This is the Top Three AoS Lists for the Southern Fried Open that took place in Georgia, USA on 16th and 17th July. It involved 18 players vying to be crowned champion in a 5 game tournament. A small tournament often means interesting results and that’s true this time with a pair of Cities of Sigmar lists and Fyreslayers. Peter sensibly included an Orc list, there haven’t been enough of those recently.

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The Top Three AoS Lists

Allegiance: Cities of Sigmar
– City: Tempest’s Eye
– Mortal Realm: Aqshy
– Grand Strategy: Defend What’s Ours
– Triumphs: Inspired

Leaders
Battlemage (100)***
– General
– Command Trait: Master of Magic
– Artefact: Arcane Tome (Universal Artefact)
– Mortal Realm: Ghur
– Lore of Eagles: Aura of Glory
Sorceress (90)***
– Lore of Eagles: Aura of Glory
Runelord (95)***
– City Role: General’s Adjutant
– Universal Prayer Scripture: Curse
Celestial Hurricanum with Celestial Battlemage (290)
– Lore of Eagles: Aura of Glory
Warden King (95)
– Artefact: Seerstone Amulet

Battleline
10 x Longbeards (105)*
– Ancestral Weapons & Shields
10 x Dreadspears (85)*
– City Role: Honoured Retinue (Must be 5-20 models)
5 x Freeguild Pistoliers (105)***

Units
20 x Irondrakes (340)**
– Reinforced x 1
20 x Hammerers (290)**
– Reinforced x 1
20 x Black Guard (270)**
– Reinforced x 1

Endless Spells & Invocations
Ravenak’s Gnashing Jaws (60)
Purple Sun of Shyish (70)

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

Additional Enhancements
Artefact

Total: 1995 / 2000
Reinforced Units: 3 / 4
Allies: 0 / 400
Wounds: 121
Drops: 11

Brett: There is so much happening in this army, it’s hard to keep this short. Really demonstrates how much is smashed into the Cities of Sigmar book. Thematically it’s exciting as well with Dwarves allied with Humans and Aelves. Tempest Eye brings additional movement and +1 save in the first turn as well as allowing a ranged unit to shoot even if it ran. Irondrakes are slow and have a shorter range (16″) than most ranged units but with this combination you can easily get within range on most maps. If they are more than 3″ from enemy units that’s 40 R-1 D1 shots.

The Hammerers are the hammer in this army though, the shooting of the Irondrakes and the mobility of the Pistoliers play a supporting role. The Hammerers with Aura of Glory are easily capable of putting out 62 R-1 D2 attacks a turn. This isn’t the only synergy, the Sorceress can boost either the Dreadspears or Black Spears but equally can use either to fuel her spells reducing the Purple Sun to a CV6. Even though this is a Tempest Eye not Hallowheart army it’s still built around spells and prayers. Curse is there to increase the lethality of the Black Guard and in a pinch the Irondrakes. Hammerers already have MW on a 6.

We have 3 wizards with Aura of Glory, only one is going to be used but that allows a lot of flexibility in positioning. With the 2 Endless spells to get out there are still 2 casts available, most likely on the Battlemage and Hurricanum. The Sorceress and Battlemage are both casting at +2 fairly easily so are the best for casting the Endless Spells. Ghurian Battlemage so Wildform is his spell, a great boost to a melee unit leaving the Hurricanum to cast Aura of Glory. In the perfect round. Not least is the Seerstone Amulet giving a CP per turn for nothing, a very powerful ability.

This is still an army full of one wound, low save units that can die easily so a 4/1 is a great result. A high risk, high reward army that delves deep into the Cities book and capable of some amazing action unless the dice turn.

Allegiance: Fyreslayers
– Lodge: Lofnir
– Grand Strategy: Masters of the Forge
– Triumphs: Inspired

Leaders
Auric Runemaster (125)*
– General
– Command Trait: Master Priest
– Artefact: Volatile Brazier
– Universal Prayer Scripture: Heal
Auric Runesmiter (135)*
– Runic Iron
– Prayer: Prayer of Ash
Battlesmith (150)
– Artefact: Nulsidian Icon
Auric Runesmiter on Magmadroth (340)
– Runic Iron
– Magmadroth Trait: Lava-tongue Adult
– Universal Prayer Scripture: Curse
Auric Runeson on Magmadroth (320)**
– Ancestral War-axe
– Magmadroth Trait: Coal-heart Ancient
Auric Runeson on Magmadroth (320)**
– Wyrmslayer Javelins
– Magmadroth Trait: Flame-scale Youngblood
Runelord (95)*
– Allies

Battleline
15 x Auric Hearthguard (375)**
– Reinforced x 2

Endless Spells & Invocations
Molten Infernoth (40)
Runic Fyrewall (40)
Zharrgron Flame-spitter (50)

Core Battalions
*Command Entourage – Magnificent
**Bounty Hunters

Total: 1990 / 2000
Reinforced Units: 2 / 4
Allies: 95 / 400
Wounds: 105 Drops: 8

Brett: Really great to have a Fyreslayers list on the podium. It’s been a bit of a surprise that the new book didn’t lead to more podiums but for a range of reasons they seem to have been held back. Kevin has chosen the Magmadroth lodge (Lofnir) that makes Runeson on Magmadroth battleline. It also gives them an extra 2 wounds and up to 3 may have mount traits. No accident that this army has 3 Magmadroths all with mount traits. Magmadroths are the books strongest unit with 18W and 12″ movement giving Fyreslayers much needed mobility. I should mention that Kevin has been restrained, there are Fyreslayers armies with 5 Magmadroths.

That isn’t all though, the prayers, traits and artefacts all combine to make this a very hard to kill army. It’s a great army for frustrating high damage but fragile opponents (DoK). They want to lure you in and then hit back hard. Even the Runelord is a good inclusion bringing a ward aura and increasing rend.

Looking at his journey through the competition it’s difficult to see a good counter to the magma lizards. The Incarnate would on the surface seem to be a solid choice but if you don’t feed it endless spells then it will struggle to level. Morathi would have been an obstacle but again she would struggle to clear the Hearthguard with Battlesmith support and the Magmadroths will clear the Blood Sisters quickly. We have 3 Priests and the Battlesmith to provide buffs (wards) and heals as well as denies. In Fyreslayers endless spells are actually invocations and summoned by the priests. The army has all 3 pumping out mortal wounds or making nearby units very tanky. All of the top armies went 4/1 and this army scored very well throughout.

Allegiance: Cities of Sigmar
– City: Excelsis
– Mortal Realm: Ghur
– Grand Strategy: Take What’s Theirs
– Triumphs:

Leaders
Freeguild General on Griffon (290)***
– General
– Greathammer
– Command Trait: Cunning Foe
– Artefact: Gryph-feather Charm
Anointed on Flamespyre Phoenix (290)***
Celestial Hurricanum with Celestial Battlemage (290)**
– Lore of the Ghurish Heartlands: Cower
Runelord (95)
– Artefact: Arcane Tome (Universal Artefact)
– Lore of the Ghurish Heartlands: The Amber Spear
– Universal Prayer Scripture: Heal
Runelord (95)
– Universal Prayer Scripture: Guidance

Battleline
6 x Demigryph Knights (350)*
– Lance and Sword
– Reinforced x 1
6 x Demigryph Knights (350)*
– Lance and Sword
– Reinforced x 1
3 x Demigryph Knights (175)*
– Lance and Sword

Endless Spells & Invocations
Ravenak’s Gnashing Jaws (60)

Core Battalions
*Bounty Hunters
**Command Entourage – Magnificent
***Monstrous Kill-Pack

Total: 1995 / 2000
Reinforced Units: 2 / 4
Allies: 0 / 400
Wounds: 106
Drops: 8

Brett: I just like this list, honestly anyone that brings a battalion of knights to a competition deserves to win. They are paired with some very killy leaders on Behemoths for the most part and protected by Runelords with their wards. Two wizards and two priests (one of the priests doubling down with the Arcane Tome). This is an army that wants to move fast and charge in most cases. However there are some interesting choices still, Cunning Foe, allows the General to retreat and charge. But he is equipped with the Greathammer that doesn’t receive a buff from charging.

Unfortunately the Knights aren’t benefiting from the Phoenix as much as some units. This is a conscious choice to allow access to the Lore of the Ghurish Hearthlands and the 2 potent spells included in the army. The Phoenix is 50% chance of returning with full wounds the first time it is killed. In a tournament that is huge, you are potentially using a 2290 point list.

The battalions are interesting with the rarely seen Monstrous Kill-Pack and overall choosing Excelsis is innovative. This is the city within Ghur introduced in Broken Realms. It has interesting mechanics that can grant +1 to hit rolls per phase for a unit (it doesn’t have to be the same unit in different phases) and there is a chance that a saving throw will cause a mortal wound to the attacker. Everything in the army moves at least 10″ except the Runelords giving them extraordinary threat range. A most impressive run including beating Thunder Lizards (twice) and only losing to the ultimate winner. A good looking list that would be a hoot to play (but maybe not against).

Army Faction: Orruk Warclans
– Army Type: Kruleboyz
– Army Subfaction: Grinnin’ Blades
– Grand Strategy: Defend What’s Ours
– Triumphs: Indomitable

LEADER
Snatchaboss on Sludgeraker Beast (315)
– General
– Command Traits: Supa Sneaky
– Artefacts: Arcane Tome
– Mount Traits: Fast ’Un
– Spells: Sneaky Miasma
Killaboss with Stab-Grot (110)**
– Boss‑hacka and Skareshield
– Artefacts: Mork’s Eye Pebble
Swampcalla Shaman and Pot-grot (105)**
– Spells: Choking Mist
Swampcalla Shaman and Pot-grot (105)**
– Spells: Nasty Hex

BATTLELINE
1 x Gutrippaz (360)*
– Gutrippa Banner Bearer
– Gutrippa Drummer
– Gutrippa Boss
– Wicked Stikka
1 x Gutrippaz (360)*
– Gutrippa Banner Bearer
– Gutrippa Hornblower
– Gutrippa Boss
– Wicked Stikka
Hobgrot Slittaz (80)***
Hobgrot Slittaz (80)***

OTHER
1 x Man-skewer Boltboyz (240)
1 x Man-skewer Boltboyz (240)

CORE BATTALIONS:
*Bounty Hunters
**Command Entourage – Magnificent
***Expert Conquerors

TOTAL POINTS: (1995/2000)

Brett: An unusual take on Kruleboyz for your entertainment, I think that like Nighthaunt for most of AoS 2nd edition Kruleboyz haven’t really met our expectations. But for those who like something different the faction offers a lot of choices and a different style of play. This army defeated Thunder Lizard and Soulblight both considered stronger factions (one of them amoung the best) and includes the almost never seen Hobgrots. Really importantly, I think, this whole 2000 point list is made of 2 Dominion Launch Sets with the addition of a Snatchaboss. What a great way to quickly and cheaply build an army that has some competitive chops.

Alexander has chosen Grinnin’ Blades instead of the more common Big Yellerz (Boltboyz as battleline). This negates shooting very well; Grinnin’ Blades units aren’t visible if they are more than 12″ away. Additionally the Kruleboyz have a lot of “tricks” at the start of a battle giving surprise mortal wounds, mortal wounds on 6s, forcing redeployment and debuffing wound rolls as well as making themselves invisible in cover. Unfortunately most of these based on chance so you might not get everything you need from Battle Traits.

The Snatchaboss is a great inclusion providing a lot of punch in an army that is more of a witherer. His trait allows a redeploy before first turn so you can place something really aggressively and move it if you don’t go first. His mount trait and spell (thanks Arcane Tome) allow him to move twice in the hero phase and once in the movement phase – 24″ move without charges. A very aggressive play but a nightmare to screen against, it can also get him isolated and focused if the rest of your army is hiding. A lot of strong attacks, mortal wounds due to his belly slime and the once a game ability to one shot a small hero.

The Shaman highlight one of the issues you have in Kruleboyz, they have great spells which reduce the number of attacks of a unit (Choking Mist) or strip ward rolls (Nasty Hex) but they also hand out Poison/Elixirs if they don’t cast or dispel. They offer either MW on a 5+ or +1 to saves. In the current meta you can’t really have no dispels available so it is hard to decide how to use the Shaman in a given situation. The 2 Shaman let you choose to have one cast and the other use Poisons/Elixirs based on the situation. On the offence you want poison and Nasty Hex for one of the Gutripper units. Defensively you can switch.

Otherwise the units aren’t exceptional, Gutripper’s are fishing for 6s or 5s to make up for their poor weapon skills. Hobgrots are a screening speed bump and the Boltboyz are fun but limited by range, in Grinning Blades the profile you want (Hasty Shot) is only a 12″ range and they can’t last in combat. Kruleboyz have poor moral and poor saves so they struggle against sustained pressure. The army struggled with armies that got close and pushed in to melee and performed better against shooting based armies with the exception of the Soulblight.

2/3 isn’t really indicative of how strong this army can be but it is a very well conceived army with a lot of play if a bit too dependent on terrain and some lucky dice rolls.

Final Tournament Placings