Howdy partner! With the release of the third Global Update for Armoured Clash, we are going to examine how the Union has benefited from the latest round of tweaks and balances. With Union Generals performing quite well, we have not felt the need to make many changes in this update. Indeed, a budding Union General will still find plenty of valuable information in the previous Union Tips and Tactics Article. However, with the broader pan-ORBAT changes affecting Melee-centric units and Transports everywhere, the Union can play even more to its strengths as a mobile faction specialising in mid-table brawling.

Ironhide Transports and UR-45 Heavy Mechs, in particular, have become more cost-effective, allowing you to get your infantry where you need them, and shelter them from enemy fire with your Mechs while they sit on Objectives and earn victory points. The real winner of this update for the Union though, is the UR-31E Iron Eagle Cavalry, which are now far more adept at destroying Heavy targets than they were before. With these new changes, Union Generals can build a force worthy of President Carpathian's premiership*!

*President Carpathian takes no responsibility for any injuries sustained by you or your Force during your campaign, including but not restricted to, burns, blunt force trauma, severed limbs, being massacred, decimation, the inadvertent conversion into menial constructs, the mental strain of encountering otherworldly beings beyond your comprehension etc.

There’s no better time for new Union generals to jump on board with the Union Faction Battlegroup, serving as a perfect entry point.

Rocking, Rolling, Riding

Ironhide Transports, already one of the more points-efficient transports in the game, now cost even less, allowing you to create a highly mobile Union Force that can quickly get infantry units onto objectives or into optimal range of a target. This complements the addition to the Union Faction Battlegroup of a Bolster option for a single unit of Ironhide Transports, whilst retaining the ability to Bolster another Armour unit in the same Battlegroup. Additionally, the Newhaven Forward Garrison and Rockridge Flatbed have also both received a slight points decrease, lowering the overall cost of a Heavy Rail that contains these carriages. This allows you to get more into your Force whilst leaning into the Union's love of mechanised infantry.

Shock and Awe

The across-the-board decrease in the points cost of melee-centric units has affected the UR-45 Heavy Mechs, which now serve as an even more efficient walking bunker thanks to the Bulwark special rule. Having a unit or two of heavy mechs in the midfield, able to bully anything that gets too close, will also act as a potent deterrent to potential counter-assaults. Why not use a Heavy Rail incorporating the cheaper Rockridge Flatbed to get these hulking automata across the battlefield quickly? 

But now for the tastiest changes to a unit in the Union Orbat: UR-31E Iron Eagle Cavalry. This unit has not only become cheaper but their Ranged (Heavy) attack has increased from 4 / 8 / 12 to a frightening 6 / 10 / 15. This increase might seem modest, but once you factor in the potent Arc quality that this attack possesses, these Iron-Horse-riding automata should now perform more like the fast, short-ranged tank hunters they are! 

We have also been paying attention to how Union Generals have been using their Forces. Federal Rocket Fireteams and Federal Gatling Fireteams, for example, have both had their VPR increased, giving Generals facing the Union more of a reward for taking them out. 

There are also some units that have received a little more attention from us this update. Kodiak Artillery Tanks, which from our observations have been largely overlooked by Union Generals in favour of Rolling Thunder Main Battle Tanks, have gained the Stalker special rule. This gives them a role as fast, reactive, indirect armour that you can use to punish enemy units through Opportunity Fire.

Blazer Heavy Cavalry have also received a decrease to the dice pools of their Ranged (Heavy) attack, but they have also become slightly cheaper as a result. They are still a terrifying, anti-light ranged cavalry that will give your opponent nightmares!

After observing how potent Lamplighter Flame Trucks can be, we have taken the decision to increase their points cost slightly. This is only a nominal increase, so Union Generals should still be able to include a unit of these fire-breathing fiends in their force, but it you will have to work a bit harder to field large units of them. 

A 2000-point list

With the changes of this Global Update in mind, you may be asking yourself how to go about building a list to make the most of these improvements. To that end we have revisited the Battle-Scale list from our original Tips and Tactics blog, to offer inspiration, and a solid place to start if you’re new to the Faction.

Building on the 2,000-point Force List present in the Union Tips and Tactics article, this list similarly combines the Union Faction Battlegroup Starter Set and the Union Introductory Starter Set to create a Force that leans towards the Union's specialty of rapid advances and mid-ranged combat. This list contains a Reinforced unit of UR-31E Iron Eagle Cavalry and a Reinforced unit of Blazer Heavy Cavalry, these two Iron Horse-mounted units serving as speedy anti-Heavy and anti-Light specialists that can start hunting targets early in the Clash. It also boasts a Full-Strength unit of Ironhide Transports to get a Federal Trooper Platoon and their attached Fireteams across the Battlefield quickly. Should they come under fire whilst on an objective, the Full-Strength unit of UR-45 Heavy Mechs should help them weather the storm. Should your opponent try to counter with their own infantry, your Full-Strength unit of Kodiak Artillery Tanks can use opportunity fire to wipe the unfortunate, would-be assault force off the table!           

Points values correct as of the Union v1.04 Beta ORBAT

For more information regarding the overall changes of this Global Update, read the summary blog.

Explore the latest Union releases online or at your FLGS. None nearby? Get your LGS to contact tradesales@occamdistribution.com to discuss stocking Warcradle Studios!

Stay up to date with the latest news and releases on our Facebook, Instagram, and X and on the Warcradle Studios Blog.