Middle Earth Minutes: Using Monsters in the new MESBG

An overview of monster changes with some strategies and tactics to help get the most out of your monsters! This is kind of like a podcast episode where I discuss these various facets, hope you all enjoy!
black- monster changes
red-BPA
orange Rend
green barge
blue hurl
purple strats
Music: Peaceful Fantasy Music by:TheoJT

[@danielcraine120]

Would love to hear your guidance on unique monster attacks. Thanks for the great video. Background music was peaceful.

[@DFGEmporium]

Hey! I plan on doing a version of this but for playing against monsters next, so make sure to stay tuned for that!

[@DesmondDentresti]

I think I agree with most of what you are saying.
The issue still remains that monsters cost more than warriors in pound for pound output. Yes they have Dominant, yes they can hit spear supports, yes they can threaten heroes with a barge more consistently, yes Heroic Strike is worse, yes they can potentially knock a nearby model prone with hurl. All very useful. But enemies can still use many of the same strategies they would in the previous edition to full effect to mitigate almost all of that. Mainly ignoring them and making it a waste of points compared to just having a higher model count and more consistent pressure.
Screening for a Barge was necessary previously because the chance they rolled a 6 and got into your hero still existed - this is the same as screening against Heroic Combat. It is more consistent now which is good but it didnt change anything in the way the game is played. Shoving models off of objectives and moving onto them is its best application.
Hitting Spear Supports is good (basically gave every monster most of Sauron's unique BPA for free) but the status quo is that enemy frequently works to only engage monsters with a single or pair of Shield warriors and then do not Spear support them. This minimizes the damage a monster can do in the short term while the rest of the list is working to a position to deal with it more permanently later when it is surrounded, without banner support and a hero can put Might into the fight to slay it. Barging models back into positions to be Spear Supported in your hypothetical strategy does nothing for you in terms of lethality, because you are risking a second lost duel and the enemy isn't forced to even involve the spears.
Hurl is the biggest and most consistent of the changes here, unless you just never stand within 6" of a monster, there is always the risk it tosses your friend at you, thats constant threat. It also means that monster could potentially slay 2 warriors even if it only charged or was charged by one. Thats good for minimum consistency on most monsters.
BUT
That was in many ways a trade off, as Hurl from the previous edition could be done after a Heroic Combat to line it up and was able to knock literally dozens of models down and potentially wound them and taking them off mounts. That was the main threat monsters had against lists that outnumbered them massively with low quality models, skewed hard into cavalry charges or set up archer lines that refused to move. If they don't move to respect that hurl you could punish them all. I used that basically EVERY game to disrupt the battle lines - knock down Banner models and adjacent models that it could be handed to, remove enemy spear support dice from fight, knock all the shield warriors prone, my own spear supports get to strike the prone model still if we win and we take no casualties if we lose.
For Warrior Monsters, new Hurl raises their minimum threat. For Hero monsters, new Hurl MASSIVELY reduces their control over the battlefield, their ability to protect their warriors, and clear groups of chaff models.

[@DesmondDentresti]

Oh and bonus Old Hurl tactical loss, a few times I lined up my Hurl through MY OWN models, deliberately killing them and ending the scenario with a favourable score before my opponent could come back in the following turn. Can't do that any more.

[@DFGEmporium]

yeah, I think over the next year or so (FAQ dependent of course) monster play rate will go down, and it will be similar to last edition. I do think though, that for certain lists getting access to larger beaters to be able to deal with elite troops, and mid tier heroes is a lot more realistic. I do dislike the hurl changes, but I can understand them. Especially some of the evil lists where they can really support them with magic, and lack the larger hitters. They were unplayable before, so playability is progress.