This analysis covers over 1,100 DBM games played in UK competitions from the start of 2020 to the end of 2025. The great majority used DBM 3.4 rules; a few used 3.3.

178 different armies were used (of the 313 in the four army list books); of these, 61 were used in only one competition each and have been omitted from the analysis. 22% of the armies used were from Book 1, 29% from Book 2, 23% from Book 3 and 26% from Book 4. This shows a marked increase in the popularity of Book 1 (“Biblical”) armies and a corresponding decrease for Book 2 (“Classical”) ones.

Table 1: Most Popular Armies

Table 1 shows the 21 armies which were used in more than 24 games. The most striking change is that the Seleucids are now by far the most popular choice, while the once table-topping Patrician Romans have disappeared almost completely – used in only one competition in the six-year period. Hellenistic and Roman armies have retained their popularity, as have late medieval ones; Medieval Spanish & Portuguese is a new arrival and now includes several Spanish armies as well as the more familiar Portuguese. One warband army makes the list – the Early Frankish one, seen most commonly as Suevi, sometimes with an Alamanni contingent. Two Chinese armies have become popular.

Table 2: Roman Armies

The Romans are still popular, but the Early and Middle Imperial versions are much less successful than the Republicans and Late Imperials. They have tended to be used more by lower-ranked players than by leading ones. An army from the Early Roman list was used in one competition – Latin, with three ally-generals – and won the competition.

Table 3: Pike Armies

Pike armies have remained popular, especially the Seleucids and Alexander’s, and have maintained average effectiveness. The most consistently successful of these armies have been those with the highest proportion of pikes – Akkadian, Swiss and Low Countries.

Table 4: Knight Armies

Irregular knight armies have become much less popular and also much less successful. Previously well-used armies such as Feudal French and Feudal English have disappeared. Some of those listed may not include impetuous knights – Carolingians, Lydians and Early Crusaders have the option of making some or all knights Regular. Much the most common now is the Medieval Spanish/Portuguese army, often seen in its Spanish guise. A new entrant is Tibetan, relying on massed cataphracts.

Table 5: Warband Armies

Warband armies have become slightly less common and more successful. The Gauls have been displaced by the Franks (including Suevi and Alamanni) as the popular choice. My use of Estonians, only once so far, has not been copied by others.

Table 6: Medieval European Armies

Knights (mostly regular) supported by bows, heavy infantry and sometimes light horse form the basis of these armies. The French, usually including Swiss pikes, and English have displaced the Hungarians as favourites. Generally these armies offer an attractive combination of controllability and varied troop types, making them a common type.

Table 7: Cavalry Armies

The Sassanids are now the most popular cavalry army, and with a healthy success rate. Several chariot-based armies are included, the Syro-Canaanites (mostly Ugaritic) being among the most effective. Overall, cavalry armies remain of average effectiveness.

Table 8: Spear and other HI Armies

These armies, relying on either Spears or Blades, tend to be draw-heavy. The hoplites are the most popular, while old stalwarts such as Vikings have vanished. Two others have reappeared with a bang: Makkan which used to be regarded as a killer army, and Anglo-Danish which had two competition outings (same figures, different players) with great success. With a 55% success rate these armies can be regarded as of above average effectiveness.

Table 9: Light Horse Armies

Use of light horse armies has declined but their success has improved. The Armenians, with a choice of either cataphracts or Superior Cavalry to support the light horse, are much the most effective.

Table 10: Light Infantry Armies

As usual, light infantry armies are uncommon but hard to beat; their overall success rate is very high. Some can include warband which give extra punch. In addition to those listed, Samnites appeared in one competition and won it.

Table 11: Elephant Armies

Another minority group, but markedly more successful than previously. Classical Indians remain the most popular.

Table 12: Camel Armies

Even more of a minority type but can be very effective. The Nubians (generally using the DBM list with Superior Camels) are the most successful.

Table 13: Bow Armies

Armies relying on massed archery have continued to do well, though the Early Samurai have not been seen since 2019. The Persians have done well in both 15mm and 25mm games, their combination of excellent archers and plentiful cavalry being particularly effective. The Tupi have become markedly more successful in the past few years.

Table 14: Balanced Armies

All these armies feature a core of heavy infantry with supporting light and mounted troops. Hannibal’s Carthaginians remain the favourites, but Rameses III, Ashurbanipal and Basil the Bulgar-Slayer are catching up and have been much more successful.

With around a dozen competitions each year there are still enough games to make comparisons viable. It should be borne in mind, though, that an army with only a few games played, such as Thracian, may represent a single player using such an army in a couple of competitions. If that player is particularly skilful, the army may appear to be a killer whereas it needs a lot of talent to use effectively. An army such as Later Sargonid Assyrian, with many games and a high success rate, has probably been used by several different players and its success is a good guide to the army’s general strength.

JGL 26.2.2026