Most "well balanced" units

[Confessor_Atol]

Given the number of best/worst unit topics that have been populating the forum recently, I was curious about which units people feel are the most balenced given their efficacy and point cost?

With 8th ed doing a great job of generally leveling the playing field, which core, special, and rare are you finding not under/over priced?

My thoughts,

Core: Ogre bulls seem to be working perfictly in thier current price point.
special: maybe sabertusks with thier efficacy and fragility. Most HE specials too seem about right.
rare: Maneater units are spendy, but don't seem too powerful in the current incantation.

[The Low King]

Balanced as in purely their stats compared to their cost?
Or balanced within their army and the support availible to them?

[Slashattack]

One of the best balanced units is definitely Black Guard.

They are very good value for their points. But a unit is limited to 20 elves, leading to the unit being very well balanced.

Slash

[jindianajonz]

I think Warhawk Riders are the most balanced unit. Everything else in the game is way undercosted and overpowered. Ok, this statement is at least 70% in jest.

On a more serious note, I think it is very difficult to judge individual units on being "most" well balanced. You can judge if something is underpowered by its lack of use, and something that is overpowered is a "must include" in competitive lists and often way outperforms other options that cost similar points. But how would you define something being the "most" balanced? People use it just the right amount? It has precisely a 50% chance of performing as well as similarly costed units? It just seems very subjective, and I have an inkling that the "most balanced" units for a certain players army are considered to be "slightly overpowered" by his enemies.

I also think that individual unit balance isn't as important as overall army balance. You could have a unit that is a real beast in combat compared to other armies, but if that army has a fairly weak magic phase (as I hear Ogres are often accused) it could ultimately balance out.

[tmarichards]

Black Guard getting a vote for being balanced always makes me chuckle. Obvious troll is obvious.

Glade Guard and Dryads are both pretty much completely balanced.

[DaemonReign]

One of the best balanced units is definitely Black Guard.

They are very good value for their points. But a unit is limited to 20 elves, leading to the unit being very well balanced.

Slash

I don't know why you choose to bring up Black Guard specifically, but what you say about them is true.. In 8th Edition.
With the combat mechanics of 7th Ed, however - the Edition they were Designed for - oh man.. *hahaha* They were pretty f-far from being balanced.

Drawing from my Daemons, then.. I'll submit Plaguebearers.
The 3 other Core choices are either under- or over-costed - but Plaguebearers (in 8th) hit 12pts right on the head imo.

EDIT
Special: Nurglings..

Rare: Fiends (would tigh with Flamers when Flamers still 'existed' as a serious choice to be made..)

[Graxy]

Chosen Deathstar.Or mournfang. One of the two.

[b0007452]

I don't really think there is a most balanced unit. The majority of units in the game cost the right amount. It's just a few are over/under costed.

It wouldn't be a particularly enjoyable past-time if we were struggling to pick a well balanced unit.

Jimbo

[MOMUS]

From a lizard perspective i think all the units i use are probably too good for its points

[tmarichards]

I will find you and destroy everything that you love.

At Stormlords perhaps. Grudge, perchance?

[riven5]

Bestigors. Are they awesome? Absolutely. Are they broken? Nah- they are the quintessential Special choice, one that fills a role, is a looming threat on the battlefield, but isn't especially uncommon or expensive.

[SimaoSegunda]

Goblin Wolf Riders. And probably Halbardiers.

[Warrior of Chaos]

Chaos marauders are not bad (leaving off the marks) and just looking at them for what they are. Average leadership, nice weapons options, good WS. Pretty well-balanced.

[jindianajonz]

Chaos marauders are not bad (leaving off the marks) and just looking at them for what they are. Average leadership, nice weapons options, good WS. Pretty well-balanced.

You know, I was looking at Marauders the other day and was thinking about how unbalanced they are. Now, to be fair, I've spent way more time reading about the game than playing it, but I always thought your Empire Spearman was the baseline for a balanced model, representing the most basic human. With a Marauder, you lose the light armor and spear, but gain 1 WS and I, and you save 20% of the point cost (allowing you to take 25% more models for the same point cost) Additionally, you get to reroll panic tests. How is this balanced?

[Warrior of Chaos]

You know, I was looking at Marauders the other day and was thinking about how unbalanced they are. Now, to be fair, I've spent way more time reading about the game than playing it, but I always thought your Empire Spearman was the baseline for a balanced model, representing the most basic human. With a Marauder, you lose the light armor and spear, but gain 1 WS and I, and you save 20% of the point cost (allowing you to take 25% more models for the same point cost) Additionally, you get to reroll panic tests. How is this balanced?

A base marauder has a HW and no armor; re-rolls panic tests (thanks to army rule) and has WS4 and I4. If you want LA, Sh, XHW or GW you have to pay more. As a baseline they are not bad. They cannot have a magic banner for the unit and the unit champion only gains +1A for the points paid (and must issue and accept challenges). Overall they are extremely balanced for what you get (baseline), but can get a bit pricy if you go all out for options. They can become quite powerful (some say too powerful) when you pick marks and and other additions. In reality, the differece between WS is hardly an issue, and the "unbalanced" versions of marauders involve using GW's which mean you strike last anyways....so I4 is not an issue either.

Edit: Most gripe that they are unbalanced because of the GW/MoK - delivered as a horde of pain combo. Solution here is simply to increase the cost of GW's and make marks cost by-model rather than a flat rate which encourages huge numbers of troops to get the bang for your buck.

[Sir_Glonojad]

Well, upgrades are per-model, but magic standards are per-unit - perhaps that's why it was decided to make marks per-unit too.

[MOMUS]

I will find you and destroy everything that you love.

At Stormlords perhaps. Grudge, perchance?

Was that at me? I would very much like that Tom.

I meant it the other way round, as in all the units i use are probably too good for the points When they get a new book i think it might become even worse though as saurus will go up in pts and there is a very real chance skrox/skirmishers will go down or stay the same, meaning skirmy armies will be more appealing.

[m1acca1551]

read VC 8th ed army book and randomly pick a unit haha, prob the best balancing as every unit is almost perfect for there roll and relience on others

[warplock]

I agree with Vampires, not every unit but most of them strike me as very fair. Skeletons in particular are not ridiculously cheap, but not quite so expensive that I think 'not worth it'.

[Snake1311]

Troll thread galore!

Some points to address:

- Sabretusks are OP, mostly because you can take them in singles. For under 65 points you get 3 drops, which are also fast chaff, plus can actually do alright in combat supporting roles. Every Ogre army has 3 of those.

- Everything in the Dark Elf book is about 15-20% cheaper than it should be. Ironically, their internal balance is actually very good.

- Marauders are actually OK as a base unit (they are cheap because they are in an army book that specializes in combat, and they have in built-disadvantages because of the massive footprint they bring), but their weapon upgrades are severly underpriced.

I'm gonna go ahead and nominate the Knight of the Realm as the most well-balanced unit. Its got a good mix of advantages and disadvantages, for the right point cost.