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Top Three AoS Lists for Colonial Carnage

February 28, 2023 Top 3 Lists 2 Comments

This is the top three AoS lists for Colonial Carnagethat took place in the USA on the 18th and 19th of February. It involved 45 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

Army Faction: Gloomspite Gitz
– Army Subfaction: Jaws of Mork
– Grand Strategy: Chasing the Moon
– Triumphs: Indomitable

LEADER
1 x Squigboss (80)*
– Aspects of the Champion: Fuelled by Ghurish Rage
1 x Skragrott, the Loonking (160)*
– Spells: Itchy Nuisance
1 x Fungoid Cave-Shaman (90)*
– General
– Command Traits: The Clammy Hand
– Artefacts: Staff of Sneaky Stealin’
– Spells: The Hand of Gork

BATTLELINE
10 x Boingrot Bounderz (280)
– Bounder Boss
10 x Boingrot Bounderz (280)*
– Bounder Boss
36 x Squig Herd (360)**
12 x Squig Herd (120)**

BEHEMOTH
1 x Mangler Squigs (260)

ENDLESS SPELL
1 x Scrapskuttle’s Arachnacauldron (50)

TERRAIN
1 x Bad Moon Loonshrine (0)

OTHER
1 x Marshcrawla Sloggoth (150)
6 x Sneaky Snufflers (110)

CORE BATTALIONS:
*Warlord
**Galletian Veterans

TOTAL POINTS: (1940/2000)

Three years of an old book with Gloomspite Gitz mostly being seen as a wild-card entry in the top threes… mainly because Peter wanted to give me something to write about… and then a second 5-0 in as many weeks. So, it’s definitely an improvement so far.

Dale has gone with Squigs for his main force with Bounders providing some great Spears of damage and the Squig Herd doing mortals when they run away, and the herders can get them back. The lack of command abilities on them worries me, however, a little as people get used to the army… especially with shooting.

The buff pieces all have a place as well, with Squigs getting free moves, the moon doing as required, and 5+ward on one unit. It definitely requires some memory to keep all the moving parts in your head.

A 5-0 is impressive regardless of army and so we’ll done to Dale.

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Army Faction: Beasts of Chaos
– Army Subfaction: Gavespawn
– Grand Strategy: Desecrating Brayherd
– Triumphs: Inspired

LEADER
1 x Beastlord (145)*
– General
– Command Traits: Bestial Cunning
– Artefacts: Slitherwrack Helm
– Aspects of the Champion: Fuelled by Ghurish Rage
1 x Great Bray-Shaman (95)***
– Spells: Wild Rampage
1 x Great Bray-Shaman (95)***
– Spells: Tendrils of Atrophy
1 x Beasts of Chaos Tzaangor Shaman (115)***
– Artefacts: Brayblast Trumpet
– Spells: Tendrils of Atrophy

BATTLELINE
3 x Morghurite Chaos Spawn (Gibbering Congregation) (230)
20 x Bestigors (440)**
10 x Gors (110)**
– Paired Hacking Blades
10 x Gors (110)**
– Paired Hacking Blades
10 x Gors (110)**
– Paired Hacking Blades
10 x Ungors (80)***
– Pitted Blade

OTHER
1 x Cockatrice (105)
1 x Cockatrice (105)
6 x Beasts of Chaos Slaangor Fiendbloods (260)*

CORE BATTALIONS:
*Galletian Command
**Galletian Veterans
***Warlord

TOTAL POINTS: (2000/2000)

Peter: We have updated this comment since initial publication. Ungors were initially referred to as ‘Hammers’, and this has been changed to Bestigors. A predicted text typo of ‘Tendrils of Apathy’ has been corrected to ‘Tendrils of Atrophy’. Finally, the reference to +2 to casting per game has been corrected to +3.

We all make the occasional mistake. Please remember our writers comment on a lot of factions and may not know each inside-out!

The Gor stampede emerges! This list takes a very interesting tact with the enemy in order to try and shut down and isolate enemy units to substantially blunt their output. With the Beastial Cunning trait, you can bring in a key unit within 7″ instead of 9, guaranteeing the charge. First, the Chaos Spawn charge in to reduce enemy unit attacks by 1, and since they can move separately, you can either spread them out or focus them on one unit as needed.

Bestigors, Cockatrice and Slaangors all function as hammers, with Bray-Shaman boosting them with Wild Rampage for exploding 6s to hit, and the other Bray-Shaman and Tzaangor Shaman casting Tendrils of Atrophy (with +3 once per game if you really need to get it off) to increase the damage. Even if the opponent survives this onslaught, they will still have to deal with the -1 to attacks from the Chaos Spawn, and are likely fighting last due to the Gors Gor Stampede ability and the General’s Slitherwrack Helm meaning any counter attack will likely bounce right off of you.

A clever and precise use of debuffs before charging in with the hammer makes this list very difficult to deal with in melee by all but the most hardy of targets.

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Army Faction: Stormcast Eternals
– Army Type: Scions of the Storm
– Army Subfaction: Knights Excelsior
– Grand Strategy: Take What’s Theirs
– Triumphs: Bloodthirsty
Holy Commands Enhancement: Steadfast March

LEADER
1 x Lord-Castellant (160)*
– General
– Command Traits: Master of Magic
– Artefacts: Arcane Tome
– Spells: Celestial Blades
– Aspects of the Champion: Tunnel Master
1 x Lord-Relictor (150)*
– Prayers: Translocation
1 x Lord-Arcanum on Gryph-Charger (170)*
– Mount Traits: Scintillating Trail
– Spells: Azyrite Halo

BATTLELINE
5 x Retributors (210)*
– Retributor-Prime
5 x Retributors (210)*
– Retributor-Prime
5 x Retributors (210)*
– Retributor-Prime

OTHER
4 x Stormdrake Guard (680)*
– Stormdrake-Prime
– Drakerider’s Warblade

3 x Vanguard-Palladors (200)*
– Pallador-Prime
– Boltstorm Pistol and Shock Handaxe

CORE BATTALIONS:
*Battle Regiment

TOTAL POINTS: (1990/2000)

After the craziness that was Salt Smash, normal(ish) service returns. Still with Palladors as an action unit (everyone has some), with the points drop and ranged weapons on top of their movement, they are a great alternative to Draconiths. And dragons. A nice big block of 4. Beyond the Palladors JB threw in a Lord Arcanum on Gryphcharger (a personal favourite). He has his own built-in teleport and is both a decent caster and an ok combat character. He can keep up with and be covered by the Palladors and, in turn, cover for them with both his Cycle of the Storm (once per turn ignore a fatal wound) and Healing light. An effective way to deal with the 4+ save on the Palladors is a very efficient way to pick up remote objectives.

Conventional Lord Castellant (with celestial blades) and Lord Relictor. Celestial Blades can either be placed on the Dragons or a handy Retributor unit. Hitting on a 2+ is always welcome. Running 3 MSU Retributors as battleline reflects the points drops (they were 235) and some of their tricks. They lack the 2 up save of Protectors but with a Lord-Castellant that can be dealt with. They are slow, Steadfast March will help push them onto the middle or an objective out of deployment. They can be held in reserve and dropped via Scions. Most importantly, they are a solid 15 wounds with -2 rend and 16 attacks. That makes them harder to kill than an MSU Annihilator with Grandhammer while having more attacks, making them more reliable. Your opponent will have to make a serious effort to remove them, and if even one is left alive, the strike back is likely to have serious consequences.

A very well crafted SCE list taking advantage of the recent points drops to make it more competitive. Losing to the new Gitz is probably not unexpected. They can build strength as they go, which is a weakness of SCE, as key pieces go down their scoring options shrink fast.

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Army Faction: Soulblight Gravelords
– Army Type: Vyrkos Dynasty
– Grand Strategy: Take What’s Theirs
– Triumph: Inspired

LEADERS
Radukar the Beast (310)
Vampire Lord (140)*
– Spells: Amethystine Pinions, Invigorating Aura
– Aspects of the Champion: Butcher
Belladamma Volga (200)*
– Spells: Invigorating Aura, Soulpike
Vampire Lord on Zombie Dragon (420)*
– General
– Command Traits: Kin of the Wolf
– Deathlance
– Artefacts of Power: Sangsyron
– Mount Traits: Foetid Miasma
– Spells: Flaming Weapon, Invigorating Aura

BATTLELINE
Dire Wolves (130)*
Deathrattle Skeletons (80)*
Dire Wolves (130)*

OTHER
Grave Guard (280)*
– Seneschal
– Great Wight Blade
– 2 x Standard Bearer
– 2 x Hornblower
Grave Guard (280)*
– Standard Bearer
– Hornblower
– Seneschal
– Great Wight Blade

CORE BATTALIONS
*Battle Regiment

TOTAL POINTS: 1970/2000

Soulblight two seasons ago was a different vibe. That was when zombie blobs shambled care free and nigh on unkillable Blood Knights trampled dreams. Soulblight now, post points hike and during a season that rewards having good GCs – exactly the thing Soulblight don’t have – are a different matter, so it’s cause for celebration when a list cracks the top 10.

William has opted for a Vyrkos hero-hammer here, with Radukar and Balladamma following on the bone-tails of a VLoZD. It’s a techy combo – Belladamma can be bodyguarded by the Dire Wolves and set up an exploding 6s aura, while Radukar can summon additional wolves and, so long as he makes a charge, put out a +1 attacks aura, making for a pretty potent set of overlapping buffs. It can be tricky to set up but I imagine the plan was to run a kind of hero-castle, setting up the Zombie Dragon – or one of the two big blobs of Grave Guard, who are still a super value unit – as super-buffed up hammers at the centre of the auras.

It’s hard to pin point exactly why Soulblight just don’t quite have the tools to reach the top tables atm, but I suspect this is about as good a list as they can field at the moment! Kudos to William for the 3-2.

Final Tournament Placings

Age of Sigmar, Fantasy, Games Workshop, Meta Analysis, Peter Holland, Tournaments

AoS Meta Stats W/Ending 19th February 2023

February 26, 2023 Peter Holland Leave a comment

How Win Rates are Calculated

There have been inquiries regarding the calculation of our win rates. The key difference between us and Honest Wargamer is that we take into account draws, whereas Honest Wargamer/TSN only considers wins.
Our calculation method involves counting draws as a 0.5 win and 0.5 loss. This can lead to slight differences in our rates compared to those of HWG/TSN. For instance:

A player with 2 wins, 1 draw, and 2 losses would have a 40% win rate using the HWG/TSN method (2 divided by 5 = 40%). In our method, we would count 2 wins and half a win from the draw, which equals 2.5 wins. Divided by 5, the player would have a 50% win rate.

The Honest Wargamer/TSN also have access to many more tournament results than ourselves via their large fan base. This does mean that we may not have the same amount of tournament data as HWG/TSN. However, we will try and source the information if we’re aware a tournament exists.

We believe that having multiple perspectives on win rates is beneficial, and both methods have their own merits. If you want to view the great work by Ziggy and Rob’s team, visit the Honest Wargamer website.

Faction Win Rates

We’ve only had 14 factions reach our marker of 20 players at GT’s so far, all others will be added over the coming weeks as they cross this threshold.

Win Rates

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Player Results by Wins

This graph has at least two purposes. Firstly it shows the faction popularity by the number of players and secondly it breaks down those players results in terms of the number of wins they achieve.

For once Stormcast have been knocked off their perch as the most popular faction, with Slaves to Darkness now taking the top spot.

Players Achieving 5-0 Wins

Lumineth Realm-Lords are early leaders with 5 players managing to get that elusive 5-0.

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Win Chance

Although Lumineth have the highest number of 5-0 wins, if you want to be a true meta chaser, the best chance you currently have of going for five wins based on the current stats is with Fyreslayers!

Like above, this show the chance of getting 4 or more wins (including 5-0).

And finally the chance of going 3+ wins (including 5-0 and 4+).

Our Database

This is our most copy of our database.

Woehammer GT Database 19th February 2023 Download

Age of Sigmar, Army Lists, Astral Templars, Daughters of Khaine, Destruction, Fantasy, Games Workshop, Gloomspite Gitz, Hammers of Sigmar, King's Gitz, Order, Stormcast Eternals, The Woehammer Crew, Top three lists, Tournaments, Zainthar Kai

Top Three AoS Lists for Sydney Salt Smash

February 25, 2023 Top 3 Lists Leave a comment

This is the top three AoS lists for the Sydney Salt Smash that took place in Australia on the 18th and 19th of February. It involved 28 players vying to be crowned champion in a 5-game tournament.

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)
– Mortal Realm: Ghyran
– Grand Strategy: Take What’s Theirs
– Triumphs: Bloodthirsty

Leaders
Lord-Veritant (140)**
– General
– Command Trait: Master of Magic
– Artefact: Arcane Tome (Universal Artefact)
– Spell: Thundershock
– Prayer: Translocation
Knight-Zephyros (100)*
– Aspect of the Champion: Stubborn as a Rhinox
Celestant-Prime, Hammer of Sigmar (330)*
Lord-Arcanum on Tauralon (250)**
– Mount Trait: Celestial Instincts
– Spell: Starfall

Units
3 x Vanguard-Palladors (200)*
– Boltstorm Pistols and Starstrike Javelins
3 x Vanguard-Palladors (200)**
– Boltstorm Pistols and Starstrike Javelins
3 x Vanguard-Palladors (200)**
– Boltstorm Pistols and Starstrike Javelins
6 x Vanguard-Palladors (400)**
– Boltstorm Pistols and Starstrike Javelins
– Reinforced x 1
6 x Gryph-Hounds (90)*
6 x Gryph-Hounds (90)*

Core Battalions
*Battle Regiment
**Battle Regiment

Holy Command: Steadfast March

Total: 2000 / 2000
Reinforced Units: 1 / 4
Allies: 0 / 400
Wounds: 132
Drops: 2

Stormcast are in a tricky place. They have loads and loads of warscrolls, but many of them are sub-optimal. Whilst Games Workshop tries to correct this by tweaking points up and down, the good warscrolls remain good, and the bad remain bad… and so the ‘good warscroll spam’ armies come to the fore. The good news is that there are different versions of them, so you’ll not necessarily play the same one, but the bad news is that it is a lot of repeated Warscrolls.

That’s no criticism of Sean, who has taken this formula and got 5-0 from it. Sure I am going to criticise him for beating up Gloomspite Gitz (booo!) but in all seriousness he’s done very well with an army of Paladors (very quick, some shooting and reasonable combat effectiveness as well).

The Gryph hounds sync in well here with Warning Cry, which allows units to shoot at deep strikers and summoned units. Effectively giving Sean some free shots against enemy units for limited outlay. If you make it through the shooting, you’ll then have to face a deep-striking unit of Sean’s own – the still great Celestant Prime. It’s good to see him representing the book he comes from!

A really thematic list that is likely to give any opponent pause (or just annoy them). Palladors have been overlooked for most of this edition (and 2nd) for a reason. But they are also 5 wound models with 12″ move and a built-in teleport. They are built for scoring, at least when there are this many backed by the Celestant Prime and the Lord Arcanum for the +1 to hit rolls for the closest Pallador. A well thought out dynamic list.

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Army Faction: Stormcast Eternals
– Army Type: Scions of the Storm
– Subfaction: Hammers of Sigmar
– Grand Strategy: Take What’s Theirs
– Triumph: Bloodthirsty

LEADERS
Knight-Vexillor (120)*
– Meteoric Standard
Knight-Vexillor (120)*
– Meteoric Standard
Knight-Vexillor (120)*
– Meteoric Standard
Knight-Vexillor (120)**
– Meteoric Standard
Lord-Relictor (150)**
– General
– Command Traits: Master of Magic
– Artefacts of Power: Arcane Tome
– Spells: Thundershock
– Prayers: Translocation
Knight-Heraldor (100)**
– Aspects of the Champion: Tunnel Master

BATTLELINE
Dracothian Guard Tempestors (220)*
Dracothian Guard Tempestors (220)*
Dracothian Guard Tempestors (220)**
Dracothian Guard Tempestors (220)**

OTHER
Shadow Warriors (120)*
– Shadow Walker
Castigators (90)*
– Castigator-Prime
The Farstriders (90)**

ENDLESS SPELLS & INVOCATIONS
1 x Everblaze Comet (90)

CORE BATTALIONS
*Battle Regiment
**Battle Regiment

TOTAL POINTS: 2000/2000

Back from his Cancon insanity with fewer Vexillors and even more Tempestors. I admire his patience building and painting that them (the armour and arms take a while to eliminate gaps). There are plenty of tricks still, a Knight Heraldor (not often seen or even owned), Shadow Warriors, Castigators, and The Farstriders. All led by a Lord Relictor (with Translocate and Thundershock) who brings Master of Magic to hopefully get Everblaze Comet off. Essentially, this list is trying to deal with SCE mobility issues and damage output in the face of new more serious threats.

Scions of the Storm allows half of the units to be held in reserve and arrive in any turn, which prevents first turn shooting, removing a lot of important pieces. In this case, as a 2 drop army so Yangxue is probably deciding who has first turn, toss up whether to keep it or play for the early double. Everyone should know the Vexillor’s trick now. It’s not OP, but it is a 24″ version of the Stormdrake’s shooting attack with an area of effect. It’s once per game, so deciding when to use it is critical, but they remain a solid Galletian Champion for scoring once they are down, just not very mobile. The Knight Herald is here mostly as a quiet scoring piece with his Tunnel Master but can punish units near terrain, chip damage really but good into some armies that like to lurk near terrain. Of the units – Tempestors have been a very common choice in place of Fulminators lately.

Shadow Warriors duplicate the abilities of Scions of the Storm units on their own warscroll. They don’t count as a coalition force, though, because this is a Scions of the Storm army. Farstriders can teleport, and the Castigators are another cheap screen with Unleash Hell potential that can also be teleported by the Relictor. Very good at picking off any objectives that aren’t well covered. So movement is covered, and output, especially in the first turn or 2, is really good. Hit hard early and then outlast them. Unless the opponent is a horde army or has strong heals, this will probably work. Or Trolls, trolls (Troggoths) are probably a counter. They’re damn scary now

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Allegiance: Gloomspite Gitz
– Gittish Horde: King’s Gitz
– Grand Strategy: Chasing The Moon
– Triumphs: Indomitable

Leaders
Dankhold Troggboss (200)**
– General
– Command Trait: Loonskin
– Artefact: Speaky-skull Fetish
Fungoid Cave-Shaman (90)*
– Artefact: Moonface Mommet
– Lore of the Moonclans: The Hand of Gork
– Aspect of the Champion: Tunnel Master
Fungoid Cave-Shaman (90)*
– Artefact: Leering Gitshield
– Lore of the Moonclans: Itchy Nuisance
Mollog (130)*

Battleline
9 x Rockgut Troggoths (480)***
– Reinforced x 2
6 x Rockgut Troggoths (320)***
– Reinforced x 1
3 x Rockgut Troggoths (160)*
6 x Fellwater Troggoths (320)***
– Reinforced x 1

Units
1 x Dankhold Troggoths (180)**

Endless Spells & Invocations
Loonskin Malevolent Moon (0)

Core Battalions
*Warlord
**Troggherd Heavies
***Galletian Sharpshooters

Additional Enhancements
Artefact
Artefact

Total: 1970 / 2000
Reinforced Units: 4 / 4
Allies: 0 / 400
Wounds: 136
Drops: 9

On the same weekend as Sheffield Slaughter, Ben has guided a Trogg army (Gloomspite Gitz) to a spectacular 4-1. Not bad for an army that was languishing at the bottom of the rankings before the new book. It’s still too early to tell if the book will be above the magical 45%-55% level, but it definitely feels like it should be able to stay away from the mid-thirties it was in during the last incarnation.

The Troggs that Ben has taken also shows the advantage of giving people choices with battalions. Sure, there is only one in the Gitz book, but it is an innovative way of getting people to take Dankhold Troggoths… a great model, but before now, a very weak scroll. The increased regeneration helps here as well, but it comes with a free artefact as well, which is well worth considering for only 180 points. Treat him as a throw-away spear unit and hammer something to death. Just remember he doesn’t come back through the shrine at the end of the turn.

But the Rockguts and Fellwaters do, and with healing now automatic and every hero phase, you’ll need to kill units outright – not an easy thing for the 9 Rockguts.

It’s a great army, and it looks good on the board too – don’t be suckered in by the lack of bodies… these guys will hang around and stick on objectives. My only concern for them would be the mirror into a Squig list, but Ben fought one of those in game 5 and came out on top, so maybe this list can compete long-term.

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Allegiance: Daughters of Khaine
– Temple: Zainthar Kai
– Grand Strategy: Bloodthirsty Zealots
– Triumphs: Inspired

Leaders
Hag Queen (120)*
– Aspect of the Champion: Fuelled by Ghurish Rage
Anointed on Frostheart Phoenix (320)
– Allies
Slaughter Queen on Cauldron of Blood (300)*
– General
– Command Trait: Zealous Orator
– Artefact: Arcane Tome (Universal Artefact)
-Lore of Shadows: Mindrazor

Battleline
15 x Blood Sisters (450)*
– Reinforced x 2
10 x Blood Stalkers (360)*
– Reinforced x 1
5 x Blood Sisters (150)*

Units
5 x Khinerai Heartrenders (100)*
5 x Khinerai Heartrenders (100)*

Endless Spells & Invocations
Heart of Fury (50)

Core Battalions
*Battle Regiment

Total: 1950 / 2000
Reinforced Units: 3 / 4
Allies: 320 / 400
Wounds: 100
Drops: 2

It’s always nice to see a Norathi list! Since her price hike, I think they make more sense than ever. Even though it will always be scary not taking the big momma, once you spread those points over more synergistic bodies, you can end up with a surprising amount of redundancy and board control.

And that’s _kinda_ what Liam has gone for here – by replacing the 700 pt Morathi with a Frostheart Phoenix – which is a durable, fast monster at less than half the points, and a newly-bargain priced Slaughter Queen on Cauldron. Between these two pieces, Liam brings to bear overlapping auras of -1 to wound and +1 to save, which, combined with -1 damage from the Heart of Fury, go a long way to making the fragile Daughters able to take a serious punch.

Beyond that, it’s the usual block of 15 stab sneks, but he’s also brought 10 bows – which I think are pointed for the double shoot but still offer decent ranged output – and the usual double khinerai for amazing scoring options.

A really nice balanced list that cleaned up some strong meta opponents, losing only to what is quickly becoming the clearly-over-tuned Gloomspite book!

Final Tournament Placings

Age of Sigmar, Army Lists, Blisterskin, Chaos, Death, Destruction, Disciples of Tzeentch, Fantasy, Flesh-Eater Courts, Fyreslayers, Games Workshop, Gloomspite Gitz, Guild of Summoners, Jaws of Mork, Order, Peter & Brett, Top three lists, Tournaments, Vostarg

Top Three AoS Lists for Sheffield Slaughter

February 24, 2023 Top 3 Lists Leave a comment

This is the top three AoS lists for the Sheffield Slaughter that took place in the UK on the 21st and 22nd of February. It involved 98 players vying to be crowned champion in a 5-game tournament.

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: Gloomspite Gitz
– Subfaction: Jaws of Mork
– Grand Strategy: Defend What’s Ours
– Triumph: Indomitable x2

LEADERS
Skragrott, the Loonking (160)*
Squigboss (80)*
– General
– Command Traits: The Clammy Hand
Madcap Shaman (70)*
– Artefacts of Power: Moonface Mommet
– Spells: The Hand of Gork
– Aspects of the Champion: Tunnel Master

BATTLELINE
Boingrot Bounderz (420)
– Bounder Boss
Squig Hoppers (540)
– Squig Hopper Boss
Squig Hoppers (180)
Moonclan Stabbas (125)**
– Bad Moon Icon Bearer
– Gong Basher
– Moonclan Boss
– 3 Barbed Nets
– Stabba
Moonclan Shootas (125)**
– Bad Moon Icon Bearer
– Gong Basher
– Moonclan Boss
– 3 Barbed Nets

OTHER
Marshcrawla Sloggoth (150)
Sneaky Snufflers (110)**

CORE BATTALIONS
*Command Entourage – Magnificent
**Galletian Sharpshooters

TOTAL POINTS: 1960/2000

It’s amazing what a new book can do, and Dan Bradshaw has pivoted from Beasts of Chaos to Gloomspite Gitz following their (near-) simultaneous release. Guess we know which one he thinks is better in the current meta. A lot of the army will be familiar with those who played Gitz through the dark times of the last 3 years, and indeed much of the ‘tech’ that is used has been hardened on the crucible of defeat throughout that time.

Dan has no doubt benefitted from his knowledge of the game and the other armies, but it’s still good to see Gitz doing well with an immediate 5-0 out of the gate. Some of this is going to be ‘what does that do’ as people get used to the new army. Other Gitz players did not perform so well, with long term Trogg player – Stuart – going 1-1-3 (but close in all 5!)

So how does it work, and how do you beat it? Well I may leave the 2nd question for a few weeks yet (got to have some time under the light of the moon), but Dan has gone for a toolkit of toys. Skragrott is much improved, and much cheaper – gaining the Warmaster trait and so being able to play with the moon. The Squigboss gives out helpful bonuses and makes Boingrot Bounders battleline (allowing Dan to take 15 of them). The final character is the Madcap with the two stalwarts of Hand of Gork and Moonface Mommet. Both of which are back and both of which are still as good as ever (dare I say essential).

There’s some support in the Marshcrawler and Snufflers both of which buff the other units. The stabbas and shootas are for objective control (within 9″!) and the hitting power comes from Hoppers and Boingrots. Now they have consistent movement (10″+D6 and 7″+D6″) respectively, can run and charge under the moon and cause mortal wounds… plus the squigs can do some real damage. In the previous book I was very happy if my hoppers moved 10″ as (with run) this was normally enough for a maximum attempt at mortal wounds. Now there’s limited risk and the 10″+D6 is much more generous than I expected.

It’s a great start, but we’ll see if this is a ‘flash in the pan’ or a genuine 5-0 consistent battletome. Only time will tell, but well done to Dan for a really good start.

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Allegiance: Fyreslayers
– Lodge: Vostarg
– Grand Strategy: Master of the Forge
– Triumphs: Indomitable

Leaders
Auric Runefather (120)**
– General
– Command Trait: Spirit of Grimnir
– Aspect of the Champion: Tunnel Master
Auric Flamekeeper (90)***
Auric Flamekeeper (90)***
Auric Runesmiter (120)
– Forge Key
– Prayer: Ember Storm
Auric Runemaster (130)
– Artefact: Volatile Brazier
– Universal Prayer Scripture: Curse
Battlesmith (150)***
– Artefact: Nulsidian Icon

Battleline
30 x Vulkite Berzerkers with Fyresteel Handaxes (480)*
– Reinforced x 2
10 x Vulkite Berzerkers with Fyresteel Handaxes (160)*
10 x Vulkite Berzerkers with Fyresteel Handaxes (160)*
15 x Hearthguard Berzerkers (450)**
– Poleaxes
– Reinforced x 2

Endless Spells & Invocations
Molten Infernoth (40)

Core Battalions
*Galletian Veterans
**Galletian Command
***Command Entourage – Magnificent

Total: 1990 / 2000
Reinforced Units: 4 / 4
Allies: 0 / 400
Wounds: 162
Drops: 10

Kevin: With Bounty Hunters out and foot heroes in, there’s a resurgence in non-Magmadroth Fyreslayers. This list abandons the ‘droths entirely for an all-foot list. Its plethora of GCs means it has a solid footing in this season’s tactics.

Andrew’s running Vostarg, the sub-faction for buffing Vulkites, and his six heroes rounding out the leaders are the usual suspects for any Vostarg list, excepting the foot-father. No Fyreslayer can leave home without a Nulsidian Icon Battlesmith for the 4+ spell ignore, and double flamekeeper is basically a must-have for any Vostarg list. Flamekeepers allowing out of phase charging – the combat phase in this case – is absurdly powerful, as is adding damage to the high amount of attacks Vulkites enjoy. The runefather can further pump up those attacks once per game.

In a bit of an oddity for Vostarg, Andrew has added 15x Hearthguard to support his Runefather. This not only gives him some bodyguards, but also some objective holding power that can hit back hard. Those poleaxes’ mortal wounds can rack up fast. Further, with ember storm (prayer to run and charge) and Tunnel Master, the Hearthguard can speed ahead and have the runefather simply teleport to them without fear of them losing their ward or him losing his bodyguard. Tunnel Master can also allow the runefather to position perfectly to share his once-per-game buff with the vulkites. The hearthguard can also be pumped up or charged by the flamekeepers if need be.

The Vulkites do what Vulkites do in any Vostarg list: die while doing damage, pump the flamekeepers, then punch back absurdly hard – either by running and charging or combat-phase-charging. The 30x Vulkite unit will receive buffs excellently as well as Rally’s from the Battlesmith. 30 charging Vulkites with the runefathers and flamekeepers can output, theoretically, 121 attacks of 3 damage (especially with GV battalion allowing them to fight through each other). Those high attack numbers certainly spell trouble for his Nighthaunt opponent. There’s nothing quite as sweet as charging that into an opponent in their combat phase and then activating strike first to wipe out a unit before it gets off its activation. The two units of ten Vulkites can either be deepstriked by the Runesmiter or stay on the field to act as screens, food for the flamekeepers, or objective holders.

The infernoth accomplishes the beautiful Grand Strategy of keeping an invocation on the field while also chasing around Galletian Champions. It can also be used as a poor-man’s fyrewall in some cases, particularly against large bases like Archaon or Mawkrushas.

This list results in the classic Fyreslayer playstyle: a wave of naked dudes with axes that just can’t be removed from objectives. They trade incredibly well with anyone willing to try to remove them in the combat phase, making that route a daunting task. At the same time, shooting is hampered by a 4+ rally under a 6+ ward (5+ ward, occasionally) from the Battlesmith who can not be shot.

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Allegiance: Disciples of Tzeentch
– Change Coven: Guild of Summoners
– Grand Strategy: Master of Destiny
– Triumphs: Indomitable

Leaders
Curseling, Eye of Tzeentch (180)*
– General
– Command Trait: Cult Demagogue
– Lore of Fate: Treacherous Bond
– Lore of Fate: Arcane Suggestion
Fluxmaster, Herald of Tzeentch on Disc (170)*
– Universal Spell Lore: Ghost-mist
– Lore of Change: Bolt of Tzeentch
Magister (120)**
– Lore of Fate: Shield of Fate
– Universal Spell Lore: Ghost-mist
– Aspect of the Champion: Tunnel Master
The Blue Scribes (160)**
Fatemaster (140)**
– Artefact: Arcane Tome (Universal Artefact)
– Lore of Fate: Shield of Fate
– Lore of Fate: Arcane Suggestion

Battleline
10 x Pink Horrors of Tzeentch (250)*
10 x Pink Horrors of Tzeentch (250)*
10 x Tzaangors (180)*
– 10x Pair of Savage Blade
10 x Tzaangors (180)*
– 10x Pair of Savage Blade
10 x Kairic Acolytes (120)*
– 10x Cursed Blade & Arcanite Shield

Endless Spells & Invocations
Chronomantic Cogs (70)
Purple Sun of Shyish (90)
Umbral Spellportal (80)

Core Battalions
*Battle Regiment
**Command Entourage – Magnificent

Additional Enhancements
Spell

Total: 1990 / 2000
Reinforced Units: 0 / 4
Allies: 0 / 400
Wounds: 97
Drops: 4

With more chickens than a KFC basket, we have another Guild of Summoners list doing extremely well this weekend. While Kaleb called in the support of a Krondspine to give him time to get those Lords of Change on the board, Stephen goes the more traditional (and pink) tarpit of Horrors to slow his enemy down. Another big change to several other Guild of Summoners lists is that it doesn’t start with a LoC/Kairos on the board at the beginning, allowing more Arcanite casters to be taken instead. This is key, as one way of shutting down a Guild of Summoners list is to kill the mortal characters who the Lords of Change must be summoned through. With three such characters, it’s going to be hard to do that to Stephen’s list.

Once the summoning does get going, the shooty Lord of Change is great here as it’s up to 12 shots, hitting on 3s, wounding on 3s (or 2s if the Fatemaster is nearby), rend -1 BUT if you’re shooting at something in Purple Sun range (helpfully auto-cast by The Blue Scribes) now you’re at rend -2. Have the Curseling use a pair of Destiny Dice to make Arcane Suggestion’s armour debuff be unable to be unbound, suddenly those shots are up to rend -3.

Tzaangors being surrounded by wizards is also a great pick as they’re be doing mortal wounds on 4+ at range, rolling a number of equal to the number of wizards within range, so probably at least 5 dice T1, increasing as the game goes on. Twice. The last troops choice is Kairics, probably there for cheap screening, but get their warscroll spell off and shoot them at the Purple Sunned/Arcane Suggested unit and that’s another 10 rend -3 shots going down range.

All in all, a great take on Guild of Summoners, throwing in a couple of Galletian Champions for battle tactics and being able to quite easily access 4/5 of the Tzeentch specific ones.

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Allegiance: Flesh-eater Courts
– Grand Court: Blisterskin
– Grand Strategy: Take What’s Theirs
– Triumphs: Bloodthirsty

Leaders
Abhorrant Archregent (240)*
– Lore of Madness: Deranged Transformation
– Aspect of the Champion: Fuelled by Ghurish Rage
Abhorrant Ghoul King (170)*
– Lore of Madness: Spectral Host
Abhorrant Ghoul King on Royal Terrorgheist (450)*
– General
– Command Trait: Hellish Orator
– Artefact: Eye of Hysh
– Mount Trait: Gruesome Bite
– Lore of Madness: Bonestorm
Abhorrant Ghoul King on Royal Zombie Dragon (430)
– Artefact: Arcane Tome (Universal Artefact)
– Universal Spell Lore: Flaming Weapon

Battleline
9 x Crypt Flayers (540)**
– Reinforced x 2
10 x Crypt Ghouls (80)**
10 x Crypt Ghouls (80)*

Core Battalions
*Warlord
**Galletian Veterans

Additional Enhancements
Artefact

Total: 1990 / 2000
Reinforced Units: 2 / 4
Allies: 0 / 400
Wounds: 97
Drops: 7

Discord user: gualtikhan: This list utilizes the full summoning power from the fec Heroes to maximize the number of summons it brings to the table. This adds some mass with which to take the board and pin the opponent off of the objectives. This helps counter the faction’s natural lack of durability as well.

There are some really good spells, mainly a couple of really strong unit buffs (+d3 attacks, +1 attack, 5+ ward, reroll to wound, +1dmg) but fec typically lacks the reliability to cast those often enough. In particular, this list relies on spectral host, combined by the +2 movement of the subfaction, to give the two dragons and the flayers an huge threat range.

Crypt flayers’ ranged attack has big variance but against the right unit can definitely pack a punch. I’m a bit surprised to see arcane tome for an extra unreliable cast instead of the more often taken garland, for -2 bravery, increasing both the efficiency of the scream attacks and the bravery damage.

The aforementioned buffs to damage output synergize really well with the fec command ability to fight twice, allowing one buffed unit to pack some serious damage, and also helping to burst open some bunkers against imperfectly deployed armies.

The teleport is great as it helps with scoring battle tactics and objectives greatly in this edition, and it can be used also to let the flayers scream the right unit at the right time.

All in all this is the best attempt l’ve seen at running Fec, which is a subfaction that is having an hard time right now, having several key units with poor durability and a weakness to alpha strikes, since killing the heroes would prevent their summoning.

Final Tournament Placings

For the full final positions, visit Best Coast Pairings.

Age of Sigmar, Army Lists, Blades of Khorne, Blessed Sons, Chaos, Death, emerald Host, Fantasy, Games Workshop, Host of the Everchosen, Maggotkin of Nurgle, Nighthaunt, Peter & Brett, Reapers of Vengeance, Slaves to Darkness, Top three lists, Tournaments

Top Three AoS Lists for Battle at the Brook

February 23, 2023 Top 3 Lists Leave a comment

This is the top three AoS lists for the Battle at the Book that took place in Australia on the 18th and 19th of February. It involved 55 players vying to be crowned champion in a 5-game tournament.

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The Top Three AoS Lists

Allegiance: Maggotkin of Nurgle
– Subfaction: Blessed Sons
– Grand Strategy: Blessed Desecration
– Triumphs:

Leaders
Orghotts Daemonspew (320)****
Bloab Rotspawned (320)***
– Lore of Malignance: Blades of Putrefaction
Lord of Blights (150)***
– General
– Command Trait: Grandfather’s Blessing
– Artefact: Nightflyer Cloak (Galletian Champion)
– Aspect of the Champion: Tunnel Master
Plague Priest (100)***
– Artefact: Arcane Tome (Universal Artefact)
– Universal Spell Lore: Flaming Weapon
– Universal Prayer Scripture: Heal

Battleline
10 x Rotmire Creed (130)*
10 x Rotmire Creed (130)*
10 x Rotmire Creed (130)*
10 x Plague Monks (90)**
– Foetid Blades
– 1x Standard Bearers
– 1x Plague Harbingers
15 x Plague Censer Bearers (270)**
– Reinforced x 2

Units
10 x Ungor Raiders (80)****
3 x Nurglings (100)***
10 x Ungor Raiders (80)****
1 x Chaos Chariot (100)****
– Mark of Chaos: Nurgle

Core Battalions
*Galletian Sharpshooters
**Galletian Veterans
***Warlord
****Battle Regiment

Total: 2000 / 2000
Reinforced Units: 2 / 4
Allies: 0 / 400
Wounds: 148
Drops: 10

Patrick… Patrick – wow… what an off-the-wall selection. There’s stuff in here I didn’t even know could join Nurgle, let alone seen before. The Ungor Raiders with Sharpshooters is a great shout to give a little reach and allow the sniping of characters to continue unabated. Their 6″ move before the game allows them to effortlessly pivot to the role of ‘screens’ if facing a lower drop alpha strike army – and that is likely as Patrick has 10 drops.

Then there’s all the Rotmire Creed units which do…. I don’t know!

Well, who knew… more shooting units in a Nurgle army in a game system where they (GW) can’t balance shooting correctly. These guys also give out disease tokens and then give them within 3″ as well (albeit with a recent Errata which is included above). The Warcry warbands have made some chaos builds different with spamming lots of them, and – whilst I would prefer GW kept them out of the Age of Sigmar game – they never will and if you’ve got access to it, and it’s good, use it!

Well done to Patrick – a great, different army and not one that I’ve seen before.

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Allegiance: Slaves to Darkness
– Damned Legion: Legion of the First Prince
– Grand Strategy: Follow the Path to Glory
– Triumphs: Bloodthirsty

Leaders
Theddra Skull-Scryer (160)**
– The Lore of the Damned: Daemonic Speed
Chaos Sorcerer Lord (120)*
– General
– Command Trait: Master of Magic
– Artefact: Arcane Tome (Universal Artefact)
– Mark of Chaos: Slaanesh
– The Lore of the Damned: Chaotic Conduit
– Aspect of the Champion: Fuelled by Ghurish Rage
Exalted Hero of Chaos (100)*
– Artefact: The Conqueror’s Crown
– Mark of Chaos: Undivided
Exalted Hero of Chaos (100)*
– Mark of Chaos: Undivided

Battleline
20 x Splintered Fang (200)**
– Mark of Chaos: Undivided
– Reinforced x 1
9 x Corvus Cabal (80)
– Mark of Chaos: Undivided
9 x Corvus Cabal (80)
– Mark of Chaos: Undivided

Units
10 x Chaos Chosen (480)**
– Mark of Chaos: Undivided
– Ensorcelled Banner: The Dread Banner
– Reinforced x 1
6 x Varanguard (580)**
– 2x Ensorcelled Weapon
– 4x Fellspear
– Mark of Chaos: Undivided
– Reinforced x 1
5 x Godsworn Hunt (0)**
10 x Chaos Warhounds (80)*
– Allies

Core Battalions
*Warlord
**Battle Regiment

Additional Enhancements
Artefact

Total: 1980 / 2000
Reinforced Units: 3 / 4
Allies: 80 / 400
Wounds: 135
Drops: 7

This list has some interesting tech – typical of the topsy-turvy (in relation to the American/European meta at least) – but it does still rely on the current standard core: a blob of Chosen, a blob of Varanguard, and a Sorc lord to cast Daemonic power/Conduit for that sweet first turn battle tactic.

Where things deviate is, first and foremost, the list being in Legion – an oft-discussed and rarely seen sub-faction allowing for granular moving around of Marks to fit the board-state. It means giving up the extra casts of Cabalists or the runs/charges of KOTET, but the flexibility it offers is immense.

Continuing the techy picks is the Underworld band of Theddra, who brings a nice (if short range) -1 to wound spell and 10 ablative bodyguard wounds in her Godsworn hunt. Two cheapo Exalted offer GC flexibility and cheap chances at Apotheosis – i.e. rolling on the Eye of the Gods table to become a Daemon Prince, which represents a ‘free’ 80 points if it goes off – or otherwise just ideally stacking decent buffs on a cheap chassis.

A reinforced blob of Splintered Fang brings a large, reliable MW output option and a cheeky 10 chaos warhounds act as a fast, very cheap screen – potentially to keep up with the Varanaguard and act as a buffer.

Overall, a really interesting spin on the current Slaves meta that was able to take down some tough matchups – but interestingly lost to the more standard Cabalists mirror! Either way, big up to Michael for trying (and succeeding!) with something outside the box.

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Allegiance: Nighthaunt
– Procession: Emerald Host
– Grand Strategy: Dismantle the Brave
– Triumphs: Indomitable

Leaders
Kevin (100)*
Cairn Wraith
Guardian of Souls (150)*
– General
– Command Trait: Master of Magic
– Artefact: Midnight Tome
– Lore of the Underworlds: Seal of Shyish
– Aspect of the Champion: Fuelled by Ghurish Rage
Krulghast Cruciator (150)*
– Artefact: Pendant of the Fell Wind
Lady Olynder, Mortarch of Grief (340)**
– Lore of the Underworlds: Shademist
Lord Executioner (130)**
– Artefact: Arcane Tome (Universal Artefact)
– Universal Spell Lore: Flaming Weapon
Spirit Torment (120)**

Battleline
20 x Chainrasps (220)
– Reinforced x 1
3 x Spirit Hosts (130)***
3 x Spirit Hosts (130)***

Units
20 x Dreadscythe Harridans (320)***
– Reinforced x 1
4 x Myrmourn Banshees (100)***

Endless Spells & Invocations
Mortalis Terminexus (80)

Core Battalions
*Command Entourage – Magnificent
**Command Entourage – Magnificent
***Galletian Veterans

Additional Enhancements
Artefact
Artefact

Total: 1970 / 2000
Reinforced Units: 2 / 4
Allies: 0 / 400
Wounds: 95
Drops: 11

Solid change up to the lists we see for the faction. It almost looks like a pre 3rd Ed battletome. Two units of Spirit Hosts and solid blocks of both Chainrasps and Dreadscythe Harridans to cause problems, but the real meat of the list is the Heroes. That’s not something we’ve been saying about Nighthaunt a lot lately. We have the normal Guardian of Souls, Spirit Torment, and Krulghast to return models to larger units and reduce incoming damage. The Guardian of Souls has been buffed with Fuelled with Ghurish Rage to grant D3 heal and a once per game 3+ ward. I think we will see this a fair bit for the Guardian. They are easily picked up and are crucial. It goes further with auto cast (once per game) for an endless spell and Seal of Shyish (5+ ward).

We aren’t seeing the Cairn Wrath (Kevin) at all, and Lady Olynder is pretty uncommon. Kevin is a bit of a sleeper. His attacks are based on the number of enemy models within 3″. When you are facing Nighthaunt, Soulblight, and Beasts of Chaos, that can be a very nasty surprise. There is nothing wrong with the unit, but Lady Olynder is almost the same cost as 20 Bladegheist (and more than 20 Dreadscythe or Grimghast). What she does do is heal in the hero phase, debuffs, and turns off commands and mortal wounds. There are issues with the reliability of some of these, but if the heroes are clustered around the Chainrasps and Dreadscythes, it can be crucial.

The ranged mortals are a disincentive to getting close (with only 7 wounds she isn’t robust but can hurt in melee). Forcing your opponent to be circumspect can be useful, particularly when your Host talent is to cause D3 mortal wounds to 2 to 4 units every round. Doesn’t sound like much, but it’s an average of 10 wounds over 5 rounds. Emerald Host probably isn’t receiving the attention it deserves, but when most armies are 100 to 130 wounds, causing an average of 20 to 40 wounds without risk is pretty important. Even if you assume most games end round 4, that is still an average of 16 wounds. Enough to kill most MSU battleline and a lot of heroes and monsters. And it triggers Murderous Bloodlust (+1 to hit and wound for Dreadscythes).

If you look closely, the whole list has a number of sources of mortal wounds and is really built around making a Murderous Bloodlust trigger, including the Motalis Terminatus. The list looks to outlast and outscore you, and it worked except against Pat’s Maggotkin, another list built to outlast.

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Allegiance: Khorne
– Slaughterhost: Reapers of Vengeance
– Grand Strategy: Take What’s Theirs
– Triumphs: Indomitable

Leaders
Bloodsecrator (130)*
– Aspect of the Champion: Tunnel Master
Bloodstoker (80)**
– General
– Command Trait: Mage Eater
– Artefact: Skullshard Mantle
Bloodstoker (80)*
Skarbrand (390)**
Slaughterpriest (100)*
– Prayer: Bronzed Flesh
Skarr Bloodwrath (110)**

Battleline
10 x Bloodreavers (80)*
– Meatripper Axes
10 x Bloodreavers (80)**
– Meatripper Axes
5 x Flesh Hounds (100)**

Units
10 x Wrathmongers (280)**
– Reinforced x 1
9 x Corvus Cabal (80)*
– Allies
9 x The Unmade (80)**
– Allies
6 x Mighty Skullcrushers (320)**
– Ensorcelled Axes
– Reinforced x 1

Endless Spells & Invocations
Wrath-Axe (70)

Faction terrain x 1

Core Battalions
*Battle Regiment
**Battle Regiment

Total: 1980 / 2000
Reinforced Units: 2 / 4
Allies: 160 / 400
Wounds: 148
Drops: 2

The polar opposite in terms of lists to the Nighthaunt are the recently popular mortal Blades of Khorne. Blood Tithe points are the key to Blades of Khorne – they gain one for every unit that is destroyed. Keeping a steady flow of points is vital, allowing summoning and the granting of boons. It doesn’t matter whose units die, just that something does. Then you should understand that half of this list is just here to die. The Bloodreavers, Unmade and Corvus Cabal, can do damage in the attack, but they’ll explode when struck back. The Bloodstoker can get them there faster, and the Bloodsecrators grant extra attacks. But they are better with the Wrathmongers (who will give other units more attacks) or the Skullcrushers.

The Skullcrushers are a solid anvil. They hit reasonably hard if supported, but they are a 5 wound, 3+ save unit. On the charge, a block of six causes D3 mortals on impact instead of 1 per model. It’s really important to drop one from as far away as possible. The Slaughter Priest is a source of dispels, blessings, and mortal wounds. He can summon the Wrath-Axe for more ranged mortals. That leaves Skarbrand and Skarr. Skarbrand needs no introduction: reroll charges and appalling amounts of damage to anything, not Nighthaunt. Still, for 390 points, he can die fairly easily. Skarr is a lot of fun. He has 5 attacks minimum but can increase it to the number of enemy models within 3″. He grants fight on death to Wrathmongers (who give him an extra attack), and if he dies, he returns to the battlefield on an 8+ (on 2D6).

And that’s the list, a whole lot of things that want to get to you fast, either to kill you or be killed. Unfortunately, they don’t really play the mission well, relying on beating an opponent to death.

Final Tournament Placings

Age of Sigmar, Army Lists, Chaos, Death, Fantasy, Games Workshop, Hallowed Knights, Idoneth Deepkin, Knights of the Empty Throne, Mor'Phann, Nighthaunt, Order, Slaves to Darkness, Stormcast Eternals, The Scarlet Doom, The Woehammer Crew, Top three lists, Tournaments

Top Three AoS Lists for God’s of War 3

February 20, 2023 Top 3 Lists Leave a comment

This is the Top Three AoS Lists for God’s of War 3 that took place in Italy on the 11th and 12th of February. It involved 84 players vying to be crowned champion in a 5-game tournament.

The rankings for this tournament included other points that played around with the usual order of lists. We therefore decided to base the top 3 lists on the traditional method of wins and then battle points.

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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

Army Faction: Idoneth Deepkin
– Army Subfaction: Mor’phann
– Grand Strategy: Dominion of the Deep Ones
– Triumphs: Bloodthirsty

LEADER
1 x Isharann Tidecaster (140)
– Artefacts: Rune of the Surging Gloomtide
– Spells: Steed of Tides
– Aspects of the Champion: Tunnel Master
1 x Akhelian Thrallmaster (110)*
– General
– Command Traits: Lord of Storm and Sea
1 x Isharann Soulrender (120)*
1 x Lotann (110)*

BATTLELINE
20 x Namarti Thralls (260)*
– Icon Bearer
20 x Namarti Thralls (260)*
– Icon Bearer
10 x Namarti Reavers (170)**
– Icon Bearer
10 x Namarti Reavers (170)**
– Icon Bearer
10 x Namarti Reavers (170)**
– Icon Bearer

BEHEMOTH
1 x Akhelian Leviadon (460)*
– Mount Traits: Reverberating Carapace

TERRAIN
1 x Gloomtide Shipwreck (0)

CORE BATTALIONS:
*Battle Regiment
**Galletian Sharpshooters

TOTAL POINTS: (1970/2000)

Just in case it isn’t obvious by the time I finish this segment, I really love Idoneth Deepkin. They are the perfect army full of the best models with no bad builds, and you will never convince me otherwise. Luca’s list shines a spotlight on a handful of excellent units and clearly uses them to their greatest effect.

Let’s start with heroes. Luca has opted to leave the classic Murderking at home to fill in more slots for GCs. They are also focusing their heroes on the ability to buff and support their key units rather than shine by themselves. The Tidecaster brings two Isharann Rituals, the Thrallmaster is remarkably versatile (and has pretty decent solo damage output as well), the Soulrender keeps those Namarti alive, and Lotann provides some amazing buffs when stacked up with other heroes.

The Namarti thralls and reavers are supported by these heroes in key ways. Sticking the Tidecaster in a boat to give Riptide the widest possible reach, then pick your favorite Thrall unit and stick all of the remaining heroes into the middle. At that point the Soulrender is going to be resurrecting 4 to 6 Thralls per battleshock phase, the Thrallmaster is going to provide exploding 6’s to hit, Lotann provides +1 to wound, the Leviadon gives +1 to hit…

You see where this is going. Assuming the chosen unit doesn’t get destroyed on their way to their destination (which obviously didn’t happen, given Luca’s first place win) the 20 thralls will force a massive number of Rend -1 saves. And if it does happen that the thrall unit gets destroyed on the way to their destination, Luca has a backup castle right behind the first. On top of all this, Luca has 30 Sharpshooter Reavers running around the board as fast as (or faster) than other armies’ cavalry all the while able to pick off enemy GCs before they have the chance to score battle tactics.

All-in-all, this is an excellent showing from an army that we don’t get to see in top 3 articles very often, and Luca did an excellent job piloting them to a 5-0 win and first place!

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Allegiance: Nighthaunt
– Procession: Scarlet Doom
– Grand Strategy: The Day is Ours!
– Triumphs: Bloodthirsty

Leaders
Guardian of Souls (150)**
– Lore of the Underworlds: Seal of Shyish
Krulghast Cruciator (150)**
– Artefact: Lightshard of the Harvest Moon
Lord Executioner (130)***
– General
– Command Trait: Hatred of the Living
– Artefact: Slitter
– Aspect of the Champion: Fuelled by Ghurish Rage
Spirit Torment (120)**
Spirit Torment (120)

Battleline
10 x Bladegheist Revenants (180)*
10 x Bladegheist Revenants (180)*
20 x Bladegheist Revenants (360)*
– Reinforced x 1
20 x Bladegheist Revenants (360)*
– Reinforced x 1
3 x Spirit Hosts (130)***

Units
4 x Myrmourn Banshees (100)**

Core Battalions
*Galletian Veterans
**Warlord
***Vanguard

Total: 1980 / 2000
Reinforced Units: 2 / 4
Allies: 0 / 400
Wounds: 99
Drops: 11

No Harridans, no Hexwraiths, just a single-minded focus on some of the most effective murder machines Nighthaunt has. By now, everyone knows the Bladegheist trick, an extra attack on the charge. With Lightshard, that means up to 5 attacks as well as mortal wounds from the charge (Scarlet Doom ability). This is a variation on the 2 blocks of 30 Bladegheist that we saw early in last season. This list deals with one of the weaknesses of the 60 Bladegheist list by giving both more units and a non-trivial screen. The weakness, of course, is only 10 wounds for 180 points. They can issue discorporate on themselves to take advantage of a 5+ ward increased their effective wounds 30%. But even without rend, a 10/13 wound unit is pretty easy to pick up.

Unfortunately unless you have a double pile in/fight rule (Terrorgheist I see you) the unit that removes the screen is really only a trading piece with one of the large units likely to take advantage of your clearing the screen. Elite armies can’t afford that trade too often. The normal buffing heroes are here, Kruleghast gives -1 damage, and Guardian of Souls with 2 Spirit Torments to return models every turn. The Lord Executioner build is cute and very threatening, but with only 5 wounds, he can be removed a bit too easily to rely on. It will take a little effort, though, with his standard wards and once per game 3+ wards.

If combined with the Spirit Hosts, it will take quite a bit to shift him. He’s not a Megaboss but with Slitter (chance to one shot small heroes) and Hatred of the Living he’s a nasty bomb waiting for something to get too close. The points increase cost this list dearly – in Season 2, it costs more than 100 more than Season 1 neatly removing the Purple Sun (and other helpful spells). With a mix of defensive and offensive buffs and choices, this is still a very aggressive list that aims to win by destroying you more than playing for points. Isolated any of the core units are pretty weak. The lower Battlescore (still 5 and 0) reflects that it’s a bit harder to score in Season 2 just by killing your opponent. It’s still fun though.

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Army Faction: Slaves to Darkness
– Subfaction: Knights of the Empty Throne
– Grand Strategy: Take What’s Theirs
– Triumph: Inspired

LEADERS
Chaos Lord on Daemonic Mount (170)*
– Mark of Chaos: Nurgle
– Cursed Warhammer
Chaos Sorcerer Lord (120)*
– General
– Mark of Chaos: Slaanesh
– Command Traits: Master of Magic
– Artefacts of Power: Arcane Tome
– Spells: Daemonic Speed
– Aspects of the Champion: Leadership of the Alpha
Chaos Sorcerer Lord (120)*
– Mark of Chaos: Slaanesh
– Spells: Chaotic Conduit

BATTLELINE
Chaos Knights (230)*
– Mark of Chaos: Nurgle
– Doom Knight
– Standard Bearer
– Hornblower
– Cursed Lance
Chaos Knights (460)*
– Mark of Chaos: Nurgle
– Doom Knight
– Cursed Lance
– 2 x Hornblower
– 2 x Standard Bearer
– Ensorcelled Banner: The Eroding Icon
Varanguard (290)*
– Mark of Chaos: Khorne
– 3 x Ensorcelled Weapon
Varanguard (290)*
– Mark of Chaos: Khorne
– 3 x Fellspear
Varanguard (290)*
– Mark of Chaos: Khorne
– 3 x Fellspear

CORE BATTALIONS
*Battle Regiment

TOTAL POINTS: 1970/2000

Slaves to Darkness players (myself included) are quickly finding that the new book has some definite power, even if from a fairly limited selection of warscrolls and allegiance abilities. However, the combos that do work, work.

Meme has kept things simple and leaned into a ‘2e Slaves but with no Archaon’ list, with loads of cavalry in Knights of the Empty Throne, which makes mounted units able to run and charge, and Varanguard battleline. Also, be aware, the 5+ Varanguard rally only applies if the GENERAL is a Varanguard model.

Slaves HQ picks are quickly consolidating to a lean selection of 1-2 Lords, with at least being the Sorcerer as we have here, for access to the fantastic Daemonic Power (+1 to hit and wound) spell, that he can cast on 3d6 thanks to a heroic action – hence the Arcane Tome and Master of Magic – also crucial to getting ‘Daemonic Speed’ off for those 3d6 charges.

Troop wise, Chaos Knights are rapidly showing Nurgle to be their favourite mark, so they can act as durable pinning pieces. Meme has them backed up by 3x msu Khorne Varanguard, as savage guided missiles, with each unit being able to fight twice.

You can probably see how it works – a wall of super hard to kill knights with run+3d6 charge to box you in, and death squads of Varanguard with – if all the buffs go off – 4 attacks each, 2/2/-3/2!

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Army Faction: Stormcast Eternals
– Army Type: Stormkeep
– Subfaction: Hallowed Knights
– Triumph: Inspired
– Grand Strategy: Take What’s Their

LEADERS
Lord-Castellant (160)*
– General
– Command Trait: Master of Magic
– Artefact of Power: Arcane Tome
– Spell: Starfall
Gardus Steel Soul (170)***
Knight-Zephyros (100)***
– Artefact of Power: Mirrorshield
– Aspect of the Champion: Stubborn as a Rhinox
Krondys (550)***
– Spell: Thundershock

BATTLELINE
15 x Vindictors (390)*
– Vindictor-Prime
– 3 x Azyrite Signifier
5 x Vanquishers (110)**
– Vanquisher-Prime
5 x Vanquishers (110)***
– Vanquisher-Prime

OTHER
3 x Aetherwings (70)**
3 x Vanguard-Raptors with Longstrike Crossbows (240)**
– Raptor-Prime

ENDLESS SPELLS & INVOCATIONS
1 x Everblaze Comet (90)

CORE BATTALIONS
* Galletian Command
** Galletian Sharpshooters
*** Warlord – Artefact

UNIQUE ENHANCEMENT – HOLY COMMAND
Steadfast March

TOTAL POINTS: 1990/2000

With the news that small heroes were the focus of Season 2, SCE players rejoiced and began sorting through their 40 heroes for Galletian Champions to take up the challenge. And very quickly realised that despite only average performance, they’d gotten a nerf. The same 3 or 4 foot heroes that were already in the list were there for a reason. However, both the Knight Zephyros and the Knight Azyros. especially the Knight Zephyros, made a return. Only 6″ move, but he can teleport instead of move on top of run and charge. Only 5 wounds but equipped with Mirrorshield (can’t be shot unless you are within 9″) and Subborn as a Rhinox makes him both a great backfield but also a great unguarded objective unit. Really though this is the Krondys show with a supporting cast of heroes.

Both the Castellant and Steel Soul bring useful buffs (+1 to save and a 12″ 5+ ward). While Krondys is the big hammer, the Vindictors are a hammer in their own right. They are part of the Galletian Command battalion with the Castellant. You can expect them to hang around with a 2+ save. You can expect them to do an average of 5 mortal wounds at full strength (15 models), they need to lose 3 models before battleshock is an issue. They also fight on death, so combat is a real concern. They are part of an anti horde approach, including Starfall and the Vanquishers (they get more attacks the more models they face). At the same time, as including a hero that can snipe objectives, Ambrogio included some real snipers.

Aetherwings are not just spotters (+1 to hit for longstrikes if the target is within 12″ of them). They can, of course, take objectives or push scoring opportunities. The Longstrikes are a good choice for sniping out Galletian Champions. A well thought out list with solid scoring opportunities and the ability to apply pressure, including through remote mortal wounds (Raptors, Everblaze Comet, and Starfall) that will punish any horde or army that castles. 13th is low for a 4 and 1 record, demonstrating SCE’s frequent mobility issue and its impact on scoring.

Final Tournament Placings

For the full tournament listing visit Best Coast Pairings.

Black Library, Declan Walters, Games Workshop

Book Review – Protector

February 19, 2023 Declan and Eeyore 2 Comments

A story of Athens by Conn Iggulden

I love historical fiction, and have read many of the ‘big’ series released over the years including Sharpe, Hornblower, and Master & Commander. So, I was very happy to receive Protector as a Christmas present as I was in the middle of Gates of Athens at the time and thoroughly enjoying it.

From the book:

Themistocles stands as the battle-scarred leader of Athens. Yet he is no nobleman and is distrusted by many. But those who stand against him cannot argue with two things: his victories as a warrior, and the vast Persian army heading their way . . .

And so Themistocles must fight. Fight the invaders. Fight the allies who despise him. Fight for his city. As the Persians draw close, he must prove himself again and again in battle. Because history belongs to the courageous . .

The Gates of Athens was led by Xanthippus, and – whilst Xanthippus is still a main character – the lead here is Themistocles. The Persians have burned Athens and , and this time they aim to burn Athens to the ground under the leadership of Xerxes. The Athenians have retreated to the island of Salamis and there is a huge naval battle, where the Persians outnumber the Greeks (including Spartans, Corinthians and others). It is a battle that would make the western civilization possible.

Conn Iggulden brings the events and people to life from both the Greek and Persian sides. It is a book written from the views of the Greeks with the the Persian’s being the ‘others’ in the stories – as the ancient sources from Greek did so before him. His descriptions of the battles are as good as in his other books, but it is the building of the era and the atmosphere that makes the book so good. Iggulden has clearly visited the modern Greek locations and describes them in vivid detail… including those aspects no longer there such as the Spartan wall across the Peloponnese behind which they hid.

It’s definitely different from the Warhammer and Warhammer 40k universes that we normally inhabit here on Woehammer, but if you fancy a bit of a change or inspiration for an historic era to get involved in… you can do a lot worse than reading Iggulden’s books.

— Declan

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

Age of Sigmar, Destruction, Fantasy, Games Workshop, Meta Analysis, Ogor Mawtribes, Patrick & Peter, Warscroll Statistics

Ogor Mawtribes Datacards

February 18, 2023 Patrick & Peter Leave a comment

Reading the Datacards

Each Datacard has three distinct sections; Charge Chance, Resilience and Average Damage Output.

Charge Chance

This graph shows the move and charge distances each unit can achieve and shows the chance of them achieving this distance as a percentage.

Resilience

This table shows how much damage would be required on average to destroy the unit. This is split into the various rend types most commonly found in Age of Sigmar. For example, the unit shown in the image above would need 18 damage from -2 rend weapons for the enemy to have a chance at destroying it.

This can be cross-referenced with another units average damage output to see what kind of damage they’ll do to it.

Average Damage Output

This simply shows how much damage on average the unit is expected to inflict after saves against the various save types. If there are multiple load-out choices, then these are shown separately, as is any missile damage.

Change Log

Leaders

Battleline

Artillery

Behemoth

Other

Age of Sigmar, Army Lists, Daughters of Khaine, Destruction, Fantasy, Games Workshop, Hagg Nar, Helon, Lumineth Realm-Lords, Meatfist, Oakenbrow, Ogor Mawtribes, Order, Sylvaneth, The Woehammer Crew, Top three lists, Tournaments

Top Three AoS Lists for the Alliance Open Masters GT

February 17, 2023 Top 3 Lists Leave a comment

This is the Top Three AoS Lists for the Allaince Open Masters GT that took place in the Netherlands on the 11th and 12th of February. It involved 52 players vying to be crowned champion in a 5-game tournament.

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: Sylvaneth
– Glade: Oakenbrow
– Grand Strategy: Take What’s Theirs
– Triumphs: Inspired
– Season: the Burgeoning (6+ ward)

Leaders
Arch-Revenant (120)*
– Aspect of the Champion: Stubborn as a Rhinox
Spirit of Durthu (350)**
– Artefact: Greenwood Gladius
Treelord Ancient (330)*
– Lore of the Deepwood: Regrowth
Warsong Revenant (300)**
– General
– Command Trait: Spellsinger
– Lore of the Deepwood: Treesong
Battlemage (100)**
– Mortal Realm: Ghur
– Universal Spell Lore: Levitate
– Allies

Battleline
10 x Dryads (100)*
5 x Tree-Revenants (110)*
Treelord (230)**
Treelord (230)**

Endless Spells & Invocations
Chronomantic Cogs (70)
Spiteswarm Hive (40)

Faction Terrain
Awakened Wyldwood

Core Battalions
*Battle Regiment
**Battle Regiment

Total: 1980 / 2000
Reinforced Units: 0 / 4
Allies: 100 / 400
Wounds: 94
Drops: 2

Return of the Ents, a list that is seeing widespread use and success right now. Essentially, this list swaps Kurnoth for Tree Lords giving in 4 mini Gargants. In addition to high-quality attacks, they have a 6+ ward and serve in Oakenbrow, meaning they take twice as long to degrade. Combined with Strike and Fade, it can be very hard to take down a Treelord. Doubly for Durthu. With the Battlemage granting +2 to charge and Spiteswarm Hive, which gives either offensive or defensive buffs, there is a strong chance of 2 Treelords charging either 6 or 7″. Very high probability. This list can also drop back and protect the home objective using the Tree-revenants and Dryads or push out and punish exposed units. The Tree-revenants can snipe out objectives easily as well.

Tricky to play well with the overlapping buffs and the need to position Overgrown wildwoods carefully Sylvaneth are a deceptively powerful army. Their commanding spells, strong mortal wound play, and damaging units make them tough opponents if they are allowed to dictate the flow of play. The ability to use woods to travel makes it very difficult to focus fire (not to mention fire and fade). That’s a standout with this particular list. It’s been crafted very tightly to maximise the flexibility of the Treelords and hinge the off the devastation of the Warsong Revenant. The Arch Revenant with Stubborn as a Rhinox is fantastic, 12″ move and counts as 10 models on an objective but it can only be opposed by a Galletian Champion (the mount word is not on it’s warscroll). Down on wounds to a lot of lists, it outscored and out fought off all comers.

Congratulations to Mitchell, a fantastic win in the face of stiff competition.

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Allegiance: Lumineth Realm-lords
– Great Nation: Helon
– Grand Strategy: Take What’s Theirs
– Triumphs: Inspired

Leaders
Archmage Teclis and Celennar, Spirit of Hysh (700)*
– General
Scinari Cathallar (110)*
– Artefact: Silver Wand
– Lore of Hysh: Speed of Hysh
– Aspect of the Champion: Tunnel Master

Battleline
10 x Vanari Auralan Wardens (150)*
– Lore of Hysh: Overwhelming Heat
5 x Hurakan Windchargers (130)*
5 x Hurakan Windchargers (130)*
20 x Vanari Auralan Sentinels (300)*
– Lore of Hysh: Speed of Hysh
– Reinforced x 1
– Champion with the bird

Units
20 x Vanari Auralan Sentinels (300)*
– Lore of Hysh: Speed of Hysh
– Reinforced x 1

Endless Spells & Invocations
Umbral Spellportal (80)
The Burning Head (30)
Rune of Petrification (60)

Core Battalions
*Battle Regiment

Terrain
Shrine Luminor

Total: 1990 / 2000
Reinforced Units: 2 / 4
Allies: 0 / 400
Wounds: 91
Drops: 1

Lumineth are back on their bullshit. After a brief period out of the sun as they grappled with Sentinels losing the ability to shoot you without line of sight, Helon lists are back with a vengeance. Turns out that you have to leave your shelter eventually – whereupon many, many sentinels with each unit able to cast Power of Hysh and do MWs on 5s in melee as well as at range will make you wish you’d stayed at home.

Then there’s Teclis, who doesn’t deign to roll dice to cast his spells, nor to dispel yours. Throw in a couple of fast shooty Windchargers and the Rune of Petrification to slow you down while you eat even more MWs and you have the new and improved recipe for elf cheese.

Look – I know it sounds like I’m hating on Lumineth. I’m not. It’s just that James Workshop seems to have a fundamental difficulty understanding how to make this army competitive without relying on two warscrolls, one of which doesn’t even have to roll dice.

Congrats to Paul for beating the mirror match to take the big W!

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Allegiance: Daughters of Khaine
– Temple: Hagg Nar
– Grand Strategy: Bloodthirsty Zealots
– Triumphs: Indomitable

Leaders
The Shadow Queen (350)*
Morathi-Khaine (350)*
Melusai Ironscale (120)*
– General
– Command Trait: Zealous Orator
– Artefact: Arcane Tome (Universal Artefact)
– Lore of Shadows: Mindrazor
– Aspect: Tunnel Master
– Bonded

Battleline
15 x Blood Sisters (450)*
– Reinforced x 2
10 x Witch Aelves (120)*
– Pairs of Sacrificial Knives
10 x Witch Aelves (120)*
– Pairs of Sacrificial Knives

Behemoths
Krondspine Incarnate of Ghur (480)*
– Allies

Core Battalions
*Battle Regiment

Total: 1990 / 2000
Reinforced Units: 2 / 4
Allies: 480 / 400
Wounds: 74
Drops: 1

Morathi and the Spinedog – two timed-unkillable models to pin you down while a giant blob of stab sneks slithers up behind for a 12-ish MW coup de grace. There’s really not much more I can say about this list, other than it’s interesting that it lost to Sylvaneth – which I imagine had the ranged output to whittle things down along with the mobility to avoid being utterly pinned.

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Allegiance: Ogor Mawtribes
– Mawtribe: Meatfist
– Mortal Realm: Ghur
– Grand Strategy: Take whats theirs
– Triumphs:

Leaders
Tyrant (150)*
– General
– Command Trait: Killer Reputation
– Artefact: Gruesome Trophy Rack
– Big Name: Brawlerguts
– Big Name: Fateseeker
Tyrant (150)**
– Big Name: Brawlerguts
– Tunnelmaster

Battleline
6 x Ogor Gluttons (260)*
– Paired Ogor Clubs or Bluntblades
6 x Ogor Gluttons (260)*
– Paired Ogor Clubs or Bluntblades
6 x Ogor Gluttons (260)*
– Paired Ogor Clubs or Bluntblades
6 x Ogor Gluttons (260)*
– Paired Ogor Clubs or Bluntblades
4 x Ironguts (270)*
4 x Ironguts (270)**

Units
3 x Icefall Yhetees (120)**

Core Battalions
*Battle Regiment
**Battle Regiment

Total: 2000 / 2000
Reinforced Units: 0 / 4
Allies: 0 / 400
Wounds: 156
Drops: 2

Lots of hungry big lads and not an Ironblaster in sight – you love to see it! Luckily, we love to hear about it from the man himself too.

Dennis says this:

The strength of a Meatfist list lies in trading – and this list trades extremely well into melee armies. Every unit (apart from the Yhetees) can kill other hammer units – and most lists have like 2- 3 hammers, so its totally fine if they come in and kill 6 gluttons because it will always be a bad trade for them.

The second strength of this list lies in impact mortals [Ogors roll dice equal to the charge roll and do MWs on 6s, but with +1 to the roll from the sub-faction, and another +1 for units with 3 or more models].

The biggest problem for most melee armies is screens, and this list just absolutely wrecks screens in the charge phase just by charging. Most games I did between 40-60 mortal wounds just by charging. The yhetees are probably the most important part of my list (which sounds strange) because of their eligibility to fight and pile in within 6″. So what I did in most games was tag an enemy unit on the side, make sure you end the pile in 2,9 inch away from the unit. That way it was only possible for my opponent to get one model in, maybe two. Usually they weren’t able to kill the yhetees so they are stuck in combat for one whole turn.Which buys me time to put pressure elsewhere. Yhetees are imo the best techy unit in the ogor book, never leave home without 3 or 6! Downsides about this list, shooting armies and armies which can prevent me from charging (My game 4 was vs. DoK + Khrondspine) are really hard to beat…

Thanks, Dennis, for the insights and big props for bringing such an off-meta list. Not only that – but for beating Lumineth, two Tzeentch lists, and a shooty Ogor list!

Final Tournament Placings

For the full placings visit PunPun.

Age of Sigmar, Army Lists, Big Waaagh!, Death, Destruction, Fantasy, Games Workshop, Heartwood, Order, Orruk Warclans, Ossiarch Bonereapers, Petrifex Elite, Sons of Behemat, Stomper Tribe, Sylvaneth, The Woehammer Crew, Top three lists, Tournaments

Top Three AoS Lists for DaBoyz Golden Sprue GT

February 15, 2023 Top 3 Lists 1 Comment

This is the Top Three AoS Lists for DaBoyz Golden Sprue GT that took place in the USA on the 4th and 5th of February. It involved 28 players vying to be crowned champion in a 5-game tournament.

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: Orruk Warclans
– Army Type: Big Waaagh!
– Grand Strategy: Take What’s Theirs

LEADERS
Orruk Warchanter (120)*
– General
– Command Traits: Master of Magic
– Artefacts of Power: Arcane Tome
– Spells: Da Great Big Green Hand of Gork
– Warbeats: Fixin’ Beat
Orruk Warchanter (120)*
– Warbeats: Get ’Em Beat
Killaboss on Great Gnashtoof (130)*
Wurrgog Prophet (170)**
– Artefacts of Power: Glowin’ Tattooz
– Spells: Levitate
Wurrgog Prophet (170)**
– Artefacts of Power: Gryph-feather Charm
– Spells: Gorkamorka’s War Cry
– Aspects of the Champion: Fuelled by Ghurish Rage
Breaka-boss on Mirebrute Troggoth (180)**
– Mount Traits: Fast ’Un

BATTLELINE
Orruk Ardboys (80)*
– Gorkamorka Glyph Bearer
– Waaagh! Drummer
– Ardboy Boss
– 2 x Orruk-forged Shield
Orruk Ardboys (80)**
– Gorkamorka Glyph Bearer
– Waaagh! Drummer
– Ardboy Boss
– 2 x Orruk-forged Shield
Orruk Brutes (300)***
– Brute Boss
– Boss Klaw & Brute Smasha
– Jagged Gore-hacka
– 2 x Gore-choppa

OTHER
Orruk Gore-gruntas (340)
– Jagged Gore-hacka
Man-skewer Boltboyz (240)***
– Boltboy Boss

ENDLESS SPELLS & INVOCATIONS
1 x Soulsnare Shackles (40)
1 x The Burning Head (30)

CORE BATTALIONS
*Warlord
**Warlord
***Galletian Veterans

TOTAL POINTS: 2000/2000

Big Waagh, you love to see it! Rumblings of their increased effectiveness in this new season – given their access to some excellent GCs – seem to have been on the money!

Ross has stuck with a fairly traditional core HQ of the double Warchanter (great in general but also give Big waagh points for existing), double Wurrgog ‘laser eyes’ prophets, the Mirebrute and the now probably undercosted Gnashtoof.

MSU Ardboyz are usually crucial in Big Waagh as cheap screens you can overlap in engagements for more Waagh point generation – and they’re backed up by a reinforced unit of Brutes who, while never tanky, are certainly less vulnerable with bounty hunters gone.

A token unit of gore gruntas as ‘fast’ flankers and one reinforced unit of Boltboyz for savage unleash hell potential and some good ranged MW projection round things out, with Soulsnare shackles proving an interesting tech pick to ensure the Waaghers get to charge on their terms – it’s cheap, so why not?

Overall, a great result for a struggling army – taking a W against super tanky armies like Bonereapers and Nurgle show the MW output in this formation can really shore up the weaknesses of a mono-Orruk list. Gratz to Ross!

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Army Faction: Sons of Behemat
– Army Type: Stomper Tribe
– Grand Strategy: Make the Land Tremble!
– Triumphs: Inspired

LEADER
1 x Warstomper (450)*
– General
– Command Traits: Eager for the Fight
– Artefacts: Amberbone Totem
1 x Warstomper (450)*
– Artefacts: Arcane Tome
– Spells: Flaming Weapon
1 x Gatebreaker (520)**
– Artefacts: Glowy Shield of Protectiness
1 x King Brodd (550)**

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

TOTAL POINTS: (1970/2000)

Sons are in an interesting place in the new season. They’ve always played a very different game from the rest of AoS’s armies, and the lack of Galletian Champions can prove difficult given the new GHB’s battle tactics largely relying on their presence and function in your list.

And yet here is Tyler, bringing in a 4-0-1 and taking second place at DaBoyz. His list is a fairly standard Sons list, choosing to bring the generally more competitive 4 Mega-gargants and leaving Mancrushers at home. His choice to pile Eager for the Fight and the Amberstone totem on his Warstomper General means that he is one fast giant. Getting an average run distance of 13.5″ at top bracket, followed by an average 10.5″ run means that Tyler doesn’t have to worry too much about mobility. If all else fails, a poorly placed enemy hero could mean that Tyler’s gargant is in their backlines on turn one. The other Warstomper is equipped with the fan-favorite Arcane Tome and Flaming Weapon combo, allowing Tyler to ramp up the damage output of the gargant by setting his feet on fire prior to stomping on the puny enemies.

The other half of the list is a Gatebreaker with the Glowy shield, providing a bit more tankiness to a unit that wants to make sure the enemy’s terrain doesn’t last long. The long trek to the back corner of the board takes a while, but the look on your opponent’s face when their Herdstone gets destroyed is pretty great. King Brodd also makes an appearance, bringing out the biggest priest in town to pray over his giant friends and buff their movement, rend, or health to keep the gargants stomping and smashing as long as possible.

Congrats to Tyler on his win, and I hope there will be plenty of other Gargants players to prove the doubters wrong.

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Allegiance: Sylvaneth
– Glade: Heartwood
– Mortal Realm: Ghyran
– Grand Strategy: Take What’s Theirs
– Triumphs:

Leaders
Arch-Revenant (120)*
– Aspect of the Champion: Stubborn as a Rhinox
Warsong Revenant (300)*
– General
– Command Trait: Spellsinger
– Artefact: Arcane Tome (Universal Artefact)
– Lore of the Deepwood: Verdurous Harmony
Treelord Ancient (330)*
– Lore of the Deepwood: Regrowth

Battleline
5 x Tree-Revenants (110)*
5 x Tree-Revenants (110)*
3 x Kurnoth Hunters with Kurnoth Greatbows (230)*
3 x Kurnoth Hunters with Kurnoth Greatbows (230)*

Behemoths
Krondspine Incarnate of Ghur (480)*
– Allies

Endless Spells & Invocations
Horrorghast (70)

Core Battalions
*Battle Regiment

Total: 1980 / 2000
Reinforced Units: 0 / 4
Allies: 480 / 400
Wounds: 77
Drops: 1

This list isn’t hard to parse – it’s a pin-and-cushion Sylvaneth variant.

Warsong rev is the MW output, hanging back with Spellsinger allowing him to pop his MW bomb spell out of a forward tree – hence the Ancient, for throwing it out there with his once per battle ability pretty much anywhere on the board. Meanwhile, Spinedog pins you down while 6 Kurnoth rain arrows from 30″ into you, and Tree-revs teleport around scoring. That’s it. That’s the ~~tweet~~ list.

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Army Faction: Ossiarch Bonereapers
– Subfaction: Petrifex Elite
– Grand Strategy: Take What’s Theirs
– Triumph: Inspired

LEADERS
Arkhan the Black (340)*
Mortisan Soulmason (120)*
– Spells: Arcane Command
Mortisan Boneshaper (110)*
– Artefacts of Power: Lode of Saturation
– Spells: Drain Vitality
Mortisan Soulreaper (100)**
– General
– Command Traits: Mighty Archaeossian
– Artefacts of Power: Godbone Armour
– Spells: Arcane Command
– Aspects of the Champion: Stubborn as a Rhinox

BATTLELINE
Necropolis Stalkers (510)***
– 3 x Dread Falchions
Mortek Guard (280)***
– Mortek Hekatos
– Necrophoros
– Nadirite Blade and Shield
Immortis Guard (150)*
Necropolis Stalkers (340)**
– 2 x Dread Falchions

ENDLESS SPELLS & INVOCATIONS
1 x Bone-tithe Shrieker (50)

TERRAIN
1 x Bone-tithe Nexus (0)

CORE BATTALIONS
*Warlord
**Galletian Command
***Galletian Veterans

TOTAL POINTS: 2000/2000

Everyone’s favourite animated crypt with more arthritis than a Ulysses convention in 8th we have OBR. One of the oldest books (yes, yes, FEC and Cities we know) with some completely out of place mechanics (Discipline points), they are still very durable and can hit hard. All three of the Mortisan, unusual, but giving heals, reroll 1s to hit and potentially mortal wounds. Other than the guard, everything is reinforced to maximise the impact of the buffs. And a token Immortis Guard for a cheeky bodyguard. The list is built to allow a risky play for an objective with Stubborn as a Rhinox on the General who has Stalkers in the Galletian Command battalion to open the possibility of fight twice (the Stalkers straight after the Soulmason). This is also 16 units on an objective, forcing you to commit something decent to remove them.

What’s interesting is that the list either got max points or lost. I suspect priority may have been partly to blame. With time to get their buffs up, this list would be very nasty. Consistently dropping important pieces becomes a lot more difficult. And the counter punch is terrible. Bone-tithe Shrieker is an excellent example. If they get it off, it’s preventing Rally/Inspiring presence, making any wounds problematic. And it grants +1 to hit, making losses more likely. That on the double reinforced Stalkers with Precision Aspect – 9 attacks on 3s & 3s with -3 Rend and 3 damage each, 30 attacks (Galletian Veterans for additional reach) 2s & 3s with -2 Rend and 2 damage. You really want to get into this unit first. Awesome effort with the army, his loses were to 1st and 4th, making this list very competitive in this field.

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