one of the most consistent parts of the German tournament scene. Despite various adjustments and new competition, they continue to hold their place among the top factions. Or, to put it another way: who doesn’t like dinosaurs?
The development of the Yoroni is somewhat more surprising. In the last report, I predicted that they could become Germany’s most popular faction in the medium term. While they are still some distance away from that goal, they remain a strong presence in the upper midfield and continue to be one of the defining factions of the meta.
The Weaver Courts are also slowly becoming more visible. With almost four percent of players, they are still far behind the established factions, but they have moved beyond the status of a purely exotic army. At the moment, Germany only has a small number of active tournament players for the faction, but that number is steadily growing. At the same time, their armies bring a lot of visual variety to tournament tables and are already among the most striking appearances within the faction landscape.
However, if we look not at faction popularity but at actual tournament results, we get a very different picture.
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🏆 Tournament Wins and Undefeated Players: First Half of 2026
| Place | Army | Wins | Number of undefeated players |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sorcerer Kings | 4 | 4 |
| 2 | W’adrhŭn | 3 | 2 |
| 3 | Dweghom | 2 | 2 |
| 4 | Yoroni | 2 | 5 |
| 5 | Spires | 1 | 1 |
| 6 | Old Dominion | 1 | 3 |
| 7 | City States | 1 | 1 |
| 8 | Nords | 0 | 1 |
| 9 | Hundred Kingdoms | 0 | 0 |
| 10 | Weaver Courts | 0 | 0 |
This table mainly highlights the limitations of statistical evaluations in a comparatively small tournament scene. Raw win numbers in Conquest can only be meaningfully interpreted within their wider context, as individual highly active players can have a significant impact on the overall picture.
A good example of this is my own season. During the first half of 2026, I played nine tournaments in Germany and won eight of them, using W’adrhŭn, Sorcerer Kings, and Dweghom. This alone has a noticeable impact on the numbers of the respective factions. That is exactly why I do not consider tournament victories in isolation to be a reliable indicator of an army’s strength or weakness. In my opinion, the game is currently balanced enough that every faction is capable of winning a traditional three-game tournament if the list, matchups, and tournament draw all come together.
Anyone wondering about the W’adrhŭn numbers will find another good example of why statistics sometimes require closer examination. The faction achieved three tournament victories but only produced two undefeated players. The reason is simple: Lena won one of those tournaments with two wins and one draw. Since I do not count draws as undefeated results for this evaluation, that tournament victory does not appear in the corresponding column.
The look at the most popular factions in the country is at least as interesting. Spires and Hundred Kingdoms together accounted for 54 participants, meaning they represented more than a quarter of all armies played at German tournaments. Despite this, the Spires achieved only one tournament victory, while the Hundred Kingdoms produced no undefeated players at all. This shows that high player numbers do not automatically translate into above average results. Especially after major reworks, many players experiment with new lists and mechanics before successful concepts begin to emerge.
On the other hand, the Yoroni continue to prove their reputation as an extremely consistent tournament faction. While they only achieved two tournament victories, they also produced five undefeated players, and more importantly, those results came from different players. This makes them one of the most difficult armies to reliably defeat throughout an entire tournament.
In the end, this confirms an observation that has been visible in the German tournament scene for years: tournaments are primarily won by players, not factions. The group of active high-volume players remains relatively small, and their influence on results is significantly greater than the differences between the individual army books.
You can find a collection of undefeated tournament armies and successful lists from the German meta here: Monthly overview of winning lists from German tournaments.
Based on this overall evaluation and the tournaments included in this report, the subjective Power Ranking for the first half of 2026 follows. As always, this ranking is intentionally interpretative and reflects my personal assessment of the current faction strength.
Hundred Kingdoms, B-Tier
After the March update, I expected the Hundred Kingdoms to benefit much more strongly from the changing meta, especially with their knight-focused lists. The reduced threat ranges of many factions seemed like they should have played directly into their hands.
In practice, however, the expected dominance never really materialized. While the Hundred Kingdoms continue to deliver solid results, classic Order or Feudal lists are surprisingly uncommon outside of Germany.
One reason for this is the Yoroni. Their resilient blocks and the high damage output of the Tengu make life difficult for many knight-based lists. Often, the Hundred Kingdoms are only missing that final push needed for a decisive breakthrough, but that last step happens too rarely. On top of that, Hindering Terrain on many tournament tables creates an additional obstacle for cavalry armies.
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Spires, A-Tier
During the first half of the year, the Spires developed from one of the rarest tournament factions into the most played army in Germany. The January rework fundamentally modernized the faction, and by March the first adjustments based on community feedback had already been introduced. In particular, the changes to the Prideborne and the return of some of the old deck manipulation through the Directorate have proven to be positive developments.
The foundations for a top-tier faction were therefore in place. Interestingly, however, there is a clear difference between the German and international metas. While classic Avatara lists have achieved numerous successes in Eastern Europe, this approach is rarely seen at German tournaments. Instead, German players have been experimenting with an impressive variety of different concepts. Despite this, the overall results have been positive. Although the Spires only achieved one tournament victory in Germany, their lists consistently appear among the top finishing positions.
In my opinion, two things are still missing for them to become truly dominant. First, the faction continues to struggle with some internal anti-synergies that can feel unnecessarily punishing in certain situations. Second, the new army book demands a very precise style of play. Activations, synergies, and resource management require much more careful planning than with many other factions. Players who master this learning curve have access to one of the strongest armies in the current meta. However, the faction rarely forgives mistakes.
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Dweghom, B-Tier
In March, many players expected the Dweghom to fall towards the bottom of the meta after the heavy nerfs to Tempered. The reality in June, however, looks very different: the faction has remained far more stable than expected.
The overall statistics may appear only average at first glance, which is mainly due to their pronounced matchup issues. Ardent and Tempered follow very different approaches and each struggle with specific weaknesses against certain enemy archetypes. Clans are currently not a relevant factor due to their own structural limitations.
The resurgent Ardent lists, which have become firmly established in both the German and international meta since tournaments such as Winnenden and Wrocław, are a good example. I was able to win Bremen myself using this style of list. However, these builds struggle heavily against knight-based armies, while delivering very solid results against many other factions with lower defensive profiles.
The Tempered lists have also not disappeared after the adjustments. Overall, this has created a divided opinion within the community. Some players feel that the two branches are too one-dimensional, while others appreciate precisely this clear focus and specialization.
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Nord, A-Tier
In March, after the extensive rework, I was very optimistic about the Nords. The new direction significantly reduced their previous dependence on evasion and enabled strong combinations for Mortals through Tribal Tactics. At the same time, units such as the Berserkers became much more relevant again. My assessment at the time was therefore clearly that they would settle in the upper midfield, provided the faction could find answers to Spires and Hundred Kingdoms.
In practice, the picture has shifted somewhat. Not only do these matchups remain challenging, but the Yoroni have also emerged as another difficult opponent, not disappearing as hoped but instead returning in an even stronger form. Despite the Nords’ high damage potential, they sometimes lack exactly the decisive output needed to reliably break through resilient enemy blocks in these games. Internationally, however, there have still been some strong results, such as the tournament victory of the two-time world champion in Italy. At the same time, successful lists, especially builds heavily focused on boar units, are increasingly being copied and played in other regions as well.
In Germany, the picture is more diverse. Alongside these extreme variants, many players are focusing on the improved Mortals. The Ulfhednar block in particular has established itself as a solid core element of many lists.
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W'adrhŭn, B-Tier
Anyone who has watched the W’adrhŭn on tournament tables during the first half of 2026 will quickly notice an unusually broad variety of approaches. Instead of focusing on a single dominant list concept, a wide range of different builds are being played successfully. From Chosen of Death and Chosen of Conquest to heavily monster-focused lists featuring dinosaurs and Thunderriders, almost everything can be seen, often combined in hybrid variations.
This diversity is supported by an overall very flexible unit profile. In particular, the still powerful Light Units allow the W’adrhŭn to remain effective both offensively and in scenario play, giving them reliable tools in many matchups.
The result is a faction that does not rely on one dominant strategy, but instead succeeds through a broad spectrum of viable approaches. This is exactly what currently makes them stable and difficult to “solve”, even though many players still miss the previous, more ritual-focused playstyle with Chants.
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Old Dominion, A-Tier
In March, the conclusion regarding the extensive Old Dominion rework was clear: the former S-tier faction had deliberately been brought back to a more normal power level. The era in which the Xhiliarch could almost single-handedly decide games was over. At the same time, the update brought back classic Aura of Death lists, while the new Brittle rule made flank and rear attacks against the undead Romans significantly more dangerous.
By June, it has become clear that these adjustments have worked as intended. The win rates of Old Dominion have noticeably stabilized and are now sitting in a healthy middle range. At the same time, however, a decline in player numbers can be observed. The previously mentioned rework tourism has led many players to temporarily switch to other factions, especially the Spires, while the remaining player base has not yet reached a full consensus on the optimal builds.
As a result, there is currently a lot of experimentation. While some players are trying to make the Xhiliarch more effective in aggressive scenario play or stabilize Fallen Divinity lists, the Archimandrite is increasingly emerging as the most successful Warlord choice. Together with the Hierodeacon, they currently form one of the most reliable Warlord duos in the current meta.
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City States, A-Tier
In March, the City States received a noticeable boost through targeted adjustments and the new Ipparchos Warlord ability. The point changes in particular helped make the faction significantly more attractive again in a competitive environment.
Internationally, the picture remains largely shaped by chariot and cavalry-focused builds. In Germany, however, the focus is more strongly placed on stable infantry-based concepts featuring Thorakites and Phalangites, usually led by the classic Polemarch Warlord. This Warlord is especially common in Germany and also represents an interesting factor in the game: his Supremacy is one of the strongest, but also one of the most frequently overlooked mechanics in the current meta, regularly leading to avoidable mistakes in gameplay decisions.
Despite good results and a consistent presence in tournament lists, the community sentiment remains somewhat reserved. Many players feel that the current list-building system is restrictive and lacks variety. Compared to recently heavily reworked factions such as the Nords or Weaver Courts, the City States currently lack fresh options and broader strategic diversity.
As a result, the main criticism is not directed at the faction’s strength, but rather at its current design direction. The efficiency is there, but the enjoyment of playing the faction is often described as falling short of its potential, especially when compared to the latest major reworks in the meta.
Sorcerer Kings, A-Tier
In Germany, the Sorcerer Kings remain one of the least played factions. Aside from a few highly active players, they have only a limited presence at tournaments, which directly affects the statistical reliability of their results. The observed performance is therefore heavily influenced by a small number of individuals and only provides a limited representation of the faction’s actual potential. At the same time, players from various regions report that while they occasionally see the faction perform successfully in competitive environments, they have very little practical experience playing against them themselves. In many places, there is simply a lack of regular experience facing the Sorcerer Kings.
From a pure gameplay perspective, Court lists are absolutely tournament viable and can achieve solid results across all three elements released so far. At the same time, this is also where one of the faction’s structural peculiarities becomes apparent. In practice, the army book contains several distinct sub-concepts that can theoretically be combined, but rarely create truly meaningful synergies in actual play. On top of that, the mechanics surrounding the Courts and rituals remain difficult for many opponents to fully understand. The increased amount of administration during games and the additional card management often make the faction appear more complex than its actual power level would suggest. This has a significant impact on both the faction’s external perception and the learning curve when facing it.
Yoroni, S-Tier
In March, many signs pointed towards the Yoroni losing their previously dominant monster-focused approach. While the adjustments to the Jorogumo were relatively moderate, the decisive change was the loss of Loose Formation for monsters combined with the changes to their healing mechanics. This effectively removed the former monster spam archetype from competitive play.
Despite this, the Yoroni remain firmly among the strongest factions in the current meta. Instead of massive monster-heavy lists, the faction is now dominated by large, modular blocks with six stands and Hardened, or even larger formations with additional stands. Alternatively, Fu spam lists featuring multiple flanking options are also commonly played. Both approaches create enormous pressure in melee combat and are extremely difficult to answer efficiently. On top of this, the current Jorogumo Sorceress further increases the resilience of these units through her non-scaling spells. The result is an exceptionally durable core profile that is difficult to break apart in many matchups.
In direct gameplay, this means that traditional melee engagements against these blocks are often inefficient. Many armies are forced to rely more heavily on scenario play and mobility, as a frontal confrontation usually does not result in a favorable trade. However, this approach heavily depends on the scenario itself.
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Weaver, A-Tier
In March, the Weaver Courts were still the most mysterious faction in the meta. Defined largely by repetitive list patterns and a very limited gameplay experience, they were widely considered a likely candidate for a later rework and were not yet included in my ranking at the time.
With the rework a few weeks ago, however, this picture has changed significantly. Their win rates have noticeably improved, they have already achieved their first international tournament victories, and in Germany they made an early statement with a strong third-place finish in Aschaffenburg.
This particular tournament created the impression that the Weaver Courts could establish themselves directly in the upper levels of the meta. Their games demonstrated a combination of extremely reliable defense, powerful mass shooting, and overall high scenario efficiency that proved very difficult to answer.
In my own games against the Winter Weaver with Seachan as Warlord, the combination of army-wide debuffs, reliable defensive rolls with re-rolls, and surprisingly cheap core skirmishers stood out in particular. At the same time, the other Seasonal builds also showed during our practice games that the faction has a broad range of viable and tournament-capable options.
Overall, the impression is that this is no longer an experimental faction, but one that has already established itself in the upper part of the meta. By June, the Weaver Courts have clearly become one of the serious contenders in the tournament environment.
Final Thoughts
For me, the first half of 2026 shows one thing above all: the meta is more open than it has been in a long time. Despite numerous reworks, no factions have established themselves as permanently dominant forces. More often than not, tournament success is now determined by list building, matchups, and player decisions. This is exactly what makes Conquest one of the most exciting tabletop games I have played so far.
I hope you enjoyed reading this report and that you see some points differently from my perspective. Either way, I look forward to meeting you at the next German events.
Best regards,
Hanna
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