can monsters be flanked and charged from the rear

The simple answer is no, as that is one of their advantages.

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Respectfully,
Jonathan

Do what is right, love mercy, and walk humbly

Battle Companies

The monsters can turn around alway fast, cause they are individual caracters. And another intresting fact that only one company could attack a monster from a formation, cause its base is round. Another formation could attack from the other side of course, but just with one company again. If there are more space, a third company could attack too.

That, the fact that monster damage is delivered first, monster strength is usually enough to wound easily (on flank/rear especially) and their Fight value will generally give them several extra dice vs. a typical formation all help make monsters pretty effective at dealing damage. The fact that they are almost always just H2K is really their downside. It's just not that hard to finish them off. But if you use Treebeard or a Troll Chief (Might, extra stats and VH2K) and play them smart you can often get their points worth. I managed to do pretty good with a couple basic Mordor Trolls as well by keeping them hanging back and supporting my Morannon and Orc formations when they charge.

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Wait ye the finish! The fight is not yours.
Beowulf

http://TacticsInMiniature.com

I rember when buying my cave drake that I told the guy there that I don't really kno why I'm buying it as it would propably be rubbish in the game, but he said what Bastion.HUN just said that an enemy can only get one company against it so it might be better than I thought.

On the other hand with the Drake you have a 50/50 chance of being forced into a duel with it which is bad if the only enemy hero is a powerful Epic.

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"I am the Flying Spagetti Monster. Thou shall have no other monsters before me"
-FSM.