Core Choices

Palace Guard This unit of 18 warriors with hand weapon/shield/heavy armor basically provide combat resolution to Zhatan and Bulwark. With a 3+ save in hand-to-hand, they're a tough nut to crack. This is an unit that used to have great weapons, but I found that with only 2 models in the front rank (I usually place them 4 wide) I was paying 36 points for 2 great weapon attacks. And 36 points can get 18 more hobgoblins... which I promptly did! GW doesn't make CDs without great weapons, so the whole unit had to be made from champion models.

Blunderbuss I have 5 units of these, but only 3 are in my standard list. The Blunderbuss are a fantastic unit, able to utterly destroy ranked troops when used wisely. By carefully placing hobgoblin bait units and Earthshaker shots, I can sometimes squeeze up to 4 rounds of shooting out of the unit before the enemy finally is able to engage it. In combat, the +3 combat resolution due to ranks and standard are usually adequate to at least hold the enemy until I can get a flank charge in. The standards are donated from Chaos Marauders.

Armored Hobgoblins A great value at 120 points, this unit gives me a +5 combat resolution and a 4+ save in hth. When led by Gorblitz, it can even win combats outright! The shields are all from the Goblin box set, with bits trimmed off.

Naked Hobgoblins My current list has three units; two of ten each, and one of 18. The 10-hobbo units are great bait. They can either flee when charged, or take it, lose combat, and misdirect the enemy, thereby exposing a flank. The larger unit can be placed to a far flank, where it can be a real nuisance. You can't ignore it, but killing it only gives up 36 victory points.