Evil Army Recommendations

[u/engballer05]

Hi All

I've been playing and collecting MESBG for a bit now and I am considering adding an evil army to my projects list for the new year as the local event organisers are starting to discuss having players bring 1 good and 1 evil army to events for narrative reasons.

However due to the number of options I am struggling to settle on one, so I am after some recommendations from this community based on my favourite good armies that I have collected and play with.
So currently I alternate between Return of the King and the Defenders of Helms Deep army lists as they are my favourite 2 iconic scenes from the movies I love from the movies and they allow me to play Gimli and Legolas together.
What I like about the RoK list playstyle is the fact that the list is relatively elite while also being fast not only that but their unique ability to impact engagements due to all of them having Terror in their rules is a cool feature I enjoy playing into especially against armies susceptible to it.
What I like about the Defenders list playstyle is the ability to include Lothlorien elves to support the Rohan forces by using characters as banners and providing some slightly more reliable shooting to wittle away at enemy forces before our lines meet.

So based on this I'm interested to hear from you all on possible evil army recommendations. Preferably I would prefer models that are available in plastic but if there is a list that is mostly forgeworld minis that you think might suit me I'm still interested to know about them as I have access to resin printing for cheaper proxy alternatives.

Thanks in Advance for your recommendations

[u/Dadjokes_224]

Evil armies tend to skew horde more than elite. But if you want the more elite side of evil I say go Isengard. Personally I say do Lurtz’s Scouts as although you have no spears you just spam the board with Fv 4 and S 4 dudes that when you have a drum just blitz across the board. Lurtz is also a powerhouse with free heroic combats, and you can sharpshooter your shield throw at a mounted hero which is funny when your opponent goes 😦 when they realize they didn’t think about that.
Honestly I would just go with any Isengard list they have just solid lists overall.

[u/Lonely_Heart22 → u/Dadjokes_224]

Can't use shield throw on mounted units because you can only use it against units with 25 mm bases.

[u/ccobas92 → u/Lonely_Heart22]

In the previous edition it was like you say. In this edition you can use the shield as a throwing weapon AND if they are a 25mm base they are knocked prone. You can do what Dadjokes_224 says to kill the mount.

Shield Throw (Passive) - If Lurtz has been equipped with a shield, then once per game Lurtz can use it as a throwing weapon and may re-roll the To Hit Roll. This has a Strength of 4 and any model on a 25mm base that is hit will immediately be knocked Prone. Once Lurtz has thrown his shield, he no longer carries it; though Lurtz's Defence will not be reduced as a result.

[u/lkt213]

Evil armies are more on the horde side, but what about Army of the Great Eye with black nums battle line? It have terror, elite magic, some Buffy orc heroes and great beast for trampling

[u/LeviTheOx]

Based on what you said you liked I'd recommend looking at Host of the Witch-King/Shadows of Angmar. Most of the army is the basic plastic orcs from the Mordor Battlehost, but the ringwraiths and other spirits bring a Terror aura and have other magical effects that it sounds like you'd enjoy.

[u/Guessman34]

Elite and reliable?

Either host of the dragon emperor, or grand army of the south (focussing on the core of golden king with half trolls and amdur with a pike block.

Other alternative is great eye with black nums

[u/Inquisitor_ForHire]

My favorite lists are as follows:

1. Isengard

2. Isengard

3. Isengard

4. Moria

5. Isengard

[u/Bearage]

Check out the Wolfpack of Angmar. Probably my next evil army. All cavalry list, so should play roughly similar. Awesome models. Easy to 3d print some wolves or werewolves for proxies. Everyone gets geral charge. Word on the street is that it's real fun to play

[u/AdFabulous4876]

Host of the Dragon Emperor is a fast moving elite army with some great heroes.

If you want more speed Lurtz's scouts (with a drum) is very fast with good numbers and good killing power with Lurtz getting free combats.

Army of the White Hand or Muster of Isengard may also appeal, Muster is more elite and very strong against Men while White hand is a horde list with more tricks through Crebain and the extra 'spells' Saruman gets from the army bonus.