Scott runs a lot of tournaments up in Stirling, Scotland at Common Ground Games. Unfortunately I’ve not been to one yet, but it’s definitely on the list of places to go! Warmaster is also run up there.
His latest tournament has just finished, and he has been posting the results – and lists – online via his twitter account and on Tabletop.to.
So before you continue with this article, pop onto Twitter and give Scott a well deserved follow! https://twitter.com/_wee_men
…
Welcome back!! I hope you liked Scott’s feed – it’s full of great coverage from the event and well worth a read. I followed along all weekend to the trials and tribulations of the competitors.., and the Dragons!!
1st Place – Daughters of Khaine – Nathan Watson (5-0)
Allegiance: Daughters of Khaine
– Temple: Hagg Nar
– Mortal Realm: Ulgu
– Grand Strategy: Hold the Line
– Triumphs:
Leaders
Bloodwrack Shrine (190)*
– General
– Command Trait: Devoted Disciples
– Artefact: The Ulfuri
– Lore of Shadows: Steed of Shadows
Hag Queen (105)*
– Artefact: Khainite Pendant
– Prayer: Blessing of Khaine
Morathi-Khaine (330)*
The Shadow Queen (330)*
Battleline
15 x Blood Stalkers (540)**
– Reinforced x 2
20 x Witch Aelves (240)**
– Sacrificial Knives and Blade Bucklers
– Reinforced x 1
10 x Witch Aelves (120)*
– Pairs of Sacrificial Knives
Units
5 x Khinerai Lifetakers (90)**
Endless Spells & Invocations
Heart of Fury (55)
Core Battalions
*Warlord
**Hunters of the Heartlands
Additional Enhancements
Artefact
Total: 2000 / 2000
Reinforced Units: 3 / 4
Allies: 0 / 400
Wounds: 101
Drops: 8
Nathan is rocking Morathi and the Bow Snakes and clearly did a lot of work here. The secret to Morathi’s success is no secret – she’s a beast! Being able to dish out good damage, knowing all the spell lore (interesting boost in the latest FAQ), and only taking 3 damage per player turn means that you can use her to block, kill big stuff and generally get in the way. If you’re opponent has no shooting she’s even better as she won’t suffer early wounds.
In AOS she is great and the FAQ made her stronger!
A word of warning though – this is not a pick up and play army… practice, practice, practice is the order of the day with this. There’s not many wounds available (101) and not a great save across the rest of the army.
Congratulations to Nathan.
2nd Place – Stormcast Eternals – Luke Garside (4-1)
Allegiance: Stormcast Eternals
– Stormhost: Hammers of Sigmar
– Mortal Realm: Ghur
– Grand Strategy: Beast Master
– Triumphs: Bloodthirsty
Leaders
Knight-Draconis (300)*
– General
– Command Trait: Battle-lust
– Artefact: Arcane Tome (Universal Artefact)
– Mount Trait: Thunderous Presence
– Spell: Thundershock
Battleline
2 x Stormdrake Guard (340)*
– Drakerider’s Lance
2 x Stormdrake Guard (340)*
– Drakerider’s Lance
2 x Stormdrake Guard (340)*
– Drakerider’s Lance
2 x Stormdrake Guard (340)*
– Drakerider’s Lance
2 x Stormdrake Guard (340)*
– Drakerider’s Lance
Core Battalions
*Battle Regiment
Total: 2000 / 2000
Reinforced Units: 0 / 4
Allies: 0 / 400
Wounds: 101
Drops: 1
Stormcast Eternals are lucky enough to have a great Warscroll and the ability to make it into battleline. And Luke has done this shortly after the models were released over the Christmas break. Stormdrake Guard have a mortal wound shooting attack, great movement, and decent combat output. And they can survive! At 340 points they are exceptional value despite the massive points increase before they were released.
This army is relatively simple… go forward … kill the world … don’t die!
But that’s doing Luke a dis-service and you have to play well to get a 4-1 with such other great armies around (*Edited – thanks to John B below!)
It will take time for the AoS community to work out how to deal with this, but they do seem very, very good and it’s difficult to see them not winning a 5 game tournament in the very near future.
3rd Place – Stormcast Eternals – John B (4-1)
Allegiance: Cities of Sigmar
– City: Living City
– Mortal Realm: Ghur
– Grand Strategy: Hold the Line
– Triumphs: Inspired
Leaders
Freeguild General on Griffon (290)*
– General
– Lance
– Command Trait: Ironoak Artisan
– Artefact: Spear of the Hunt
– Mount Trait: Soaring Guardian
Celestant-Prime, Hammer of Sigmar (325)*
Branchwraith (95)*
– Lore of Leaves: Lifesurge
Battleline
10 x Ironbreakers (115)*
10 x Ironbreakers (115)*
20 x Freeguild Crossbowmen (210)*
– Reinforced x 1
Units
10 x Shadow Warriors (120)*
4 x Dracothian Guard Fulminators (460)*
– Reinforced x 1
Behemoths
Celestial Hurricanum (230)*
Core Battalions
*Battle Regiment
Total: 1960 / 2000
Reinforced Units: 2 / 4
Allies: 0 / 400
Wounds: 111
Drops: 1
John B has another 1 drop army but very different from the Dragon list. I’ve seen similar, but never anything exactly like this… and it’s good! The Fulminators have a mortal wound shooting attack (see above!), the Celestant-Prime can arrive on the table on the game when needed and he has reach with the Crossbowmen.
It’ll be interesting to see this live to see how it plays… I’ve got little idea!
Wildcard! – Skaven – Cara Newby – 3-2
Peter Atkinson of Twitter, and Plastic Craic fame suggested that we pick a fourth army for our top three articles as an interesting list, one to watch for the future, or just because we like it.
I’ve chosen a Skaven list by Cara Newby.
Allegiance: Skaventide
– Mortal Realm: Ghur
– Grand Strategy: Hold the Line
– Triumphs: Inspired
Leaders
Master Moulder (95)*
– General
– Command Trait: Hordemaster
Master Moulder (95)**
– Artefact: Rabid Crown
Master Moulder (95)**
Master Moulder (95)***
Units
6 x Rat Ogors (285)*
– Mutation: Toughened Sinews
6 x Giant Rats (40)*
6 x Giant Rats (40)*
6 x Rat Ogors (285)**
– Mutation: Insanely Rabid
6 x Giant Rats (40)**
6 x Giant Rats (40)**
6 x Giant Rats (40)***
6 x Giant Rats (40)***
6 x Giant Rats (40)***
6 x Giant Rats (40)***
Behemoths
Hell Pit Abomination (240)*
– Mutation: Toughened Sinews
Hell Pit Abomination (240)**
– Mutation: Best-best Warpstone Spikes
Hell Pit Abomination (240)***
– Mutation: Accelerated Regeneration
Core Battalions
*Battle Regiment
**Battle Regiment
***Battle Regiment
Total: 1990 / 2000
Reinforced Units: 4 / 4
Allies: 0 / 400
Wounds: 152
Drops: 3
Cara was 3-1 going into the last round with a chance of a 4-1, and this list is great! Anyone who knows me, knows I love horde armies and this looks like a great example. I played a similar army at a 1 day THWG event last year and they are great at holding objectives, and stopping Cara getting Hold the Line must have been a real challenge.
Added to that the four monsters allow extra points from Battle Tactics including – at least – monstrous takeover. Added to that this must be fun to play against which is always something I look out for in a list.
Well done to Cara for 3-2 with a possible 4-1. I hope I’ll get a chance to see this in the flesh this year.
Thanks to Scott for running the tournament and keeping us all updated on Twitter… looks like everyone had a great time.
— Declan
Hi Declan.
Just for info. Game 5 Table 1 was Nathan vs John B. Cities took early points lead and were on the defensive after losing priority turn 2. Hunted down by that winged Bitch while the bow snakes deleted units at will.
Turn 5 needed 3W from 2d3 on Morathi Khaine to take win, rolled 2W and lost game by 1 point. Nathan played perfectly as usual. Great fun and spirit to game between old friends and rivals.
(Cities beat the dragons game 4, table 1 in another tight game)
Cheers John – it’s great to get more information! Thank you for the write up and congratulations on finishing 3rd.
Would recommend coming north of the border. Great fun scene and games in great spirit.
I’ve updated the article with this as well — Cheers!