Conquest: First Blood - Nords Warband 2.0

^{review by Sergio Almonte}

Mannheim. That is the name of my mother soil. Her breath is frozen and harsh, her anger volcanic and elemental. But consider that name. All manner of beast lives on my mother’s stomach, prowling Fenr and the titanic Jotnar are just the tip of it. But out of all titles, Mannheim is still named for those who rule it.

Consider that, weakling. If every form of monster has made itself known to the Nords, and yet we remain masters of our realm, what does that say of my brothers and sisters? What does that say of you, squabbling and jockeying for power in your cozy temples and somber castles? 

We rule Mannheim. It’d be smart to not forget why. 

Greetings, Einherjar! This is Jarl Sergio, here to speak about the Nords: First Blood Warband for Conquest: The Last Argument of Kings! This review will go over the forces included within the box and an overview of the gameplay style of the faction. Without further ado, let our barges sail!
 

Contents

The First Blood box includes the following…

• 15 miniatures for the Nords including…
  • 1x Shaman
  • 1x Savage
  • 1x Fenr Beastpack 
  • 4x Valkyries
  • 8x Ulfhendar/Bearsarks
• Command Cards
• First Blood softcover rules booklet
• Assembly Instructions and Bases

This cohesive group of models work together to provide unique bonuses on their own, or complement an existing Nords force. The Shaman works as a spellcasting core for your army, offering buffs to the melee-centric Bearsarks/Ulfhendar, while the Valkyries lock down objectives and the Savage plus Fenr Beastpack range beyond the main force to disrupt and chase out of position units. The Bearsarks are my personal MVP’s, as they crunch through enemy infantry thanks to their strong melee attacks and surprising durability. Each unit serves a role in the warband, a definite improvement from the strange smattering of units present in the older 2023 warbands. 
 

Gameplay Style

The Nords are a faction dedicated to speed. They move fast, hit hard and die just as quick, so a few key regards must be made towards their positioning and buffs. The Shaman is an excellent locus for your units, as his offensive spells can soften up enemy units or boost friendly ones to secure a unit kill. Although this may be some form of heresy against the Nordic spirit, Nords function as an archetypal “elf” faction. Yes, hold your gasps. They have an excellent ability to dish out punishment, but can’t take much in return, all the while having a large number of specialist units and a small number of generalists. You want to push your Bearsarks/Ulfhendar into the biggest fight possible, all the while harassing your opponent with spells and flanking charges from your Fenr. Outwit, outpace and outposition your opponent, and you’ll be feasting in Valhalla in no time. 
 

Conclusion

The Nords: First Blood Warband is the best way to start a Nords force for the first blood skirmish mode, and provides a great inlet into the aesthetics and designs of the Nords faction. Additionally, First Blood starter boxes exist for the other factions in Conquest, meaning that any respective player can find something for themselves!

Conquest: First Blood - Nords Warband 2.0 is available now at our webstore.