For the fun of it, I'm going to post my own personal grades/rankings for each of the Core Set's 4 main factions. I'm grading them in the 3 phases of gameplay - beginning turns, middle of the game, and the final third of a game using American high school style grading letters. Like this:

ORCS: Beginning Phase = A+, Middle Phase = A, Final Phase = B

CHAOS: Beginning Phase = A, Middle Phase = A, Final Phase = B+

EMPIRE: Beginning Phase = B-, Middle Phase = B+, Final Phase = A+

DWARVES: Beginning Phase = B, Middle Phase = B+, Final Phase = A-

I'd be interested in how others would grade these factions, themselves??

I'd give the Empire a higher grade for the mid game for one card alone: Judgement of Verena. One of these will often reset the game for your opponent.

Dwarves have a much stronger end game than Empire. Empire should be A- and Dwarves A+

I'm a little harsher with grading. Remember. C is average. Added in High Elf and Dark Elf (from what we've seen so far)

ORCS: Beginning Phase = A+, Middle Phase = B, Final Phase = C

• Best early game rushers -- 2 turn win. Above average middle game, end game is average.

CHAOS: Beginning Phase = B-, Middle Phase = B-, Final Phase = B-

• Overall, above average in all phases, which makes them reliable throughout.

EMPIRE: Beginning Phase = C, Middle Phase = B, Final Phase = A-

• Average beginning game, decent middle phase, end game can wreck

DWARVES: Beginning Phase = B-, Middle Phase = B, Final Phase = A+

• Above average beginning game due to toughness, middle picks up, shining brightly with durability and resources end game

HIGH ELVES: Beginning Phase = F, Middle Phase = C, Final Phase = B-

• No good low cost units with power, average middle - decent units, good spells, above average end due to healing and unit effects

DARK ELVES: Beginning Phase = C, Middle Phase = B, Final Phase = B+

• Average beginning with some ok starter units, Above average middle with good spells and unit effects, good end game with durability and sniping

Wytefang said:

Just started playing this game and trying to get the hang of it...what is your reasoning behind each of the grades? In other words, specifically why are orcs not so good at the end, but the empire is so strong? Cheers.

Orcs are best at quick rush. Their end game is only average when compared to other cards.

Order has the best end game as they have very power heavy and durable units, powerful tactics, and controlling/power boosting support cards.

With the pace of his posts here, I think Fiendish had a wee bit too much coffee these past couple of days. LOL

Wytefang said:

eaither that or Red Bull

This is a handy way to see things as someone not yet in the game and looking to choose which race to start with. So besides grading their initial, middle and long distant capabilities, what races seem well balanced with each other and what races seem off kilter one way or another, in an overall grade?

Its important to note that as battle packs are released these stats change, dramatically. There are few enough cards in the game that adding 1-4 cards is enough to really change things up for a faction.

yes i agree completley... these grades will change evey month...
all though is it interesting to see what everyone thinks of the factions....