We have a nice general thread going for the Undead already, but I don’t want to derail it with some more detailed asks.
I have a small doubles-event coming up. We’re building for 1k and we’re not doing Ambush rules, so anything goes. I’m going in blind, and so cannot coordinate with my will-be co-General. The goal is to have fun, but I do want to contribute and pull my own weight.
I’m bullish on Undead for 4e, and want to run them at the event for some practice. I’ve decided I want to run Zuinok to try him out, and want to squeeze in a Revenant horde too. Everything else is up in the air, and I’m currently trying to decide between two lists:
The first list is my basis. I figured doubling-down on Decaying Horde would give Zuinok plenty of options, and play well with our command orders. The thinking is that I can sacrifice Skeletons for position or let them focus on scenario stuffs while Revenants and Zombie Trolls grind things out, with Wither and Perish helping those efforts once the lines. The concern would be Inspiring and board control.
The second list is less redundant, trading drops and US for some killy Wights, and I could also tweak this for Aegis or something on the Revenants and full-on Sharpness on the Wights. The thinking is that this should be a little more compact, and easier to inspire. The Revenants and Trolls can still grind, and this version might let me fight and position better, should my co-General need some assistance.
Again, I’d like to keep Zuinok and the Revenants around, but everything else is negotiable. How would y’all approach this?
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That first list is really satisfying and I’m in the more-units-is-more-better camp … but you should probably run the second? More variety and really gets something from surge in an edition that’s pretty unfriendly to it, annnnnd it has sharper teeth to deal with the degeneracy of uncomped 1000 points lists 
Cool on the Zuinok flex either way! Hope he treats you well, seems like a nice toolkit when you’ve just got points for 1 hero.
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At 1k the wights are a big chunk of your points for potentially a massive beat-stick, but are still vulnerable to an enemy alpha unit.
Going in blind in a doubles event I’d be more tempted by the first list - although I’d probably drop spears from one skeleton unit, give the Revenant horde measured force. The other 10 could go on LL+1 for a troll unit?
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Also, it occurs to me that you could gut some items / wither from the second list and bring the second skeleton regiment back. I don’t particularly think wights need an item (maybe boots?)
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My instinct is that the extra bite from wights is the way to go.
I agree with @Boss_Salvage that you should go for an extra unit instead of so many artefacts and upgrades.
Even a regiment of zombies.
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Thank you all. I wasn’t expecting to think on this any more today but speedy and solid advice for both lists! I realized the Zombie Hordes are about the price of Skeleton Regiments, which started me spiraling in a different direction, but I’m leaning towards the following now, essentially trying to split the difference in every direction:
With Elite for his spells, Zuinok can hopefully squeak by with just Wither and Perish (2) to help grinds. I don’t think I care about the damage it deals, just the effect. Lifeleech Command will probably be thrown at Revenants or Trolls most often. Dropping a big item from the Wights lets the Skeleton Spears become a horde, which should be pretty sticky, and the Wights can make do with Hann’s, since they can’t get healed by Zuinok or the Command.
Should be on the high end with 14 US, and a fair chunk of Nerve. And down to just a smidge of points on items and spells.
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Are you allowed the Warlord in 1k? If so, Zuinok is probably a good choice.
All those Hordes are going to have to protect each others flanks, because those’ll be what kills you. Revenants are tough but a regiments of knights in the side will still remove them.
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Doubles at 1000pt per person, not using Ambush restrictions.
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I managed to miss that!
Another thought: if your weakness is knights, consider Scorched Earth. shutting down TC could be huge!
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Cheers! I appreciate the help. Lists are due on the 31st so I still have a few days to mull things over.
The first build idea was actually Zuinock and SE, Revenants with the Hammer, and pairs of Trolls and Skeleton Spears. I kept trying out SE in 3E, and now 4E and while I recognize it can be powerful, it just hasn’t been doing it for me, and I struggle to get the spell off while protecting the caster, as I run into fliers a lot. Hopefully I can limit multi-charges with terrain and good positioning, and then grind stuff out.
My own hot take is that cavalry are going to be more rare this edition, especially early on, and most folks are going to take just one regiment with the Boots. Between sticky combats and losing all the TC to spears and hindered charges… I think it’s going to take a while before players really get the finesse to use them well. 
Thanks for the ideas!
