This is the top three AoS lists for Wardolly Weekend that took place in Australia on the 18th and 19th of March. It involved 16 players vying to be crowned champion in a 5-game tournament.
Before I jump into the Top Three AoS Lists, I wanted to remind everyone of our friendly Discord server where you can join in the conversation with the Woehammer crew and suggest articles or series for the website.
If you like what we’re doing, why not join our Patreon and help keep it going?
Also if there’s a one day or two day tournament you’d like us to cover drop us a comment on this post and we’ll have a look at it for you.
The Top Three AoS Lists
Allegiance: Stormcast Eternals – Stormhost: Hallowed Knights (Scions of the Storm) – Grand Strategy: Take What’s Theirs – Triumphs: Bloodthirsty
Leaders Celestant-Prime, Hammer of Sigmar (330) Gardus Steel Soul (170)* Lord-Castellant (160)** – Artefact: Mirrorshield – Aspect of the Champion: Tunnel Master Lord-Relictor (150)* – General – Command Trait: High Priest – Prayer: Translocation – Aspect of the Champion: Stubborn as a Rhinox Yndrasta, The Celestial Spear (280)*
Battleline 5 x Liberators (120)** – Heavens-wrought Weapon and Shield 5 x Vindictors (130)* 10 x Sequitors (240)** – 5x Stormsmite Greatmaces – Reinforced x 1
Units 5 x Retributors (210)** 5 x Retributors (210)***
Leaders Vengorian Lord (280) – General – Command Trait: Rousing Commander – Artefact: Fragment of the Keep – Universal Spell Lore: Flaming Weapon Prince Vhordrai (460) – Lore of the Vampires: Amethystine Pinions Radukar the Beast (310) Vampire Lord (140) – Lore of the Vampires: Amethystine Pinions – Aspect of the Champion: Tunnel Master
Battleline 10 x Blood Knights (400) – Reinforced x 1 5 x Blood Knights (200) 5 x Blood Knights (200)
Allegiance: Ironjawz – Warclan: Ironsunz – Grand Strategy: The Day is Ours! – Triumphs:
Leaders Megaboss on Maw-Krusha (480)* – General – Boss Choppa and Rip-tooth fist – Artefact: Destroyer – Mount Trait: Fast ‘Un Orruk Megaboss (140)* – Aspect of the Champion: Tunnel Master Orruk Warchanter (120)** Orruk Weirdnob Shaman (90)** – Lore of the Weird: Da Great Big Green Hand of Gork Megaboss on Maw-Krusha (480)** – Boss Choppa and Rip-tooth fist – Artefact: Arcane Tome (Universal Artefact) – Universal Spell Lore: Flaming Weapon
Battleline 5 x Orruk Ardboys (80)* – 1x Gorkamorka Glyph Bearers 5 x Orruk Ardboys (80)* – 1x Gorkamorka Glyph Bearers 5 x Orruk Brutes (150)* – Pair of Brute Choppas – 1x Gore Choppas
Units 6 x Orruk Gore-gruntas (340)* – Pig-iron Choppas – Reinforced x 1
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.
Before I jump into the Top Three AoS Lists, I wanted to remind everyone of our friendly Discord server where you can join in the conversation with the Woehammer crew and suggest articles or series for the website.
If you like what we’re doing, why not join our Patreon and help keep it going?
Also if there’s a one day or two day tournament you’d like us to cover drop us a comment on this post and we’ll have a look at it for you.
The Top Three AoS Lists
Army Faction: 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)
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
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
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.
This is the Top Three AoS Lists for AoS @MoAB 2022 that took place in New South Wales, Australia on 1st and 2nd October. It involved 44 players vying to be crowned champion in a 5 game tournament.
Before I jump into the Top Three AoS Lists, I wanted to remind everyone of our friendly Discord server where you can join in the conversation with the Woehammer crew and suggest articles or series for the website.
If you like what we’re doing, why not join our Patreon and help keep it going?
Also if there’s a one day or two day tournament you’d like us to cover drop us a comment on this post and we’ll have a look at it for you.
The Top Three AoS Lists
Allegiance: Idoneth Deepkin – Enclave: Ionrachet – Grand Strategy: The Creeping Gloomtide – Triumphs: Inspired
LEADERS Akhelian King (250)* – General – Bladed Polearm – Command Trait: Unstoppable Fury – Mount Trait: Voidchill Darkness Eidolon of Mathlann, Aspect of the Sea (325)* – Artefact: Arcane Tome (Universal Artefact) – Lore of the Deeps: Steed of Tides – Incarnate bonded Lotann, Warden of the Soul Ledgers (115)*
UNITS 6 x Akhelian Morrsarr Guard (390)* – Reinforced x 1 10 x Namarti Reavers (170)* 10 x Namarti Reavers (170)* 1 x Akhelian Allopexes (165)* – Retarius Net Launcher
BEHEMOTH Krondspine Incarnate of Ghur (400)* – Allies
Brett: Sitting right in the middle with a win rate of 50%, Idoneth are performing well and feature frequently on the podium, but not normally number 1. 5 wins in a bigger event is certainly a credit to the general. Joel’s doing things a bit differently as well, including Morrsarr (Eels) as a key part. With Legacy of Glory from Ionrach the Eels gain either run and charge or fallback and charge in addition to whatever the Tides are providing. 4 clear hammers (Akehlian King, Eidolon, Morrsarr and Krondspine) means there is a lot to deal with. The Reavers add solid shooting, flexibility to garrison the Shipwreck (not clear if it was here). While Lotaan has a really solid aura for a list that tends to castle, +1 to wound rolls for melee within 12″ making even Reaver melee something to consider.
The core though are those 6 eels having the ability to run and charge or fallback on the charge. It is easier to set up a fall back and charge to avoid a redeploy so having it is really strong. On the charge their Voidspear goes to -2 rend and 2 damage. Use the Krondspine backed by Reavers to pin one side of you attack and hit them with the Eels. If something needs dealing with both the King and Eidolon can act independently. Joel’s scored well throughout including all battle tactics and grand strategies with 27 as his lowest score. The last 2 rounds were against top 10 opponents with Big Waagh (Ironjawz heavy backed by BoltBoyz) and Khorne (both Bloodthirsters and Skarbrand.)
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Allegiance: Sons of Behemat – Tribe: Breaker Tribe (Fierce Loathing: Bossy Pants and Clever Clog) – Grand Strategy: No Place for the Weak – Triumphs: Inspired
Leaders Gatebreaker Mega-Gargant (525)* – General – Command Trait: Louder than Words – Artefact: Vial of Manticore Venom (Universal Artefact) (fortcrusha flail) Gatebreaker Mega-Gargant (525)* Gatebreaker Mega-Gargant (525)* – Artefact: Arcane Tome (Universal Artefact) – Universal Spell Lore: Flaming Weapon – Bonded to incarnate
Behemoths Krondspine Incarnate of Ghur (400) – Allies
Core Battalions *Bosses of the Stomp – Magnificent
Brett: Sons have really started to tower in the last couple of months, this is a very popular list in Season 1. 3 Gatebreakers (ranged attack) with a Krondspine in Breaker Tribe being especially peeved by heroes and wizards. Bosses of stomp with an extra artefact, in this case Manticore Venom and Tome with the Flaming Weapon. Very aggressive option as opposed to the tanky builds that we frequently see. The Incarnate is almost as difficult to remove as a gargant and gives good protection against Endless Spells. Dares your opponent to risk levelling the Incarnate? Terrenance’ scores were more volatile than Joel’s and he dropped 2 battle tactics which was enough to make him 2nd even with his 5/0.
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Army Faction: Maggotkin of Nurgle – Army Subfaction: Drowned Men – Grand Strategy: Blessed Desecration
LEADER 1 x Be’lakor (360) 1 x Lord of Afflictions (210)* – General – Command Traits: Overpowering Stench – Incubatch – Dolorous Tocsin – Artefacts: The Splithorn Helm 1 x Orghotts Daemonspew (300)*
BATTLELINE 2 x Pusgoyle Blightlords (220)* – Dolorous Tocsin 2 x Pusgoyle Blightlords (220)* – Dolorous Tocsin 2 x Pusgoyle Blightlords (220)* – Dolorous Tocsin 2 x Pusgoyle Blightlords (220)* – Dolorous Tocsin 5 x Putrid Blightkings (250)* – Blightlord – Icon Bearer – Sonorous Tocsin Bearer
TERRAIN 1 x Feculent Gnarlmaw (0)
CORE BATTALIONS: *Battle Regiment
TOTAL POINTS: (2000/2000)
Brett: Variation on the very popular (especially in the UK) Nurgle Blightlord/Blightking list. Be’Lakor is now a common inclusion as a great combat wizard in his own right, combined here with Orghotts and Lord of Afflications. Tom has gone with a block of Blightkings instead of a group of 4 Blightlords to free up points for Be’Lakor/Orghotts. The heroes are 870pts or 44% of the list value. The Blightkings are slow but can give a lot of board control (base stats give 60 effective wounds – 20 wounds, 4+ save and 5+ ward). Otherwise everything is moving 8″ and spewing disease points/mortal wounds everywhere. It’s a flexible list that is hard to concentrate force against. While a shooting army might drop 2 x Blightlords that would mean you aren’t shooting the deamon princes.
Overall Tom and Terrance (2nd) were very close on score scoring 23 tactics and all grand strategies on the day but Tom lost to Terrance in the 3rd round. That’s a possible weakness of the smaller Blightlord units, a Gargant can deal with those pretty easily but the reverse isn’t true.
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Army Faction: Blades of Khorne – Subfaction: Reapers of Vengeance – Grand Strategy: Show of Dominance
LEADERS: “Khaen, Harvester of Skulls.” Bloodthirster of Unfettered Fury (295) – Artefacts of Power: Skullshard Mantle “Oryx, Bane of Aqshy.” Bloodthirster of Insensate Rage (280) – Artefacts of Power: Deathdealer “Skarbrand, the Exiled One.” Skarbrand (380)** “Rakhan, The Red.” Slaughterpriest (100)** – Hackblade and Wrath-hammer – Prayers: Bronzed Flesh “Khargos, the Destroyer.” Bloodsecrator (125)** – General – Command Traits: Mage Eater – Artefacts of Power: Skullshard Mantle – Bonding: Krondspine Incarnate of Ghur
Brett: The extra list is an example of what Khorne is capable of now. It’s a hero list from the outset concentrating on the awesome power of Skarbrand with both Bloodthirsters. Doubling down with a Krondspine and only relatively small weak screening/action units (maybe not the Wrathmongers). The Flesh hounds have decent mobility to grab objectives in early rounds otherwise these units are mostly protecting the big boys and giving blood tithe points when they die. Khorne has some of the cheapest daemon summoning available (the can to it with 2 points). That cheap unit dies easily and refunds the cost, or you can unlock some very strong abilities if you don’t summon.
Krondspine is mostly a distraction in this list forcing you to split your attention, if you can focus fire it’s not that hard to drop either Bloodthirster or Skarbrand. His only loss was to Joel (1st) whose shooting/melee combination was too much to handle. Otherwise the lack of bodies appears to have reduced his scores across the board and saw Blake take 20 battle tactics. Still a really strong performance from a faction that even 4 months ago no one was really running.
This is the Top Three AoS Lists for the Game Knight Grand Tournament that took place in London, Ontario, Canada on the 17th and 18th of September. It involved 22 players vying to be crowned champion in a 5 game tournament.
Before I jump into the Top Three AoS Lists, I wanted to remind everyone of our friendly Discord server where you can join in the conversation with the Woehammer crew and suggest articles or series for the website.
If you like what we’re doing, why not join our Patreon and help keep it going?
Also if there’s a one day or two day tournament you’d like us to cover drop us a comment on this post and we’ll have a look at it for you.
The Top Three AoS Lists
Army Faction: Sons of Behemat – Army Type: Breaker Tribe – Grand Strategy: Make the land tremble! – Triumphs: Inspired
LEADER 1 x Gatebreaker (525)* – General – Command Traits: Monstrously Tough – Artefacts: Enchanted Portcullis 1 x Warstomper (470)* – Artefacts: Amulet of Destiny 1 x Gatebreaker (525)** – Artefacts: Arcane Tome – Spells: Flaming Weapon 1 x Warstomper (470)**
CORE BATTALIONS: *Bosses of the Stomp – Magnificent **Bosses of the Stomp – Magnificent
TOTAL POINTS: (1990/2000)
Brett: Sons of Behemat continuing to benefit from the Season 1 GHB taking out an event this time. Lately we’ve seen a lot of 3 Gatebreaker, Krondspine lists in the podium, this time it’s a more traditional (?) 2 x Gatebreakers and 2 x Warstomper. From the top Breaker Tribe but no loathing shown, and no Mancrushers in the list, with 2 x Bosses of the Stomp for extra artefacts. Grand Strategy is Make the Land Tremble – a unit needs to make a run or charge move every round, very hard to stop. Gatebreaker general with Monstrously Tough (extra 5 wounds) and Enchanted Portcullis (6+ ward). The first Warstomper also has a 6+ ward (Amulet of Destiny) and lastly the other Gatebreaker has Arcane Tome with Flaming Weapon (+1 damage)A tanky build with 2 of the Gargants having more than 40 effective wounds thanks to traits and artefacts.
If you move the Portcullis to another gargant instead of the General there would have been 3 Gargants with more than 40 effective wounds. First round draw against Slaves, the slaves list was running the new Legionnaires and mostly had small units with Be’lakor. Warstompers are less efficient into smaller units with their Titanic Boulder clubs attacks reducing quickly (it caps at 10). The same is true of the Sylvaneth list he faced in round 2. He maxed all of his other rounds including the last against the only other player to max all of his rounds. That match up against Fangs of Sotek would have favoured the Sons with the wards helping against Mortal Wounds and the Warstompers having max attacks against the big Skink blocks. A great run and nice to see a little variation in an army with so few warscrolls.
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Army Faction: Seraphon – Army Type: Starborne – Army Subfaction: Fangs of Sotek – Grand Strategy: The Astromatrix – Triumphs: Inspired
LEADER 1 x Lord Kroak (430)* – General 1 x Skink Starpriest (130)* – Spells: Hand of Glory 1 x Saurus Astrolith Bearer (140)** – Artefacts: Serpent God Dagger 1 x Stegadon with Skink Chief (305)** – Skystreak Bow – Artefacts: Cloak of Feathers – Mount Traits: Celestial Destruction 1 x Skink Priest (90)** – Prayers: Curse
BATTLELINE 30 x Skinks (225)* – Skink Alpha – Boltspitter and Moonstone Club 30 x Skinks (225)* – Skink Alpha – Boltspitter and Moonstone Club 10 x Skinks (75)* – Skink Alpha – Boltspitter – Celestite Dagger and Star-buckler 5 x Saurus Guard (115)* – Saurus Guard Alpha – Stardrake Icon Bearer – Wardrummer
Brett: Seraphon have continued to be strong for a very long time, not least because of the number of builds they can use. I prefer Fangs of Sotek to Thunder Lizard, not that I play Seraphon, but I think it plays to the mission better. And allows you to stop your opponent playing the mission as well. Choosing a named character as General (Kroak) loses you a Command Trait so it’s not often seen. Still 6 casts and Kroak’s unlimited range +2 dispel/unbind magic is going to be in their favour. Saurus guard are acting as body guards, the Skink Chief, Starpriest and Priest are buffing Skinks and the Astrolith Bearer providing a 6+ ward to units within 12″. Lots of leaders but the core of this list is the 2 x 30 Skink units.
They can be teleported within 9″ (with a 16″ weapon), with more than 15 models they have an extra attack (Unleash Hell with 60 attacks before any other buffs). Before being teleported they will be granted +1 to hit (Skink Priest), +1 attack (Skink Chief – melee only), 6s do a mortal wound in addition with at least +1 to their save and likely 6+ ward. If they have their buffs that unit is potentially doing 25 mortal wounds in addition to any other damage. Skinks look inoffensive but in a large group with buffs they are anything but. Rounding out this potential is the Bastilidon with Solar Engine and the Starbourne summoning which makes Descrate Lands and Against the Odds really easy. They can also pick up Barge through Enemy Lines with a teleport and summon.
That is before the 3 wizards inflict Mortals – Kroak can inflict D3 MW on 3 units 4 times a turn (on a 2+). Your best bet is to go first and try to concentrate on removing as many skinks as possible. A bit easier since they are in the large 30 man units rather than say 2 x 20 with 3 x 10 Skink screens. Once they start getting their buffs they become a much bigger threat and even out ranging them isn’t a guarantee. They will potentially pick up a 15 strong unit of Blood Stalkers or Namarti Reavers following a teleport within 9″. Tanky Gargants seem to be a counter otherwise Michael scored maximum points in each of his 4 previous battles to finish with a great, almost perfect 4/1.
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Army Faction: Idoneth Deepkin – Army Subfaction: Mor’phann – Grand Strategy: The Creeping Gloomtide – Triumphs: Inspired
LEADER 1 x Akhelian King (250)* – General – Command Traits: Unstoppable Fury – Bladed Polearm and Falchion – Artefacts: Arcane Tome – Mount Traits: Voidchill Darkness – Spells: Flaming Weapon 1 x Isharann Soulrender (120)* 1 x Isharann Soulrender (120)*
BATTLELINE 30 x Namarti Reavers (510)* – Icon Bearer 30 x Namarti Thralls (390)* – Icon Bearer 3 x Akhelian Ishlaen Guard (195)* – Lochian Prince – Standard Bearer – Musician 3 x Akhelian Morrsarr Guard (195)* – Standard Bearer – Lochian Prince – Musician 3 x Akhelian Ishlaen Guard (195)* – Lochian Prince – Standard Bearer – Musician
TERRAIN 1 x Gloomtide Shipwreck (0)
CORE BATTALIONS: *Battle Regiment
TOTAL POINTS: (1975/2000)
Brett: Straight forward Idoneth list anchored on Namarti with eels for extra mobility. Good to see the eels in a podium list. No real spell casting (1 cast/unbind from Arcane tome), as Morphann the Soulrenders can return and additional 3 models when using their Lurelight to return D3 models. That makes the Namarti much harder to clear particularly since the Gloomtide Shipwreck is garrionsable and give a 5+ ward within 6″. All of the Akehlian’s benefit on the charge with additional rend and damage (King and Morrsarr), and saves (Ishalean). The King is the only model with upgrades which include Unstoppable Fury (+2 attacks for each unit within 3″ in High Tide), Arcane Tome/Flaming Weapon (+1 damage) and Voidchill Darkness (-1 hit to enemy attackers).
The Shipwreck is probably central to this list, in combination with Tides of Death. In the first 2 tides the reavers (and thralls) are key units, wearing you down and stopping you getting to the King and Eels. Then in turn 3 and 4 the King and Eels can unleash and take advantage of run and charge/retreat and charge. 2 units of Eels can fit (no they can’t – they have mounts) in the Shipwreck with the Soulrenders to keep those Narmarti coming back. 30 models with a 5+ save and 6+ ward is hard to shift unless you have a lot of rend. His only loss was to Nighthaunt Scarlet Doom, another army that regrows and can retreat and charge in every round. And really important, they ignore rend, ultimately this army is a rend army. 4/1 is a strong performance, it’s great to see Idoneth on a the podium.
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Army Faction: Hedonites of Slaanesh – Army Type: Invaders – Subfaction: The Lurid Haze – Grand Strategy: Defend What’s Ours – Triumph: Inspired
LEADERS Sigvald (205)** – General The Contorted Epitome (245)** – General – Command Traits: Feverish Anticipation – Artefacts of Power: Oil of Exultation – Spells: Hysterical Frenzy Shardspeaker of Slaanesh (135)** – Artefacts of Power: The Rod of Misrule – Spells: Battle Rapture
BATTLELINE Blissbarb Archers (420)*** – High Tempter Blissbarb Archers (140)*** – High Tempter Blissbarb Archers (140)*** – High Tempter
Brett: For our last list we have 4th, Mitch, who really really likes Blissbarb Archers. Fewer Leaders to increase the troops units but Sigvald and the Contorted Epitome are present with the less common Shardspeaker, it’s Twisted Mirror can give the Twinsouls +1 to wound or have the Epitome wounding on 3s. 3 casts/dispels from the Epitome and Shardspeaker. The Epitome gives rerolls to charges to one unit (Feverish Anticipation) and has an extra wound (Oil of Exultation). The Shardspeaker is carrying the Rod of Misrule (generate command points). The spells do Mortal Wounds (Hysterical Frenzy) and Battleshock modifications (Battle Rapture).
The double reinforced Blisbarb unit can move up to 12” and still shoot giving it a 30” threat range. The 2 unreinforced Blissbarbs are trading pieces and even screens. Expert Conquerors strengthens that role by giving the strong objective control. With the twinsouls supporting the Shardspeaker and Blissbarbs this list will generate a lot of depravity points either inflicting or taking wounds. So a Keeper of Secrets isn’t too far away. As we’ve seen a few times Scarlet Doom was his only loss but the list also scored a little lower than others, a symptom of its fragility perhaps.
This is the Top Three AoS Lists for the Cryhammer that took place near Warsaw, Poland on 24th and 25th September. It involved 30 players vying to be crowned champion in a 5 game tournament.
Before I jump into the Top Three AoS Lists, I wanted to remind everyone of our friendly Discord server where you can join in the conversation with the Woehammer crew and suggest articles or series for the website.
If you like what we’re doing, why not join our Patreon and help keep it going?
Also if there’s a one day or two day tournament you’d like us to cover drop us a comment on this post and we’ll have a look at it for you.
The Top Three AoS Lists
Army Faction: Seraphon – Army Type: Coalesced – Subfaction: Thunder Lizard – Grand Strategy: Defend What’s Ours – Triumph: Inspired
LEADERS Lord Kroak (430)** Saurus Astrolith Bearer (140)** – Artefacts of Power: Fusil of Conflagration Skink Priest (90)** – Prayers: Heal Skink Starseer (145)** – Spells: Hand of Glory Engine of the Gods (265)*** – General – Command Traits: Prime Warbeast – Artefacts of Power: Cloak of Feathers – Mount Traits: Beastmaster – Prayers: Curse
Brett: Starting off with a Seraphon, Thunder Lizard, and most of the big hitters from Seraphon. A spell heavy list (with Kroak), supported by an Astrolith Bearer, Engine of the Gods, Skink Priest and Starseer. This gives 5 casts and Kroak knows the entire Lore of Celestial Domination. The general (Engine of the Gods) has all of the mandatory traits and artefacts for Thunder Lizard (which gives +2 wounds to all of the beasts) granting +1 attack and a shooting attack (D3 MW on a 3-4 and D6 on a 5-6). The skinks are mostly here as screens but enjoy buffs from the Priests (including Engine of the Gods) improving their saves, hit rolls and potentially number of attacks).
The Bastildons are the combat arm of this list. With a Solar Engine and 2 x Ark of Sotek that are really only vulnerable to Mortal Wounds in their top bracket and many many attacks. Mortal Wounds on 6s and buffs from Kroak, the Priests and Starpriest just to make them harder to deal with. The list hasn’t changed much (if at all) since the Battletome dropped in 2nd edition. Skinks screen the bigger units as they more up, Saurus Guard as bodyguards for the wizards and ranged offence from wizards (minor) and the Solar Engine. Eventually the Arks will charge your line. All the while they are scoring points with their mobility and summoning.
It doesn’t sound like much but they stopped a Sons list in it’s tracks and took a host of dragons on (and won) so the output is there to.
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Allegiance: Stormcast Eternals – Stormhost: Hammers of Sigmar (Scions of the Storm) – Grand Strategy: Take What’s Theirs – Triumphs: Inspired
Leaders Lord-Castellant (155)* Lord-Relictor (145)* – General – Command Trait: High Priest – Artefact: Mirrorshield – Prayer: Translocation
Battleline 5 x Liberators (115)* – Heavens-wrought Weapon and Shield 5 x Judicators with Boltstorm Crossbows (190)* 5 x Judicators with Boltstorm Crossbows (190)*
Units 4 x Stormdrake Guard (680)* – Drakerider’s Warblade – Reinforced x 1 1 x Stormstrike Chariot (165)** 1 x Stormstrike Chariot (165)** 1 x Stormstrike Chariot (165)**
Brett: Stormcast are always a chance to podium even if they aren’t the most powerful faction they do have some really strong options (Drakes). Their durability combines with medium output to make them a difficult opponent much of the time. Classic leader choices in the Lord Castellant and Relictor with the Relictor as the general. The Castellant’s lantern providing either a +1 to save or mortal wounds is why you take him (and his 8 wounds). The Relictor has High Priest (reroll chants), Mirrorshield to prevent ranged attacks and Translocation. He has a natural +1 to chants so doesn’t really need High Priest but if you want to make sure of a heal then it’s important. Translocate is useful to move a Galletian Veteran unit to somewhere unoccupied. Or some bowmen, 18″ range means they often need that little bit of help and they are GV in anycase.
The Judicator’s with Boltstorm are becoming very popular, they get 2 hits for every successful to hit roll. It’s very feasible to have more hits than your roll and they wound on a 3+. No rend though. Unusually Lukasz took Call for Aid to return the Liberators if they are destroyed not Thunderbolt Volley for double shooting. There is a very big hammer in the 4 drakes, their breath attacks are potentially devastating (if unreliable) and combined generate 39 rend 1 and 2 attacks. They are also 36 wounds with a 3+ save, hard to get rid of. Perhaps a bit unusual is the number of chariots, 3. There is a battle report from Measured Gamine with 5 though.
The Stormstrike Chariot is a bit of a sleeper, very fast with 12 wounds it does MW on a 4+ based on it’s charge roll. More of a blocker than a destroyer but if all 3 charge on average that’s 10 mortal wounds. The most damaging part of their attacks are the Gryphons towing the chariot, 6 attacks at rend 2. There’s no doubt this is a good list but Lukasz still played very well to take down Sons and KO armies before losing in the last round to the eventual winner. Since the chariots are a great counter to Bastildons I’d say the Skinks screened well.
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Allegiance: Sons of Behemat – Tribe: Breaker Tribe (Fierce Loathing: Idiots with Flags) – Grand Strategy: No Place for the Weak – Triumphs: Inspired
Leaders Gatebreaker Mega-Gargant (525)* – General – Command Trait: Monstrously Tough – Artefact: Amulet of Destiny Gatebreaker Mega-Gargant (525)* – Artefact: Vial of Manticore Venom Gatebreaker Mega-Gargant (525)*
Behemoths Krondspine Incarnate of Ghur (400) – Allies
Core Battalions *Bosses of the Stomp – Magnificent
Brett: Resurgent Sons on the podium again, following the now familiar 3 x Megas and an Incarnate. The Fierce Loathing is Idiots with Flags, not seen as often as Bossy Pants maybe but really good if you have a lot of elite (Stormcast etc) opponents. The General is Monstrously Tough (40 wounds not 35) and has the Amulet of Destiny for a 6+ ward. The extra artefact is Manticore Venom for +1 to wound rolls, frightening on the Gatebreaker’s Flail. The Krondspine provides some protection against Endless Spells with no casting, that alone is a reason for Sons to look favourably on it. It also lets you take 3 Gatebreakers instead of 2 with 2 Warstompers, a solid upgrade.
Losing only the mirror match, which probably came down to priorities, Jack stomped (pun intended) all of his opponents including the durable Nurgle on his way to 3rd.
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Army Faction: Sylvaneth – Subfaction: Heartwood – Grand Strategy: Take What’s Theirs – Triumph: Bloodthirsty – Season: Everdusk
LEADERS Warsong Revenant (305)* – General – Command Traits: Spellsinger – Spells: Verdant Blessing, Verdurous HarmonyArch-Revenant (120)* Spirit of Durthu (370)* – Artefacts of Power: Greenwood Gladius (Guardian Sword)
ENDLESS SPELLS & INVOCATIONS 1 x Spiteswarm Hive (40)
TERRAIN 1 x Awakened Wyldwood (0)
CORE BATTALIONS *Battle Regiment
TOTAL POINTS: 2000/2000
Brett: Mix of the familiar and the new in this Sylvaneth list. The Leaders (Warsong and Arch Revenants with Spirit of Durthu) are among the most common. The Warsong is creating and using Wyldwoods as spell portals and can cause serious harm with her Swarm of Spites. Durthu has the Greenwood Gladius for additional attacks. The Arch-Revenant gives +1 to wound to the Kurnoth Hunters, great with the 3 rend Scythes. The less familiar elements are the new Gossamid Archers and the Revenant Seekers. Of course the Seekers will stay close to the Kurnoth to return slain models if necessary. The Gossamid Archers can retreat 12″ after they unleash Hell. With no rend that’s not as bad as it sounds (hitting on 4+) but 6s do D3 Mortal Wounds.
With only 2 casts this isn’t a heavy magic list and relies on the Kurnoth and Durthu for most of their threat on top of the Warsong’s mortal wound output. His 2 losses, against Kharadron Overlords and Sons of Behemat, are probably down to their ability to minimise or remove threats. Kharadron can avoid the Warsong’s Mortals in early turns and make the most of their shooting to remove the Kurnoth for example. Gossamid’s are also likely to struggle. Thrown boulders will remove the Gossamid’s pretty quickly (3 rend into a 5+ save) and the Kurnoth can’t remove a Gargant in a single team.
As we move deeper into the season we are still seeing a range of factions at the top, within those factions the are less and less surprises. We are seeing optimisation around the new books or new rules with older books and with more reps the strongest units stand out. That will stabilise even more heading into the new Season which should give GW plenty of opportunity to shake things up.
This is the Top Three AoS Lists for the Renegade Wargaming Autumn Assault that took place in Roseville, Minnesota, USA on 10th and 11th of September. It involved 20 players vying to be crowned champion in a 5 game tournament. Another tournament that introduces the 2 armies list making twist. For Autumn Assault the TOs required players to have 2 armies from the same battletome but using different sub-factions. The changes other than that were up to you in how large or small you’d like them to be.
As an example (provided by the TOs in the player pack), Stormcast would use different Stormhosts or Soulblight would use different Dynasty. There is lot more to it, particularly for say Orcs (sorry Orruks). Each list had to have the same Grand Strategy and had to be played at least once in the event. I think it is an interesting idea particularly in an area with players who’ve played a fair while. But making it about the same army but different subfactions means newer players aren’t excluded. Either way, twice as many lists for us to look at.
Before I jump into the Top Three AoS Lists, I wanted to remind everyone of our friendly Discord server where you can join in the conversation with the Woehammer crew and suggest articles or series for the website.
If you like what we’re doing, why not join our Patreon and help keep it going?
Also if there’s a one day or two day tournament you’d like us to cover drop us a comment on this post and we’ll have a look at it for you.
The Top Three AoS Lists
Army Faction: Skaven – Grand Strategy: No Place for the Weak – Triumph: Indomitable Leaders Thanquol (415)* – 2 x Warpfire Projectors – 2 x Warpfire Braziers – Spells: Death Frenzy Warlock Engineer (105)* – Spells: More-more-more Warp Power! Grey Seer (125)* – General – Command Traits: Master of Magic – Artefacts of Power: Arcane Tome – Spells: Skitterleap Battleline Clanrats (100)* – Clawleader – Rusty Blade – 2 x Clanrat Bell-ringer – 2 x Clanrat Standard Bearer Stormfiends (640)* – 2 x Windlaunchers and Clubbing Blows – 2 x Ratling Cannons and Clubbing Blows – 2 x Doomflayer Gauntlets and Warpstone-laced Armour Clanrats (100)* – Clawleader – Rusty Blade – 2 x Clanrat Standard Bearer – 2 x Clanrat Bell-ringer Clanrats (100)* – Clawleader – Rusty Blade – 2 x Clanrat Bell-ringer – 2 x Clanrat Standard Bearer ARTILLERY Warplock Jezzails (120)* Other Ratling Gun (65) Ratling Gun (65) Warp-Grinder (65)* Endless Spells and Invocations 1 x Purple Sun of Shyish (70) 1 x Lauchon the Soulseeker (30) Terrain 1 x Gnawhole (0) Core Battalions*Battle Regiment TOTAL POINTS: 2000/2000
Army Faction: Skaven – Grand Strategy: No Place for the Weak – Triumph: Indomitable Leaders Grey Seer (125)** – Artefacts of Power: Skavenbrew – Spells: Skitterleap Grey Seer (125)** Verminlord Deceiver (405)** – General – Command Traits: Devious Adversary – Artefacts of Power: Shadow Magnet Trinket – Spells: Flaming Weapon Thanquol (415)*** – 4 x Warpfire Projectors – Spells: Death Frenzy Battleline Clanrats (100)* – Clawleader – Rusty Blade – 2 x Clanrat Standard Bearer – 2 x Clanrat Bell-ringer Clanrats (100)* – Clawleader – Rusty Blade – 2 x Clanrat Standard Bearer – 2 x Clanrat Bell-ringer Gutter Runners (105)** Clanrats (100)*** – Clawleader – Rusty Blade – 2 x Clanrat Standard Bearer – 2 x Clanrat Bell-ringer Behemoth Hell Pit Abomination (245)*** Other Plague Censer Bearers (180)*** Endless Spells & Invocations 1 x Lauchon the Soulseeker (30) 1 x Purple Sun of Shyish (70) Core Battalions *Expert Conquerors **Warlord ***Battle Regiment TOTAL POINTS: 2000/2000
Brett: First of the double lists, we have 2 subtly different Skaven lists. Skaven has had a big boost since the new Battletome, placing but not a lot of wins yet. In this case Sean has shown 2 of the more popular styles of build, the very common Stormfiend block “shooting” list and and more of a melee spell/melee focused option with a monster and Plague Censers. The second list switches out the Warlock Engineer for a Grey Seer (2 Grey Seers), Verminlord Deceiver (extra HQ), Hell Pit Abomination and Plague Censer Bearers. Of our chosen lists this is the most significant change. You’ll have to guess which clans they are in.
Just looking at the first, there are 3 Wizards with 6 casts (thanks to Arcane Tome). Death Frenzy (fight on last), Skitterleap (Hero Teleport) and More more Warp Power for laughs (and a +1 to hit and wound rolls). Purple Sun because why not and Lauchon (or Thanquol’s skateboard). It’s an interesting list when you think about the spells, with Death Frenzy Thanquol wants to be near either the Stormfieds or Clan rats. Clan rats you say? Imagine a death frenzy clan rat huddle hiding a Ratling Gunner (each can hide up to 2 ratling gunners) when you charge it with say Bladegheists or Witchaelves. Each Clanrat unit is going to hide either the Ratling guns or Warp-grinder making removing them that much more tricky. More of a castle list with the threat of Thanquol moving in if he needs it.
Lots of units to score points with and 2 big threats that you need to deal with because neither Thanquol or the Stormfiends can’t be safely ignored for long. Clanrats with +1 rend (Purple Sun) are going to hit a lot hard than you might imagine.
The second list switches to a very melee focused list with the Deceiver, Abomination and Plague Censor Bearers replacing the Stormvermin and various guns. Possibly slightly more familiar in the current meta with the clan rats as screens and objective holders and the other units taking over almost all of the lifting. The Deciever has his 6″ charge (Dreaded Skitterleap) coupled with Flaming Weapon but probably hold him back a little since he is the General. But his also a great candidate for This one’s mine at the mid point of the game. Keep in mind that the Plague Censors won’t go near the Purple Sun (they have no save).
This list has enough to pin you in place before sending in a hammer to remove specific threats. He scored really well even in his losses enabling the win. His closest matches were his 3rd round loss (to 3rd) and 5th round (2nd overall)
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Allegiance: Sons of Behemat – Tribe: Breaker Tribe (Fierce Loathing: Bossy Pants and Clever Clog) – Mortal Realm: Ghur – Grand Strategy: No Place for the Weak – Triumphs: Inspired Gatebreaker Mega-Gargant (525) “lil chopper” – General – Command Trait: Monstrously Tough Gatebreaker Mega-Gargant (525)* “lil murder” – Artefact: Amulet of Destiny (Universal Artefact) Gatebreaker Mega-Gargant (525)* “lil half cut” – Artefact: Enchanted Portcullis Krondspine Incarnate of Ghur (400) “SpaceGhosrPurrp” – Allies *Bosses of the Stomp – Magnificent Artefact Total: 1975 / 2000 Reinforced Units: 0 / 4 Allies: 400 / 400 Wounds: 105 Drops: 4
Allegiance: Sons of Behemat – Tribe: Breaker Tribe (Fierce Loathing: Shiny ‘Uns) – Mortal Realm: Ghur – Grand Strategy: No Place for the Weak – Triumphs: Inspired Gatebreaker Mega-Gargant (525) “lil chopper” – General – Command Trait: Monstrously Tough Gatebreaker Mega-Gargant (525)* “lil murder” – Artefact: Amulet of Destiny (Universal Artefact) Gatebreaker Mega-Gargant (525)* “lil half cut” – Artefact: Enchanted Portcullis Krondspine Incarnate of Ghur (400) “SpaceGhosrPurrp” – Allies *Bosses of the Stomp – Magnificent Artefact Total: 1975 / 2000 Reinforced Units: 0 / 4 Allies: 400 / 400 Wounds: 105 Drops: 4
Brett: Possibly the closest 2 lists of the event with only the Fierce Loathing changing between the lists. They hate a lot of things. 3 Mega Gargants and Krondspine as the basis. The General is Monstrously Tough (40 vs 35 wounds) and Amulet of Density and Enchanted Portcullis to give the other 2 a 6+ ward. A great play, it grants the equivalent to 5 or 6 wounds to each through the course of the game on average. For Sons he scored consistently, no real high or low spots. Even his last round loss (to 1st) was a 17/20 match. Season 1 has brought the big boys back in numbers.
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Army Faction: Stormcast Eternals – Army Type: Scions of the Storm – Army Subfaction: Hallowed Knights – Grand Strategy: No Place for the Weak – Triumphs: Inspired Leader1 x Gardus Steel Soul (150)* 1 x Knight-Draconis (300)* – General – Command Traits: Envoy of the Heavens – Artefacts: Mirrorshield – Mount Traits: Thunderous Presence Battleline5 x Judicators with Skybolt Bows (200)* 5 x Judicators with Skybolt Bows (200)* 4 x Stormdrake Guard (680)** – Stormdrake-Prime – Drakerider’s Warblade Other4 x Dracothian Guard Fulminators (460)**Core Battalion*Battle Regiment **Bounty Hunters TOTAL POINTS: (1990/2000)
Army Faction: Stormcast Eternals – Army Type: Scions of the Storm – Army Subfaction: Hallowed Knights – Grand Strategy: Tame the Land – Triumphs: InspiredLeader1 x Gardus Steel Soul (150)* 1 x Knight-Draconis (300)* – General – Command Traits: Envoy of the Heavens – Artefacts: Arcane Tome – Mount Traits: Thunderous Presence – Spells: Azyrite HaloBattleline5 x Judicators with Skybolt Bows (200)* 5 x Judicators with Skybolt Bows (200)* 4 x Stormdrake Guard (680)** – Stormdrake-Prime – Drakerider’s WarbladeOther4 x Dracothian Guard Fulminators (460)**Core Battalions*Battle Regiment **Bounty Hunters TOTAL POINTS: (1990/2000)
Brett: This list has me a little confused, the changes are limited to an artefact (ok) and Grand Strategy (maybe not valid). The Artefact varies between making the Knight Draconis untargetable more than 9″ away (Mirrorshield) to reflecting a mortal wound on a unmodified 6 to savc (Azyrite Right Halo). The Knight Draconis (makes drakes battle line) is teamed with Gardus for his 5+ ward (within 12″) and his once per game reroll charges and grant +1 attack. Gardus only works with Hallowed Heart, which also gives a fights on death to units. In an elite list like this (there are 20 models) that’s quite handy particularly with Blazing Glory (roll dice equivalent to the wounds characteristic and do a Mortal Wounds on a 6). Stormdrakes have 10 attacks and 10 dice, you really don’t want to fight them in combat.
No Holy Command shown but with unreinforced Judicators, Thunderbolt Volley seems likely. Gardus can combo well with the Fulminators to make sure they get into something and then have 6, 3 damage attacks – probably overkill with a group of 4. Essentially 2 big hammers supported by shooting. Objective control and scoring can be an issue, you either clear the table or score fairly poorly; the scores reflect that with Josef only scoring 20 of the 25 Battle Tactics. However had very high scores. This swingy nature is part of both Drakes and Draconith. Stormdrakes shooting has a 33% of doing nothing and a 17% chance of doing 4 or more wounds. Hero to zero stuff. The same with Fulminators, they are only really strong if they charge and middling if caught flat foot. Solid performance, and good to see with the most popular faction in the game.
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Army Faction: Nighthaunt – Army Subfaction: The Scarlet Doom – Grand Strategy: Take What’s Theirs – Triumphs: Inspired Leader1 x Reikenor the Grimhailer (190)* – Spells: Shademist 1 x Guardian of Souls (150)* – General – Command Traits: Master of Magic – Chill Blade – Artefacts: Midnight Tome – Spells: Seal of Shyish 1 x Awlrach the Drowner (175)** 1 x Krulghast Cruciator (150)** 1 x Krulghast Cruciator (150)** Battleline5 x Hexwraiths (160)* 10 x Bladegheist Revenants (175)** 10 x Bladegheist Revenants (175)** 20 x Bladegheist Revenants (350)** 3 x Spirit Hosts (125)** Endless Spell 1 x Purple Sun of Shyish (70) Other4 x Myrmourn Banshees (105)* Core Battalions*Battle Regiment **Battle Regiment TOTAL POINTS: (1975/2000)
Army Faction: Nighthaunt – Army Subfaction: The Scarlet Doom – Grand Strategy: Take What’s Theirs – Triumphs: Inspired Leader1 x Guardian of Souls (150)* – General – Command Traits: Master of Magic – Chill Blade – Artefacts: Midnight Tome – Spells: Seal of Shyish 1 x Krulghast Cruciator (150)* – Artefacts: Lightshard of the Harvest Moon 1 x Awlrach the Drowner (175)* 1 x Reikenor the Grimhailer (190)* – Spells: Shademist 1 x Krulghast Cruciator (150)* Battleline3 x Spirit Hosts (125)* 5 x Hexwraiths (160)* – Hellwraith 10 x Bladegheist Revenants (175)** 10 x Bladegheist Revenants (175)** 20 x Bladegheist Revenants (350)**Endless Spell1 x Purple Sun of Shyish (70) Other4 x Myrmourn Banshees (105) Core Battalions*Warlord **Bounty Hunters TOTAL POINTS: (1975/2000)
Brett: Scarlet Doom Nightlist with all of the usual suspects and an extra (Awlrach). 8″ movement on Bladgheist wasn’t scary enough, lets have a teleport option as well. A very hero heavy lists with 2 x Cruciators (-1 damage), Reikenor and Guardian of Souls. This is at a cost with a reduction in the number of models (Bladegheist). With 2 x Cruciators I’d have expected the Bladegheists either as 2 x 20 or 1 x 30 and 1x 10 to really take advantage of the Cruciators. 10 Units are tempting targets unfortunately and might not have a chance to respawn. We haven’t seen a lot of Awlrach and while he seems good with impact hits granting more attacks his teleport isn’t that useful to Nighthaunt and he is expensive (175). Nighthaunt want to castle more to take advantage of layered buffs and/or debuffs.
Myrmourn Banshees to eat spells, Hexwraiths for mobile threat and Spirit Hosts to body guard. Hexwraiths and Awlrach have some potential to cause disruption with their extreme movement and his combat abilities. Reiknor brings Corpse Candles to ensure he can get Purple Sun back out if needed, Midnight Tome autocasts Purple Sun once per battle. This is a solid list that might have placed higher, Hugh got 21 of his battle tactics and dropped 2 games. His second round (against our 2nd place) and his 3rd round against lists that could easily thin out the Bladegheists.
This is the Top Three AoS Lists for the Bathurst Grand Tournament that took place in Bathurst, NSW, Australia on 10th and 11th September. It involved 33 players vying to be crowned champion in a 5 game tournament in the Mountains west of Sydney. The tournament didn’t allow book Battle Tactics or Grand Strategies, instead following the GHB Season 1 alternatives only.
Before I jump into the Top Three AoS Lists, I wanted to remind everyone of our friendly Discord server where you can join in the conversation with the Woehammer crew and suggest articles or series for the website.
If you like what we’re doing, why not join our Patreon and help keep it going?
Also if there’s a one day or two day tournament you’d like us to cover drop us a comment on this post and we’ll have a look at it for you.
The Top Three AoS Lists
Allegiance: Bonesplitterz – Warclan: Icebone – Grand Strategy: No Place for the Weak – Triumphs: Inspired
Leaders Wurrgog Prophet (150)** – General – Command Trait: Master of Magic – Artefact: Mork’s Boney Bitz – Universal Spell Lore: Levitate – Krondspine Bond Wurrgog Prophet (150)** – Artefact: Glowin’ Tattooz – Lore of the Savage Beast: Glowy Green Tusks Wardokk (80)** – Lore of the Savage Beast: Gorkamorka’s War Cry Wardokk (80)*** – Lore of the Savage Beast: Gorkamorka’s War Cry
Battleline 5 x Savage Boarboys (140)** – Chompas 5 x Savage Boarboys (140) – Chompas 5 x Savage Boarboys (140) – Chompas
Units 2 x Savage Big Stabbas (80)*** 2 x Savage Big Stabbas (80)*** 2 x Savage Big Stabbas (80)*** 2 x Savage Big Stabbas (80)*** 2 x Savage Big Stabbas (80)*** 5 x Savage Boarboy Maniaks (145)* 5 x Savage Boarboy Maniaks (145)*
Brett: Another Bonesplitterz win, this time in the mountain country which seems like it would a natural home for the smaller orcs. And pretty cold at this time of year, especially nice for Icebone. Similar to some other recent Bonesplitterz lists but with extra Wurrgog and some Wardokks. Only one of the Wurrgog’s has the tattoos for the 4+ and the other is the general so you don’t want him to die. That means late game you’ve very likely got a screened Wurrgog that if you’re pushed you can still do the stare. Bottom of 3 or in turns 4/5 that’s a real game changer. Similarly the Krondspine is here as well, I can see that working really well by giving you a durable option, something the Bones are missing.
You can anchor one end of the line with him forcing your opponent to really commit then counter assault with either the Big Stabbas or the Boars. Lots of mobility from the pregame move and the 5 units of Boars. 4 casters giving 6 casts and unbinds, both the Wurrgog and Wardokk have unique abilities, the Wardokk healing, wounding or improving spell casts. A Wardokk near the Wurrgog General combined with the 6+ natural ward and the 4+ ward during the Waaagh makes him as dangerous as the Wurrgog with Glowing Tattoo’s combo. The Glowing Green Tusks improves a Boars rend by 2 (-2) and War Cry applies a fight last.
A lot of tricks even in a straight forward list with some nasty stings that would take a lot of thought to work around. Definitely a worthy winner, and no Purple Sun either.
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Allegiance: Sons of Behemat – Tribe: Breaker Tribe (Fierce Loathing: Shiny ‘Uns) – Grand Strategy: No Place for the Weak – Triumphs: Inspired
Leaders Kragnos, The End of Empires (720) Gatebreaker Mega-Gargant (525)* – General – Command Trait: Extremely Bitter – Bossy Pants and Clever Clogs – Artefact: Vial of Manticore Venom (Universal Artefact) Gatebreaker Mega-Gargant (525)* – Artefact: Arcane Tome (Universal Artefact) – Universal Spell Lore: Flaming Weapon
Battleline 1 x Mancrusher Gargants (170)
Core Battalions *Bosses of the Stomp – Magnificent
Brett: Kragnos for mortals and 3D6 charges with a pair of Gatebreakers both with weapon enhancements (+1 to wound rolls for the Venom and +1 damage for Flaming Weapon) for extra deadliness. It does make you wonder why Kragnos has less wounds than a Gargant though. Otherwise there isn’t a heap to say, Extremely bitter for additional loathings – HQs and Wizards attract an extra +1 to hit rolls. Anything with a save of 1+ through to 4+ also attracts a +1 to hit. Terence only lost his last round match (to Dalton) and honestly that’s a pretty hard counter to this list. Wurrgogs can be hard on Gargants and are really dangerous for Kragnos, potentially killing him before he gets to Bellow. If I have the right army Terence also did really well in the painting on top of being a great general.
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Allegiance: Lumineth Realm-lords – Great Nation: Alumnia – Grand Strategy: Show of Dominance – Triumphs: Indomitable
Leaders Scinari Cathallar (110)* – General – Command Trait: Burning Gaze – Artefact: Waystone – Lore of Hysh: Total Eclipse Vanari Lord Regent (155)* – Lore of Hysh: Lambent Light
Battleline 10 x Vanari Auralan Wardens (145)*** – Lore of Hysh: Lambent Light 10 x Vanari Auralan Wardens (145)*** – Lore of Hysh: Lambent Light 10 x Vanari Auralan Wardens (145)*** – Lore of Hysh: Speed of Hysh 30 x Vanari Auralan Sentinels (510)* – Lore of Hysh: Protection of Hysh – Reinforced x 2 20 x Vanari Auralan Sentinels (340)* – Lore of Hysh: Lambent Light – Reinforced x 1 5 x Vanari Bladelords (130)** 5 x Vanari Dawnriders (140)** – Lore of Hysh: Speed of Hysh
Units 5 x Vanari Dawnriders (140)** – Spell1: Lore of Hysh: Lambent Light
Brett: Described by his own team members as a filthy list, we have the 50 x Sentinel shoot for the sun list. But there is a lot more than Sentinels happening here. By lightening his HQ slot Sam has left room for 3 multi purpose Warden units (MSU) and still had room for a decent mobile Bounty Hunter units (Bladelords and Dawnriders). The Wardens are useful as screens, very good on objectives (they are Expert Conquerors) and a decent threat with Power of Hysh giving them mortals on 5s and 6s. They are also boasting Lambent Light to serve as marker lights for the Sentinels making at least 2 units very dangerous to bully off objectives.
The Bladelords are probably going to stay near the Cathallar for their bodyguard but the 2 Dawnriders are useful not only as battleline to harry GV units but are a good way to pick up a Battle Tactic or 2 with their speed. Then there are the 50 Sentinels with their superior range, mortal wounds and indirect fire. Sam recovered from a first round loss to finish on 4/1. The first round was into a Fangs of Sotek list with Lord Kroak turning of most Lumineth magic making them much less effective. A difficult match up. Despite the description at the start this is a fairly risky list, maximising troops over some efficient HQs and a very good result as pay off.
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Allegiance: Blades of Khorne – Slaughterhost: The Goretide – Grand Strategy: Show of Dominance – Triumphs: Indomitable
Leaders Bloodsecrator (125)**** – Banner of Khorne (Artefact): Banner of Rage Bloodsecrator (125)**** – Artefact: Thronebreaker’s Torc Bloodstoker (80)**** – Artefact: Talisman of Burning Blood Bloodstoker (80)*** Slaughterpriest (100)*** – Prayer: Bronzed Flesh Skarr Bloodwrath (105)*** – General
Battleline 6 x Mighty Skullcrushers (330)* – Bloodglaives – Reinforced x 1 30 x Bloodreavers (240)* – Meatripper Axes – Reinforced x 2 10 x Bloodreavers (80)** – Meatripper Axes 10 x Bloodreavers (80)** – Meatripper Axes 10 x Bloodreavers (80)** – Meatripper Axes
Units 10 x Ungor Raiders (80)*** 10 x Wrathmongers (290)* – Reinforced x 1 5 x Wrathmongers (145)****
Brett: Patrick is a member of Measured Gaming and you can find him running lists similar to this one on the Measured Gaming youtube channel. Great battle reports but they aren’t kid or work friendly. Pat went 3/2 and finished 10th with Khorne, but hasn’t taken any of the big Daemon models, instead sticking with mortals to make it much harder. Double warlord battalion for 2 extra relics so lets start with those. Thronebreaker’s Torc is mandatory for Goretide, Banner of Rage is 12″ aura of reroll 1s, and Talisman of Burning Blood adds 1 to charge rolls within 12″ of the bearer. Goretide includes a run and charge (with an auto 6″ run) command ability for mortal units, and more dangerously grants reroll 1s to wound within 12″ of an objective.
This list is going to fight near objectives, 4 of the 6 small heroes are buffing pieces – the Bloodstokers grants 3″ to run and charge where the Bloodsecrator adds an attack. Bloodsecrators also force rerolls of successful casts. The Slaughterpriest is the source of magic (since Khorne hates magic) including dispels and Skarr is a bomb looking for your large horde like blob to explode in. With luck he can return and fight again. Large blocks of Mighty Skullcrushers, Wrathmongers and Bloodreavers in Bounty Hunters for the potential extra damage and to take advantage of the increased attacks (or hand them out for Wrathmongers) Khorne loves to provide. The multiple smaller units are useful as screens but they are really here to die and give up Bloodtithe points. Khorne doesn’t care where the skulls come from.
Pat’s doubled up on their usefulness by putting them in Eternal Conquers for additional impact on objectives. Which they want to fight near due to Goretide. Very easy for a lot of factions to lose an objective to stray Bloodreavers. Great to see a variant list which I’m sure caused some issues for opponents.
The following stats are for the week ending 28th August only, essentially GT’s that took place on the 27th and 28th August.
Rolling 4 Week Stats
The rolling stats includes all GT’s since the weekend of 30th/31st July to the 20th/21st August. This covers a total of 983 players (+152 players) across 24 Grand Tournaments (+3 GT).
As the new release of the GHB takes hold it looks as though the overall effect is a positive one, although the stats are starting to shift away from the 50% mark slightly again. With Destruction once again falling.
Its not been a good week for the Kruleboyz and this is also reflected in the four weeks stats with them falling to 35.0%. Come on GW, show them some love.
Here are the rolling four weeks win rates since we began tracking this information:
Faction Stats (Version)
The below stats are for every match in a grand tournament since the release of the new General’s Handbook.
A great week for Seraphon sees them extend a lead over the Daughters of Khaine with 9 clean sweeps to their 6.
Meanwhile at the lower end of the tables factions who have gone a whole tournament with five losses…
As for the win rates of each faction since the release of the new GHB:
In terms of faction popularity:
By rights, each faction should have an equal share of the player base, however we know this will not be the case due to either the appeal of the miniatures or the rules for the factions. Here we can see the most popular factions are Stormcast Eternals, Nighthaunt, Sylvaneth, Daughters of Khaine, Maggotkin of Nurgle, Seraphon and Skaven.
Currently it would appear that Seraphon players have the highest chance of going 5-0 at an even.
This is the Top Three AoS Lists for Dice and Ducks: Decimation that took place in the UK on 27th and 28th August. It involved 16 players vying to be crowned champion in a 5 game tournament.
Dice and Ducks is the new YouTube channel run by the fantastic Ben Bailey of Hobby Room fame. Dice and Ducks are a fantastic commentary service for events around the UK. In fact you can catch up with five games from Decimation for free on their YouTube channel. While you’re there I urge you to subscribe and show some love.
Before I jump into the Top Three AoS Lists, I wanted to remind everyone of our friendly Discord server where you can join in the conversation with the Woehammer crew and suggest articles or series for the website.
If you like what we’re doing, why not join our Patreon and help keep it going?
Also if there’s a one day or two day tournament you’d like us to cover drop us a comment on this post and we’ll have a look at it for you.
The Top Three AoS Lists
Army Faction: Sons of Behemat – Army Type: Taker Tribe – Grand Strategy: No Place for the Weak – Triumph: Inspired
LEADERS Kraken-Eater (490)* – General – Command Traits: Very Acquisitive – Artefacts of Power: Glowy Lantern – Bonding: Krondspine Incarnate of Ghur – Spells: Flaming Weapon Gatebreaker (525)* – Artefacts of Power: Vial of Manticore VenomGatebreaker (525)* – Artefacts of Power: Arcane Tome – Spells: Flaming Weapon
BEHEMOTH (SPINEDOG) Krondspine Incarnate of Ghur (400)
CORE BATTALIONS *Bosses of the Stomp – Magnificent
TOTAL POINTS: 1940/2000
Peter: There is a theory among some at Woehammer that the Sons are (despite appearances) going to be the leading faction going forwards. Not only that, but that this is the list that will lead the way.
With a Krondspine attached the a kraken the opponent is going to have to seriously consider where they want to focus their attention. Either way they go, they’ll be struggling to cope with the opposite side of that coin. Two Mega-Gargant with additional thanks to flaming weapons and another that has an easier time thanks to the vial of Manticore venom.
It’ll be interesting to see how often this list starts to crop up.
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Army Faction: Daughters of Khaine – Subfaction: Khailebron – Grand Strategy: Take What’s Theirs – Triumph: Inspired
LEADERS Morathi-Khaine (680)** The Shadow Queen (680)** Melusai Ironscale (115)** – General – Command Traits: Zealous Orator – Artefacts of Power: Arcane Tome – Spells: Mindrazor
Danny: It’s Morathi and the Bow Snakes! Backed up by 10 and 5 Blood Sisters and Shadowstalkers and a unit of Heartrenders, for teleporting objective/scoring plays. Simple, but effective – and a 3 drop means it’ll still have a good chance of dictating turn order. Shadowstalkers, despite their nerf in the new book, are becoming increasingly common – probably because, while Heartrenders are great for dropping down and being a nuisance, Shadowstalkers ability to teleport _every_ turn makes them that more flexible, and their 11 wounds on a 4+ makes them able to take a hit, whether while scoring or as an emergency snek-screen.
This list understandably beat Kboyz, Skaven, Sons and Khorne, but Fangs of Sotek probably confounded the stab sneks and could handle Morathi with plenty of ranged chip damage.
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Allegiance: Soulblight Gravelords – Lineage: Legion of Night – Mortal Realm: Shyish – Grand Strategy: Vampiric Conquerors – Triumphs: Bloodthirsty
LEADERS Mannfred von Carstein, Mortarch of Night (380) – Lore of the Deathmages: Decrepify Necromancer (125)* – General – Command Trait: Unbending Will – Artefact: Arcane Tome – Lore of the Deathmages: Fading Vigour Vampire Lord (140)* – Lore of the Vampires: Amethystine Pinions
UNITS 5x Blood Knights (195)* 1x Corpse Cart with Balefire Brazier (80)* 30x Deathrattle Skeletons (240)** 10x Dire Wolves (135)** 10x Dire Wolves (135)** 20x Grave Guard (280)* – Great Wight Blades 20x Grave Guard (280)* – Great Wight Blades
Danny: Legion of Night is a relatively off-meta pick for Soulblight these days, so it’s nice to see it being picked alongside Mannfred, which is thematically appropriate, and doing well with an unusual list.
The aforementioned Manny is a familiar sight and an excellent all-round utility piece. But he’s rarely backed up by _30_ Deathrattle, who everyone said were too fragile against bounty hunters to reinforce, and have thus been typically run in msu given their cheap, cheap cost of 80 pts making them a cost-effective screen. Deathrattle can bring back models on a 4+ when they activate though – so having a unit big enough to take a hit and activate 2nd means there’s a good chance they regen plenty before the end of the phase – combo that with Expert Conqs and unless you super-commit and wipe the entire squad (30 wounds on a 4+ with AoD, with a ward of 6 re-rolling 1s, and quite possibly some debuffs such as -1 to wound from the corpse cart) – you can see how it might be tricky to steal an objective off them.
The next unusual element of this list is not Graveguard, as they’re a standard hammer, but simply taking two bricks of them. And why not? They’re so good! Going lighter on Blood Knights (just the token 5, you’d be mad not to take any) frees up the points needed, and now there are two scary blobs, either/both of which can be buffed to Shyish and back by the Necromancer, vampire lord AND Manny’s CA (+1 hit and wound).
A nice spin on things that performed brilliantly, losing only to Khorne, who might have their weaknesses, but do not count ‘a shit load of attacks and 6″ pile ins’ among them.
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Allegiance: Big Waaagh! – Grand Strategy: Waaagh! – Triumphs: Indomitable
Leaders Megaboss on Maw-Krusha (480) – General – Boss Choppa and Rip-tooth fist – Command Trait: Heroic Stature – Artefact: Armour of Gork – Mount Trait: Mean ‘Un Orruk Warchanter (115) – Warbeat: Fixin’ Beat Orruk Warchanter (115) – Artefact: Arcane Tome (Universal Artefact) – Warbeat: Get ‘Em Beat – Lore of the Weird: Foot of Gork Orruk Weirdnob Shaman (90) – Lore of the Weird: Da Great Big Green Hand of Gork Wurrgog Prophet (150) – Artefact: Glowin’ Tattooz – Universal Spell Lore: Flaming Weapon Wardokk (80) – Lore of the Savage Beast: Gorkamorka’s War Cry
Battleline 10 x Orruk Brutes (320)**** – Jagged Gore-hackas – Reinforced x 1 10 x Gutrippaz (180)**** 5 x Orruk Ardboys (85)**** 5 x Orruk Ardboys (85)*** 5 x Orruk Ardboys (85)*** 5 x Orruk Ardboys (85) 5 x Orruk Ardboys (85)
Danny: Big Waagh are now one of the least represented factions at tournament level, and I can see why – first book of the edition syndrome (I know it was a twin with Stormcast, but one twin is always technically born first…) and their meta-lists have a high skill floor. So it’s great to see them hanging on in there.
This list represents what is looking like the way to go with Big Waagh for this season – msu ‘Ardboyz. They’ve always been a cost-effective package, and while vulnerable to Bounty Hunters, enough of them in msu format still asks some hard questions of your opponent in terms of target priority.
They’re backed up here by the seemingly entrenched HQ combo, although spicily, Thomas here also throws in a Wardokk with the ‘fight last’ spell as an additional tech piece – something the Wurrgog also has access to but rarely uses given his laser-eyes are so clutch.
Now for the elephant in the room. Or should I say, the Gutrippaz in the bin. Yes, this list takes a unit of Gutrippaz. With no support. Why? Let’s ask Thomas. Someone, please ask Thomas. The only thing I can think of is that they’re in Expert Conquerors as a way to count as 30 and, y’know, if their janky ability goes off -1 to hit against 20 wounds isn’t too bad. I guess?
Either way, congrats for a clutch place in the top 5 with an odd duck of a list that took down some difficult match ups!
Final Tournament Placings
For the full tournament lists and Placings see tabletop.to.
This is the Top Three AoS Lists for the Emerald City Open 2 (Electric Boogaloo) that took place in Puyallup (Tacoma), USA on 27th and 28th August. It involved 41 players vying to be crowned champion in a 5 game/2 day tournament.
Before I jump into the Top Three AoS Lists, I wanted to remind everyone of our friendly Discord server where you can join in the conversation with the Woehammer crew and suggest articles or series for the website.
If you like what we’re doing, why not join our Patreon and help keep it going?
Also if there’s a one day or two day tournament you’d like us to cover drop us a comment on this post and we’ll have a look at it for you.
The Top Three AoS Lists
Allegiance: Daughters of Khaine – Temple: Hagg Nar – Grand Strategy: Bloodthirsty Zealots – Triumphs: Indomitable Leaders Melusai Ironscale (115)** – General – Command Trait: Zealous Orator Hag Queen (110)** – Prayer: Martyr’s Sacrifice – Universal Prayer Scripture: Curse Hag Queen on Cauldron of Blood (270)** – Prayer: Blessing of Khaine – Universal Prayer Scripture: Curse High Gladiatrix (90)* – Artefact: Crown of Woe Battleline 30 x Witch Aelves (345)* – Pairs of Sacrificial Knives – Reinforced x 2 10 x Sisters of Slaughter (135)* – Barbed Whips and Sacrificial Knives 10 x Sisters of Slaughter (135)* – Barbed Whips and Sacrificial Knives 10 x Blood Sisters (280)*** – Reinforced x 1 10 x Blood Sisters (280)*** – Reinforced x 1 Units 5 x Khinerai Heartrenders (95)* 5 x Khinerai Heartrenders (95)* Endless Spells & Invocations Heart of Fury (45) Core Battalions *Battle Regiment **Command Entourage – Magnificent ***Expert Conquerors Additional Enhancements Prayer Total: 1995 / 2000 Reinforced Units: 4 / 4 Allies: 0 / 400 Wounds: 130 Drops: 6
Brett: Daughters of Khaine (DoK) small heroes list this time, a solid alternative to Morathi focused on the big block of Witch Aelves. (Going to go with the Honest Wargammer here and call this a Death Ball not the more common, 40k derived Death Star). In a spell heavy meta this army doesn’t have any Wizards but there are 2 priests (they can unbind endless spells of course). Both have Curse (1MW on a hit roll of 6, Answer Value (AV) 4), and otherwise provide reroll on the ward roll (Blessing of Khaine) or inflicts MW on a 5+ after a model dies (Martyrs Sacrifice). They can also summon the Heart of Fury which usually reduces multi damage weapons by 1 damage but on a 6 does that and adds an attack to units within 12″.
The combination of 3 Battleline units does open a battle tactic not often seen right now (Clash of Arms) Situationally they can use Witchbrew on a unit to advance the Blood Rites Table (Hagg Nar already advances them one, giving +1 to charge in the first round). The Hag Queen on Cauldron buffs the prayer rolls of the other Hag Queen and improves the saves by 1 for units within range on a degrading profile. The High Gladiatrix can grants + 1 to wound and -1 rend to both types of battleline unit and is a solid combat unit, as is the Melusai although her best ability is to grant run and charge to a unit.
Each game will be different but the key play her is to get the Witch Aelves into combat as quickly as possible through a combination of additional movement and run and charge with the High Gladiatrix and The Hag Queen on Blood Cauldron close. 90 attacks, hitting on 3s and wounding on 2s, -1 rend averaging 50 hits before saves, with Curse they’d average 15 MWs on top. Nice.
The list has a lot of flexibility through commiting the heroes (other than the Melusai) to combat. Sisters of Slaughter to hold objectives and for board control and Blood Sisters for even more of both (they are Expert Conquerors and count as 3 on objectives). Death Ball with wings?.The Heartrenders are on hand for deep strike, battle tactics and objective games. They will use their fire and fade ability at least once. Not much to say about his opponents, 2 x Nighthaunt, mostly MSU, 2 x Gitz lists (Shootas and a Troggoth list) and Seraphon skinks list. Everything is dying too fast to heal, and while the priests can be blocked by the Seraphon priests it’s not as certain as their magic counters.
Lots of units and hard to keep track of but that means lots of tools and a very difficult list to counter, unless you can stand back and shoot. Scores weren’t amazing through the weekend (until the last round) but very solid.
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Army Faction: Sons of Behemat – Army Type: Breaker Tribe – Grand Strategy: Make the land tremble! – Triumph: Inspired Leaders Gatebreaker (525)* – General – Command Traits: Louder than Word – Artefacts of Power: Enchanted Portcullis Gatebreaker (525)* – Artefacts of Power: Arcane Tome – Spells: Flaming Weapon Gatebreaker (525)* Battleline Mancrusher Gargant (170)** Mancrusher Gargant (170)** Endless Spells & Invocations 1 x Horrorghast (40) Core Battalions *Bosses of the Stomp – Magnificent **Bounty Hunters Total Points: 1955/2000
Brett: Rerolling 1s own Bear with his current Sons list, he covered this in more detail with in a session with AoS Coach recently, check the video out if you want to know more. 3 Gatebreakers with Arcane Tome for a little magic and 2 Mancrushers rather than 3 to fit an endless spell. No Fierce Loathing shown in the list (Idiots with Flags is popular to counter elite units that issue their own commands). The general has Louder than Word for an additional 2 flail attacks (because 10 is never enough – it’s a good counter to the degrading profile) and Enchanted Portcullis for a 6+ ward.
Flaming Weapon is a nice touch (4 damage on the Flail) but Horrorghast is more interesting. Gate Breakers have a natural -1 to bravery for units nearby and their prodigious output almost always guarantees a battleshock roll. Focing and extra D3 to flee particulary against Multiple Small Unit (MSU) or elite armies (Stormcast/Ironjawz) is really strong. Another nice touch is Mancrushers in Bounty Hunters, doubling the damage of their main weapon. It’s a list with some ranged but basically mostly strong melee attacks and abilities that wants to get close early for impact hits, lots of damage and hopefully some battleshock fails. 5/0 with a decent differential through out, really good result for Sons who are often a bit harder to score Battle Tactics with (no GV and very few units).
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Army Faction: Disciples of Tzeentch – Army Subfaction: Hosts Arcanum – Grand Strategy: Take What’s Theirs – Triumphs: Inspired Leader1 x Kairos Fateweaver (435)* – Spells: Unchecked Mutation 1 x Magister on Disc of Tzeentch (145)* – Spells: Bolt of Tzeentch – Bonding: Krondspine Incarnate of Ghur 1 x Tzaangor Shaman (135)* – General – Artefacts: The Fanged Circlet – Spells: Arcane Suggestion Battleline10 x Kairic Acolytes (120)* – Kairic Adept – Cursed Blade and Arcanite Shield – Scroll of Dark Arts – Vulcharc – 3 x Cursed Glaive 10 x Kairic Acolytes (120)* – Kairic Adept – Cursed Blade and Arcanite Shield – Scroll of Dark Arts – Vulcharc – 3 x Cursed Glaive 3 x Screamers of Tzeentch (100)* Behemoth1 x Krondspine Incarnate of Ghur (400)*Endless Spell1 x Umbral Spell portal (70) 1 x Purple Sun of Shyish (70) 1 x Chronomantic Cogs (40) Other6 x Tzaangor Enlightened on Discs of Tzeentch (360)* Core Battalions*Battle Regiment TOTAL POINTS: (1995/2000)
Brett: Old book Tzeetch with a last podium before the new book hits? Probably not, there will be a couple of weeks before the new book hits the shelves and a little while longer until the FAQ, Tzeetch remains pretty strong. Appropriately for a Tzeetch list this leans heavily on spell casting, not just their own but endless spells and aggro endless spells (Incarnate) as well. Interesting take with so many mortals given the composition of the new battlebox. All of the heroes are wizards, 5 casts in total. Kairos has some interesting warscroll abilities. Beyond replacing a D6 once a battle and a nasty spell that can do 6 MW (top bracket) he can set the lowest D6 to match the highest every time he casts.
The chosen spells are damage spells except Arcane Suggestion, either D3 + D3 if any models are slain (Unchecked Mutation), D6 MW (Bolt of Tzeetch). Arcane Suggestion is more fun with 3 possible outcomes (D3 MW, -1 to hit and wound rolls or -1 to save rolls, you pick). While the wizards are within 18″ of Kairos he knows there spells as well. With the Spell Portal that means he can drop a Bolt of Tzeetch into your back field. Kairos is also the likely choice to cast Purple Sun and with Cogs dropped before hand they probably won’t miss many (any) of their spells. With Bolt of Tzeetch, Kairos can guarantee 6 MW if it’s important – that’s enough to take out most foot heroes. And eat an endless spell per turn (bye Purple Sun)
There is a lot to keep track of with Tzeetch armies including Destiny Dice (affect rolls with dice that are rolled at the start of a game), Faith points (summoning currency) and Agenda’s. What’s important to remember is that they can change their dice and summon additional forces pretty easily. Even the troops are complicated. Kairic Acolytes are all casters, they only know one spell but it grants -1 rend to their ranged attack. They cause mortal wounds to Wizards near them regardless of the outcome of the spell and have a 6+ ward. Screamers move 16″ and can travel over opponents trailing MW (on a 5+) in their wake. The Tzaangor Enlightened are very fast (16″ move) with a lot of attacks they are capable of dealing reasonable damage.
They are also quite likely to achieve an agenda or two on the way and improve their stats. The incarnate is a worthwhile inclusion, giving a substantial boost to combat capability. However it costs as much as a 2nd Lord of Change or a block of Pink and a block of Blue horrors. Which is better depends on your play style. Matt faced some very tough lists and did well not to drop more games. He lost to a Seraphon list with 2 reinforced salamander packs, that’s a lot of damage that this list doesn’t have an easy answer to. It will be interesting to see where Tzeetch goes with the new book.
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Army Faction: Skaven – Grand Strategy: Take What’s Theirs – Triumphs: Inspired Leader 1 x Master Moulder (90)* – General – Command Traits: Cunning Mutator – Warpstone-tipped Lash – Artefacts: Foulhide 1 x Warlock Engineer (105)* – Spells: More-more-more Warp Power! 1 x Warlock Engineer (105)* – Artefacts: Esoteric Warp Resonator – Spells: More-more-more Warp Power! Battleline 6 x Stormfiends (640)** – 2 x Windlaunchers and Clubbing Blows – 2 x Ratling Cannons and Clubbing Blows – 2 x Doomflayer Gauntlets and Warpstone-laced Armour 5 x Skryre Acolytes (75)* 6 x Giant Rats (60)* Artillery 1 x Warp Lightning Cannon (150) 1 x Warp Lightning Cannon (150) 1 x Warp Lightning Cannon (150) Other 2 x Rat Swarms (55) 2 x Rat Swarms (55) 2 x Rat Swarms (55) 2 x Rat Swarms (55) 1 x Warp-Grinder (65) 2 x Rat Swarms (55)* 2 x Rat Swarms (55)** 2 x Rat Swarms (55)** Core Battalions *Warlord **Bounty Hunters ***Expert Conquerors TOTAL POINTS: (1975/2000)
Brett: A very different take on Skaven that performed pretty well throughout the event. There are no Deceiver’s or Thanquol or even clanrats just a lot of cannons and rats. One of the lower scores in the top 10 despite only dropping one battle tactic in the competition and taking all 5 Grand Strategies. Only defeated in the 2nd round, fittingly by 2nd in the event, the list struggles to control objectives or stop their opponent from scoring. In this tournament that was the difference between 4th and 6th.
With a Master Moulder (with a 3+ ward thanks to Cunning Mutator) to return Giant Rat and Rat Swarms (on a 3+) and the Warlock Engineers to buff the cannons. The Warlocks have More More More Warp Power to give +1 to hit and wound rolls. Mostly useful on the Stormfiends (they can take the D3 damage that occurs next turn). There’s not much more to it, rat swarms for screening the cannon, cannon’s to spew MW whenever necessary. One benefit of a the list is there is nothing for Death Ball to go into other than Stormfiends. Doing that will leave you open to the Cannon’s MWs though.
Good run through the event taking down Archaeon in one round bout as noted above not the highest scoring army.
