A Newcomer’s Guide to the Emperor’s Children

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The Emperor’s Children were the only legion to bear the Palatine Aquila, the Emperor’s standard. The Emperor’s Children embodied all aspects of what the Emperor expected from the legiones astartes. They were noble, loyal, strong, and civilized. These expectations drove the third legion to seek absolute perfection. This desire for perfection led to their twisting of pride into a desire for excess and hedonism. Once the legion began to follow the Warmaster their martial prowess saw massacres and brutality against the Imperium performed by the hands of a once-loyal legion.

The IIIrd Legion’s Primarch – Fulgrim

Flawless Execution

The martial prowess of the Emperor’s Children is represented through a tremendously powerful legion tactic. When an Emperor’s Children unit performs a charge make their melee attacks one initiative step higher than normal. Note that this expressly works after any initiative modifiers are taken into account. Any Vehicle units gain +1 to hit when firing with defensive weapons during a reaction.

At first glance this seems very minor, but the execution of this rule is extremely powerful. Because wounds and casualties are determined at the end of each initiative step, if a model is removed as a casualty before it has the chance to fight in a combat, that model’s attacks are lost. If two opposing models have the same initiative, all the wounds and casualties are considered to happen simultaneously, so a model removed as a casualty still has the opportunity to deal damage on the way down. This rule gives the Emperor’s Children the ability to severely reduce the amount of incoming damage following a charge, by removing a threat before it has the chance to strike.

This also greatly improves the use of Unwieldy weapons, since this increase happens after initiative modifiers are calculated. A powerfist hitting at Initiative 2 allows an Emperor’s Chosen Cataphractii squad the chance to hit opposing terminators with valuable Instant Death attacks before they are allowed the chance to die in kind. This also increases the ability for the Emperor’s Children to build expert duelists through Centurions and Praetors, who already strike at higher Initiative than most units. A high-value character issuing a challenge can potentially kill the enemy warlord before they have the chance to strike back.

At the end of the day this trait will make the third legion a dangerous melee threat. Not because they hit harder, but because they can reduce the risk of incoming damage. Overall, this cements the Emperor’s Children as a powerful melee faction.

Warlord Traits

There are three warlord traits to choose from for the Emperor’s Children, and they highlight an interesting dynamic for the game as a whole. The game does not dictate loyalty to the Emperor simply from the choice of legion. Yes, the Emperor’s Children are considered a traitor legion, but they can be played as loyalists. The warlord traits reflect this by providing one trait that can only be taken by traitors, one that can only be taken by loyalists, and one that is alliance agnostic. Each trait is solid, and they provide huge benefits with some key restrictions.

The first trait, The Broken Mirror, is restricted to warlords with the Traitor allegiance. It allows some morale mitigation for multi-model units within 12” of the warlord. If a unit that meets the conditions fails a morale check, instead of falling back, it takes a single wound that can’t be negated in any way and is then considered to have passed the morale check.

The second trait requires you to play a loyalist warlord. A warlord with the Martyrs of Isstvan trait makes any unit locked in combat with a legiones astartes unit with the traitor allegiance gain a bonus to hit. Consider this in context with the legion tactic and you’ll see that this can force your opponent to be careful about how they choose to engage a key unit with your warlord attached. The only issue is the target restriction, especially since the release of the latest books may see more games played where this warlord trait would not come into use.

The final warlord trait, Paragon of Excellence, can be played by either allegiance. This trait combines some function of the previous two by improving units’ combat abilities through morale. Every unit that passes a morale check within 12” of the warlord gains a bonus to their Weapon Skill until the end of the Emperor’s Children’s player’s next turn. Given the relatively high leadership values of marine armies, and the ability to improve that morale by attaching independent characters to key units, you will regularly trigger this ability.

Rites of War

The Emperor’s Children have two Rites of War. Both rites focus on generally improving the function of your infantry, either by adding a bonus to movement and positioning or by providing access to unique enhancements.

The first rite, The Maru Skara, will provide you with movement buffs that place you on par with the White Scars. By taking this rite, you have the option to place four of your Elite, Troop, or Fast Attack units into reserves. The units that remain on the battlefield gain a +1 to their Move characteristic until the turn that the reserve units are brought in. This is important to note, since your standard marine gaining a +1 to Move also means that they gain +1 to Charge rolls.

The second Rite, IIIrd Company Elite, allows you to take Kakophoni squads as troops. It also allows you to give all models in any given Infantry unit a surgical augmentation. The bonuses from these augmentations do a lot to offset the points cost of the equipment. You also need to have a good system of tracking which unit has which enhancement. Variety is nice, but your game can move at a snail’s pace if you increase your bookkeeping load too much.

Legion-specific Enhancements

Speaking of surgical augmentations: there are three to choose from. All of them require the Traitor allegiance and can only be placed on Character models. Sonic Shriekers provides a to-hit penalty to your opponents any time they are charged or charge your unit, so long as that enemy unit isn’t immune to Fear(X). Sub-sonic Pulsers remove the penalties to Leadership and Ballistic Skill imposed by Night Fighting. The final augmentation, a Sonic Lance, provides your model with a Template weapon with Breaching and Pinning, although the low strength value will limit its effectiveness against many opponents. The Lance can be effective on a large unit of Tactical Marines or Despoilers in a IIIrd Company Elite force, providing as many as 20 template weapons in a squad for a mere 30 points.

Outside of these augmentations, there are two power weapon upgrades: a sword and a lance. The lance is usually a better upgrade on the units that can take it, since the combination of Murderous Strike, Breaching, and a strength bonus will see more utility. There is something to be said about the benefits of a power sword with Rending and Murderous Strike, since your 6s to wound are going to be devastating when they happen. The upgrade on the sword will also make your Word Bearers friends jealous, since they pay 10 points for the same upgrade.

The Emperor’s Children also gain access to the Phoenix Warden, a unique consul upgrades for your centurions. Think of the Phoenix Warden as a modified champion, with rules focused on improving melee efficiency for himself and other units around him. The issue is that any bonus he gains from the Skill Unmatched special rule always reduces his attacks or Weapon Skill, and his Living Icons ability can more easily be attained through Legion Vexillas. Overall not a bad option, and decently flavorful, but the rules could use a tweak, given the points cost for the upgrade.

Lord Commander Eidolon

Legion Specific Units

As Primarchs go, Fulgrim is relatively straightforward. He’s a melee beatstick, with a collection of tools and rules to exceed in that role. Ost standard units are going to have a hard time dealing with him once the combat begins, but, as with most Primarchs, he can be played around simply by keeping him out of combat. He doesn’t have any real movement buffs and his increased Bulky value when compared to other Primarchs (Fulgrim demands more legroom) means that he will need something akin to a Land Raider Spartan to carry him and a retinue.

Past Fulgrim, the third legion brings along a pair of melee units, Phoenix Terminators and Palatine Blade Squads which are melee-oriented, buffed versions of Tartaros squads and Veteran squads, respectively. The final infantry squad available is the Kakophoni Squad. These are a sort of Heavy Support Squad with special weapons and surgical augmentations unique to the Emperor’s Children. Overall, an Emperor’s Children player should feel pleased with the units here. None of them will blow you away, but all three have solid rules and equipment.

In addition to the above units, there are three unique characters: Lord Commander Eidolon, Captain Saul Tarvitz, and Captain Lucius. Eidolon is a mildly upgrades jump-pack Praetor with some flavorful wargear. His warlord trait provides bonuses to fight a selected “Rival” at the cost of limiting his ability to declare reacitons. Saul Tarvitz is another upgrades Praetor, but significantly cheaper than the other two. He has a bevy of rules that ultimately break down to make him very good at fighting other Emperor’s Children. If your local meta has a bunch of other third legion players he may see some use, otherwise you’re probably better off with a Phoenix Warden Centurion.

The final character, Captain Lucius, is designed to be an excellent duelist. You want him in melee immediately, and you want him issuing and responding to challenges as often as he can. His warlord trait allows any unit to which he is attached to benefit from the Fearless special rule so long as he is engaged in a challenge.

All three of the characters are interesting, but I don’t see Eidolon or Tarvitz fitting into every list. Model collectors and painters can’t go wrong here, though, as all three models are stunning. The detail present on each model does a fantastic job of displaying exactly how obsessed with decorum the third legion was.

Final Thoughts

Given the above, the Emperor’s Children make a mean melee legion. Gaining combat advantages on the charge can be played around, however, and a savvy opponent will know to focus down the right targets at the right time. Positioning and timing are important, but the Emperor’s Children demand perfection, and they are certainly capable of attaining it.

What’s Next

As this article is part of a series, I will spend the next few months going into more detail about the rules of the game and the specifics of each legion. I would like to know if there is specific content our readers would like to see, so leave a comment or join us in the Woehammer discord to let us know what points you would like to see discussed.

Top Three AoS Lists for Game Knight GT

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This is the Top Three AoS Lists for the Game Knight Grand Tournament that took place in London, Ontario, Canada on the 17th and 18th of September. It involved 22 players vying to be crowned champion in a 5 game tournament.

Before I jump into the Top Three AoS Lists, I wanted to remind everyone of our friendly Discord server where you can join in the conversation with the Woehammer crew and suggest articles or series for the website.

If you like what we’re doing, why not join our Patreon and help keep it going?

Also if there’s a one day or two day tournament you’d like us to cover drop us a comment on this post and we’ll have a look at it for you.

The Top Three AoS Lists

Army Faction: Sons of Behemat
Army Type: Breaker Tribe
– Grand Strategy: Make the land tremble!
– Triumphs: Inspired

LEADER
1 x Gatebreaker (525)*
General
– Command Traits: Monstrously Tough
– Artefacts: Enchanted Portcullis
1 x Warstomper (470)*
Artefacts: Amulet of Destiny
1 x Gatebreaker (525)**
Artefacts: Arcane Tome
– Spells: Flaming Weapon
1 x Warstomper (470)**

CORE BATTALIONS:
*Bosses of the Stomp – Magnificent
**Bosses of the Stomp – Magnificent

TOTAL POINTS: (1990/2000)

Brett: Sons of Behemat continuing to benefit from the Season 1 GHB taking out an event this time. Lately we’ve seen a lot of 3 Gatebreaker, Krondspine lists in the podium, this time it’s a more traditional (?) 2 x Gatebreakers and 2 x Warstomper. From the top Breaker Tribe but no loathing shown, and no Mancrushers in the list, with 2 x Bosses of the Stomp for extra artefacts. Grand Strategy is Make the Land Tremble – a unit needs to make a run or charge move every round, very hard to stop. Gatebreaker general with Monstrously Tough (extra 5 wounds) and Enchanted Portcullis (6+ ward). The first Warstomper also has a 6+ ward (Amulet of Destiny) and lastly the other Gatebreaker has Arcane Tome with Flaming Weapon (+1 damage)A tanky build with 2 of the Gargants having more than 40 effective wounds thanks to traits and artefacts.

If you move the Portcullis to another gargant instead of the General there would have been 3 Gargants with more than 40 effective wounds. First round draw against Slaves, the slaves list was running the new Legionnaires and mostly had small units with Be’lakor. Warstompers are less efficient into smaller units with their Titanic Boulder clubs attacks reducing quickly (it caps at 10). The same is true of the Sylvaneth list he faced in round 2. He maxed all of his other rounds including the last against the only other player to max all of his rounds. That match up against Fangs of Sotek would have favoured the Sons with the wards helping against Mortal Wounds and the Warstompers having max attacks against the big Skink blocks. A great run and nice to see a little variation in an army with so few warscrolls.

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Army Faction: Seraphon
Army Type: Starborne
– Army Subfaction: Fangs of Sotek
– Grand Strategy: The Astromatrix
– Triumphs: Inspired

LEADER
1 x Lord Kroak (430)*
General
1 x Skink Starpriest (130)*
Spells: Hand of Glory
1 x Saurus Astrolith Bearer (140)**
Artefacts: Serpent God Dagger
1 x Stegadon with Skink Chief (305)**
Skystreak Bow
– Artefacts: Cloak of Feathers
– Mount Traits: Celestial Destruction
1 x Skink Priest (90)**
Prayers: Curse

BATTLELINE
30 x Skinks (225)*
Skink Alpha
– Boltspitter and Moonstone Club
30 x Skinks (225)*
Skink Alpha
– Boltspitter and Moonstone Club
10 x Skinks (75)*
Skink Alpha
– Boltspitter
– Celestite Dagger and Star-buckler
5 x Saurus Guard (115)*
Saurus Guard Alpha
– Stardrake Icon Bearer
– Wardrummer

BEHEMOTH
1 x Bastiladon with Solar Engine (250)*

CORE BATTALIONS:
*Battle Regiment
**Command Entourage – Magnificent

TOTAL POINTS: (1985/2000)

Brett: Seraphon have continued to be strong for a very long time, not least because of the number of builds they can use. I prefer Fangs of Sotek to Thunder Lizard, not that I play Seraphon, but I think it plays to the mission better. And allows you to stop your opponent playing the mission as well. Choosing a named character as General (Kroak) loses you a Command Trait so it’s not often seen. Still 6 casts and Kroak’s unlimited range +2 dispel/unbind magic is going to be in their favour. Saurus guard are acting as body guards, the Skink Chief, Starpriest and Priest are buffing Skinks and the Astrolith Bearer providing a 6+ ward to units within 12″. Lots of leaders but the core of this list is the 2 x 30 Skink units.

They can be teleported within 9″ (with a 16″ weapon), with more than 15 models they have an extra attack (Unleash Hell with 60 attacks before any other buffs). Before being teleported they will be granted +1 to hit (Skink Priest), +1 attack (Skink Chief – melee only), 6s do a mortal wound in addition with at least +1 to their save and likely 6+ ward. If they have their buffs that unit is potentially doing 25 mortal wounds in addition to any other damage. Skinks look inoffensive but in a large group with buffs they are anything but. Rounding out this potential is the Bastilidon with Solar Engine and the Starbourne summoning which makes Descrate Lands and Against the Odds really easy. They can also pick up Barge through Enemy Lines with a teleport and summon.

That is before the 3 wizards inflict Mortals – Kroak can inflict D3 MW on 3 units 4 times a turn (on a 2+). Your best bet is to go first and try to concentrate on removing as many skinks as possible. A bit easier since they are in the large 30 man units rather than say 2 x 20 with 3 x 10 Skink screens. Once they start getting their buffs they become a much bigger threat and even out ranging them isn’t a guarantee. They will potentially pick up a 15 strong unit of Blood Stalkers or Namarti Reavers following a teleport within 9″. Tanky Gargants seem to be a counter otherwise Michael scored maximum points in each of his 4 previous battles to finish with a great, almost perfect 4/1.

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Army Faction: Idoneth Deepkin
Army Subfaction: Mor’phann
– Grand Strategy: The Creeping Gloomtide
– Triumphs: Inspired

LEADER
1 x Akhelian King (250)*
General
– Command Traits: Unstoppable Fury
– Bladed Polearm and Falchion
– Artefacts: Arcane Tome
– Mount Traits: Voidchill Darkness
– Spells: Flaming Weapon
1 x Isharann Soulrender (120)*
1 x Isharann Soulrender (120)*

BATTLELINE
30 x Namarti Reavers (510)*
Icon Bearer
30 x Namarti Thralls (390)*
Icon Bearer
3 x Akhelian Ishlaen Guard (195)*
Lochian Prince
– Standard Bearer
– Musician
3 x Akhelian Morrsarr Guard (195)*
Standard Bearer
– Lochian Prince
– Musician
3 x Akhelian Ishlaen Guard (195)*
Lochian Prince
– Standard Bearer
– Musician

TERRAIN
1 x Gloomtide Shipwreck (0)

CORE BATTALIONS:
*Battle Regiment

TOTAL POINTS: (1975/2000)

Brett: Straight forward Idoneth list anchored on Namarti with eels for extra mobility. Good to see the eels in a podium list. No real spell casting (1 cast/unbind from Arcane tome), as Morphann the Soulrenders can return and additional 3 models when using their Lurelight to return D3 models. That makes the Namarti much harder to clear particularly since the Gloomtide Shipwreck is garrionsable and give a 5+ ward within 6″. All of the Akehlian’s benefit on the charge with additional rend and damage (King and Morrsarr), and saves (Ishalean). The King is the only model with upgrades which include Unstoppable Fury (+2 attacks for each unit within 3″ in High Tide), Arcane Tome/Flaming Weapon (+1 damage) and Voidchill Darkness (-1 hit to enemy attackers).

The Shipwreck is probably central to this list, in combination with Tides of Death. In the first 2 tides the reavers (and thralls) are key units, wearing you down and stopping you getting to the King and Eels. Then in turn 3 and 4 the King and Eels can unleash and take advantage of run and charge/retreat and charge. 2 units of Eels can fit (no they can’t – they have mounts) in the Shipwreck with the Soulrenders to keep those Narmarti coming back. 30 models with a 5+ save and 6+ ward is hard to shift unless you have a lot of rend. His only loss was to Nighthaunt Scarlet Doom, another army that regrows and can retreat and charge in every round. And really important, they ignore rend, ultimately this army is a rend army. 4/1 is a strong performance, it’s great to see Idoneth on a the podium.

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Army Faction: Hedonites of Slaanesh
Army Type: Invaders
– Subfaction: The Lurid Haze
– Grand Strategy: Defend What’s Ours
– Triumph: Inspired

LEADERS
Sigvald (205)**
General
The Contorted Epitome (245)**
General
– Command Traits: Feverish Anticipation
– Artefacts of Power: Oil of Exultation
– Spells: Hysterical Frenzy
Shardspeaker of Slaanesh (135)**
Artefacts of Power: The Rod of Misrule
Spells: Battle Rapture

BATTLELINE
Blissbarb Archers (420)***
High Tempter
Blissbarb Archers (140)***
High Tempter
Blissbarb Archers (140)***
High Tempter

OTHER
Symbaresh Twinsouls (260)*
Egopomp
Symbaresh Twinsouls (260)*
Egopomp
Mindstealer Sphiranx (95)*

ENDLESS SPELLS & INVOCATIONS
1 x Purple Sun of Shyish (70)

CORE BATTALIONS
*Bounty Hunters
**Command Entourage – Magnificent
***Expert Conquerors

TOTAL POINTS: 1970/2000

Brett: For our last list we have 4th, Mitch, who really really likes Blissbarb Archers. Fewer Leaders to increase the troops units but Sigvald and the Contorted Epitome are present with the less common Shardspeaker, it’s Twisted Mirror can give the Twinsouls +1 to wound or have the Epitome wounding on 3s. 3 casts/dispels from the Epitome and Shardspeaker. The Epitome gives rerolls to charges to one unit (Feverish Anticipation) and has an extra wound (Oil of Exultation). The Shardspeaker is carrying the Rod of Misrule (generate command points). The spells do Mortal Wounds (Hysterical Frenzy) and Battleshock modifications (Battle Rapture).

The double reinforced Blisbarb unit can move up to 12” and still shoot giving it a 30” threat range. The 2 unreinforced Blissbarbs are trading pieces and even screens. Expert Conquerors strengthens that role by giving the strong objective control. With the twinsouls supporting the Shardspeaker and Blissbarbs this list will generate a lot of depravity points either inflicting or taking wounds. So a Keeper of Secrets isn’t too far away. As we’ve seen a few times Scarlet Doom was his only loss but the list also scored a little lower than others, a symptom of its fragility perhaps.

Final Tournament Placings

Top Three AoS Lists for Cryhammer

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This is the Top Three AoS Lists for the Cryhammer that took place near Warsaw, Poland on 24th and 25th September. It involved 30 players vying to be crowned champion in a 5 game tournament.

Before I jump into the Top Three AoS Lists, I wanted to remind everyone of our friendly Discord server where you can join in the conversation with the Woehammer crew and suggest articles or series for the website.

If you like what we’re doing, why not join our Patreon and help keep it going?

Also if there’s a one day or two day tournament you’d like us to cover drop us a comment on this post and we’ll have a look at it for you.

The Top Three AoS Lists

Army Faction: Seraphon
Army Type: Coalesced
– Subfaction: Thunder Lizard
– Grand Strategy: Defend What’s Ours
– Triumph: Inspired

LEADERS
Lord Kroak (430)**
Saurus Astrolith Bearer (140)**
Artefacts of Power: Fusil of Conflagration
Skink Priest (90)**
Prayers: Heal
Skink Starseer (145)**
Spells: Hand of Glory
Engine of the Gods (265)***
General
– Command Traits: Prime Warbeast
– Artefacts of Power: Cloak of Feathers
– Mount Traits: Beastmaster
– Prayers: Curse

BATTLELINE
5x Saurus Guard (115)*
Stardrake Icon Bearer
– Wardrummer
– Saurus Guard Alpha
10x Skinks (75)*
Skink Alpha
– Boltspitter, Celestite Dagger and Star-buckler
10x Skinks (75)*
Skink Alpha
– Boltspitter, Celestite Dagger and Star-buckler

BEHEMOTH
Bastiladon with Ark of Sotek (165)***
Bastiladon with Ark of Sotek (165)***
Bastiladon with Solar Engine (250)***

ENDLESS SPELLS & INVOCATIONS
1 x Purple Sun of Shyish (70)

TERRAIN
1 x Realmshaper Engine (0)

CORE BATTALIONS
*Expert Conquerors
**Command Entourage – Magnificent – Artefact
***Linebreaker

Additional Enhancements
Artefact

Total: 1985 / 2000
Reinforced Units: 0 / 4
Allies: 0 / 400
Wounds: 105
Drops: 11

Brett: Starting off with a Seraphon, Thunder Lizard, and most of the big hitters from Seraphon. A spell heavy list (with Kroak), supported by an Astrolith Bearer, Engine of the Gods, Skink Priest and Starseer. This gives 5 casts and Kroak knows the entire Lore of Celestial Domination. The general (Engine of the Gods) has all of the mandatory traits and artefacts for Thunder Lizard (which gives +2 wounds to all of the beasts) granting +1 attack and a shooting attack (D3 MW on a 3-4 and D6 on a 5-6). The skinks are mostly here as screens but enjoy buffs from the Priests (including Engine of the Gods) improving their saves, hit rolls and potentially number of attacks).

The Bastildons are the combat arm of this list. With a Solar Engine and 2 x Ark of Sotek that are really only vulnerable to Mortal Wounds in their top bracket and many many attacks. Mortal Wounds on 6s and buffs from Kroak, the Priests and Starpriest just to make them harder to deal with. The list hasn’t changed much (if at all) since the Battletome dropped in 2nd edition. Skinks screen the bigger units as they more up, Saurus Guard as bodyguards for the wizards and ranged offence from wizards (minor) and the Solar Engine. Eventually the Arks will charge your line. All the while they are scoring points with their mobility and summoning.

It doesn’t sound like much but they stopped a Sons list in it’s tracks and took a host of dragons on (and won) so the output is there to.

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Allegiance: Stormcast Eternals
Stormhost: Hammers of Sigmar (Scions of the Storm)
– Grand Strategy: Take What’s Theirs
– Triumphs: Inspired

Leaders
Lord-Castellant (155)*
Lord-Relictor (145)*
General
– Command Trait: High Priest
– Artefact: Mirrorshield
– Prayer: Translocation

Battleline
5 x Liberators (115)*
Heavens-wrought Weapon and Shield
5 x Judicators with Boltstorm Crossbows (190)*
5 x Judicators with Boltstorm Crossbows (190)*

Units
4 x Stormdrake Guard (680)*
Drakerider’s Warblade
– Reinforced x 1
1 x Stormstrike Chariot (165)**
1 x Stormstrike Chariot (165)**
1 x Stormstrike Chariot (165)**

Core Battalions
*Battle Regiment
**Redemption Brotherhood

Additional Enhancements
Holy Command: Call for Aid

Total: 1970 / 2000
Reinforced Units: 1 / 4
Allies: 0 / 400
Wounds: 116
Drops: 2

Brett: Stormcast are always a chance to podium even if they aren’t the most powerful faction they do have some really strong options (Drakes). Their durability combines with medium output to make them a difficult opponent much of the time. Classic leader choices in the Lord Castellant and Relictor with the Relictor as the general. The Castellant’s lantern providing either a +1 to save or mortal wounds is why you take him (and his 8 wounds). The Relictor has High Priest (reroll chants), Mirrorshield to prevent ranged attacks and Translocation. He has a natural +1 to chants so doesn’t really need High Priest but if you want to make sure of a heal then it’s important. Translocate is useful to move a Galletian Veteran unit to somewhere unoccupied. Or some bowmen, 18″ range means they often need that little bit of help and they are GV in anycase.

The Judicator’s with Boltstorm are becoming very popular, they get 2 hits for every successful to hit roll. It’s very feasible to have more hits than your roll and they wound on a 3+. No rend though. Unusually Lukasz took Call for Aid to return the Liberators if they are destroyed not Thunderbolt Volley for double shooting. There is a very big hammer in the 4 drakes, their breath attacks are potentially devastating (if unreliable) and combined generate 39 rend 1 and 2 attacks. They are also 36 wounds with a 3+ save, hard to get rid of. Perhaps a bit unusual is the number of chariots, 3. There is a battle report from Measured Gamine with 5 though.

The Stormstrike Chariot is a bit of a sleeper, very fast with 12 wounds it does MW on a 4+ based on it’s charge roll. More of a blocker than a destroyer but if all 3 charge on average that’s 10 mortal wounds. The most damaging part of their attacks are the Gryphons towing the chariot, 6 attacks at rend 2. There’s no doubt this is a good list but Lukasz still played very well to take down Sons and KO armies before losing in the last round to the eventual winner. Since the chariots are a great counter to Bastildons I’d say the Skinks screened well.

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Allegiance: Sons of Behemat
– Tribe: Breaker Tribe (Fierce Loathing: Idiots with Flags)
– Grand Strategy: No Place for the Weak
– Triumphs: Inspired

Leaders
Gatebreaker Mega-Gargant (525)*
General
– Command Trait: Monstrously Tough
– Artefact: Amulet of Destiny
Gatebreaker Mega-Gargant (525)*
Artefact: Vial of Manticore Venom
Gatebreaker Mega-Gargant (525)*

Behemoths
Krondspine Incarnate of Ghur (400)
Allies

Core Battalions
*Bosses of the Stomp – Magnificent

Additional Enhancements
Artefact

Total: 1975 / 2000
Reinforced Units: 0 / 4
Allies: 400 / 400
Wounds: 105
Drops: 4

Brett: Resurgent Sons on the podium again, following the now familiar 3 x Megas and an Incarnate. The Fierce Loathing is Idiots with Flags, not seen as often as Bossy Pants maybe but really good if you have a lot of elite (Stormcast etc) opponents. The General is Monstrously Tough (40 wounds not 35) and has the Amulet of Destiny for a 6+ ward. The extra artefact is Manticore Venom for +1 to wound rolls, frightening on the Gatebreaker’s Flail. The Krondspine provides some protection against Endless Spells with no casting, that alone is a reason for Sons to look favourably on it. It also lets you take 3 Gatebreakers instead of 2 with 2 Warstompers, a solid upgrade.

Losing only the mirror match, which probably came down to priorities, Jack stomped (pun intended) all of his opponents including the durable Nurgle on his way to 3rd.

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Army Faction: Sylvaneth
Subfaction: Heartwood
– Grand Strategy: Take What’s Theirs
– Triumph: Bloodthirsty
– Season: Everdusk

LEADERS
Warsong Revenant (305)*
General
– Command Traits: Spellsinger
– Spells: Verdant Blessing, Verdurous Harmony Arch-Revenant (120)*
Spirit of Durthu (370)*
Artefacts of Power: Greenwood Gladius (Guardian Sword)

BATTLELINE
Kurnoth Hunters with Kurnoth Scythes (500)*
Tree-Revenants (110)*
Glade Banner Bearer
– Waypipes
– Scion
– Protector Glaive
Dryads (100)*
Branch Nymph

OTHER
Gossamid Archers (220)*
Flitwing Scion
Revenant Seekers (235)*
Revenant Soulwarden
– Seeker Banner Bearer
– Seeker Hornblower

ENDLESS SPELLS & INVOCATIONS
1 x Spiteswarm Hive (40)

TERRAIN
1 x Awakened Wyldwood (0)

CORE BATTALIONS
*Battle Regiment

TOTAL POINTS: 2000/2000

Brett: Mix of the familiar and the new in this Sylvaneth list. The Leaders (Warsong and Arch Revenants with Spirit of Durthu) are among the most common. The Warsong is creating and using Wyldwoods as spell portals and can cause serious harm with her Swarm of Spites. Durthu has the Greenwood Gladius for additional attacks. The Arch-Revenant gives +1 to wound to the Kurnoth Hunters, great with the 3 rend Scythes. The less familiar elements are the new Gossamid Archers and the Revenant Seekers. Of course the Seekers will stay close to the Kurnoth to return slain models if necessary. The Gossamid Archers can retreat 12″ after they unleash Hell. With no rend that’s not as bad as it sounds (hitting on 4+) but 6s do D3 Mortal Wounds.

With only 2 casts this isn’t a heavy magic list and relies on the Kurnoth and Durthu for most of their threat on top of the Warsong’s mortal wound output. His 2 losses, against Kharadron Overlords and Sons of Behemat, are probably down to their ability to minimise or remove threats. Kharadron can avoid the Warsong’s Mortals in early turns and make the most of their shooting to remove the Kurnoth for example. Gossamid’s are also likely to struggle. Thrown boulders will remove the Gossamid’s pretty quickly (3 rend into a 5+ save) and the Kurnoth can’t remove a Gargant in a single team.

As we move deeper into the season we are still seeing a range of factions at the top, within those factions the are less and less surprises. We are seeing optimisation around the new books or new rules with older books and with more reps the strongest units stand out. That will stabilise even more heading into the new Season which should give GW plenty of opportunity to shake things up.

Final Tournament Placings

Book Review – Shamanslayer

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Book 11 in Gotrek & Felix Series – by Nathan Long

Gotrek and Felix have been on many adventures in the World that Was started by William King whose mantel Nathan Long has taken up. In Book 11, they must stop a Shaman from destroying the Empire!

Shamanslayer by Nathan Long

From the book:

Dwarf Trollslayer Gotrek and his human companion Felix Jaeger, Warhammer’s most famous pair of heroes, head off to a new adventure in the latest novel of this best-selling fantasy series against a horde of beastmen who threaten the safety of the Empire.

The horde are moving a Herdstone to the centre of the Empire in order to unleash it’s magic. Magic which turns those near to it into Beasts as well. Will Gotrek & Felix be able to prevent the Shaman and save the Empire from this latest, grave threat?

At book 11, the Gotrek and Felix books are really morphing into the Felix and Gotrek books. This is not surprising as Gotrek developed by William King was already a full character with Felix being more of a sidekick. Nathan Long’s stories have development for Felix (because the only real development for Gotrek is to die!), and it’s good to see.

The story flies along, with a character returning from previous books and Felix must prove that he a worthy wielder of his sword. It has everything you’ll know from the previous books with swords and arrows flying, death all around and Gotrek and Felix at the centre of the storm and all the events.

Despite the death of the World that Was, Gotrek novels set in the Old-World are still great reads, and I would still recommend reading them if you haven’t before.

Rating: 4 out of 5.

— Declan & Eeyore

Check out the full list of Book Reviews we’ve done on Woehammer here

Top Three AoS Lists for Northern Wastes GT

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This is the Top Three AoS Lists for the Northern Wastes Grand Tournament that took place in Prince George, BC, Canada. It involved 28 players vying to be crowned champion in a 5 game tournament. A little bit of a blast from the past with lists that would be pretty familiar to anyone from 2nd Editions, leavened with a few new units.

Before I jump into the Top Three AoS Lists, I wanted to remind everyone of our friendly Discord server where you can join in the conversation with the Woehammer crew and suggest articles or series for the website.

If you like what we’re doing, why not join our Patreon and help keep it going?

Also if there’s a one day or two day tournament you’d like us to cover drop us a comment on this post and we’ll have a look at it for you.

The Top Three AoS Lists

Army Faction: Skaven
Grand Strategy: Defend What’s Ours
– Triumph: Indomitable

LEADERS
Grey Seer (125)**
Spells: Levitate
Grey Seer On Screaming Bell (325)**
General
– Command Traits: Master of Magic
– Artefacts of Power: Skavenbrew
– Spells: Death Frenzy
Grey Seer (125)**
Spells: Skitterleap
Deathmaster (165)****
Artefacts of Power: Gnawbomb
Warlock Bombardier (115)****
Artefacts of Power: The Brass Orb
– Spells: Warp Lightning Shield
Plague Priest (100)****
Prayers: Rabid-rabid!

BATTLELINE
Clanrats (100)***
Rusty Blade
Clanrats (100)***
Rusty Blade
Skryre Acolytes (150)****

OTHER
Warpfire Thrower (70)
Ratling Gun (65)
Ratling Gun (65)
Plague Monks (180)*
Pair of Foetid Blades
Plague Monks (180)*
Pair of Foetid Blades

ENDLESS SPELLS & INVOCATIONS
1 x Purple Sun of Shyish (70)
1 x Vermintide (60)

TERRAIN
1 x Gnawhole (0)

CORE BATTALIONS
*Bounty Hunters
**Command Entourage – Magnificent
***Expert Conquerors
****Warlord
TOTAL POINTS: 1995/2000

Brett: A good spell/plague monk heavy list which we haven’t seen as much of recently with the majority of successful lists running Thanquol and/or Deceivers or Stormfiends. Solid reminder of the depth of this book because and the number of options. With 4 wizards and a priest this list has 7 casts and 8 denies (and a prayer). The Screaming Bell has an entire table of command abilities that buff the unit or adjacent units, do mortal wounds or just try to kill the unit. More importantly it adds at least 1 to cast until it hits bottom bracket (+2 at top bracket) and if damaged to half health (8) can summon a Verminlord. This is the unit that is most likely to cast Purple Sun and is pretty durable, with a 4+ save and 5+ ward it has an effective health of 27 against Rend -2.

Master of Magic for rerolls, Death Frenzy is it’s known spell (fight on death) and Skitterbrew (does D3 MW but grants 1 attack). Feasibly you could have Plague Monks with 4 attacks and fighting on death (with 4 attacks). 136 attacks (assuming 3 died to Skitterbrew), 22 of which on average will be -2 Rend. Other spells include Levitate (fly for a unit), Skittleap (teleport) and Warp Lightning Shield (negate the first 3 wounds in a phase, if a 4 wound is caused, take 3 MW). This is mostly so the Bombardier doesn’t blow himself up with the Doomrocket or empowered Warp Lighting. In the course of a game he definitely will blow up, that’s what he’s here for.

Rabid- Rabid adds another attack to a unit within 13″ (5 attacks for the Plague Monks? – with fight on death and the unit wiped after a charge that’s a potential 200 attacks)And that’s the heart of this list, 80 rats, some of which will have ratling guns or warpfire throwers hiding in them to surprise you. Even more fun the Deathmaster is probably hiding in one of the clanrats units as well. Run and charge, D3 mortals on 6s he’s a nasty little assassin. This list is all about the small attacks adding up, with some nasty mortal wounds and spells in there as well. It’s a lot for the general to keep up with but even more so for opponents.

Most of his opponents had things that were very good at removing threats, built around the common 2 or 3 hammer style of list. What is the hammer in this list? If you remove only one block of rats a turn they’ll outscore and overwhelm you pretty quickly.

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Allegiance: Daughters of Khaine
Temple: Zainthar Kai
– Grand Strategy: Take What’s Theirs
– Triumphs: Indomitable

LEADERS
Morathi-Khaine (340)*
The Shadow Queen (340)*
Melusai Ironscale (115)*
General
– Command Trait: Zealous Orator
– Artefact: Crown of Woe

BATTLELINE
10 x Blood Sisters (280)**
Reinforced x 1
10 x Blood Sisters (280)**
Reinforced x 1
15 x Blood Stalkers (540)*
Reinforced x 2
5 x Khinerai Heartrenders (95)*

CORE BATTALIONS
*Battle Regiment
**Bounty Hunters

Total: 1990 / 2000
Reinforced Units: 4 / 4
Allies: 0 / 400
Wounds: 99
Drops: 3

Brett: A familiar take on Daughters of Khaine so far, remembering that they only have slightly more than 20 warscrolls to choose from. Morathi and Shadow Queen taking 1/3 the list and the remainder devoted to Blood Sisters/Stalkers. Khinerai Heartrenders for opportunistic objective/battle tactic sniping. Melusai Ironscale mostly for her run and charge command with no range restrictions, +1 attack for Melusai (Blood Sisters/Stalkers) if she kills a model, 5+ ward against spell damage, and Turns to crystal for MW if she is in combat range. Crown of Woe turns off Rally or Inspiring Presence within 9″ (15″ after she kills something). A General that wants to be close to the action. Cruelly Zelous Orator lets her return a model on a 4+ when using Rally.

Morathi is the only caster (3 spells, 2 denys) and knows the complete spell lore of course. Of course she can issue a command allowing a unit to shoot (or fight) in the hero phase. Effectively allowing a unit to Shoot or Fight twice, in this list that is going to be the Blood Stalkers most of the time. Shadow Queen is a blender of course and the 3 wounds a turn is always fun. The sub faction is Zainthar Kai for fight on death and the Blood girls are battleline (the General does the same thing). And that is the heart of the list, Blood Sisters to apply pressure and take objectives as well as screening and Blood Stalkers to remove most threats. Your best option is to outrange them otherwise you need to survive a withering Unleash Hell.

It’s a popular list because it works quite well if you can manage the fragility of the sisters in combat (you only want to enter combat/be shot on your terms). Daytond can do that well, demonstrated by beating the mirror match. He lost to first place which exposes a weakness with most elite lists (this is 33 models) – hordes.

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Army Faction: Sylvaneth
Army Subfaction: Heartwood
– Grand Strategy: Take What’s Theirs
– Triumphs: Inspired

LEADER
1 x Arch-Revenant (120)***
1 x Spirit of Durthu (370)***
Artefacts: Greenwood Gladius
1 x Warsong Revenant (305)***
General
– Command Traits: Spellsinger
– Artefacts: Arcane Tome
– Spells: Verdurous Harmony, Verdant Blessing

BATTLELINE
6 x Kurnoth Hunters with Kurnoth Greatbows (460)*
5 x Tree-Revenants (110)**
5 x Tree-Revenants (110)**

ENDLESS SPELL
1 x Spiteswarm Hive (40)

OTHER
6 x Spiterider Lancers (420)*

CORE BATTALIONS:
*Bounty Hunters
**Expert Conquerors
***Command Entourage – Magnificent

TOTAL POINTS: (1935/2000)

Brett: A riff on another favourite, including the new Spiterider Lancers with a cast of more familiar players. Starting out in Heartwood as their grove allowing the general to pick 3 enemy units for a +1 to hit against them. Everything except the endless spell has Heartwood as a keywood and benefits from that. It’s really good on the Kurnoth Hunters getting them to a 3+ to hit (and 2+ with all out attack). With only 13 shots and rend 1 maximising hits is crucial to making them effective. Near the Arch Revenant they are wounding on 2+ to. Durthu is benefitting to and so are the Spiteriders. That includes Durthu’s additional attacks (Greenwood Gladius). The Warsong has all of the magic, 2 casts/denies naturally and a 3rd with Arcane Tome.

The Warsong is able to cast Verdurous Harmony to heal a Tree Revenant unit, Verdant Blessing to Summon a Wyldwood and Unleash Swarm of Sprites through the Wyldwood (like Spell Portal). The last pumps out a lot of mortal wounds. Spiteswarm Lancers for pinning and mobile damage, they strike first and heal making it a little bit tougher. Tree Revenants for opportunist attacks, teleporting and fire and fade. The last are among the most effective scoring units at the moment. Solid, durable and mobile it’s a great list to take to a tournament and rewards a good general. Going 4/1 this time and loosing to 2nd place is still a strong showing (and shows how good Blood Stalkers can be).

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Allegiance: Gloomspite Gitz
Option: Gloomspite Gitz
– Mortal Realm: Ghur
– Grand Strategy: Take What’s Theirs
– Triumphs: Indomitable

Leaders
Loonboss on Giant Cave Squig (110)*
General
– Moonclan Stabba
– Command Trait: The Clammy Hand
– Artefact: Arcane Tome (Universal Artefact)
– Lore of the Moonclans: Squig Lure
Fungoid Cave-Shaman (95)*
Lore of the Moonclans: Itchy Nuisance
Skragrott, The Loonking (230)*
Lore of the Moonclans: The Hand of Gork

Battleline
20 x Stabbas (150)*
Pokin Spears & Moon Shields
– 3x Barbed Nets
– 1x Badmoon Icon Bearers
24 x Squig Herd (320)**
Reinforced x 1
24 x Squig Herd (320)**
Reinforced x 1

Units
6 x Sneaky Snufflers (75)*
6 x Rockgut Troggoths (290)*
Reinforced x 1
10 x Boingrot Bounderz (210)**
Reinforced x 1

Endless Spells & Invocations
Mork’s Mighty Mushroom (40)
Scuttletide (70)
Purple Sun of Shyish (70)

Core Battalions
*Battle Regiment
**Bounty Hunters

Total: 1980 / 2000
Reinforced Units: 4 / 4
Allies: 0 / 400
Wounds: 188
Drops: 4

Brett: For our extra list this week keeping with the small folk we have Gitz. A mixed force of Squigs for mobile threats and Troggoths to ensure you are disappointed when they whiff against very possible odds. You go Gitz because they have the best warscrolls in the game. Efficient, no, but who else is empowered by eating mushrooms, gets extra movement because they bounce or has a small foot wizard that must be surrounded by enemies to do any real damage with his spell (Spore Maws). 180 points of Endless Spells to make them that more vicious, Purple Sun, Mork’s Might Mushroom (MW on a 5+ within 8″) and Scuttletide (more mortals).

With Arcane Tome 4 casts/unbinds, Squig Lure (run and charge for 3 units on a 5), Itchy Nuisance (fights last) and Hand of Gork (teleport a unit that is within 24″ – very generous). Skragrott and the Cave Shaman can generate extra command points every turn. This is a very slow list apart from the Boingrots and Loonboss (but he’s your general so probably not up front). It isn’t very durable but it does have the ability to put out a few mortal wounds and has, in some units like Squig Herds, a surprising number of rend 1 attacks. To shut it down you need to get to Skragrott and to get to him you need to get through a lot of bodies, including the Troggoths who can hit very hard. Gitz suffer from very poor saves and low moral so 3/2 is really fantastic.

That included Thunder Lizard (Seraphon) and Kharadron Overlord armies that are both doing really well right now. The Kruleboyz are with Gitz at the bottom of the tier list, it would have been a really interesting match up between Kruleboyz shooting and Gitz tricks.

Final Tournament Placings

Top Three AoS Lists for Midtcon GT

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This is the Top Three AoS Lists for the Midtcon Grand Tournament that took place in Denmark on 3rd and 4th September. It involved 28 players vying to be crowned champion in a 5 game tournament.

Before I jump into the Top Three AoS Lists, I wanted to remind everyone of our friendly Discord server where you can join in the conversation with the Woehammer crew and suggest articles or series for the website.

If you like what we’re doing, why not join our Patreon and help keep it going?

Also if there’s a one day or two day tournament you’d like us to cover drop us a comment on this post and we’ll have a look at it for you.

The Top Three AoS Lists

Allegiance: Stormcast Eternals
Stormhost: Astral Templars (Scions of the Storm)
– Grand Strategy: No Place for the Weak
– Triumphs: Inspired

Leaders
Celestant-Prime, Hammer of Sigmar (325)*
Lord-Celestant on Stardrake (500)*
General
– Celestine Hammer
– Command Trait: Master of Magic
– Artefact: Arcane Tome (Universal Artefact)
– Mount Trait: Scintillating Trail
– Spell: Thundershock
Slann Starmaster (265)*
Allies

Battleline
5 x Vindictors (130)**
3 x Vanguard-Palladors (215)**
Boltstorm Pistols and Starstrike Javelins
3 x Vanguard-Palladors (215)**
Boltstorm Pistols and Starstrike Javelins

Units
3 x Vanguard-Raptors with Longstrike Crossbows (240)*

Endless Spells & Invocations
Everblaze Comet (90)

Core Battalions
*Warlord (extra holy command)
**Bounty Hunters

Additional Enhancements
Holy Command: Call for Aid
Holy Command: Thunderbolt Volley

Total: 1980 / 2000
Reinforced Units: 0 / 4
Allies: 265 / 400
Wounds: 79
Drops: 7

Danny: Beating off a tough slew of opponents is Casper’s slight variation on the new SCE hotness, aka ‘many mortals at range’.

The list, which is quickly becoming adopted world-over, does what it looks like. Allying in the Slann gives reliable access to the big frog’s warscroll spell for d3 mortals to up to d6 units, the C-Prime does them at range or starts in reserve to act as a missile-duelist. The Stardrake is a durable platform with 4 rend 3, 2 damage ranged attacks at 30″ AND gives ‘friendly wizards’ (aka the Slann) +1 to cast. The Longstrikes – you know what they do, and the Palladors act as teleporting guerrilla fighters for scoring and doing extra ranged chip damage.

It’s a brutal new archetype and I imagine we’ll see it do well for a while yet while people react – although it’s unclear how much you can react to such a reliable ranged barrage!

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Allegiance: Maggotkin of Nurgle
Subfaction: Drowned Men
– Grand Strategy: Blessed Desecration
– Triumphs: Bloodthirsty,Bloodthirsty

Leaders
Bloab Rotspawned (300)
Lore of Malignance: Gift of Disease
Orghotts Daemonspew (300)*
Lord of Afflictions (210)*
General
– Command Trait: Overpowering Stench
– Artefact: The Splithorn Helm
Gutrot Spume (170)*

Battleline
5 x Putrid Blightkings (250)***
5 x Putrid Blightkings (250)***
2 x Pusgoyle Blightlords (220)**
2 x Pusgoyle Blightlords (220)**

Core Battalions
*Command Entourage – Magnificent
**Bounty Hunters
***Expert Conquerors

Additional Enhancements
Triumph

Total: 1920 / 2000
Reinforced Units: 0 / 4
Allies: 0 / 400
Wounds: 115
Drops: 8

Danny: Nurgle representing in Denmark with the increasingly popular ‘Double maggoths and mixed Blight troops’ archetype. It’s simple but effective, as both Maggoths offer a wide variety of mixed phase damage and utility, while the Blightkings tank all manner of punishment and the Blightlords fulfill the objective grabbing/pinning role.

Nurgle aren’t going anywhere fast, literally and figuratively.

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Allegiance: Ironjawz
Warclan: Bloodtoofs
– Grand Strategy: Waaagh!
– Triumphs: Inspired

Leaders
Megaboss on Maw-Krusha (480)*
General
– Boss Choppa and Rip-tooth fist
– Command Trait: Hulking Brute
– Artefact: Destroyer
– Mount Trait: Fast ‘Un
Orruk Warchanter (115)*
Warbeat: Get ‘Em Beat
Orruk Warchanter (115)*
Warbeat: Fixin’ Beat

Battleline
6 x Orruk Gore-gruntas (340)*
Jagged Gore-hackas
– Reinforced x 1
6 x Orruk Gore-gruntas (340)*
Jagged Gore-hackas
– Reinforced x 1
6 x Orruk Gore-gruntas (340)*
Jagged Gore-hackas
– Reinforced x 1
3 x Orruk Gore-gruntas (170)*
Jagged Gore-hackas

Units
3 x Rippa’s Snarlfangs (70)*
Allies

Core Battalions
*Battle Regiment

Total: 1970 / 2000
Reinforced Units: 3 / 4
Allies: 70 / 400
Wounds: 141
Drops: 1

Danny: It’s the Maw Krusha and 20-50 feral hogs. Honestly in this season it’s their only competitive build, which is sad, but hey at least it _can_ still compete, which is more than can be said for 90% of the Orruks book.

It’s also a seasonal issue – the damage bounty hunters can do to Brutes just renders them pointless. Same goes for Ardboyz, who offer plenty of utility as cheap screens in Big Waagh but again seem redundant for IJ. So, not blaming anyone for running this list other than GW for what has been proved in hindsight to be a real lack of imagination with the joint-first 3e Tome.

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Allegiance: Soulblight Gravelords
Lineage: Kastelai Dynasty
– Grand Strategy: Vampiric Conquerors
– Triumphs: Bloodthirsty

Leaders
Mannfred von Carstein, Mortarch of Night (380)
– Lore of the Deathmages: Fading Vigour
Neferata, Mortarch of Blood (365)
– Lore of the Deathmages: Decrepify
Vengorian Lord (280)**
– General
– Command Trait: Rousing Commander
– Artefact: Fragment of the Keep
– Lore of the Vampires: Amethystine Pinions

Battleline
10 x Deathrattle Skeletons (80)**
10 x Deathrattle Skeletons (80)**
10 x Blood Knights (390)*
– Reinforced x 1
5 x Blood Knights (195)*
5 x Blood Knights (195)*

Core Battalions
*Bounty Hunters
**Battle Regiment

Total: 1965 / 2000
Reinforced Units: 1 / 4
Allies: 0 / 400
Wounds: 114
Drops: 6

Danny: As predicted, the re-rise of SBGL is upon us! Double Mortarchs or MSU chaff with Coven Throne have proven effective, but this unusual list from Martin opts for Neferata and plenty of Blood Knights – if her spells go off she can make them insanely tanky, with ignoring rend and a command ability for a -1 to hit aura – she also brings some spike damage potential herself.

3x msu Deathrattle support as excellent grabbers who can pop out or back up from grave-sites, with the Vengo lord acting as a mobile, mixed phase general to be a home for artifacts/command traits.

A highly objective play focused list and good to see SBGL doing well again!

Final Tournament Placings

For the full event placings see tabletop.to

Gitz at Warhammer World

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We spend a lot of time and energy getting together the Top Three List for AoS, but I think sometimes its nice to talk about a certain book and see what people chose to use. This is especially fun for armies not often in the Top Three, and hopefully gives you an idea of what else is available.

I’ve already done Big Waaagh at Quest for Champions, and as I’ve just been to Warhammer World with Gloomspite Gitz, it seems a perfect opportunity to look at Gloomspite Gitz. The Gitz community had hoped for a book this year, but as that seems unlikely this information may be useful to Gitz players!

Top Git! – Roald Hansen – 26th Place – WLLWW

Game 1 vs Slyvaneth
Game 2 vs Maggotkin of Nurgle
Game 3 vs Fyreslayers
Game 4 vs Seraphon
Game 5 v Gloomspite Gitz

Allegiance: Gloomspite Gitz
– Option: Gloomspite Gitz
– Grand Strategy: Show of Dominance
– Triumphs: Indomitable

Leaders
Fungoid Cave-Shaman (95)***
– Lore of the Moonclans: The Hand of Gork
Loonboss on Giant Cave Squig (110)***
– Moon-cutta
Madcap Shaman (80)***
– Artefact: Moonface Mommet
– Lore of the Moonclans: Squig Lure
Loonboss on Mangler Squigs (290)*
– General
– Command Trait: Spiteful Git
– Artefact: Arcane Tome (Universal Artefact)
– Lore of the Moonclans: Itchy Nuisance

Battleline
20 x Shootas (140)*
20 x Shootas (140)*
36 x Squig Herd (480)**
– Reinforced x 2

Units
1 x Marshcrawla Sloggoth (150)*
– Allies
10 x Boingrot Bounderz (210)**
– Reinforced x 1
10 x Boingrot Bounderz (210)**
– Reinforced x 1
6 x Sneaky Snufflers (75)*

Core Battalions
*Battle Regiment
**Bounty Hunters
***Command Entourage – Magnificent

Additional Enhancements
Artefact

Total: 1980 / 2000

Roald took a mix of squigs with some Shootas to give extra Battleline units. His Loonboss on Mangler Squig is his general and it has some punch allowing Roald a good chance at the Battle Tactic ‘This One’s Mine’. Beating Seraphon, Slyvaneth and of course Gitz; Roald did it the hard way beating two of the good armies in the tournament scene.

2nd Git! – Declan Waters – 44th – LLWWL

Game 1 vs Maggotkin of Nurgle
Game 2 vs Sons of Behemat
Game 3 vs Seraphon
Game 4 vs Lumineth Realm-Lords
Game 5 v Gloomspite Gitz

Allegiance: Gloomspite Gitz
– Option: Jaws of Mork
– Grand Strategy: Show of Dominance
– Triumphs: Inspired

Leaders
Loonboss on Giant Cave Squig (110)
– General
– Moonclan Stabba
– Command Trait: Envoy of the Overbounder
– Artefact: Syari Screamersquig

Battleline
10 x Squig Hoppers (180)
10 x Squig Hoppers (180)
36 x Squig Herd (480)*
– Reinforced x 2
12 x Squig Herd (160)**
12 x Squig Herd (160)**

Units
10 x Boingrot Bounderz (210)*
– Reinforced x 1
10 x Boingrot Bounderz (210)*
– Reinforced x 1
6 x Sneaky Snufflers (75)
6 x Sneaky Snufflers (75)
1 x Marshcrawla Sloggoth (150)
– Allies

Core Battalions
*Bounty Hunters
**Expert Conquerors

Total: 1990 / 2000
Reinforced Units: 4 / 4
Allies: 150 / 400
Wounds: 242
Drops: 11

I’ll do short descriptions of each of my games, but beating Seraphon & LRL was certainly a good result especially with Kroak and Teclis present. Strangely the mass damage of the two super-casters didn’t do too much damage to the army, because there’s no small single link!

3rd Git – Matthew Ashworth – 54th – WWLLL

Game 1 vs Fyreslayers
Game 2 vs Nighthaunt
Game 3 vs Kruleboyz
Game 4 vs Slyvaneth
Game 5 vs Skaven

– Army Faction: Gloomspite Gitz
– Subfaction: Jaws of Mork
– Grand Strategy: Take What’s Theirs
– Triumph: Inspired
LEADERS
Loonboss on Giant Cave Squig (110)
– Moon-cutta
Loonboss on Mangler Squigs (290)*
– General
– Command Traits: Envoy of the Overbounder
– Artefacts of Power: Syari Screamersquig
BATTLELINE
Squig Herd (160)**
Squig Herd (160)**
Squig Herd (160)**
BEHEMOTH
Colossal Squig (325)*
Colossal Squig (325)*
OTHER
Boingrot Bounderz (210)***
Boingrot Bounderz (210)***
TERRAIN
1 x Bad Moon Loonshrine (0)
CORE BATTALIONS
*Linebreaker
**Expert Conquerors
***Bounty Hunters
TOTAL POINTS: 1950/2000

Matthew set Twitter & WhatsApp alight with 2 wins from 2, with his Colossal Squigs not seen in any of the other three lists. They may have let him down in the last three games though, as he couldn’t manage to sneak that mythical 3rd win for Gitz. He did it the hard way though, and no accusations of submarining would stick here.

4th Git – Stephen McMullen – 70th – LWLLL

Game 1 vs Slaves to Darkness
Game 2 vs Blades of Khorne
Game 3 vs Bonesplitterz
Game 4 vs Soulblight Gravelords
Game 5 vs Soulblight Gravelords

– Army Faction: Gloomspite Gitz
– Grand Strategy: Take What’s Theirs
– Triumph: Indomitable
LEADERS
Loonboss on Mangler Squigs (290)*
– General
– Command Traits: Fight Another Day
– Artefacts of Power: The Clammy Cowl
Fungoid Cave-Shaman (95)*
– Spells: Squig Lure
Fungoid Cave-Shaman (95)*
– Spells: The Hand of Gork
Loonboss on Giant Cave Squig (110)**
– Moon-cutta
BATTLELINE
Squig Herd (320)*
Squig Hoppers (180)*
Squig Hoppers (180)*
BEHEMOTH
Mangler Squigs (275)*
OTHER
Sneaky Snufflers (75)*
Marshcrawla Sloggoth (150)*
Boingrot Bounderz (210)**
TERRAIN
1 x Bad Moon Loonshrine (0)
CORE BATTALIONS
*Battle Regiment
**Vanguard
TOTAL POINTS: 1980/2000

Having had a reasonable day 1 by Gitz standards, Stephen was unfortunate to meet two Soulblight Gravelords and not managing to grab the second win. This army was interesting because of the 2 Mangler Squigs, not seen in the other lists, but he still has much of the units in the other lists.

Common Units

There’s a lot of Squigs here with big units of Squigs (36,36, & 24) being used in the three of the lists. We all took Boingrot Bounders, and three took the Ally – Marshcrawler Sloggoth (from Kruleboyz).

In 3 cases the Loonboss on Mangler Squig was the chosen as General, with only me breaking the pattern!

Conclusions!

With 8 wins from 4 players across 20 games we all struggled a little, but it’s always worth looking at this in perspective and to do that I turn to Honest Wargamer Stats:

The Honest Wargames / T-Sports Network Stats!

It shows Gitz hovering below 40% (actually 37% in the overall stats – putting them last), and not bad meta-representation at 3% (putting them in the middle of the pack).

So with 8 wins between 4 of us (one in a mirror) we were pretty much spot on where we should have been – it’s a shame we didn’t do better, but given the number of stats now available – not surprising.

Top Three AoS Lists for the Montreal GT

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This is the Top Three AoS Lists for the Montreal Grand Tournament that took place in Montreal, Canada on 17th and 18th of September. It involved 47 players vying to be crowned champion in a 5 game tournament.

Before I jump into the Top Three AoS Lists, I wanted to remind everyone of our friendly Discord server where you can join in the conversation with the Woehammer crew and suggest articles or series for the website.

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Also if there’s a one day or two day tournament you’d like us to cover drop us a comment on this post and we’ll have a look at it for you.

The Top Three AoS Lists

Allegiance: Seraphon
Constellation: Fangs of Sotek
– Grand Strategy: The Astromatrix
– Triumphs: Inspired

Leaders
Slann Starmaster (265)*
General
– Command Trait: Arcane Might
– Artefact: Serpent God Dagger
– Spell: Celestial Equilibrium
– Spell: Stellar Tempest
Stegadon with Skink Chief (305)**
Artefact: Cloak of Feathers
– Weapon: Skystreak Bow
– Mount Trait: Starborne
Saurus Astrolith Bearer (140)**
Skink Starpriest (130)*
Spell: Hand of Glory
– Spell: Extend Astomatrix
Skink Starpriest (130)*
Spell: Hand of Glory
– Spell: Extend Astomatrix
Skink Priest (90)**
Universal Prayer Scripture: Curse

Battleline
30 x Skinks (225)****
Boltspitters & Moonstone Clubs
– Reinforced x 2
30 x Skinks (225)****
Boltspitters & Moonstone Clubs
– Reinforced x 2
10 x Skinks (75)***
Meteoric Javelins Celestite Daggers & Star Bucklers
10 x Skinks (75)***
Meteoric Javelins Celestite Daggers & Star Bucklers
5 x Saurus Knights (110)**
Blades

Units
5 x Chameleon Skinks (115)*

Endless Spells & Invocations
Purple Sun of Shyish (70)
Horrorghast (40)

Core Battalions
*Warlord
**Warlord
***Expert Conquerors
****Bounty Hunters

Additional Enhancements
Artefact
Spell

Total: 1995 / 2000
Reinforced Units: 4 / 4
Allies: 0 / 400
Wounds: 132
Drops: 12

Declan: Danick went 5-0 here, with an interesting Seraphon list (interesting because no Bastiladons). That said it still has all the usual tricks. A good spell caster, 30 skinks to buff up, and get killing (and then another 30 so he can throw them away). If you’ve never seen a fully buffed up Skink unit you don’t know what you’re missing. As a Gitz player its demoralising but everything goes on them!

The purple Sun before the FAQ is an obvious call and no reason Danick shouldn’t take it. The Fangs of Sotek also gives the skinks a 50/50 parting shot (fire and flee), leaving the enemy flailing against thin air before they fire again. I’ve fought similar and it is vicious.

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Allegiance: Maggotkin of Nurgle
Subfaction: Drowned Men
– Mortal Realm: Ghyran
– Grand Strategy: Take What’s Theirs
– Triumphs:

Leaders
Festus the Leechlord (150)**
Lore of Malignance: Rancid Visitations
Lord of Afflictions (210)**
General
– Command Trait: Overpowering Stench
– Artefact: The Splithorn Helm
Lord of Blights (150)**

Battleline
4 x Pusgoyle Blightlords (440)*
2x Dolorous Tocsin
– Reinforced x 1
2 x Pusgoyle Blightlords (220)*
1x Dolorous Tocsin
2 x Pusgoyle Blightlords (220)*
1x Dolorous Tocsin
10 x Putrid Blightkings (500)**
Reinforced x 1

Units
1 x Pusgoyle Blightlords – Single (110)**

Core Battalions
*Bounty Hunters
**Battle Regiment

Total: 2000 / 2000
Reinforced Units: 2 / 4
Allies: 0 / 400
Wounds: 132
Drops: 4

Declan: Also going 5-0 this is the often seen Pusgoyle Blightlord List. It’s very difficult to kill, has amazingly fast movement, and if you do catch a Pusgoyle on fly… it strikes back with a vengeance. Meanwhile the disease markers you aquire slowly bring down support heros, and just when you feel you’ve got a chance Christian can summon whatever he needs. You need mortal wounds, at range, and lots of luck to beat this. There’s a reason Nurgle have been top of tournaments (and a popular army) since the book was released.

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Allegiance: Nighthaunt
Procession: Scarlet Doom
– Grand Strategy: Fright or Flight
– Triumphs: Bloodthirsty

Leaders
Krulghast Cruciator (150)**
General
– Command Trait: Master of Magic
– Artefact: Arcane Tome (Universal Artefact)
– Lore of the Underworlds: Seal of Shyish
Guardian of Souls (150)*
Artefact: Midnight Tome
– Lore of the Underworlds: Shademist
Spirit Torment (115)*
Spirit Torment (115)*

Battleline
20 x Bladegheist Revenants (350)****
Reinforced x 1
10 x Bladegheist Revenants (175)***
5 x Hexwraiths (160)**
5 x Hexwraiths (160)**
3 x Spirit Hosts (125)***

Units
10 x Dreadscythe Harridans (160)****
10 x Dreadscythe Harridans (160)****
4 x Myrmourn Banshees (105)*

Endless Spells & Invocations
Purple Sun of Shyish (70)

Core Battalions
*Warlord
**Vanguard
***Expert Conquerors
****Bounty Hunters

Additional Enhancements
Artefact

Total: 1995 / 2000
Reinforced Units: 1 / 4
Allies: 0 / 400
Wounds: 104
Drops: 12

Declan: Another good book, and another good army. Vincent-Pierre has brought the Purple Sun as well (surprise, surprise), and numerous ghosts. He has taken 30 Bladegheists so clearly has the patience of a saint (or bought them assembled), but once on the table top they are monsters. When they charge these guys can stack additional rend, so you’ll see characters charging in to clip units and doing untold damage. I’m still having nightmares of Kragnos being on 6+ armour save before the rend on the warscrolls took affect. It’s vicious, and has so far survived a FAQ – I’ll be amazed (although not surprised) if the stacking survives past Christmas.

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Allegiance: Gloomspite Gitz
Mortal Realm: Ghur
– Grand Strategy: Show of Dominance
– Triumphs: Indomitable (Wounds)

Leaders
Loonboss (75)*
General
– Command Trait: The Clammy Hand
Fungoid Cave-Shaman (95)*
Lore of the Moonclans: The Great Green Spite
Fungoid Cave-Shaman (95)*
Lore of the Moonclans: The Great Green Spite
Madcap Shaman (80)
Artefact: Moonface Mommet
– Lore of the Moonclans: Itchy Nuisance

Battleline
20 x Shootas (140)*
3x Barbed Nets
– 1x Badmoon Icon Bearers
40 x Shootas (280)*
6x Barbed Nets
– 1x Moonclan Flag Bearers
– 1x Badmoon Icon Bearers
– Reinforced x 1
60 x Stabbas (450)*
Pokin Spears & Moon Shields
– 9x Barbed Nets
– 1x Moonclan Flag Bearers
– 2x Badmoon Icon Bearers
– Reinforced x 2

Units
5 x Loonsmasha Fanatics (130)*
5 x Boingrot Bounderz (105)*

Behemoths
Krondspine Incarnate of Ghur (400)*
Allies

Endless Spells & Invocations
Chronomantic Cogs (40)
Mork’s Mighty Mushroom (40)
Ravenak’s Gnashing Jaws (60)

Core Battalions
*Battle Regiment

Total: 1990 / 2000
Reinforced Units: 3 / 4
Allies: 400 / 400
Wounds: 152
Drops: 2

Declan: Peter knew I was coming back to writing Top Three Lists, and has picked a classic… Raphael has brought Gloomspite Gitz to a full tournament and gone 3-2… what a hero! Okay, he has brought an Incarnate, but a 2019 book with no White Dwarf article needs you to think outside the book. With three wizards, three Endless Spells and no Hand of Gork (heresy) this is a sit and shoot list… with 60 shootas (5+/5+/-/1 … what a profile). The damage at range must have been enough, but I’m really impressed that Raphael managed to complete enough Battle Tactics to win 3 games – especially with his general being a simple Loonboss.

Final Tournament Placings

Hobby Update – Horus Heresy Blood Angels

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Space Marine Spartan Tank

With 40 Space Marines completed I now need to move onto the remaining four models. As one of them is quite big (very, very big), I realised I needed to get started on the Spartan.

As I’ve been playing mostly Fantasy and Age of Sigmar in the last decade I haven’t painted many tanks, so I needed to go back to basics and remind myself how to do it!

Assembly was a long process, but very straight forward apart from a small error with one of the top hatches. Once I’d worked that out it was completed and ready for undercoat.

Undercoat / Step 1

All my models have a black undercoat as I like the slightly darker affect it has on Mephiston Red. It also means there are no grey / white spots left even if I miss a bit! So I can always pretend it’s deliberate shadow.

I decided I would mask off the tracks and some of the weapons to ensure that these remained black as building back over red is a little pointless when it’s already there. If you’ve not done this before just make sure you take a little of the ‘stickiness’ off so that it doesn’t remove the paint when you take them off!

Step 2 – Red Undercoat

With the Mephiston Red undercoat on, and the masking tape removed it’s starting to look a lot like a Blood Angel tank. Next up is some pin washing (which I’ve never done before) with Nuln Oil and a little tidying up of the tracks where the red undercoat has snuck through!

I also need to finish the Lascannon Sponsors of course but they fit on very nicely to allow some movement of the model.

What’s Next

I need to finish the tank, and complete the remainder of the Age of Darkness Box Set. It’s great to be getting close to finishing a starter set!

— Declan & Eeyore

Tournament Preparation – Warhammer World – Age of Sigmar

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Gloomspite Gitz – Jaws of Mork

(Header picture from Games Workshop website)

Tomorrow the Age of Chumps club is travelling en-masse to Warhammer World to take part in a two day Age of Sigmar tournament. It’s my last for a while, so I was torn about what to take.

After the success last year of the Big Waaagh, they were the obvious decision – brute force, cunning application – all backed up by an improving profile which means that 2+/2+ doesn’t take long to get to…

But… I haven’t used my Gitz in a while and there is a new GHB, as well a small change to the Loonshrine warscroll.

Games Workshop FAQ

It’s not much, and it’s not a White Dwarf article like Beasts, or Khorne… but it does make a small difference. The Moon allows Moonclan to rally, and Squigs to charge after running. Perfect for getting Boingrot Bounders into the right place, or bouncing over units with Hoppers before finishing off lone heroes! Sure it’s range isn’t perfect, but it’s large on the smaller table.

Finally, the General gets an extra command point each turn – great resource benefit.

Squigs, Spiders, Trogs, or Grots

I have options for all Gitz forces, but my favourite has always been the Squigs… especially as they trigger the rally benefit and the run and charge… also; red looks great.

The List

Allegiance: Gloomspite Gitz
– Option: Jaws of Mork
– Grand Strategy: Show of Dominance
– Triumphs: Inspired

Leaders
Loonboss on Giant Cave Squig (110)
 General
 Moonclan Stabba
 Command Trait: Envoy of the Overbounder
 Artefact: Syari Screamersquig

Battleline
10 x Squig Hoppers (180)
10 x Squig Hoppers (180)
36 x Squig Herd (480)*
 Reinforced x 2
12 x Squig Herd (160)**
12 x Squig Herd (160)**

Units
10 x Boingrot Bounderz (210)*
 Reinforced x 1
10 x Boingrot Bounderz (210)*
 Reinforced x 1
6 x Sneaky Snufflers (75)
6 x Sneaky Snufflers (75)
1 x Marshcrawla Sloggoth (150)
 Allies

Core Battalions
*Bounty Hunters
**Expert Conquerors

Total: 1990 / 2000
Reinforced Units: 4 / 4
Allies: 150 / 400
Wounds: 242
Drops: 11

It’s not going to chose first or second, has no magic, lacks the punch to get out of a wet-paper bag, and the battle tactics are difficult but who’s counting! It has 242 wounds, Squigs come back in my battleshock phase on a 4+, and if I can get the foot squigs into all quarters I get my Grand Strategy… this includes the ones that come back thanks to the FAQ:

Games Workshop, GHB FAQ (Sep-22)

So that’s a bit of a trick – I’ll be sure to make my opponents aware at the beginning of the game, as it’ll be my aim all tournament.

I’m hoping for 1 win, and to avoid being bottom Chump but the Gitz will be a challenge – Tune back next week to see how I got on!

— Declan