This is the top three AoS lists for Bloody Christmas that took place in China on the 16th and 17th of December. It saw 16 players vying to be crowned champion in a 5-game tournament.
We won’t be commenting on individual lists because there were less than 20 players.
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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The Top Three AoS Lists
Army Faction: Skaven
– Grand Strategy: Arch-corruptors of the Mortal Realms
LEADERS
Grey Seer On Screaming Bell (220)
– Spells: Death Frenzy, Skitterleap
Plague Priest On Plague Furnace (270)
– Artefacts of Power: The Fumigatous
– Prayers: Curse
Grey Seer On Screaming Bell (220)*
– Spells: Death Frenzy, Skitterleap
Skabbik Plagueseeker (140)*
Grey Seer (120)*
– General
– Command Traits: Master of Magic
– Spells: Hoarfrost, Merciless Blizzard
Plague Priest (100)**
– Prayers: Rabid-rabid!
BATTLELINE
Clanrats (100)*
– Clawleader
– Rusty Blade
– 2 x Clanrat Bell-ringer
– 2 x Clanrat Standard Bearer
Clanrats (100)**
– Clawleader
– Rusty Blade
– 2 x Clanrat Bell-ringer
– 2 x Clanrat Standard Bearer
Plague Censer Bearers (270)**
BEHEMOTH
Hell Pit Abomination (180)**
OTHER
Warp-Grinder (60)
Warpfire Thrower (70)
Warpfire Thrower (70)
Skabbik’s Plaguepack (140)*
ENDLESS SPELLS & INVOCATIONS
1 x Warp Lightning Vortex (80)
CORE BATTALIONS
*Warlord
**Wizard-finders of Andtor
TOTAL POINTS: 2000/2000
Boggy B: Here is an in-depth perspective on the list that went 5-0. The idea behind this list is simple, play the game in each phase. The list was created so that it had play in each phase and could counter the opponents in each phase. My methodology when playing Skaven is simple, if I am not playing in each phase, I am already losing. Skaven is a fun army, but at the same time, if it is played as only one of the archetypes, it can’t do well in a tournament. This list has bandwagoned on the last battle scroll change to the Skaven chariots. It has 2 bells and a furnace, which are the staple of the list. Clanrats used to be the thing that tanks and screens, but now they still screen off more important units at the same time, I have used them on the flanks to get the primaries. I have only taken one unit of Censer Bearers as it showed that buffing them up (especially with Death Frenzy) and leaving them within command range makes them a death bomb you can send next to the enemy and see how they deal with it. At the same time, the rest of the army is free to finish battle tactics and zone out the map.
Having 3 priests unlocks an easy round-one battle tactic (Creschendo of the Diseased Choir) and allows me to use Magical Dominance later on if I have to use it. Having 3 Masterclan heroes opens up the Always 3 Clawsteps Ahead. This proved crucial in the first round when I had to face Nagash, where the other player made a mistake and left Nagash without a screen, and my whole army charged 12 from the first charge. Later, he was able to gain points with mere attrition of returning models, but by then, I had already collected enough points and secured a win.
The second round was against DoK, and it showed the struggle DoK has now, not enough bodies. I cast the Vortex 3 times during the battle and took out 6 wounds from Morathi with it. That is why it shows that even though the Blizzard was FAQd, the Vortex is still a strong weapon that Skaven has access to.
The third round was the toughest one as Khorne has as many tricks as Skaven. Especially the Khorne Spawn list. I lost my general recklessly to the Endless spell, but the Censer Bearer bomb was able to kill the Secrator in return with Death Frenzy, not a bad trade. The Secrator didn’t use his once-per-battle ability. The turning point was the Bell that summoned a Warbringer in round 4. This ensured that I would stop Khorne’s Grand Strategy. On top of that, the Warbringer finished the last battle tactic, which made a 5-point swing.
The fourth round was overshadowed by the sheer melee output that the Censer Bearers can do. They killed 13 Varanguard as well as Belakor. Buffed-up Censer Bearers are a true force to be reckoned with.
The last round was a showcase of how the list has mobility, and against Big Waaagh, they showed how using the Gnawholes properly can stop the enemy from collecting primaries. True MVPs of this round were Clanrats who were sitting on the flanks and collected points by their sheer numbers.
In conclusion, the list shows a lot of potential in playing all of the factions if played properly. The secret techs you should try out are the Warp Grinder, Skabbik, and his Plaguepack, as well as Warpfire Throwers. Go and check out their warscrolls. You’ll see why.
Army Faction: Sylvaneth
– Subfaction: Heartwood
– Grand Strategy: Spellcasting Savant
– Seasons of War: The Dwindling
LEADERS
Belthanos (360)
Spirit of Durthu (350)*
– Artefacts of Power: Greenwood Gladius
Arch-Revenant (120)**
– Artefacts of Power: Arcane Tome
– Spells: Verdant Blessing
Branchwych (110)**
– General
– Command Traits: Spellsinger
– Spells: Treesong, Verdant Blessing
Drycha Hamadreth (320)**
– Spells: Verdant Blessing, Verdurous Harmony
BATTLELINE
Dryads (100)*
– Branch Nymph
Dryads (100)*
– Branch Nymph
Kurnoth Hunters with Kurnoth Scythes (500)**
– Huntmaster
ENDLESS SPELLS & INVOCATIONS
1 x Spiteswarm Hive (40)
TERRAIN
1 x Awakened Wyldwood (0)
CORE BATTALIONS
*Battle Regiment
**Warlord
TOTAL POINTS: 2000/2000
Gary Chen: It’s been a while since Sylvaneth stayed at a relatively low rate in the AOS tournament. Perhaps because it is a barely zero tolerance of ‘making a mistake’ army.
As long as I see Belthanos Aka ‘Thanos’, I can see the light in it. It has damage output, toughness, speed, and the most important thing for Sylvaneth: buff for speed. With run and charge aura, even Scyther Kurnoth can move 11 and charge.
Then the prototype list comes to me: four hammers, with 2 of them, can teleport and charge. How can your opponent react?
After some test games, Durthu, Kurnoth Scyther, Belthanos, and Drycha turn into my four cores without any hesitation. Belthanos is the engine and potential shield. 3+ plus mystic shield plus their finest hour makes it 1+ tough anvil. Durthu can teleport himself and hit hard. Scythes are tough and stable output sources. Drycha can give multi-dimensional attacks with potential mortal wounds.
Other parts of this list are easy to pick, Branwych wizard, Archrev bringing Arcane Tome, and two units of Dryads as chaff units and endless spell spiteswarm bring this list to 2000pts. I pick the season of dwindling over burgeoning cause Sylvaneth’s spell is important, but my build’s caster is not good enough.
After the tourney, I am okay with the result, this build has heaps of potential, but needs a little bit of luck when you cast and also needs the operator’s delicate maneuver, just like all other Sylvaneth lists, when you make mistakes, it probably will cost you the game.
Army Faction: Sylvaneth
– Subfaction: Heartwood
– Grand Strategy: Overshadow
– Triumph: Inspired
– Seasons of War: The Burgeoning
LEADERS
Belthanos (360)
Drycha Hamadreth (320)
– Spells: Verdant Blessing, Verdurous Harmony
Spirit of Durthu (350)*
– General
– Command Traits: Warsinger
– Artefacts of Power: Greenwood Gladius
Arch-Revenant (120)**
BATTLELINE
Kurnoth Hunters with Kurnoth Greatswords (440)*
– Huntmaster
Tree-Revenants (110)*
Dryads (100)**
OTHER
Spite-Revenants (160)*
– Shadestalker
TERRAIN
1 x Awakened Wyldwood (0)
CORE BATTALIONS
*Battle Regiment
**Vanguard
TOTAL POINTS: 1960/2000
Nikola Jankovic: This list was completely experimental and unusual for my style of play. The main idea was to try out the new model and create a fully combative list. Except Drycha is trying to bring back models, no spells whatsoever. Since coherence now works with 6 models, swords on Kurnoth Hunters were an obvious choice for me. Other players prefer having scythes for rend, but with more attacks on swords, potential of mortal wounds, and now a possibility of 6 of them attacking at once was too good not to try. With their subfaction and Arch Revenant nearby, 2+ 2+ for 25 (31) attacks sounds scary. With Warsinger on Durthu and run and charge aura from Belthanos, Hunters with Swords move 14” and then charge or to go even further, Drycha moves 18” and charges, or just keep her on her 12” move (Warsinger), shoot and then charge. One thing that surprised many players was my unit of 10 Spite Revenants. While nobody expected much from them, with 2+ to hit from Heartwood and 2+ to wound from Drycha, they get too many attacks on 2+ 2+ with potential for mortal wounds. To explain how scary that can be, 6 of them took 9 wounds from Be’lakor in one combat phase (with a bit of luck). In some games, they took out 2-4 units before they got killed (IF they got killed).
Considering that I didn’t play in a very long time and that the games I lost were with 1 or 2 points difference (even with bunch of horrible rolls), I would say this list is quite competitive and has great potential with some practice. With so many heavy hitting units and good save, it will be hard for opponents to pick who to attack first since the other unit is definitely killing something.
Army Faction: Blades of Khorne
– Subfaction: Skullfiend Tribe
– Grand Strategy: Slaughter of Sorcery
LEADERS
Slaughterpriest (110)*
– Bloodbathed Axe
– Prayers: Bronzed Flesh, Killer Instinct
– Nullstone Adornments: Pouch of Nulldust
Skarbrand (380)*
Slaughterpriest (110)*
– Bloodbathed Axe
– Prayers: Blood Sacrifice, Unholy Flames
– Nullstone Adornments: Pouch of Nulldust
Bloodthirster of Unfettered Fury (330)**
– General
– Command Traits: Firebrand
– Artefacts of Power: Ar’gath, the King of Blades
– Prayers: Bloodbind, Killer Instinct
Bloodsecrator (120)**
– Nullstone Adornments: Pouch of Nulldust
BATTLELINE
Skullreapers (380)**
Claws of Karanak (100)**
Blood Warriors (190)**
– Blood Champion
– Icon Bearer
– Paired Goreaxes
– Goreglaive
The Unmade (80)**
Untamed Beasts (80)**
ENDLESS SPELLS & INVOCATIONS
1 x Hexgorger Skulls (50)
1 x Wrath-Axe (70)
TERRAIN
1 x Skull Altar (0)
CORE BATTALIONS
*Command Entourage
– Magnificent
**Battle Regiment
TOTAL POINTS: 2000/2000
Final Tournament Placings
https://www.bestcoastpairings.com/event/WW18RQN2FG
