This is the top three AoS lists for the Norwegian Masters that took place in Norway on the 21st and 22nd of January. It involved 24 players vying to be crowned champion in a 5-game tournament.

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The Top Three AoS Lists

Allegiance: Beasts of Chaos
– Greatfray: Allherd
– Grand Strategy: Protect the Herdstone
– Triumphs: Indomitable

Leaders
Dragon Ogor Shaggoth (155)*
– General
– Command Trait: Dominator
– Lore of Dark Storms: Hailstorm
Great Bray-Shaman (100)*
– Artefact: Blade of the Desecrator
– Universal Spell Lore: Ghost-mist
Great Bray-Shaman (100)*
– Lore of the Twisted Wilds: Wild Rampage

Battleline
10 x Ungors (65)*
– Mauls & Half-Shields
10 x Ungors (65)*
– Mauls & Half-Shields
10 x Ungors (65)*
– Shortspears & Half-Shields

Units
6 x Tzaangor Enlightened on Disc of Tzeetch (360)**
– Reinforced x 1
6 x Tzaangor Enlightened on Disc of Tzeetch (360)**
– Reinforced x 1
6 x Tzaangor Enlightened on Disc of Tzeetch (360)**
– Reinforced x 1
20 x Tzaangors (350)*
– 20x Pair of Savage Blade
– Reinforced x 1

Core Battalions
*Battle Regiment
**Bounty Hunters

Total: 1980 / 2000
Reinforced Units: 4 / 4
Allies: 0 / 400
Wounds: 162
Drops: 4

Is Beasts the most metal faction? I always feel like it is (might be the horns), which might explain our first 2 lists, or maybe it’s just how strong they are at the moment. With solid summoning, quality attacks, and the number of bodies, it’s a challenging faction for anyone right now. And then there is the buffed Herdstone, granting -1 Rend board wide and -2 from round 3. Danny has gone all in for the Tzaangor Enlightened on Disc (dubbed TED from now), making their main attack a Rend 2, Damage 2 at (and 19 from the unit). That moves 16″ getting them just about anywhere. They have a quirk that improves their to wound to 2+ if they go second.

And really, that’s the list, 3 small heroes to max points for the TED units, 3 x 10 man(?) Ungor units, screens and scoring, and a big unit of Tzaangors. Those Tzaangors are a threat in their own right, but their most likely use if for generation of primordial points for summoning. It’s not hard to generate 3 points or another 10-man Ungor unit every turn with a little luck. Great approach with the leaders. They are all casters and equipped more for control than buffing damage. Ghost mist to hopefully restrict shooting and Hailstorm to protect a TED from being charged. With bounty hunters, Herdstone rend, and reroll wounds (Wild Rampage), those TEDs can be terrifying. The Dragon Ogre is a solid brick and can move up to support the TEDs.

This list starts with 162 and can bring more on throughout the game. With high-quality attacks and extreme mobility, it is very hard to stop it scoring and equally from denying you your scoring opportunities. With a relatively easy book Grand Strategy, it’s no surprise Danny was able to max his score in 2 rounds. He had the most trouble with Maggotkin, whose Mortal Wound output and durability hurt, and Lumineth. Rend reduction is great when that’s your opponent’s thing. It’s always fun. How will they go in the new book?

Allegiance: Beasts of Chaos
– Greatfray: Allherd
– Grand Strategy: Take What’s Theirs
– Triumphs: Inspired

Leaders
Dragon Ogor Shaggoth (155)*
– General
– Command Trait: Dominator
– Artefact: Horn of the Tempest
– Lore of Dark Storms: Sundering Blades
Great Bray-Shaman (100)*
– Lore of the Twisted Wilds: Vicious Stranglethorns
Tzaangor Shaman of Beasts of Chaos (135)*
– Artefact: Blade of the Desecrator
– Lore of the Twisted Wilds: Tendrils of Atrophy

Battleline
9 x Dragon Ogors (435)***
– 9x Draconic War glaives
– Reinforced x 2
10 x Ungors (65)**
– Mauls & Half-Shields
10 x Ungors (65)**
– Mauls & Half-Shields

Units
10 x Ungor Raiders (80)**
10 x Ungor Raiders (80)*
10 x Ungor Raiders (80)
6 x Tzaangor Enlightened on Disc of Tzeetch (360)***
– Reinforced x 1
6 x Tzaangor Enlightened on Disc of Tzeetch (360)***
– Reinforced x 1

Endless Spells & Invocations
Ravening Direflock (30)

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

Total: 1945 / 2000
Reinforced Units: 4 / 4
Allies: 0 / 400
Wounds: 164
Drops: 11

It is very similar to the previous list with TEDs bringing the hurt, but this time, a big unit (double reinforced) of Dragon Ogres to synergise with the Ogre Shaggoth. The Shaggoth is built for damage this time with Sundering Blades to boost the Ogres. At the same time, there isn’t a big unit of Tzaangors for sacrificing, mostly likely Ungor Raiders were feeling the blade. Ungor Raiders aren’t a bad screen either, bringing the chance of chip damage via an unleash hell, except they only hit on 5+. In comparison to Danny’s list, this has a little less summoning (maybe), less mobility but a much bigger punch.

Although Kristoffer only maxed his score once, he was scoring better overall than Danny until the Lumineth struck. If I had to guess, I’d say the Dragon Ogors died to shooting fairly early, leaving the army without the ability to control scoring as effectively. That and the reduction of Rend -1 or -2 to 0 means most of this army hits Ymetrica Lumineth like wet noodles. Ungor Raiders and Ungors would be lucky to inflict more than chip damage all game. Solid performance overall and the punishment dealt to others, at least mean Kris won the war if not the Battle.

Allegiance: Lumineth Realm-lords
– Great Nation: Ymetrica
– Mortal Realm: Chamon
– Grand Strategy: No place for the weak
– Triumphs: Indomitable

Leaders
Alarith Stonemage (120)**
– Artefact: Molten Talisman
– Lore of the High Peaks: Unbreakable Stoicism
Scinari Enlightener (170)**
– General
– Command Trait: Loremaster
– Artefact: Silver Wand
– Lore of Hysh: Speed of Hysh, Protection of Hysh, Total Eclipse
Avalenor, the Stoneheart King (420)**

Battleline
15 x Alarith Stoneguard (360)*
– Stone Mallets
– Reinforced x 2
10 x Alarith Stoneguard (240)*
– Stone Mallets
– Reinforced x 1
5 x Alarith Stoneguard (120)**
– Stone Mallets

Units
5 x Vanari Dawnriders (140)*
– Spell1: Lore of Hysh: Protection of Hysh
20 x Vanari Auralan Sentinels (300)
– Spell1: Lore of Hysh: Overwhelming Heat
– Reinforced x 1

Artillery
Vanari Starshard Ballistas (130)
Shrine Luminor(0)
Core Battalions
*Bounty Hunters
Warlord**

Additional Enhancements
Artefact

Total: 2000 / 2000
Reinforced Units: 4 / 4
Allies: 0 / 400
Wounds: 121
Drops: 9

And here is the nemesis list for the 1st and 2nd place Beasts lists. With the new book (what’s with another book for the Lumineth already and not Seraphon or Kharadon?), we’ve seen the switch to Stoneguard from Wardens. This list has a bit of everything to support the 30 Stoneguard with Dawnriders, Sentinels, and even a Ballista (much more useful in Lumineth than Stormcast). The list works by overlapping buffs. The Stoneguard are best within 12″ of the Stoneking. He can grant each of the Stoneguard units with +1 attack. The Stoneking wants to remain within 12″ of the Stonemage, so he always fights on the top of his table. The Enlightener is freer with 18″ range on key spells to reach the Stoneguard with Speed or Protection of Hysh (double movement or 5+ ward). The Enlightener doubles up on his freedom with the Twinned Tether ability, which reflects wounds. He can only cast it (CV 6) if he has cast a Lore of Hysh spell. Once a turn, he can guarantee a cast of 9, situational but a possible defensive tactic. Of course, you can put him in the shrine and make sure he has rerolls.

Hate high elves yet? Those Stoneguard have rend reduction (better than a 3+ save since it turns of both Rend -1 and -2), a 4+ mortal wound save and can have a 5+ ward. The Stoneking grants them another attack, and the Stonemage can give one unit mortals in addition on a 5+ instead of the normal 6+. For the big unit, that is an extra 7.5 MW. And then there is the indirect mortal wound shooting of the Sentinals (still 30″ range due to the Ballista) and the swingy but potentially vicious 30/36″ range of the Ballista. It’s a great army that is active in all phases and very dangerous. It has a weakness, though, in that it is slow and it needs the buffs. Individually, the units can be brought down. We see that in the scoring, his first round was a max 20 against a relatively slow Stormcast List, but afterwards, solid but low scoring games. He was still only 2 points behind 2nd because his one loss was very close.

Allegiance: Kruleboyz
– Warclan: Grinnin’ Blades
– Grand Strategy: No Place for the Weak
– Triumphs: Indomitable

Leaders
Snatchaboss on Sludgeraker Beast (290)*
– General
– Command Trait: Supa Sneaky
– Artefact: Mork’s Eye Pebble
– Mount Trait: Smelly ‘Un
Gobsprakk, The Mouth of Mork (260)**
Swampcalla Shaman with Pot-grot (105)**
– Lore of the Swamp: Choking Mist
Swampcalla Shaman with Pot-grot (105)**
– Lore of the Swamp: Sneaky Miasma
Swampcalla Shaman with Pot-grot (105)*
– Lore of the Swamp: Nasty Hex

Battleline
10 x Gutrippaz (160)*
10 x Gutrippaz (160)*
10 x Hobgrot Slittaz (80)**

Units
6 x Man-skewer Boltboyz (240)**
– Reinforced x 1
6 x Man-skewer Boltboyz (240)**
– Reinforced x 1
6 x Man-skewer Boltboyz (240)**
– Reinforced x 1

Core Battalions
*Battle Regiment
**Battle Regiment

Total: 1985 / 2000
Reinforced Units: 3 / 4
Allies: 0 / 400
Wounds: 132
Drops: 2

This list is almost identical to the one I run. To be fair, there isn’t much variation in Kruleboyz lists. Usually, 3 units of Boltboyz inflict mortal wounds from afar. A snatchaboss who buffs nearby units with poison, allowing the Kruleboyz Orruk units to cause add an additional mortal wound on those 6+ rolls. A sprinkling of Shamans who can also buff Kruleboyz Orruk units, allowing them to cause mortals on 5+ as well as 6+ to hit. Then Hobgrots and Gutrippaz to act as screens and objective cappers.

The elephant in the room (or should that be vulcha) is Gobsprakk. This guy is great, I’ve had lots of success with him purely from his mortal wounds on dispels (D3 standard D6 with an unbinding roll of 10+). I almost took down a GUO with his dispels alone when playing against Ed. His ability is so good, you’ll often find that your opponent won’t even cast unless absolutely necessary. Especially after suffering those D6 mortals for the first time.

Gobsprakk may be a good choice in the new handbook. He’ll allow you to cause the mortal wounds on casters in the enemy army even if they’re Galletian Champions…. if they choose not to cast, they’ve wasted points on their casters. He’s not great in combat. He’ll do 4 damage on average to units with a 6+ save.

The whole lot is wrapped up into two big posionous Battle Regiment packages. Wirh a nice Grinnin’ Blades bow on top, preventing the opponent from seeing you from more than 12″ away.

As a Kruleboyz player, you’ll always want the choice of priority on the first turn, with most Krulebros choosing to go 2nd to try and neuter any opponent early doors with two rounds of poisonous bolts. Of course Alpha-Strike armies love Kruleboyz and eat them for breakfast.

I’m just hoping that the revitalised Gitz book will give the Kruleboyz some punch through their Allies.

Well done Christian on managing to put in such a great performance with Kruleboyz.

Final Tournament Placings