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Tomb Kings of Khemri · 141–162 points · 7 builds
Tomb Kings units: which ones win their fights?
Tomb Kings units split into two families in my simulations: ones that need the charge and ones that would rather take one. I fought seven builds 2,000 times against each of eight opponents, in both directions: 224,000 combats.
Quick answer: it depends which job the Tomb Kings unit has
- Hardest hitter
- Necropolis Knights: 81% charging, 58% receiving (162 points)
- Best holding unit
- Skeleton Warriors: 67% when charged
- Armour breaker
- Ushabti with ritual blades: 69% charging Ironbreakers
- Charge only
- Skeleton Chariots: 55% charging, 7% when charged
No Tomb Kings unit here does every job, and the gap between charging and receiving decides how I would use each one.
How many simulations I ran
I ran 224,000 complete combats: seven Tomb Kings builds, each fighting 2,000 times against eight opponents while charging and 2,000 more while receiving the charge. These were the results.
My Tomb Kings duels left out Arise!, nearby Generals, Royal Host rules and Hierophant effects, so a real Tomb Kings army holds up better than these numbers suggest. Every charge also landed cleanly from the front, which flatters the chariots, and a straight-ahead fight capped at 12 rounds rewards ranks and grinding more than a real table does.
All seven Tomb Kings builds at a glance
Battle March is my favourite way to play, so I kept these units close to 150 points, the size where one good unit can swing a small game. Two builds sit over that budget: the 162-point Necropolis Knights and the 159-point Tomb Guard Chariots, which are minimum legal units. I will test bigger Tomb Kings units at a later date.
Tomb Kings units, average win rate across eight opponents. n = 16,000 combats per direction ±1 point
| Build | Pts | Charging | Receiving | Overall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22 Skeleton Warriors, spears, light armour, full command | 147 | 59.4% | 67.1% | 63.2% |
| 12 Tomb Guard, halberds, captain, standard | 144 | 37.1% | 53.7% | 45.4% |
| 3 Ushabti, ritual blades | 147 | 52.3% | 47.7% | 50.0% |
| 3 Necropolis Knights | 162 | 80.9% | 58.3% | 69.6% |
| 3 Skeleton Chariots, Master Charioteer, standard | 141 | 54.8% | 7.2% | 31.0% |
| 3 Tomb Guard Chariots | 159 | 77.8% | 24.7% | 51.3% |
| 4 Necroserpents | 152 | 58.2% | 20.8% | 39.5% |
When the Tomb Kings unit charges
Win rate when the Tomb Kings unit charges. n = 2,000 combats per cell ±2 points
| Tomb Kings unit | 15 Jade Warriors | 8 Ironbreakers | 20 Clanrats | 3 Rat Ogres + Master Moulder | 5 Knights of the Realm | 17 Gors | 20 Empire halberdiers | 9 Swordmasters of Hoeth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Skeleton Warriors | 36% | 45% | 66% | 81% | 92% | 49% | 58% | 49% |
| Tomb Guard | 19% | 53% | 32% | 41% | 88% | 19% | 29% | 17% |
| Ushabti | 38% | 69% | 50% | 68% | 83% | 39% | 43% | 28% |
| Necropolis Knights | 84% | 44% | 88% | 90% | 83% | 97% | 96% | 65% |
| Skeleton Chariots | 51% | 3% | 59% | 74% | 52% | 68% | 77% | 56% |
| Tomb Guard Chariots | 73% | 42% | 82% | 82% | 91% | 81% | 90% | 81% |
| Necroserpents | 54% | 10% | 51% | 80% | 49% | 89% | 71% | 61% |
When the Tomb Kings unit receives the charge
Win rate when the opponent charges. n = 2,000 combats per cell ±2 points
| Tomb Kings unit | 15 Jade Warriors | 8 Ironbreakers | 20 Clanrats | 3 Rat Ogres + Master Moulder | 5 Knights of the Realm | 17 Gors | 20 Empire halberdiers | 9 Swordmasters of Hoeth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Skeleton Warriors | 52% | 62% | 84% | 65% | 68% | 49% | 75% | 83% |
| Tomb Guard | 49% | 75% | 62% | 33% | 74% | 21% | 54% | 60% |
| Ushabti | 36% | 74% | 57% | 38% | 62% | 25% | 34% | 56% |
| Necropolis Knights | 61% | 38% | 66% | 48% | 51% | 75% | 74% | 54% |
| Skeleton Chariots | 4% | 1% | 9% | 8% | 8% | 4% | 9% | 15% |
| Tomb Guard Chariots | 13% | 33% | 33% | 15% | 43% | 11% | 24% | 26% |
| Necroserpents | 22% | 7% | 14% | 20% | 16% | 27% | 28% | 32% |
The chariot problem in one table
Impact hits make the charge. Here is what each chariot unit did in the first round, charging and receiving, against each opponent.
First-round wounds dealt / taken by the chariots. n = 2,000 combats per cell ±2 points
| Opponent | Skeleton Chariots charge | Skeleton Chariots receive | Tomb Guard Chariots charge | Tomb Guard Chariots receive |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 Jade Warriors | 5.40 / 1.21 | 2.12 / 1.66 | 6.42 / 0.75 | 2.63 / 1.50 |
| 8 Ironbreakers | 1.45 / 1.66 | 0.45 / 1.09 | 1.88 / 1.20 | 1.06 / 0.89 |
| 20 Clanrats | 6.04 / 1.46 | 2.56 / 1.06 | 7.23 / 1.05 | 3.07 / 0.77 |
| 3 Rat Ogres + Master Moulder | 4.34 / 2.16 | 1.06 / 4.36 | 5.06 / 1.64 | 1.53 / 3.59 |
| 5 Knights of the Realm | 2.09 / 0.68 | 0.68 / 2.67 | 2.62 / 0.39 | 0.93 / 2.33 |
| 17 Gors | 6.07 / 0.61 | 2.10 / 2.23 | 7.10 / 0.34 | 2.50 / 1.67 |
| 20 Empire halberdiers | 7.52 / 0.50 | 3.10 / 1.23 | 8.71 / 0.27 | 3.68 / 1.13 |
| 9 Swordmasters of Hoeth | 4.58 / 2.49 | 1.51 / 2.30 | 5.78 / 1.70 | 1.89 / 1.90 |
How I would build a Tomb Kings force from this
Let the Skeleton Warriors or another ranked block set up a front, then look for a safe chariot or Necropolis Knight charge on a target they have already pinned. Against a heavily armoured wall, I would reach for Ushabti rather than asking ordinary chariots to grind it down: they managed 3% charging Ironbreakers.
Want to know what a particular Tomb Kings unit should charge? Pick it in my matchup finder, or compare two builds side by side.
Full results for each Tomb Kings unit
- Are Tomb Kings Skeleton Warriors good?
- Are Tomb Guard good?
- Are Ushabti good in combat?
- Are Necropolis Knights good?
- Are Skeleton Chariots good?
- Are Tomb Guard Chariots good?
- Are Necroserpents good?
For Tomb Kings shooting, see Skeleton Archers, Skeleton Horse Archers and Ushabti with greatbows.
My conclusion
Based on these results, I would use Skeleton Warriors to hold the centre and Necropolis Knights or chariots to hit a target the Warriors have already pinned. I would not ask ordinary Skeleton Chariots or Necroserpents to take a charge, or send any of them frontally into Ironbreakers except Ushabti.
FAQs
What is the best Tomb Kings unit in Battle March?
In my simulations, Necropolis Knights: 69.6% across all 16 fights, and 81% on the charge. They cost 162 points, though, so it is not a points-equal ranking.
Are Tomb Guard Chariots better than Skeleton Chariots?
Yes, but they cost 18 points more. Tomb Guard Chariots won 78% charging and 25% receiving, against 55% and 7% for Skeleton Chariots.
Which Tomb Kings unit is best against Ironbreakers?
Ushabti with ritual blades on the charge (69%) and Tomb Guard when Ironbreakers charged them (75%). Skeleton Chariots managed 3% charging them.