UK, 19th & 20th February

The sounds of battle are over, and the Shires can go back to their normal levels of peace and quiet… but what an event it was!

I couldn’t make this one, as tickets were sold almost 2 years ago, but it’s almost local so its great to see it go ahead. Hopefully I’ll get there next year. For coverage of the event you can look back on Twitter and follow the Bucks Wargames Collective.

With 78 players it was a full event, and ended up with 2 players on 5-0.

1st Place – Mike Stewart – Seraphon (5-0)

Mike has been tearing up the tournament scene with Seraphon for… well almost forever – and he knows the army like the back of his hand. Always up on the top tables you’re doing well if you can get a win off Mike.

He benefits from consistent play with the same army, and pivoting with the meta using the breath of options available within the book.

Allegiance: Seraphon
– Constellation: Thunder Lizard
– Mortal Realm: Ghur
– Grand Strategy: Beast Master
– Triumphs: Indomitable

Leaders
Engine of the Gods (265)*
– Artefact: Fusil of Conflaguration 
– Mount Trait: Beastmaster
– Universal Prayer Scripture: Curse
Slann Starmaster (265)*
– General
– Command Trait: Arcane Might 
– Spell: Celestial Apotheosis
Skink Priest (80)*
– Universal Prayer Scripture: Heal
Skink Priest (80)**
– Universal Prayer Scripture: Heal

Battleline
10 x Skinks (75)**
– Boltspitters Celestite Daggers & Star Bucklers
10 x Skinks (75)**
– Boltspitters Celestite Daggers & Star Bucklers
10 x Skinks (75)*
– Boltspitters & Moonstone Clubs

Units
2 x Salamander Hunting Pack (280)*
– Reinforced x 1
2 x Salamander Hunting Pack (280)*
– Reinforced x 1

Behemoths
Bastiladon with Solar Engine (250)*
Bastiladon with Solar Engine (250)**

Core Battalions
*Battle Regiment
**Battle Regiment

Total: 1975 / 2000
Reinforced Units: 2 / 4
Allies: 0 / 400
Wounds: 101
Drops: 2

Despite the recent points increases Mike has still taken Salamangers and Bastiladon’s and Engine of the Gods. With 2 drops he’s likely to have the option of who goes first as well (about 75% of the time), and the shooting and range mean that the Seraphon don’t need to win in combat – that’s not to say they can’t as anyone who has been charged by Salamanders will attest to!

2nd Max Barton – Stormcast Eternals – 5-0

Stormcast Eternals have been doing well since before the short Christmas break and – like the Seraphon – have lots of options available which allows for different play styles and players to have success with the army.

Allegiance: Stormcast Eternals
– Stormhost: Hammers of Sigmar
– Grand Strategy: Beast Master
– Triumphs: Inspired

Leaders
Knight-Draconis (300)*
– General
– Command Trait: Master of Magic 
– Artefact: Arcane Tome (Universal Artefact)
– Mount Trait: Celestial Instincts
– Universal Spell Lore: Flaming Weapon

Battleline
2 x Stormdrake Guard (340)*
– Drakerider’s Warblade
2 x Stormdrake Guard (340)*
– Drakerider’s Warblade
2 x Stormdrake Guard (340)*
– Drakerider’s Warblade

Units
1 x Stormdrake Guard – Single (170)*
6 x Vanguard-Raptors with Longstrike Crossbows (480)*
– Reinforced x 1

Core Battalions
*Battle Regiment

Additional Enhancements
Holy Command: Thunderbolt Volley

Total: 1970 / 2000
Reinforced Units: 1 / 4
Allies: 0 / 400
Wounds: 86
Drops: 1

Max has gone 1 drop and taken two of the best warscrolls in the book. Longstrikes (Vanguard-Raptors) have 30″ range and the Thunderbolt Volley allows them to fire in the Hero phase once as well. With mortal wounds at that range they can push out some heavy damage… all safely out of distance. And it you do charge, expect to get Unleash Hell – from all 6!

He’s also taken the Stormdrake Guard (Dragons) who add speed, more mortal wound damage, and a reasonable save. I think this army is better than the full Dragon army having faced the Vanguard-Raptors before, as it’s got loads of versatility and can kill some Dragons early in the mirror match – of course if you’re playing against another 1 drop the best advice it to win the roll-off for first deployment!!

3rd Dan Bradshaw – Cities of Sigmar (4-1)

Dan grabbed the 3rd place trophy as top 4-1 player by virtue of strength of schedule (essentially how the players you played against did). It’s great to see a third different army in the top 3, but… they are all Order which is getting to the top of a lot of tournaments at the moment… Also – check out the list!

Allegiance: Cities of Sigmar
– City: Living City
– Mortal Realm: Ghyran
– Grand Strategy: Beast Master
– Triumphs: Inspired

Leaders
Anointed on Frostheart Phoenix (315)*

– General

– Command Trait: Ironoak Artisan

– Artefact: Arcane Tome (Universal Artefact)

– Lore of Leaves: Lifesurge 
Doralia ven Denst (115)*
Freeguild General (100)*

Battleline
10 x Freeguild Crossbowmen (105)*
10 x Freeguild Crossbowmen (105)*
10 x Freeguild Crossbowmen (105)*

Units
4 x Dracothian Guard Fulminators (460)*
– Reinforced x 1
4 x Stormdrake Guard (680)*
– Drakerider’s Warblade
– Reinforced x 1

Core Battalions
*Battle Regiment

Total: 1985 / 2000
Reinforced Units: 2 / 4
Allies: 0 / 400
Wounds: 112
Drops: 1

Yes, it’s a one drop with two of the best warscrolls from Stormcast included… in fact it’s mostly a stormcast army by points value! The Freeguild Crossbowmen add models to take rear objectives and allow for some shooting to back up Sigmar’s finest. Once again shooting it the name of this list, with the Fulminators charging in and finishing you off. It’s a great army, and all three players should be proud of their placings!

Wild Card…

20th Tom Lees Ogor Mawtribes

Okay… it’s another Destruction list, but this is one of the first tournaments in the UK with the new Kragnos and he’s starting to get some play within the UK Destruction players! Hopefully he’ll be Smashing and Bashing (no keywords though) his way through enemies. He’s just got to avoid mortal wound shooting; so there’s a good thing there isn’t much of that about – … oh wait!

Allegiance: Ogor Mawtribes
– Mawtribe: Boulderhead
– Grand Strategy: Beast Master
– Triumphs: Indomitable

Leaders
Kragnos, The End of Empires (720)
Huskard on Stonehorn (340)*
– General
– Blood Vulture
– Command Trait: Lord of Beasts 
– Artefact: Brand of the Svard 
– Mount Trait: Metalcruncher

Battleline
Stonehorn Beastriders (320)*
– Weapon: Blood Vulture
Stonehorn Beastriders (320)*
– Weapon: Blood Vulture
Thundertusk Beastriders (285)*
– Weapon: Blood Vulture

Core Battalions
*Battle Regiment

Total: 1985 / 2000
Reinforced Units: 0 / 4
Allies: 0 / 400
Wounds: 66
Drops: 2

This list uses Kragnos’ ability to give 3D6″ charges on the monsters to give them mortal wounds on the charge (1 dice per 1″ of charge rolled, mortal on 4+); and so you don’t want to get charged by these brutes.

With only 66 wounds, this must be one of the lowest wound count armies in Age of Sigmar at the moment, but I imagine it’s great fun to play – just remember to deploy your screens correctly!

— Declan