Late Saxons vs Norman Cavalry: Which 28mm Force Fits Your Games?
By Victrix Limited 28mm miniatures | Published: 2026-11-03
Category: Koopgidsen
Compare Victrix Late Saxons and Norman Unarmoured Cavalry on figure count, options, and battlefield role to decide which 28mm Dark Ages force suits your next project.
Quick answer
Choose Late Saxons if you want a large, infantry-heavy force with extensive build options for skirmish games like SAGA. Choose Norman Unarmoured Cavalry if you want to add a fast, hard-hitting mounted contingent to an existing Norman or Breton army.
Why figure count changes your project scope
The Late Saxon set gives you 60 hard plastic infantry, enough to build a full warband or the core of a larger army. That volume means more assembly and painting time, but also more flexibility to swap weapons and heads across the force. The Norman Unarmoured Cavalry set contains 12 plastic figures, so it is a smaller commitment that can be finished quickly and used to support an existing force.
If you are starting from scratch, the Saxon box provides a self-contained army. If you already have Norman knights or infantry, the cavalry box adds a new tactical dimension without doubling your painting queue.
The trade-off between variety and focus
The Late Saxon set includes a myriad of additional parts, allowing hundreds of options when building figures. That variety is ideal if you enjoy customising each warrior, but it can slow down assembly as you decide on poses and equipment. The Norman Unarmoured Cavalry set offers a host of head, weapon and shield options, but with only 12 figures the choices are more focused and quicker to resolve.
Neither set includes shield transfers or banner sheets in the box; the Saxon set is supported by a range of LBMS shield transfers and banner sheets, which you may want to add for finished-looking units. The Norman set's options let you create Normans, Bretons, Spanish and other forces, so it can serve multiple armies if you game in different periods.
How each force plays on the table
Late Saxons are an infantry force, and the armoured figures in the set can represent huscarls or better-equipped warriors. That makes them a natural choice for games where a solid shieldwall or a large skirmish warband is your core. Norman Unarmoured Cavalry represent mounted sergeants and retainers who would fight alongside more heavily equipped knights, quite possibly forming the second rank to a cavalry charge. If you want mobility and the option to threaten flanks, the cavalry set gives you that without needing a full army of knights.
The trade-off is specialisation: Saxons give you a broad infantry core, while the Norman cavalry give you a fast, focused unit that works best when combined with other troops.
Trade-offs to weigh before you buy
- Volume vs. speed: 60 Saxons will take significantly longer to assemble and paint than 12 cavalry. If your priority is getting a finished force on the table quickly, the Norman cavalry is the faster route. Decide how much painting time you can commit before choosing the larger box.
- Infantry core vs. mounted support: The Saxon set is a complete infantry army in a box. The Norman cavalry are designed to support a force that already includes knights or infantry. If you have no Norman army yet, you will need to add other units to make the cavalry effective. Check whether you already own compatible troops before buying the cavalry set.
- Customisation depth: The Saxon set offers hundreds of build options, which rewards hobbyists who enjoy planning each figure. The Norman set offers a host of options but on a smaller canvas, so decisions are quicker. Match the set to your appetite for assembly decisions, not just the period.
- Shield and banner support: The Saxon set is fully supported by LBMS shield transfers and banner sheets, which are not included. Factor in that extra purchase if you want uniform, detailed shields. The Norman set's options let you create Normans, Bretons, Spanish and more, so transfers may need to match your chosen force. Budget for transfers separately, especially for the Saxons.
Key facts at a glance
- Late Saxons/Anglo Danes: Contains 60 superbly detailed 28mm hard plastic Saxons with a myriad of additional parts for hundreds of build options. You get a full army's worth of infantry in one box, with enough variety to avoid identical poses across the unit.
Late Saxons/Anglo Danes - Norman Unarmoured Cavalry: Includes 12 highly detailed 28mm plastic figures with a host of head, weapon and shield options. A small, focused set that lets you build mounted sergeants or retainers quickly and still customise each figure.
Norman Unarmoured Cavalry
Which force fits your games?
Best for
- Players who want a large, self-contained infantry army for SAGA or similar skirmish games.
- Hobbyists who enjoy extensive customisation and have time for a bigger painting project.
- Anyone building a Late Saxon or Anglo-Danish force who needs armoured huscarls and warriors in one box.
Not for
- Gamers who need a finished force quickly and prefer a small, focused unit.
- Players who already have a Norman army and only need infantry, not cavalry.
- Anyone who wants shield transfers included in the box.
