It seems ages since I’ve been going to a tournament and found some time to write a Tournament Preparation article… well here’s the big one that I’ve playing 20 years to achieve! It’s my preparation for the UK Champions 2022 event being run by Rob from The Honest Wargamer / TSports Network.

The tournament is invitational to the top 16 players in the UK and you can find out more about the format in my recent article here. (I will admit to being 18th, but a few players dropped — I’m definitely taking it!)

For those who haven’t read the original article, or haven’t clicked the hyperlink it is a round robin on the Saturday in tiered groups and then 4 playoff brackets to determine 1st – 16th in the tournament. The tiered groups ensure that the players who qualified highest, don’t have to all play each other on the first day and gives players 1st – 4th a chance to compete for 1st – 4th on the Sunday. But there is space for upsets so there’s all to play for on the Saturday!

In order to announce the draw, Rob has done a YouTube video of the draw and a short review of each list. It’s pithy and concise… so give it a watch!

This means I’m in Group 1 (oh Yes!)

As you would expect, army lists were submitted before the draw. So what am I taking…? (eagle eyed readers may be able to guess from the above).

I did give it some thought and I was almost tempted to go entirely off piste. I do have some Stormcast but nothing dominant, and a Nighthaunt army… but only from the starter! So I was definitely looking at my Destruction lists… I have a 2 Mega / 6 (or 9) Mancrusher Sons of Behemat list, but I find them a little dull to play with so they were out. I’ve not used my Ogors in AoS3 and there was a large element of risk in taking an untried force… so Gitz or Orruk Warclans?!

It was tempting to go full Squigs, 200 wounds, minimal damage, just see if they can be killed; but with my Gitz record in this GHB I thought I should wait for the release of the new GHB & new battletome.

So Orruk Warclans it was; and there was only one choice – with my only 5-0 and half of my qualifying scores Big Waaagh! got me here; and it would be meanspirited to not allow them some fun at the top event in the UK.

But what to take? I had fun with Kraggy at Portsmouth although he was very hit or die… And against some of the armies I expected to fight at Champions 2022 I didn’t want a game that would rely on my rolling priority turn 2 to stand a chance. There was a strong pull to bring the God of Destruction; I’ll not lie; but I just resisted it.

So; no Kraggy and Big Waaagh! Well there was only list I’ve gone 5-0 with and that was at Dazmaul… I know how to use it; can concentrate on the missions and my opponents and this list has even beaten some Seraphon (although not many)!!!

Allegiance: Big Waaagh!
– Grand Strategy: Hold the Line
– Triumphs:

Leaders
Megaboss on Maw-Krusha (480)*
– General
– Boss Gore-hacka and Choppa
– Command Trait: Touched by the Waaagh!
– Artefact: Arcane Tome (Universal Artefact)
– Mount Trait: Fast ‘Un
– Lore of the Weird: Da Great Big Green Hand of Gork
Wurrgog Prophet (150)*
– Artefact: Glowin’ Tattooz
– Lore of the Savage Beast: Gorkamorka’s War Cry
Orruk Warchanter (115)*
– Warbeat: Fixin’ Beat
Orruk Warchanter (115)*
– Warbeat: Fixin’ Beat

Battleline
10 x Orruk Brutes (320)**
– Jagged Gore-hackas
– 2x Gore Choppas
– Reinforced x 1
10 x Orruk Brutes (320)**
– Jagged Gore-hackas
– 2x Gore Choppas
– Reinforced x 1
5 x Orruk Ardboys (85)***
– 1x Gorkamorka Glyph Bearers
5 x Orruk Ardboys (85)***
– 1x Gorkamorka Glyph Bearers

Units
3 x Orruk Gore-gruntas (170)**
– Jagged Gore-hackas
4 x Ironskull’s Boyz (80)*
2 x Savage Big Stabbas (80)*

Core Battalions
*Warlord
**Hunters of the Heartlands
***Ironjawz Fist

Total: 2000 / 2000
Reinforced Units: 2 / 4
Allies: 0 / 400
Wounds: 148
Drops: 11

You can find out more about the list on my Chumpionship Review and at a Nameless King preview where I took a very similar list.
And more about what it does in the Dazmaul Results article!

The key to this army is the Warchanters buff, the MawKrusha threat range and the Wurgogg mini-game! He has a 4+ ward and has the most dangerous stare in the Realms (normally to himself!).

I know the force well, it is okay (although it did go 1-4 at Quest for Champions) and can play most of the scenarios… the only thing that I struggle against is Seraphon which I expected to see.

Group 1 (again)

And group one didn’t disappoint – or rather it did. The only Seraphon player in pod 1, and pod 3 is unfortunate as it mostly invalidates the Warchanters… but it doesn’t matter I’m definitely not killing the Seraphon or Maggotkin of Nurgle armies anyway – time to play for the objectives. I have, however, not killed a Bastiladon in AoS3 so if things start to go badly I’ll give it my all to bag one on the Saturday. Wish me luck – I may be needing it.

The only slightly disappointing thing, is that I have no #DestructionBros with me for the weekend – so I’ll have to prove how great the alliance is. Will I be Cunningly Brutal or Brutally Cunning – you can follow me on TSportsNetwork on Twitch and I’ll try to keep a few tweets going throughout the weekend.

So tune in, wish me luck, and cheer on your favourite for the weekend. Lets JustPlay AoS3 (Sorry Ritchie)!

— Declan