Are Mirkwood Elves with Glaives worth it?

I'm considering these or should I just get the sword and shields?

I have palace guard and rangers but would like some cheaper troops.

Lets put it this way. Couple things....1-Absolutely.

You can use them as a spear, or an elven blade. Also you can shield! With Galadhrim youd need to pay extra for that. They are def worth it and I see your want for lower point troops.

2-That being said, it wont keep your defense at 5 like a shield will when losing a fight or when getting shot at.

Id say a healthy mix of both!

Your front line with shields backed up by glaives till you hit combat should work. Good luck.

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BLACKHAWK 2010 2013 2015 DYNASTY

Cool thanks for that advice. They seem a versatile unit.

Plus the models look really cool.

How are the Mirkwood cavalry?

Lordofthebrownring said it! Elven Glaives are fantastic spear-support troops due to their versatility.

Your front line consists of shield-bearing elves to protect from Crossbow fire and the like. The rear line being glaives can support the shields with "Spear Power!", ward off normally overwhelming flanking attacks with "Shield Power!", and can also add a hefty amount of leverage into a fight with "Elven Blade Power!". They are a great MacGyver unit.

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- Wild
Battle Companies Developer

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But surely for two points you'd rather have a spear and shield, and take the extra defence?

Then you lose out on the elven blade.

Balance. A little bit of both...

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BLACKHAWK 2010 2013 2015 DYNASTY

But if you're fight 5 anyway do you really need an elven blade? GotGC are much better tactically and also in giving you a higher fight, not just more chance of winning a draw, which isn't anywhere near as good.

Having said that though, the 2hw might be useful sometimes

All Elves have S3 and no access to axes. They really need 2 handed weapons, otherwise a D6 model can stall a elf for a while. With a Glaive they can also support and shield. There's no def upgrade, but I think is worth its points

What he said is true^





In addition fight 5 is great right sure....what if youre facing off against human heroes, uruk heroes, etc. Wouldnt you love to make it a roll off or them to blow might to beat your elven blade? Furthermore what if youre facing half trolls, osgiliath vets, venomblade knights, corsair reavers, etc

How about defense 6? Do you wanna roll 6s the whole game to wound? I sure dont....

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BLACKHAWK 2010 2013 2015 DYNASTY

I guess I'm too use to high elves. They don't really care what they're rolling to wound as long as the enemy need 6s to wound them, as all they need to do is get in the way and complete the objectives so that the heroes can then come in and clean house.

I guess with wood elves, you need the troops to kill stuff cause the heroes just won't, unless they're Celeborn or the new Thranduil, the new Legolas or Tauriel

There is a battle report, Galadhrim vs Uruk Hai I think, on youtube where the wood elves show why they really need access to a +1 to wound. Despite winning most of fights, the Uruks D6 stopped many elves from advancing. On the long run, the uruk S4 strikes wounding on 4 or 5 changed the tide of the game.
Having a +1 to wound, even if only in those multiple combats where you can afford the risk, is priceless.
The Glaives are good because, even if the elf cannot get into the right fight to use the two handed weapon, it can still support. Is more than a elf blade, and can also shield. It's a swiss army knife for elves. I have seen those glaives at work, and they are totally worth their points.

Dikey already made a good point but Ill just continue and say something more.

1-I know you love high elves but man theyre not impenetrable at all. I play them frequently.
I, and many in my group play the following armies OFTEN:
-Hunter Orcs
-Mordor Morannon spam
-Uruk Hai
-Monsters

What does that all say? They wound you on 5's and you wound them on 6's.

Thats a tough draw. Especially when you face my Isengard where I have 18 x bows at 750 points. 50% chance to hit, then 33% chance to wound means for every round of shooting where Im in range you take minimum 3 deaths. Thats not gonna last long. Consider when my crossbowmen are behind D6 shields with a shaman behind them. They save wounds, and you have to get past a 6 to kill unit to shoot them.

What if you play monsters? If you dont shoot them before lines clash(which realistically doesnt happen much in warbands) youre facing a mordor troll with higher fight, that you need 6's to wound on. If he rolls a 6, hes rending your guys to pieces and your D6 means nothing.


Just saying it wont happen for sure but these are all possibilities. It makes those Glaives worth it. Glory4Gondor often uses elven blade with spear support to wound my D6 troops and it works.

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BLACKHAWK 2010 2013 2015 DYNASTY

So should I model a shield on the Glaives model backs.

Is that okay?

if give them shields, they won't be able to go two handed.

Although if he does like me, replace glaive with galadrim spears and they will look exactly like in the movie.. and look at the bright side they cost as an high elf with spear/shield getting 1 less defence but automatically come with elven blade to balance tie up combats more in your favour and spear if in 2nd rank. making a very flexible group in combat and no puny D4 to die on 4+ vs most of the S4 armies out there.