This is the top three AoS lists for the Hampshire Grand Tournament that took place in the UK on the 14th and 15th of April. It involved 82 players vying to be crowned champion in a 5-game tournament.

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The Top Three AoS Lists

Allegiance: Fyreslayers
– Lodge: Vostarg
– Grand Strategy: Take What’s Theirs
– Triumph: Indomitable

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

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

Endless Spells and Invocations
Molten Infernoth (40)

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

TOTAL: 1990/2000

Kevin Lathers: This list, or ones like it, have been making the rounds recently. The recent changes on rally limits (to 10 wounds maximum per rally) will certainly put a ding in the list, but not one big enough to knock it out.

While occasionally Greyfyrd, Ricky has taken the list as Vostarg in order to buff the Vulkite Berserkers when they charge (giving them +1 to hit and wound).

The list relies on blocks of infantry holding objectives and looking for openings to run + charge (off ember storm prayer) into important units. The 10-man Vulkite units are both screens and hammers while the Hearthguard are immovable block that can strike first into anyone thinking charging it is a good idea. Ricky played 3 different Sylvaneth players and all 3 would have found the combination of fight on death and fight first quite troublesome. Making matters worse for Sylvaneth, a flamekeeper can allow a Vulkite unit to charge them in their own combat phase and then fight first on them, killing things before they can bounce out.

The smaller Vulkites and HGB feed into the 30-man Vulkite unit which can pick anything in the game up off the board with dual-flamekeeper buffs. Between 90 and 120 attacks (if Runefather buff is active) on that 30-man black at 3-damage each means even if an opponent is saving on a 2+ they are going to get toasted.

Once the engine of the flamekeepers gets going it’s hard to stop unless opponents can somehow take them out. But they can be well protected behind the infantry and focus on them means Vulkites are staying alive. And with how many Vulkite and Hearthguard Berserkers there are, this is a lot of wounds to chew through.

Further, this GHB has a lot of low objective count, or tight objective location, battleplans. This means the lack Magmadroths is less of a hamstring than normal. Adding to that, the current GHB disallows shooting into foot heroes. There’s a lot of reasons the current meta favors such a list.

There’s a lot of moving parts and a lot of auras to keep track of, but an experienced Fyreslayers player can navigate these to pull out some fantastic plays.

Oh, and the Molten Infernoth, a staple which can end any GC’s whole career quickly.

I expect this list to continue to see play, even if it has some slight changes, for as long as this GHB lasts.

Allegiance: Ogor Mawtribes
– Mawtribe: Underguts
– Grand Strategy: Ready for Plunder
– Triumphs: Inspired

Leads
Firebelly (130)*
– Lore of the Sun-Eater: Billowing Ash
– Aspect of the Champion: Tunnel Master
Butcher (140)*
– Cleaver
– Artefact: Gruesome Trophy Rack
– Lore of Gutmagic: Molten Entrails
Frostlord on Stonehorn (450)*
– General
– Command Trait: Touched by the Everwinter
– Mount Trait: Rockmane Elder
– Prayer: Keening Gale
Huskard on Thundertusk (330)
– Harpoon Launcher
– Mount Trait: Rimefrost Hide
– Prayer: Pulverising Hailstorm

Battleline
2 x Mournfang Pack (170)*
– Culling Clubs and Hackers with Ironfists
2 x Mournfang Pack (170)
– Culling Clubs and Hackers with Ironfists
2 x Mournfang Pack (170)
– Culling Clubs and Hackers with Ironfists

Artillery
Ironblaster (200)
Ironblaster (200)

Core Battalions
*Warlord

Additional Enhancements
Mount Trait

Total: 1960 / 2000

Now that Ironblasters are 200 points, Ogors really seem to have settled into their groove as an army that can do well in the right hands but isn’t the meta boogeyman, and I’m here for it. While it looked for a while like monster trucks (as in, nearly/all Stonehorns) was going to be the competitive go to, various lists – like this one from Russ – are proving that there’s plenty of play in a nice balanced mix.

So we have the two big Stonehorns here, with Keening Gale on the Frostlord to ensure maximum speed on him or the 3×2 battleline Mournfang – who themselves present a nice middle-ground of speed and killing power, while also being -1 to wound vs shooting weapons and a great way to bypass unleash hell threats with their ‘UH only hits on 6s’ ability.

The 2nd Stonehorn is a Huskard for buff and further prayer support, and then you have the magic number (I reckon!) of two Ironblasters – and this list is in Underguts to ensure they have the extra rend to really be worth their points.

A cheeky FIrebelly also makes an appearance as a cheap caster and GC who has a nice -1 to hit aura spell, which I’m also surprised we don’t see more of. He is Finecast, mind you…

All in all, a lovely balanced list from Russ that proves spam may be tasty (especially for a hungry Ogor) but isn’t always strictly necessary to compete!

Allegiance: Fyreslayers
– Lodge: Greyfyrd
– Grand Strategy: The Day is Ours!
– Triumphs: Inspired

Auric Runemaster (130)**
– General
– Command Trait: Master Priest
– Artefact: Volatile Brazier
– Universal Prayer Scripture: Heal
Auric Runemaster (130)**
– Universal Prayer Scripture: Curse
Auric Runesmiter (120)**
– Runic Iron
– Prayer: Prayer of Grimnir’s Fury
Auric Runefather (120)***
– Artefact: Axe of Grimnir
– Aspect of the Champion: Stubborn as a Rhinox
Battlesmith (150)***
– Artefact: Nulsidian Icon
Celestant-Prime, Hammer of Sigmar (330)***
– Allies

Battleline
5 x Auric Hearthguard (120)*
5 x Auric Hearthguard (120)*
5 x Auric Hearthguard (120)*
Grimwrath Berzerker (110)
Grimwrath Berzerker (110)**
Grimwrath Berzerker (110)**
Grimwrath Berzerker (110)***
– Aspect of the Champion: Tunnel Master
Grimwrath Berzerker (110)***
– Artefact: Draught of Magmalt Ale

Endless Spells and Invocations
Molten Infernoth (40)
Zharrgron Flame-spitter (40)

Core Battalions
*Galletian Sharpshooters
**Warlord
***Warlord

Additional Enhancements
Artefact
Aspect of the Champion

Total: 1970 / 2000
Reinforced Units: 0 / 4
Allies: 330 / 400
Wounds: 96
Drops: 14

Kevin Lathers: Now, here’s a list with some chest hair! And wow, it played into two different KO opponents, notorious counters to almost all Fyreslayers lists.

This is a rarely played list archetype that has seen some tournament success in the past: Grimwrath Berserker spam with MSU AHG for cheap battleline.

Five Grimwrath Berserkers (GWB) and a Celestant Prime add hammers that can be dificult to deal with for opponent. Target priority for opponents becomes difficult as splitting damage can leave a GWB on low wounds but putting all your attacks/damage into one means you’re overkilling a unit with only 7 wounds. Meanwhile, the Celestant Prime is deepstriking anywhere and immediately becoming a problem for anything lacking the right depth of screens.

Speaking of screens, they will be having a difficult time. AHG, while not the hardest hitting units, when combined with a Flamespitter and Infernoth can quickly clear screens or put opponent’s heroes on a countdown. The projected damage combination can’t be underestimated as it will create openings for the GWB and CP. The infernoth particularly can be a nightmare for KO players if it tags a ship and rolls doubles instantly dunking on everything inside.

Further, the AHG are slowing opponent’s units and handicapping their movement plans if they are not taken care of in promptly. The AHG slow combined with a well-placed infernoth can often stop large-based units (like a gargant) from going where they need to.

This is an aggressive list that will force opponents to make hard decisions about what they need to fight and if they choose wrong it can allow one Grimwrath to end their entire gameplan.

Allegiance: Sons of Behemat
– Tribe: Breaker Tribe (Fierce Loathing: Idiots with Flags)
– Grand Strategy: Tame the Land
– Triumphs: Inspired

Leaders
Gatebreaker Mega-Gargant (520)*
– General
– Command Trait: Monstrously Tough
– Artefact: Amulet of Destiny (Universal Artefact)
Kraken-eater Mega-Gargant (490)*
Gatebreaker Mega-Gargant (520)*
– Artefact: Arcane Tome (Universal Artefact)

Battleline
1 x Mancrusher Gargants (150)

Regiment of Renown
Big Grikks Kruleshots (310)

Core Battalions
*Bosses of the Stomp – Magnificent

Additional Enhancements
Artefact

Total: 1990 / 2000
Reinforced Units: 0 / 4
Allies: 310 / 400
Wounds: 133
Drops: 5

Declan It’s fair to say that Sons have been struggling of late with the battle tactics. As an army of 4 big lads, or fewer and some smaller lads, the completion of the Champion required Batttle Tactics is impossible. Not good to wipe out many choices.

But with the release of the Regiments of Reknown into Age of Sigmar Connor has grabbed the Kruleboyz to make the army more interesting. Its difficult to say that warscrolls from the worst army in the ge should improve things but these bring shooting to the Sons… and that all important reach. I like the change up (although I dislike the Regiments of Reknown concept in general because it’s impossible to balance well.)

I’ll go out on a limb here though and say I don’t think this is the start of a resurgence in Sons. They’ll still struggle until GW changes the seasons or takes another look at the Battletome Battle Tactics – well done to Connor for trying something new and taking it to a 4-1.

Final Tournament Placings

For the full placings, visit Stats and Ladders.