Two King's Empire Squads, Two Very Different Jobs
Both boxes sit under the King's Empire allegiance and both are Squad-role unit boxes for The Other Side, but they solve different problems on the table. The South Wales Borderers are a durable infantry squad that gets more dangerous as it takes casualties. The Empire Dragoons are fast cavalry that use speed and firepower to hit weak points before the enemy can reinforce. The choice comes down to whether you want a unit that holds a line or one that races around it.
This comparison sticks to what the catalog actually lists: model counts, scale, assembly state, and the roles described in each product record. It does not assume rules interactions, point costs, or tactical outcomes beyond those supplied descriptions.
Side-by-Side: What Each Unit Box Gives You
- South Wales Borderers: 10 miniatures in the box, organized as durable five-model Fireteams that meet the enemy at close range and become more dangerous as casualties mount. Allegiance: King's Empire. Role: Squad. 32mm scale, preassembled and unpainted.
- Empire Dragoons: 6 miniatures in the box. Fast cavalry combining powerful firearms, confident melee attacks, and exceptional speed to exploit weak points before the enemy can reinforce. Allegiance: King's Empire. Role: Squad. 32mm scale, preassembled and unpainted.
South Wales Borderers: Attrition Infantry That Rewards Pressure
- The Other Side: South Wales Borderers: Contents: South Wales Borderers x10, 32mm scale, supplied preassembled and unpainted. Ten models give you two five-model Fireteams, so the box supports a squad that can absorb losses and keep functioning.
The Other Side: South Wales Borderers - The Other Side: South Wales Borderers: Their durable five-model Fireteams meet the enemy at close range and become more dangerous as casualties mount. This is the core identity of the unit: it is designed to close distance and turn losses into pressure rather than folding.
Empire Dragoons: Cavalry Built to Exploit Openings
- The Other Side: Empire Dragoons: Contents: Empire Dragoons x6, 32mm scale, supplied preassembled and unpainted. Six models is a smaller footprint than the Borderers, which fits a fast, wide-ranging unit rather than a grinding infantry block.
The Other Side: Empire Dragoons - The Other Side: Empire Dragoons: These fast cavalry combine powerful firearms, confident melee attacks, and exceptional speed to exploit weak points before the enemy can reinforce them. The Dragoons are a threat-multiplier: their value comes from reaching the right place quickly, not from holding a static position.
Which Box Fits Your Plan?
Use the unit's described battlefield role as your main filter. Neither box is strictly better; they answer different questions.
- Choose South Wales Borderers if…: You want a durable infantry squad that can hold a position, fight at close range, and keep pressing even as it takes casualties. The ten-model box gives you two five-model Fireteams to work with.
- Choose Empire Dragoons if…: You want speed and reach. The Dragoons are described as fast cavalry with firearms and melee capability, suited to hitting weak points and forcing the opponent to defend the whole table.
- Consider both if…: Your force benefits from a holding unit and a fast flanking unit. The Borderers can anchor while the Dragoons threaten wider angles. Both are King's Empire Squads, so they share an allegiance.
What the Catalog Does Not Decide for You
The supplied records list scale, contents, assembly state, allegiance, and role, but they do not include point costs, in-game profiles, or rules interactions. That means this comparison can tell you how each unit is described and what is in the box, but it cannot tell you which is more efficient in a specific company build. If you are choosing between them for a list, check the current rules for The Other Side rather than treating the catalog copy as a rules reference.
Both boxes are supplied preassembled and unpainted, so neither saves you painting time. The Borderers give you ten models to paint; the Dragoons give you six. That is a practical difference if you prefer a smaller painting queue. No care, safety, or compatibility instructions are included in the supplied evidence for either product, so follow the general guidance that applies to your modeling supplies and workspace.
A Note on the "Empire vs Guild" Search
If you arrived searching for an Empire vs Guild unit box comparison, the supplied catalog does not include a Guild-allegiance unit box in this pair. Both products here are King's Empire. The meaningful comparison is therefore between two King's Empire Squads with different battlefield roles, not between two allegiances. That distinction matters because allegiance affects how a unit fits into a company, while role affects what it does once deployed.
