This review has been updated for Clash of Kings 2022 because it is a new review, there is no need to put changes in red, it’s all changes!

Ok. So as the devastatingly handsome Jake Ciarapica explained in this article, the way we’re approaching Clash of Kings 2022 is by updating the existing Version 3 army views with units that have changed, rather than a brand new article. That’s all well and good, but the Version 3 Twilight Kin Army Review was written by the late, great Jesse Cornwell, and there’s no way I’m writing over the great man’s musings. So you get a whole new article, because apparently I like doing extra work.

It’s also worth noting I play a particular style of Twilight Kin, and hence this listing is based on my experience having played them for the last couple of years. That means you might disagree with my ranking. If you do find yourself disagreeing vehemently with what I’m writing, take a step back, realise I’m right and you’re wrong, and move on. Let’s get on with it!

Tier Rankings: 

Trying to rank units in Kings of War is not a perfect science. By pure design, many units are meant to work in combination with other choices in the army and can be hard to judge on their own. For this exercise, it’s assumed the unit is being used to its utmost potential within the army. This is not just a math problem to determine the most cost-effective unit but to also see how they compare in scope, role, and impact across not just a single army but all Kings of War armies. For the most part, units will be treated as one entry; however, if an option or size drastically improves a unit it will be separately mentioned.

S Tier: Reserved for units that are widely acknowledged as either being significantly undercosted or having a combination of rules that perform well above units in similar roles. These units are often called “auto includes” as any list stands to be made better with their inclusion. Expect these units to be addressed in future CoK book updates.

A Tier: These units are some of the best the army has to offer. They excel in their specific roles and commonly help form the core of most competitive lists. While not auto include, they are great in almost any army they are taken in and will be seen frequently.

B Tier: These units have a mix of strengths and weaknesses that make them very playable but balanced. These units work great with specific roles in mind; however, their weaknesses mean they do not help every list. In a perfect world, all units would fit into this category.

C Tier: C tier units may still shine in niche lists and roles; however, they will feel underpowered when compared to similar units in other armies. Decidedly suboptimal, you could make them work but frequently will see other things that are just better. You will rarely see many lists take these units.

D Tier: Units that need some considerable love and attention. You will struggle to find any role for this unit that another unit couldn’t do better. Very often you will see these units labeled as “unplayable”.

If you are interested in our other army reviews you can find them here.

S Tier 

Mikayel, Lord of Nightmares – Mikayel got a points reduction in Clash ’22, which makes this fearsome hero all the more affordable. Some would argue he’s in the “great but not that great” category, since his value comes with the Sword of Umbra ability that allows him to double his 6 attacks to 12 when attacking heroes, monsters, and titans. However with the “Host Shadowbeast” spell, Mikayel can potentially get up to 32 attacks (if you’re super lucky), which is nothing short of hilarious. It’s a massive investment in points because you need the crone, and the spell, but he’s in the S Tier for the lols of that particular edge case, and nothing else.

Cronebound Abyssal Horsemen – I’ve played a lot of different armies in Kings of War, and I cannot find a cavalry unit that delivers more value than these. Their statline is near perfect with the bonus 18 attacks, crush 1 thunderous 1 over TC2, and regen to boot, plus they’re the ideal target for crone drain life healing. You’ll rarely, if ever, see a twilight kin army without them.

Cronebound Gargoyles – Humble, unassuming gargoyles. They feature in multiple lists, but damn, they’re still the best chaff in the game. Fast, deployable, annoying. Just love them.

La’theal Bleakheart – The newest addition to Twilight Kin special characters is so incredibly good. Aura of stealthy is beyond useful against competitive shooting lists, and her special ability adds elite to any spell targeting specific units (whilst removing stealthy and spellward). That makes her a reliable DPS/healer hybrid with drain life 7 that is a beautiful addition to any army list.

A Tier

Impalers – Impalers were great before, but now they have fury they’re a reliable second-line unit to add consistent damage without any worries of sitting out useless whilst wavered in combat.

Summoner Crone – The multitool that makes the Twilight Kin army tick, there’s little that crones can’t do for you. Bane chanter, drain lifer, and their collossal natural spell caster level 3 gives them access to the entire arcane library, what’s not to love?

Twilight Gladestalkers – Of all the gladestalker units, the Twilight flavour are among the most interesting. They’re a multi purpose unit that hit better than they shoot. Plus they’re really one of the only reliable counters to defence 6 units thanks to their built in hammer of measured force. I’m a little nervous putting them in A Tier because I haven’t really played them enough to be sure, but I love the concept, and Jake’s demanding these reviews get out immediately or he’s administering fresh beatings so here we are.

Blade Dancer Neophyes – The new unlocking kid on the block has jumped wholesale into the vast majority of Twilight Kin lists, offering a fast, cheap, unlocking elite unit that punches above its weight whilst dying suitably quickly to allow your real damaging units to power through.

Cronebound Butchers – I think the real star version of this unit is the regiment. Durable thicc chaff that hangs around way longer than it has any right too, whilst punching way harder than you might think. Hordes are also decent hammer/anvils, which gives it that rare “useful at any size” label you might struggle to find elsewhere.

Cronebound Shadowhulk – I used to be down on the shadowhulk. But when you realise just how damn hard it is to kill a -/20 defence 5 titan, especially when it can be crone-healed, plus hits on a 3+? Sign me up please.

Cronebound Archfiend – I nearly put it in S tier. I nearly did! If only to annoy Visibly Riley. I once wrote an opinion piece on the best/worst dragons in Kings of War, and put the TK Archfiend at the very top. Now it’s even better, with a 17/19 nerve like a proper dragon and, I mean guys they gave it stealthy, for god’s sake! Hilarious!

Soulbane on Dread Fiend – It’s very hard to argue against the useability of a 50×50 monster-based character with crushing strength 2. Although 6 attacks looks lame compared to (say) a Lord on Frostfang, you have to remember that dread and elite makes this so much better than it looks on paper.

B Tier

Blade Dancers – I want to love Blade Dancers more, I really do. They’re fast, unwaverable, and with the Crew of the Black Hydra update, get a neat damage boost if they don’t die. But their problem is that they’re hellishly difficult to use well. That means you need to be really really good to get best value from them, and that drops them to B Tier. Deal with it. On which note:

Formation: The Crew of the Black Hydra – See, this is so cool in principle. And Leiz the Soulless is an undeniable superstar that would be up there in A or even S tier on her own. But Blade Dancers are so tricky to use well that the entire formation’s punishing price point puts it down here in the “cool to have, tricky to use” bucket.

Silverbreeze Cavalry – I’m a big supporter of just how damn annoying Silverbreeze cav are. Elite speed 10 ranged 4+ shooting is a total pain in the chuff to deal with, but they’re very expensive, and you might be more tempted to roll out the lightning bolt train rather than pay for these.

Cronebound Fiends – The red headed step child of the twilight kin cavalry, fiends are cool to have only if you want the models or can’t play with a lower nerve value. In nearly every other respect, Abyssal Horsemen are better.

Cronebound Mind Screech – Remember when everyone was terrified about mind screech batteries ruining everyone’s fun? They’re still good to provide that 24″ ranged threat, but to invest in enough to ruin someone’s fun, you end up ruining your own.

Twilight Assassin – The twilight assassin is a pretty cool little melee character. The only problem is that literally every other option bar the elven prince is so, so much better.

Soulbane – your common and garden vanilla Soulbane is great. It’s a durable, useful, melee-focused hero. I genuinely love them and put them in every list, riiiiiight up until Clash ’22 gave me unconditional inspiring, Soulbanes on dread fiends, upgraded Mikayel and La’theal Bleakheart. Bye bye vanilla Soulbane.

C Tier

Tallspears – I hated Tallspears before, but begrudgingly admitted they had a role to play in the twilight kin lists, largely if you were struggling for unlocks. Now there are better options, Tallspears can go back to the Elf list where they belong. Or even better, in the bin. All they bring to the party is a nerve block. They don’t do enough damage, they’re a points sink in a list that has too many other expensive options, and you need to give them an item to make them useful, which makes them even more pricey. Garbage.

Kindred Archers – Kindred archers have a place in your list if you have a few points left over, but don’t want any more gargoyles. Or something cheap to hold objectives that won’t die to a stiff breeze. Otherwise, there are just better options all round.

Cronebound Shadowhounds – At the regiment level you might be able to find some clever usage out of the nimble, but realistically there are better options, and nothings beats gargoyles as chaff.

Bolt Thrower – If your list is going to be 100% ranged focused, then why not. Otherwise, why?

Dragon Breath – Same as bolt throwers. Dragon Breaths really struggle due to relatively low attacks, ranged inadequacies, and lack of piercing.

Cronebound Banshee – The banshee’s main attraction in nightstalkers is its mobile dread. But in Twilight Kin you get dread like it’s a free AOL CD and you’re living in 1991, which drops this cool little fella down the rankings to sit at the bottom of the barrel crying, surrounded by war engines.

D Tier

Therennian Sea Guard – Sea Guard are a decent enough unit, but they belong in the elf list, and have no real function or synergy in the twilight kin list. Also, isn’t Therennia an elf city, why are they fighting for the twilight kin? Get out.

Cronebound Needle Fangs – I literally do not understand the point of this unit.

Elven Prince – why would you take this? Every other possible option is better.

Army Standard Bearer – See Elven Prince.