Middle-earth™ Faction Focus – Isengard™

In this instalment of Faction Focus, the Middle-earth team heads to the Tower of Orthanc, venturing into the fires of industry to bring you the lowdown on the armies of Isengard.

Corrupted by the Palantír, Saruman has pledged his allegiance to the Dark Lord Sauron. No longer a noble Wizard, nor head of the White Council, he is now intent on bringing ruin to the world of Men. Isengard itself undergoes a radical transformation; its once green lands have been replaced by dark forges and its woodlands ripped up and burned down. 

Saruman has bred an army of ferocious Uruk-hai who are loyal solely to the White Wizard. The Isengard Army Bonus, You do not Know Pain, you do not Know Fear!, represents the unwavering fearlessness of the Uruk-hai – they do not take Courage tests for being Broken until they have lost 66% of their models as casualties, rather than the usual 50%. Uruk-hai Scouts and the relevant Heroes also gain the Woodland Creature special rule, demonstrating their relentless hunt for the Ringbearer at Amon Hen.

Heroes

Even though he was one of the Istari sent by the Valar to guide the people of Middle-earth, Saruman’s mind has been warped by the evil of Sauron. A master of the arcane arts, he wields a variety of Magical Powers with great effect on the battlefield. With the likes of

and

, Saruman can fix an enemy in place or even move them against their will and into impending danger. He can access less subtle powers too, such as

and

, to cause direct damage. His

special rule allows him to re-roll a single die when making Casting and Resist tests. He carries a

, which gives him the ability, once per game, to automatically seize Priority at an opportune moment. 

His snivelling servant Gríma Wormtongue is a unique character. His A Traitor Within special rule allows him to be deployed with the opposition army and, so long as Saruman is alive (and Gríma does not strike any blows), he cannot be shot or attacked. This is where he is most useful – his Wormtongue special rule will constantly poison the minds of the opposition leaders, forcing them to spend 2 Might points rather than 1 when declaring Heroic Actions. 

Lurtz is the leader of the Uruk-hai Scouts and a fearsome foe in close combat. With a Fight value of 5, 3 Attacks, 3 Wounds, and 3 Might points, he can stand up to many of Good’s mightiest Heroes. His Strength of 5 is ideal for getting stuck into the fray. Should he meet a particularly skilled enemy such as Boromir, Heroic Strike can boost his Fight value even higher.

Warriors

Clad in heavy armour, Uruk-hai Warriors make up the bulk of most Isengard forces, thanks to their combination of high Defence and Strength of 4. With a variety of wargear options, Uruk-hai Warriors can perform a number of roles on the battlefield. Those with shields make up the front line, while those wielding pikes provide additional support in combat. Some carry powerful crossbows, loosing volleys of Strength 4 shots at the enemy from afar.

Uruk-hai Berserkers are a hard-hitting addition to any Isengard battleline. With a Strength of 4 and 2 Attacks, these brutal warriors will cleave through enemy ranks. Though they do not wear any armour, Berserkers are still incredibly tough with a Defence of 5. They also have two special rules to help them stay alive: Oblivious to Pain will ignore Wounds on a roll 6, while Impervious to Bow-fire counts their Defence as 6 when targeted by a shooting attack. 

Tactics

Isengard armies have several ways to play. Uruk-hai Scouts are the best pick for speed, as they move swiftly through the trees. However, they aren't the toughest troops. For durability, you can’t go far wrong with a big pike-block of Uruk-hai Warriors. Each Uruk-hai with a shield backed up by two pikes will give you three dice in the Duel roll (or four if you have a Berserker) at Fight value 4, and three Strength 4 Strikes should you win. 

It’s often a good idea to take as many crossbows as you can. Strength 4 shooting will fell many foes before they get into your lines, and you can use the threat of fire to force your enemy to engage your Uruk-hai at a position that suits you. 

It’s usually a good idea to include a couple of models who hold or carry objectives quickly. Warg Riders and Crebain are ideal for this, thanks to their Move values of 10” and 12” respectively. Crebain may cost more points, but they can Fly and are only hit by shooting attacks on a 6 thanks to Cloud of Birds.

Army Lists

The first of our example army lists focuses on the Isengard Battlehost box, and makes for a great starting point for any Isengard army.

Our second list is built towards a high points value and incorporates more specialised troops such as Uruk-hai Berserkers, crossbows, and Crebain.

Thanks guys! If you have been inspired to swear your allegiance to the White Hand of Saruman and start an Isengard army, then why not pick up the Isengard Battlehost now?

Amon Hen™ Fallen Head

What better way to demonstrate the might of Isengard than by fighting among the ruins of Amon Hen with this upcoming terrain piece from Forge World? This majestic stone head is a resin representation of the iconic fallen statue witnessed at the end of The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring™, when the fellowship was sundered amid a lightning raid by Saruman’s Uruk-hai. 

Measuring approximately 9cm x 7.5cm x 3.5cm, this substantial piece perfectly complements the Amon Hen set released by Forge World in 2021, and will add some real cinematic magic to your battles. Keep an eye out for it soon!