With the imminent arrival of new miniatures for both Elrond™ and Glorfindel™, we asked our resident Middle-earth™ expert, Dan Entwisle, how the Elves of Rivendell take the fight to the forces of Evil.Dan: The Elves of Rivendell are some of the most skilled warriors in Middle-earth, and though their numbers have dwindled, those who remain are still more than a match for the minions of the Dark Lord.
The Rivendell Army Bonus Tangado haid, leithio i philinn!* grants them a significant ranged threat. Any friendly Rivendell models near the army’s leader can re-roll failed To Hit rolls when making shooting attacks in a turn in which they did not move.
Heroes
Elrond, Master of Rivendell, is a noble leader who has battled the forces of Evil for thousands of years with his famed blade, Hadhafang, which gives him a bonus of +1 To Wound against Spirit models. The Lord of the West special rule gives him the ability to re-roll a single die when making a Duel roll and when rolling To Wound.
He also possesses two hugely impactful Magical Powers. Wrath of Bruinen can devastate battlelines by knocking all enemy models within 3” Prone and inflicting a Strength 2 hit on those sent sprawling, while Renew allows him to heal himself or his allies who have suffered Wounds earlier in the battle.
Foresight of the Eldar is unique to Elrond, and allows him to manipulate the Priority roll, helping to ensure the armies of Rivendell can strike at the most opportune moment! The Master of Rivendell makes for an ideal army leader, as your opponent is unlikely to score Victory Points for wounding or slaying him thanks to the Elven ring Vilya which allows him to re-roll any failed Fate rolls.
Glorfindel, Lord of the West, is equipped with The Armour of Gondolin, a suit of heavy armour that boosts his Defence to 7, and makes him unable to be targeted by Brutal Power Attacks. Combined with his impressive Fight Value of 7, this exceptional Elven swordsman is perfect for killing your opponent's Monsters.
Glorfindel is well protected against Magical Powers thanks to his Unbending Resolve, granting him two free dice when making Resist tests. As you might have guessed from his title, Glorfindel also has the Lord of the West special rule.
Warriors
One of the best Cavalry units in the game, the Rivendell Knights’ combination of skirmishing superiority and line-shattering charges have made them an opponent to be feared. This battlefield versatility comes at a premium however, so it’s vital to ensure that your Knights are never left without backup or in a position where they can be picked off individually.
Tactics
It’s important to bear in mind that because your Warrior models are so good they will often cost more points than your opponent’s. You’re likely to be outnumbered in most games – especially if your opponent's force is made up of low-point models like Mordor Orcs or Moria Goblins. Using terrain, or powerful Heroes like Elrond, Glorfindel or Gil-galad to secure the flanks of your battleline can be the difference between victory or getting surrounded and overwhelmed.
The Wrath of Bruinen Magical Power can be brought to bear by both Elrond and Arwen, allowing them to take out large sections of an enemy’s line should they both cast it in the same turn.
Army Lists
The first of our two army lists puts Elrond and his sons at centre stage with a cohort of Rivendell Knights to support them. The second list is likely to give your opponent quite a scare as they will have two Elven lords to deal with!
Thanks Dan! If you are interested in taking your first steps into the Middle-earth™ Strategy Battle Game, the new The Lord of the Rings™ Battle of Osgiliath boxed set will be available for advance pre-order very soon, accompanied by a suite of Battlehost army boxes.
*Which we’re reliably informed means "Hold positions! Fire arrows!" in the Elven tongue.