This is the top three AoS lists for War Under the Mountain that took place in Australia on the 25th and 26th of March. It involved 19 players vying to be crowned champion in a 5-game tournament.
As this event had less than 20 players attending there won’t be any list comments here as the guys will be concentrating on the larger events of the week.
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: Kharadron Overlords – Sky Port: Barak Zon – Grand Strategy: Rule the Skies – Triumphs: Inspired
Kharadron Code – Artycle: Honour Is Everything – Amendment: Prosecute Wars With All Haste – Footnote: There’s No Reward Without Risk
Leaders Arkanaut Admiral (125)* – General – Command Trait: Stormcaller – Aspect of the Champion: Leadership of the Alpha Aetheric Navigator (85)** – Artefact: Voidstone Orb
Battleline 6 x Skywardens (260)** – Reinforced x 1 6 x Skywardens (260)** – Reinforced x 1 6 x Skywardens (260)* – Reinforced x 1
Other Units 1 x Grundstok Gunhauler (170)** – Main Gun: Sky Cannon – Gunhauler Modifications: Coalbeard’s Collapsible Compartments 3 x Endrinriggers (120)** 3 x Endrinriggers (120)*
Behemoths Arkanaut Frigate (300)* – Main Gun: Heavy Sky Cannon Arkanaut Frigate (300)** – Main Gun: Heavy Sky Cannon
Allegiance: Slaves to Darkness – Damned Legion: Knights of the Empty Throne – Grand Strategy: Defend What’s Ours – Triumphs: Inspired
Leaders Chaos Sorcerer Lord (120)* – Artefact: Arcane Tome (Universal Artefact) – Mark of Chaos: Undivided – The Lore of the Damned: Chaotic Conduit – Aspect of the Champion: Leadership of the Alpha
Battleline 6 x Varanguard (580)* – 6x Fellspear – Mark of Chaos: Khorne – Reinforced x 1 6 x Varanguard (580)* – 6x Fellspear – Mark of Chaos: Khorne – Reinforced x 1 6 x Varanguard (580)* – 6x Fellspear – Mark of Chaos: Khorne – Reinforced x 1
Allegiance: Daughters of Khaine – Temple: Zainthar Kai – Grand Strategy: Bloodthirsty Zealots – Triumphs: Inspired
Leaders Hag Queen (120)* – Aspect of the Champion: Tunnel Master – Prayers of Khainite Cult: Crimson Rejuvenation Anointed on Frostheart Phoenix (320) – Allies Slaughter Queen on Cauldron of Blood (300)* – General – Command Trait: Zealous Orator – Artefact: Arcane Tome (Universal Artefact) – Lore of Shadows: Mindrazor – Prayers of Khainite Cult: Sacrament of Blood
Battleline 15 x Blood Sisters (450)* – Reinforced x 2 10 x Blood Stalkers (360)* – Reinforced x 1 5 x Blood Sisters (150)*
Units 5 x Khinerai Heartrenders (100)* 5 x Khinerai Heartrenders (100)*
Leaders Gobsprakk, The Mouth of Mork (260)* Snatchaboss on Sludgeraker Beast (290) – Artefact: Mork’s Eye Pebble – Mount Trait: Mean ‘Un Killaboss on Great Gnashtoof (130)* – General – Command Trait: Supa Sneaky – Artefact: Eye-biter Ash Swampcalla Shaman with Pot-grot (100)* – Lore of the Swamp: Nasty Hex Swampcalla Shaman with Pot-grot (100)* – Lore of the Swamp: Choking Mist Murknob with Belcha-banna (80)*** – Aspect of the Champion: TunnelMaster
Battleline 20 x Gutrippaz (300)*** – Reinforced x 1 10 x Gutrippaz (150)* 20 x Hobgrot Slittaz (160)** – Reinforced x 1 10 x Hobgrot Slittaz (80)**
Units 6 x Man-skewer Boltboyz (240)** – Reinforced x 1
This is the top three AoS lists for Stockholm Slaughter 9 took place in Sweden on the 18th and 19th of March. It involved 18 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: Fyreslayers – Lodge: Vostarg – Grand Strategy: Master of the Forge – Triumphs: Bloodthirsty
LEADERS Auric Runefather (120)* – General – Command Trait: Fury of the Fyreslayers Auric Runemaster (130)*** – Artefact: Volatile Brazier – Universal Prayer Scripture: Heal Auric Flamekeeper (90)*** Auric Flamekeeper (90)*** Battlesmith (150) – Artefact: Nulsidian Icon – Aspect of the Champion: Fuelled by Ghurish Rage Auric Runesmiter (120) – Forge Key – Prayer: Ember Storm
UNITS 15 x Hearthguard Berzerkers (450)* – Poleaxes 30 x Vulkite Berzerkers with Fyresteel Handaxes (480)** 10 x Vulkite Berzerkers with Fyresteel Handaxes (160)** 10 x Vulkite Berzerkers with Fyresteel Handaxes (160)**
Army Faction: Slaves to Darkness – Subfaction: Cabalists – Grand Strategy: Take What’s Theirs – Triumph: Bloodthirsty
LEADERS Chaos Sorcerer Lord (120)** – Mark of Chaos: Slaanesh – Spells: Chaotic Conduit, Daemonic Speed Exalted Hero of Chaos (100)** – Mark of Chaos: Slaanesh – Rune-etched Blade and Chaos Runeshield – Spells: Binding Damnation – Aspects of the Champion: Tunnel Master Slaves to Darkness Daemon Prince (195)** – General – Mark of Chaos: Nurgle – Command Traits: Not to be Denied – Daemonic Axe – Wings – Artefacts of Power: Helm of the Oppressor – Spells: Daemonic Speed
BATTLELINE Corvus Cabal (80)* Corvus Cabal (80)* Chaos Knights (460)** – Mark of Chaos: Nurgle – Doom Knight – Standard Bearer – Hornblower – Cursed Flail – Ensorcelled banner: The Eroding Icon
OTHER Chaos Chosen (480)* – Mark of Chaos: Slaanesh – Exalted Champion – 2 x Icon Bearer – 2 x Skull Drummer – Ensorcelled banner: The Banner of Screaming Flesh Ogroid Theridons (380)** – Mark of Chaos: Nurgle – Thorakon – Goroan Great Axe – 2 x Banner Bearer – 2 x Charge-caller
ENDLESS SPELLS & INVOCATIONS 1 x Soulscream Bridge (80)
Leaders Orruk Megaboss (140)* – General – Command Trait: Master of Magic – Artefact: Arcane Tome (Universal Artefact) – Lore of the Weird: Da Great Big Green Hand of Gork Orruk Warchanter (120)* – Artefact: Gryph-feather Charm (Galletian Champion) – Warbeat: Get ‘Em Beat – Aspect of the Champion: Tunnel Master Orruk Warchanter (120)* – Warbeat: Killa Beat
Battleline 5 x Orruk Ardboys (80)* 6 x Orruk Gore-gruntas (340)** – Jagged Gore-hackas – Reinforced x 1 6 x Orruk Gore-gruntas (340)*** – Jagged Gore-hackas – Reinforced x 1 6 x Orruk Gore-gruntas (340)*** – Jagged Gore-hackas – Reinforced x 1 3 x Orruk Gore-gruntas (170)** – Jagged Gore-hackas 3 x Orruk Gore-gruntas (170)*** – Jagged Gore-hackas 5 x Spider Riders (90)* 5 x Spider Riders (90)
This is the top three AoS lists for the Rumble in the Rockies that took place in Canada on the 11th and 12th of March. It involved 18 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: Daughters of Khaine – Subfaction: Zainthar Kai – Grand Strategy: Bloodthirsty Zealots
LEADERS The Shadow Queen (700) Melusai Ironscale (120)* – General – Command Traits: Zealous Orator – Artefacts of Power: Crown of Woe – Aspects of the Champion: Fuelled by Ghurish Rage Morathi-Khaine (700)***
Army Faction: Hedonites of Slaanesh – Army Type: Godseekers – Grand Strategy: Take What’s Theirs – Triumphs: Indomitable
LEADER 1 x Bladebringer, Herald on Exalted Chariot (230) – Spells: Flaming Weapon 1 x The Contorted Epitome (240)* – Spells: Hysterical Frenzy – Aspects of the Champion: Tunnel Master 1 x Lord of Pain (130)* – General – Command Traits: Master of Magic – Artefacts: Arcane Tome – Spells: Battle Rapture 1 x Be’lakor (355)*
BATTLELINE 22 x Blissbarb Archers (280)* 10 x Symbaresh Twinsouls (260)* 10 x Symbaresh Twinsouls (260)* 5 x Hellstriders with Claw-spears (120)*
ENDLESS SPELL 1 x Ravenak’s Gnashing Jaws (70) 1 x Geminids of Uhl-Gysh (50)
This is the top three AoS lists for the Sydney Salt Smash that took place in Australia on the 18th and 19th of February. It involved 28 players vying to be crowned champion in a 5-game tournament.
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: Astral Templars (Scions of the Storm) – Mortal Realm: Ghyran – Grand Strategy: Take What’s Theirs – Triumphs: Bloodthirsty
Leaders Lord-Veritant (140)** – General – Command Trait: Master of Magic – Artefact: Arcane Tome (Universal Artefact) – Spell: Thundershock – Prayer: Translocation Knight-Zephyros (100)* – Aspect of the Champion: Stubborn as a Rhinox Celestant-Prime, Hammer of Sigmar (330)* Lord-Arcanum on Tauralon (250)** – Mount Trait: Celestial Instincts – Spell: Starfall
Units 3 x Vanguard-Palladors (200)* – Boltstorm Pistols and Starstrike Javelins 3 x Vanguard-Palladors (200)** – Boltstorm Pistols and Starstrike Javelins 3 x Vanguard-Palladors (200)** – Boltstorm Pistols and Starstrike Javelins 6 x Vanguard-Palladors (400)** – Boltstorm Pistols and Starstrike Javelins – Reinforced x 1 6 x Gryph-Hounds (90)* 6 x Gryph-Hounds (90)*
Stormcast are in a tricky place. They have loads and loads of warscrolls, but many of them are sub-optimal. Whilst Games Workshop tries to correct this by tweaking points up and down, the good warscrolls remain good, and the bad remain bad… and so the ‘good warscroll spam’ armies come to the fore. The good news is that there are different versions of them, so you’ll not necessarily play the same one, but the bad news is that it is a lot of repeated Warscrolls.
That’s no criticism of Sean, who has taken this formula and got 5-0 from it. Sure I am going to criticise him for beating up Gloomspite Gitz (booo!) but in all seriousness he’s done very well with an army of Paladors (very quick, some shooting and reasonable combat effectiveness as well).
The Gryph hounds sync in well here with Warning Cry, which allows units to shoot at deep strikers and summoned units. Effectively giving Sean some free shots against enemy units for limited outlay. If you make it through the shooting, you’ll then have to face a deep-striking unit of Sean’s own – the still great Celestant Prime. It’s good to see him representing the book he comes from!
A really thematic list that is likely to give any opponent pause (or just annoy them). Palladors have been overlooked for most of this edition (and 2nd) for a reason. But they are also 5 wound models with 12″ move and a built-in teleport. They are built for scoring, at least when there are this many backed by the Celestant Prime and the Lord Arcanum for the +1 to hit rolls for the closest Pallador. A well thought out dynamic list.
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Army Faction: Stormcast Eternals – Army Type: Scions of the Storm – Subfaction: Hammers of Sigmar – Grand Strategy: Take What’s Theirs – Triumph: Bloodthirsty
LEADERS Knight-Vexillor (120)* – Meteoric Standard Knight-Vexillor (120)* – Meteoric Standard Knight-Vexillor (120)* – Meteoric Standard Knight-Vexillor (120)** – Meteoric Standard Lord-Relictor (150)** – General – Command Traits: Master of Magic – Artefacts of Power: Arcane Tome – Spells: Thundershock – Prayers: Translocation Knight-Heraldor (100)** – Aspects of the Champion: Tunnel Master
Back from his Cancon insanity with fewer Vexillors and even more Tempestors. I admire his patience building and painting that them (the armour and arms take a while to eliminate gaps). There are plenty of tricks still, a Knight Heraldor (not often seen or even owned), Shadow Warriors, Castigators, and The Farstriders. All led by a Lord Relictor (with Translocate and Thundershock) who brings Master of Magic to hopefully get Everblaze Comet off. Essentially, this list is trying to deal with SCE mobility issues and damage output in the face of new more serious threats.
Scions of the Storm allows half of the units to be held in reserve and arrive in any turn, which prevents first turn shooting, removing a lot of important pieces. In this case, as a 2 drop army so Yangxue is probably deciding who has first turn, toss up whether to keep it or play for the early double. Everyone should know the Vexillor’s trick now. It’s not OP, but it is a 24″ version of the Stormdrake’s shooting attack with an area of effect. It’s once per game, so deciding when to use it is critical, but they remain a solid Galletian Champion for scoring once they are down, just not very mobile. The Knight Herald is here mostly as a quiet scoring piece with his Tunnel Master but can punish units near terrain, chip damage really but good into some armies that like to lurk near terrain. Of the units – Tempestors have been a very common choice in place of Fulminators lately.
Shadow Warriors duplicate the abilities of Scions of the Storm units on their own warscroll. They don’t count as a coalition force, though, because this is a Scions of the Storm army. Farstriders can teleport, and the Castigators are another cheap screen with Unleash Hell potential that can also be teleported by the Relictor. Very good at picking off any objectives that aren’t well covered. So movement is covered, and output, especially in the first turn or 2, is really good. Hit hard early and then outlast them. Unless the opponent is a horde army or has strong heals, this will probably work. Or Trolls, trolls (Troggoths) are probably a counter. They’re damn scary now
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Allegiance: Gloomspite Gitz – Gittish Horde: King’s Gitz – Grand Strategy: Chasing The Moon – Triumphs: Indomitable
Leaders Dankhold Troggboss (200)** – General – Command Trait: Loonskin – Artefact: Speaky-skull Fetish Fungoid Cave-Shaman (90)* – Artefact: Moonface Mommet – Lore of the Moonclans: The Hand of Gork – Aspect of the Champion: Tunnel Master Fungoid Cave-Shaman (90)* – Artefact: Leering Gitshield – Lore of the Moonclans: Itchy Nuisance Mollog (130)*
Battleline 9 x Rockgut Troggoths (480)*** – Reinforced x 2 6 x Rockgut Troggoths (320)*** – Reinforced x 1 3 x Rockgut Troggoths (160)* 6 x Fellwater Troggoths (320)*** – Reinforced x 1
On the same weekend as Sheffield Slaughter, Ben has guided a Trogg army (Gloomspite Gitz) to a spectacular 4-1. Not bad for an army that was languishing at the bottom of the rankings before the new book. It’s still too early to tell if the book will be above the magical 45%-55% level, but it definitely feels like it should be able to stay away from the mid-thirties it was in during the last incarnation.
The Troggs that Ben has taken also shows the advantage of giving people choices with battalions. Sure, there is only one in the Gitz book, but it is an innovative way of getting people to take Dankhold Troggoths… a great model, but before now, a very weak scroll. The increased regeneration helps here as well, but it comes with a free artefact as well, which is well worth considering for only 180 points. Treat him as a throw-away spear unit and hammer something to death. Just remember he doesn’t come back through the shrine at the end of the turn.
But the Rockguts and Fellwaters do, and with healing now automatic and every hero phase, you’ll need to kill units outright – not an easy thing for the 9 Rockguts.
It’s a great army, and it looks good on the board too – don’t be suckered in by the lack of bodies… these guys will hang around and stick on objectives. My only concern for them would be the mirror into a Squig list, but Ben fought one of those in game 5 and came out on top, so maybe this list can compete long-term.
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Allegiance: Daughters of Khaine – Temple: Zainthar Kai – Grand Strategy: Bloodthirsty Zealots – Triumphs: Inspired
Leaders Hag Queen (120)* – Aspect of the Champion: Fuelled by Ghurish Rage Anointed on Frostheart Phoenix (320) – Allies Slaughter Queen on Cauldron of Blood (300)* – General – Command Trait: Zealous Orator – Artefact: Arcane Tome (Universal Artefact) -Lore of Shadows: Mindrazor
Battleline 15 x Blood Sisters (450)* – Reinforced x 2 10 x Blood Stalkers (360)* – Reinforced x 1 5 x Blood Sisters (150)*
Units 5 x Khinerai Heartrenders (100)* 5 x Khinerai Heartrenders (100)*
It’s always nice to see a Norathi list! Since her price hike, I think they make more sense than ever. Even though it will always be scary not taking the big momma, once you spread those points over more synergistic bodies, you can end up with a surprising amount of redundancy and board control.
And that’s _kinda_ what Liam has gone for here – by replacing the 700 pt Morathi with a Frostheart Phoenix – which is a durable, fast monster at less than half the points, and a newly-bargain priced Slaughter Queen on Cauldron. Between these two pieces, Liam brings to bear overlapping auras of -1 to wound and +1 to save, which, combined with -1 damage from the Heart of Fury, go a long way to making the fragile Daughters able to take a serious punch.
Beyond that, it’s the usual block of 15 stab sneks, but he’s also brought 10 bows – which I think are pointed for the double shoot but still offer decent ranged output – and the usual double khinerai for amazing scoring options.
A really nice balanced list that cleaned up some strong meta opponents, losing only to what is quickly becoming the clearly-over-tuned Gloomspite book!
This is the Top Three AoS Lists for the Scottish Lasters that took place in Scotland on the 21st and 22nd of January. It involved 26 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: Hammers of Sigmar (Scions of the Storm) – Mortal Realm: Ghur – Grand Strategy: No Place for the Weak – Triumphs: Inspired
Leaders Knight-Vexillor (120)* – General – Meteoric Standard – Command Trait: Master of Magic – Artefact: Arcane Tome (Universal Artefact) – Spell: Celestial Blades Knight-Incantor (120)* – Spell: Azyrite Halo Lord-Commander Bastian Carthalos (300)*
Battleline 2 x Dracothian Guard Fulminators (240)* 2 x Dracothian Guard Fulminators (240)* 4 x Dracothian Guard Tempestors (440)* – Reinforced x 1 5 x Judicators with Skybolt Bows (200)*
Units 2 x Stormdrake Guard (340)* – Drakerider’s Lance
Another Stormcast with unusual choices, it’s good to see more diversity and a few different heroes. Knight Vexillor is being discussed in Discord a lot lately, but mostly for his teleport potential (Pendant of the Stormbringer). Here he’s been equipped with the Metoric Standard and also provides Celestial Blade support. The Standard gives a once a game Comets Call. Azurite Halo isn’t commonly seen, but on a 6 to save it inflicts a Mortal Wound (MW). Then there is Bastian, a great model with amazing abilities but slow movement. Otherwise, the list is very mobile with Drakes and Draconiths (12” and 10” movement, respectively). Tempestors are seeing a revival just now, short range, but they offer a lot of shots and are pretty tough to boot. Their mounts still have -2 rend 2 damage attacks. And the pairs of Fulminators and Storm Drakes for Mobil threat generation and scoring.
And there you have it, a lot of mobile small threats able to apply pressure centred on Bastian with a large hammer unit that can also perform as an anvil. Ranged MW for chip damage and multiple small units to charge, blunting the effectiveness of Unleash Hell. The icing on the cake is the Judicators, only 10 shots, but the ability to double shoot makes a sizeable difference. JJ scored well throughout and weathered everything thrown at home, proving again that mobility and flexibility are a winning combination.
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Allegiance: Daughters of Khaine – Temple: Zainthar Kai – Grand Strategy: Bloodthirsty Zealots – Triumph: Inspired
LEADERS Bloodwrack Medusa (140)* – General – Command Trait: Zealous Orator – Artefact: Shadow Stone – Lore of Shadows: Mindrazor Morathi-Khaine (350)* The Shadow Queen (350)*
UNITS 10 x Witch Aelves (120)* – Sacrificial Knives and Blade Bucklers 10 x Witch Aelves (120)* – Sacrificial Knives and Blade Bucklers 15 x Blood Sisters (450)* 15 x Blood Sisters (450)*
CORE BATTALIONS *Battle Regiment
TOTAL: 1980/2000
It’s Morathi and the Stab Sneks in a Zainthar Kai ‘pins and needles’ configuration – guaranteed to stab you even on death! Double the stabs, double the fun.
In all seriousness, it’s at least interesting in the sense that it’s using new points, so we can see a slight squeeze on bonus units such as Khinerai. This list is still going to rip, and tear – 30 Blood Sisters just asks the rather rude question to each opponent of ‘do you prefer an unkillable giant snake or 13 ish MWs per activation’. The question is whether sheer glass-cannon power (the whole army is on a 5+ bar the Morathis) can make up for lesser board control in the meantime?
Losing to the movement and strike/fade shenanigans of Sylvaneth suggests no, to some extent. Beating down on Seraphon, OBR, and Soulblight makes sense – although it’s interesting that Alastair was able to get the win against KO, who are typically able to just utterly neuter the stab-threat with early shooting. My guess based on my own games is that he was able to use Shadow Queen – and potentially Morathi with Steed of Shadows to make her super fast and more importantly fly – to tag the big boats and shut down their game. Certain KO builds are less vulnerable to this but in general, when tagged by a flying unit they lose a lot of their abilities – being one drop, I’d love to have seen whether Alastair dared the KO to come close and used the Witch Aelves to screen best they can, or whether he took first to capitalise on the KO player not deploying quite far away enough.
Either way, gratz on the new points win against some touch matchups.
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Allegiance: Disciples of Tzeentch – Change Coven: Eternal Conflaguration – Grand Strategy: Master of Destiny – Triumphs: Bloodthirsty
Leaders Kairos Fateweaver (440)* Curseling, Eye of Tzeentch (180)* – General – Command Trait: Cult Demagogue – Lore of Fate: Arcane Suggestion – Lore of Fate: Shield of Fate Fatemaster (140)* – Artefact: Arcane Tome (Universal Artefact) – Lore of Fate: Glimpse of Future – Universal Spell Lore: Levitate
Battleline 20 x Pink Horrors of Tzeentch (500)** – Reinforced x 1 10 x Pink Horrors of Tzeentch (250)** 10 x Kairic Acolytes (120)** 6 x Tzaangor Enlightened (180)* – Reinforced x 1
Endless Spells Burning Sigil of Tzeentch (60) Tome of Eyes (40) Soulscream Bridge (80)
Craig’s list of 30 Pink Horrors and support is something I think we’re more likely to see in the new GHB without Bounty Hunters around to split those daemons fast enough to stay on top, but Craig gave them a final run-out with Expert Conquerors and was able to dodge Bounty Hunters in all but one of his matchups (that he still won!). What makes Pinks with Expert Conquerors such a challenge is that the situation on objectives just gets worse the first 20 wounds you do, with the unit going from counting as 60 on an objective to a maximum of 120! It is only at the point of the 81st wound, after killing the 21st Brimstone Horror, that the unit holds an objective less securely than when it started. So, do you bother early game? If you don’t, you might never get through it, but if you do, then you might not be scoring. This is exactly the dilemma that seems to have outfoxed all opponents until the ultimate winner, JJ, essentially passed the DPS check with Fulminators and Dragons at his disposal.
The support casters help buff that big unit up, with the Curseling knowing an extra spell via the Warlord battalion so it can cast Arcane Suggestion for -1 to hit and -1 to wound on the unit most likely to hit the Horrors and then Shield of Fate for a 5+ ward save on them too. The command trait Cult Demagogue is also there, making any cast on a double not only successful and worth two fate points instead of one, but also unable to be unbound. Low Destiny Dice are perfect for this roll, with double 2s or 3s getting the casting value 8 spell Arcane Suggestion off. Kairos will then give you a Destiny Dice back each hero phase and the Fatemaster, who also gives +1 to wound to all Disciples of Tzeentch units wholly within 9”, can cast Glimpse the Future to gain an additional Destiny Dice. Throw in Tome of Eyes for re-rolls, probably on the Curseling, and the key buffs the Pinks need to hang around are very likely to be in place.
Another cool little bit of tech that Craig has included is 6 Tzaangor Enlightened on foot. These hit as hard as their cavalry mounted beast-kin, but are half the price. Included in the list as well is the Soulscream Bridge, probably cast by Kairos, which can get these elites where they need to be, able to make a 9” charge with the Destiny Dice. While some sacrifices have to be made to get this combo off (no Cogs or Portal in the list), the Enlightened can be almost as mobile as the ones on disc for 100pts less – 100pts this army needs elsewhere.
All in all a fantastic result for Craig, spending 4/5 games on the top two tables and just slightly being edged out in the end.
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Allegiance: Fyreslayers – Lodge: Greyfyrd – Mortal Realm: Ulgu – Grand Strategy: Master of the Forge – Triumphs: Inspired
Leaders Auric Flamekeeper (90)* Auric Runefather on Magmadroth (360)* – General – Command Trait: Blood of the Berzerker – Artefact: Master Rune of Unbreakable Resolve – Magmadroth Trait: Coal-heart Ancient Auric Runemaster (130)* – Artefact: Volatile Brazier – Universal Prayer Scripture: Heal Battlesmith (150)** – Artefact: Nulsidian Icon Auric Runesmiter on Magmadroth (330)** – Runic Iron – Magmadroth Trait: Flame-scale Youngblood – Prayer: Wrath of Vulcatrix
Battleline 10 x Hearthguard Berzerkers (300)** – Poleaxes – Reinforced x 1 10 x Hearthguard Berzerkers (300)** – Broadaxes – Reinforced x 1 10 x Vulkite Berzerkers with Bladed Slingshields (150)** 10 x Vulkite Berzerkers with Bladed Slingshields (150)**
Many heroes make light work, at least with Fyreslayers. It is possibly one of the factions that will really take to Galletian Champions and the added mobility from Tunnel Master. Mobility is, of course, their biggest weakness, with most moving only 4″. Magmadroths help (16″), but Fyreslayers units remain pretty close for all of that overlapping buff goodness. Greyfyrd gives 2 extra artefacts, and each hero an extra wound. Sean’s answer to the mobility issue is to make the foot heroes hard as nails and let them buff +heal the infantry (Prayer: heal and 4+ Rally from the Battlesmith) and mitigate incoming spell damage resulting in a solid anvil that hits back. Then he has the Magmadroths tooled for war, the Runefather fights twice (once per battle), and has a 3+ ward (again once per battle). Funny if you trigger both on the same combat phase, normally Turn 2 or 3, to remove a big threat – hits once, weathers the incoming damage on the ward, and then destroys his target. The Magmadroth reduces incoming damage by 1. This is a tanky build.
The Runesmiter is more of a glass cannon, designed to charge, use Stomp as its monstorous rampage for extra damage, and can fight on its top row with a prayer (Wrath) The Berzerkers are nasty in combination with the Flamekeeper, especially the Poleaxe equipped unit. 2 Mortal Wounds on every 6, and they can be made to fight on death or give an extra attack. It’s a nasty combination to watch for. Really, you want to stay away and make them come to you to try to split up the heroes and the units. You really don’t want them to get into and hold the centre or a key objective because they’ll be very hard to move. With the Magmadroths to pin your screens and that hard centre, it can take serious work or magic/shooting to deal with a list like this. And your archers are likely to have to deal with MW from Zhaggron.
The second round draw is interesting, 2 very slow armies, one with range and the other with Cavalry – in the end, a high scoring draw, it makes me wonder how much fighting there was. The loss was to the winner, and we’ve covered that. That list has multiple units that would take down the elements in this list (Fulminators, Drakes).
With the release of the Battlescroll: Galletian Reinforcements I’ve been able to go back through the data from the release of the General’s Handbook and tidy everything up. In doing so, I though it may be cool to give you a run-down of how each faction performed under the current General’s Handbook until the Battlescroll took effect.
The data used for analysing these results was taken from 110 Grand Tournaments between 3rd July 2022 and 6th November 2022.
Daughters of Khaine
Region Comparison – Popularity
Daughters of Khaine saw their highest popularity in UK & Ireland with 6.7% of players choosing the faction for tournament play, while over the Atlantic the uptake was only 5.0% in North America.
Region Comparison – Win Rates
Oceania led the win rates with 57.8%. While players in Europe could only manage 47.3%.
North America, UK & Ireland and Europe saw the Daughters claim 5-0’s in all those regions. While in Scandanavia and Oceania they managed 4-1’s
Subfaction Analysis
Subfaction
Players
Win Rate
Khailebron
53
55.26%
Hagg Nar
49
55.25%
Zainthar Kai
102
54.60%
Draichi Ganeth
13
52.31%
Kraith
2
40.00%
None/Unknown
17
40.59%
Faction Total
238
53.59%
Although the Daughters of Khaine in general fall below the 55% upper bracket, both Khailebron and Hagg Nar breach that with 55.26% and 55.25% respectively.
Top 10 Daughters if Khaine Players
You may notice that some players have a better World/Nation ranking than players above them in this table. This is due to players playing with multiple factions. These players have been ranked on their top 4 Daughters of Khaine results only.
This is the Top Three AoS Lists for the 5 Alarm Grand Tournament that took place in Canada on 12th and 13th November. 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
Allegiance: Daughters of Khaine – Temple: Zainthar Kai – Grand Strategy: Take What’s Theirs – Triumphs: Indomitable
Leaders Morathi-Khaine (340)* The Shadow Queen (340)* Melusai Ironscale (115)* – General – Command Trait: Zealous Orator – Artefact: Crown of Woe
Units 10 x Blood Sisters (280)** – Reinforced x 1 10 x Blood Sisters (280)** – Reinforced x 1 15 x Blood Stalkers (540)* – Reinforced x 2 5 x Khinerai Heartrenders (95)*
Peter: Joshua Bennett (who you may recognise from many a top three article featuring his own lists), has kindly joined the Woehammer team to comment on Daughters Lists.
Joshua: While this list sticks to the norm of the current meta for DOK, it does have its own tweaks that make it very interesting.
At first glance, we see what looks like the basic Zainthar Kai list. At the head of the snake army is the high queen herself, Morathi. Morathi, by herself, is a menace to most opponents. She has a cap of only three wounds a turn, which becomes a great deterrent for the alpha strikes becoming a perfect screen, where the alpha strikes are running into an unkillable duo of models. As anyone knows that has ever faced off against the shadow queen, she is not to be taken lightly in combat. Shadow queen has the potential to pick up most units. She lives up to her title as a “God Model” with the ability to tank everything with the absolute barrage of attacks with high damage and rend.
Bring on the snakes! 15 blood stalkers have always and still remain to be a powerful force to deal with in the DOK list. At 30 shots, hitting on three’s, wounding on three’s, doing mortals on sixes to hit, makes stalkers a threat against any list. Add the fact that they are also shooting in the hero phase, bringing the total number of shots to 60 at a range of 24”. With all of these attacks, this unit should be feared by all. To add to the terror of the Stalkers, their melee loving counter parts, the blood sisters, are also added to this list. Two 10 man units bring each of these death ball units to 30 attacks, hitting and wounding on threes, followed by an extremely powerful turned to crystal ability. This ability allows the unit to roll a dice for each model in their unit and each 2+ inflicting a mortal wound to the selected unit an inch away from it. In this list, the blood sisters are placed in the bounty hunters battalion, which brings the damage of each attack against Galletian Veterans units, a minimum of 2 damage. But it doesn’t stop there, when the ever daunting Shadow queen is in combat within 18” of these blood soaked sisters, the sisters attacks increase to four attacks each, which gives the sisters even more power to pick their opponents units up.
So I know what you’re thinking! I am just going to stay away from this army of blood driven blood elves. This may be harder to do than you think. This is because the Shadow queen is moving 14” and the melee snakes are moving 8”. Also you must keep in mind that the Melusai is in the list as well and serves more than just a pretty face. She allows the Sisters to be able to run and charge, increasing the threat of the slithering blood crazed sisters to the potential of a 14” move bringing them into a more manageable charge range.
Wait, look in the sky! That’s right, a unit of heartrenders are circling above the battlefield waiting for the right moment to strike. This unit can deploy off the board and be placed on the table 9” away from an enemy model. In the shooting phase they each shoot an enemy within 12” of them and then move 6”. Normally we see two of these units in a list because that allows DOK players to use the Battletomb tactic Cruel Delight. This single unit still has its uses. It keeps a constant threat to the backfield objectives. Also this unit can make a great screen for the remaining army. With this units very speedy movement of 14” it can bounce back and forth between objectives causing their opponents a massive headache of leaving models on all objectives. Also with the Grand strategy of take what’s theirs the late game deepstrike can give you edge needed to gain that three extra points.
The other obstacle opponents face while playing this list, is that you must pick up entire units. Because thanks to the Command trait Zealous Order bringing models back from the dead is much easier than normal. This command trait allows the general to bring back friendly models back on a four plus rally compared to the normal six.
Overall this list hasthe range, and the face-to-face killing power to take on most lists, and I can see why it did so well at this tournament.
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Army Faction: Disciples of Tzeentch – Subfaction: Guild of Summoners – Grand Strategy: Defend What’s Ours – Triumph: Indomitable
LEADERS Curseling (180)* – Spells: Shield of Fate Fluxmaster (170)* – Artefacts of Power: Pyrofyre Stave – Spells: Unchecked Mutation Lord of Change (400)* – Staff of Tzeentch and Rod of Sorcery – Artefacts of Power: The Eternal Shroud – Spells: Ghost-mist Kairos Fateweaver (435)*** – Spells: Tzeentch’s Firestorm Tzaangor Shaman (135)*** – Spells: Glimpse the Future Magister (120)*** – General – Command Traits: Arcane Sacrifice – Artefacts of Power: Arcane Tome – Spells: Arcane Suggestion
BATTLELINE Kairic Acolytes (120)** – Cursed Blade and Arcanite Shield – Scroll of the Dark Arts – Vulcharc – 3 x Cursed Glaive and Arcanite Shield Kairic Acolytes (120)** – Cursed Blade and Arcanite Shield Kairic Acolytes (120)*** – Cursed Blade and Arcanite Shield
ENDLESS SPELLS & INVOCATIONS 1 x Burning Sigil Of Tzeentch (50) 1 x Chronomantic Cogs (70) 1 x Umbral Spellportal (80)
Kieron: A super interesting list for my first time reviewing a Disciples of Tzeentch top three list. Conventional wisdom would suggest that Guild of Summoners is relatively low down in the sub-faction hierarchy but Nic has clearly made this work well for him. Conventional wisdom would also suggest that Master of Destiny is a no-brainer Grand Strategy (have Destiny Dice equal to 9 or more at the end of the battle) but Nic has again bucked the trend with Defend What’s Ours. Where the power comes from in this list can be broken down into Destiny Dice, Fate Points and Battle Tactics.
Let’s start with Destiny Dice, or cheaty dice as some less charitable (and non-Tzeentch players might call them). Nic would roll 9 at the start of the game and the Eternal Shroud would allow new dice to be rolled on a 5+ whenever they are used. The Tzaangor Shaman can lurk at the back of the board (see battle tactics below) generating a new one with Glimpse the Future which will be supporting Kairos who is generating one per turn if you have less than 9. This means that over the course of the game, there should be in the region of 20 dice that the Tzeentch player will know ahead of time, allowing them to be super aggressive or defensive as the game demands.
Next up is fate points and if you thought 20 was a lot of a resource to generate then you haven’t seen anything yet! If Tzeentch go first and all the possible spells go off they will have: 1 from Burning Sigil; 2 from The Curseling; at least 1 and probably 3 from Fluxmaster (theoretically 10, but if you roll 9/9 5+s against me I’m probably conceding or calling a TO!); 2 from the Lord of Change; 3 from Kairos; 1 from Shaman; 3 from Magister; 1 from each Kairic unit making around 15-18 in Turn 1. And what do we do with those points I hear you ask? You summon another Lord of Change for only 9 points and bank the other points for the next turn. Next turn you will have another two casts meaning that you will have more than enough to summon another Lord of Change 18 fate points! At this point you would be facing over 1600pts of prime Tzeentch Turkey that are giving each other (and nearby heroes) +4 to cast. Diminishing returns from this point in as there won’t be enough spells for them all to cast, so probably just bring in 20 pinks a turn instead! If the Tzeentch player is not locked down quickly, they could summon 1500pts by turn 5 (EDIT: Thanks to Tasteless for getting me to go back and not blah, blah , blah the sub-faction ability: Guild of Summoners can ONLY summon Magic Chickens, meaning that a 5 turn game could actually see 2000pts of summoning and Nic possibly in need of kidney to donate to fund the 7 Lords of Change that could be on the board at this point…).
This is all well and good, but if you don’t score points then you don’t win and this is also a list that really wants to use book battle tactics! Call for Change is extremely straightforward as you just need to summon a Lord of Change; the Tzaangor Shaman is an excellent choice for Reckless Abandon, where you need to complete a charge move with a mortal unit more than 18″ away from all enemy units; Ninefold Dismantlement needs you to kill a unit with 9 models or a hero/monster with a wounds characteristic of 9 or more and Tide of Anarchy needs you to take an objective off your enemy with 9 or more models. To truly flex on your opponent, Kairos could even go for Mass Conjuration by casting 3 or more spells for a full 5/5 Tzeentch tactics.
Congrats to Nic for doing fantastically well with some more off-meta choices, demonstrating the internal balance of the Disciples of Tzeentch book.
Peter: Another new member of the team today. Randal Brasher, who some may remember from General Speaking, has agreed to join us to comment on KO, Cities and Stormcast lists.
Randal: Oh boy, here we go! Karl is no stranger to Kharadron Overlords this season and has found 5-0 and 4-1 success with both Double Ironclads and Whole Fleet lists, but the one constant has been his inclusion of Purple Sun. This list leans in on the power of the Endless Spell even more than his previous winning lists by overloading an Ironclad with heroes, Arkanauts, and some spicy Grundstock Thunderers then using the Zilfin Hero Phase move alongside Ebullient Bouyancy Aid. After moving the murder boat across the board it wants to unleash the Purple Sun then leverage the once per game effects of the Flare Pistol (full rerolls in the shooting phase) and the Admiral’s Special Ammunition for either additional rend or eliminating a ward save. It is a very high volume of shots at very high rend, more than enough to cripple most elite armies or clear the flank of a horde army. If the opponent somehow manages to survive the barrage in any condition to fight, they get a facefull of Gotrek.
A bit of tech in this list is to use the Great Sky Cannon over the more synergistic and higher damage Volley Cannon. It lets the boat play the objective game and still contribute some shooting after it unleashes its payload due to the superior range. This list is going to play very well into elite armies or high save armies but it has a serious issue with ranged mortal wounds as its loss to Disciples of Tzeentch shows. Armies with a lot of summoning, such as Beasts of Chaos or Nurgle, might also give it some problems. However, into a metagame of Giants, Daughters of Khaine, Sylvaneth, and Seraphon it is a monster of a metabreaker.
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Army Faction: Hedonites of Slaanesh – Army Type: Invaders – Army Subfaction: The Lurid Haze – Grand Strategy: No Place for the Weak – Triumphs: Inspired
LEADER 1 x Synessa (260)* – General 1 x Sigvald (205)* – General 1 x Be’lakor (360)*
BATTLELINE 11 x Blissbarb Archers (140)* 11 x Blissbarb Archers (140)* 5 x Hellstriders with Hellscourges (135)*
BEHEMOTH 1 x Chimera (200)*
ENDLESS SPELL 1 x Geminids of Uhl-Gysh (40)
OTHER 10 x Symbaresh Twinsouls (260)* 10 x Symbaresh Twinsouls (260)*
CORE BATTALIONS: *Battle Regiment
TOTAL POINTS: (2000/2000)
Alice: Slaanesh is struggling badly at the moment, but it’s not entirely without merit. There’s a few units that manage to succeed despite their own faction dragging them down, and Invaders manages to pull itself up to something quite usable, if a bit fiddly.
Invaders allows you to have 3 Generals who need to remain 12″ apart from each other. This is largely fine with this composition, because Be’lakor operates well as the main general leading the force to shut down the major threats while Synessa hangs back and casts spells and Sigvald attempts to do character assassinations. If any do die, its a free CP.
Blissbarb Archers are one of the few stand out units in Slaanesh. While they may not get mortal wounds on 6s like some armies, they get a decent number of Rend -1 shots and can run and shoot. Twinsouls make a solid hammer and anvil, depending on what you need in any given situation. Rounding it out, the Chimera is an interesting ally, giving them the mortal wound support they really need while being a solid beat stick to boot.
This is the Top Three AoS Lists for the TCC: Age of Sigmar 2 Day Event that took place in Australia on 12th and 13th November. It involved 24 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: Maggotkin of Nurgle – Army Subfaction: Drowned Men – Grand strategy: Blessed Desecration
LEADER 1 x Lord of Afflictions (230)* – General – Command Traits: Overpowering Stench – Dolorous Tocsin – Artefacts: The Splithorn Helm 1 x Be’lakor (360)*
BATTLELINE 2 x Pusgoyle Blightlords (250)* – Dolorous Tocsin 2 x Pusgoyle Blightlords (250)* – Dolorous Tocsin 2 x Pusgoyle Blightlords (250)* 4 x Pusgoyle Blightlords (500)* 10 x Plaguebearers (150)*
TERRAIN 1 x Feculent Gnarlmaw (0)
CORE BATTALIONS *Battle Regiment
TOTAL POINTS: (1995/2000)
Danny: Maggotkin are still good after the flies went up a few points, who’d a thunk it! We got drowned men here for the pre-game move with 10 flies, and a cheeky Be’Lakor to stop your main thing from doing whatever it does that MIGHT kill some flies for a turn (or two if they give away/lose the double).
Oppressive pinning list and attrition through disease points is the name of the game here. Be’Lakor is a cheeky inclusion but makes plenty of sense, given it’s a nightmare to claw back points from fly spam – and let’s be honest, it’s still fly spam – after a turn of your biggest piece sitting on their arse.
We’ll see how it goes – initial feelings are Drowned Men, not the price of flies, is the real problem. But in the meantime, gratz to Thomas for rolling with the punches and taking down some tough armies along the way.
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Allegiance: Sylvaneth – Glade: Heartwood – Mortal Realm: Ghyran – Grand Strategy: Take What’s Theirs – Triumphs:
LEADERS Alarielle the Everqueen (840)* Spirit of Durthu (370)* – General – Command Trait: Gnarled Warrior – Artefact: Greenwood Gladius
UNITS 5 x Tree-Revenants (110)* 5 x Tree-Revenants (110)* 5 x Tree-Revenants (110)* 6 x Spiterider Lancers (420)* – Reinforced x 1 Spiteswarm Hive (40) *Battle Regiment
Ethan:One of the real pillars of Sylvaneth currently is Alarielle + good stuff and this list fits it to a Tree (Sorry). Alarielle is a large, fast and durable beatstick that comes back after you deal with her the first time. Her durability is well supported by Durthu as a backup, teleporting spiteswarm recipient, using his warscroll teleport and the additional +3′ to charges to gain consistency on this hammer. Combined with gnarled warrior, durthu becomes quite durable making the 90 wounds of the list slightly misleading. Throw in 15-20 summoned wounds from alarielle and you’ve got quite the beefy core with which to gain board control and threaten across objectives.
Tree revs fill out the middle to complete battle tactics well but the more interesting unit here is the Spiterider Lancers. At 1 damage some people question their staying power after Bounty Hunters rotates but Mitch must think they don’t need the help, taking them in a battle regiment – absolutely key with this kind of list – controlling game flow is invaluable without durable anvils or notable shooting. The Spiteriders always strike first on the charge, allowing for some flexibility with Strike and Fade and giving the Matt a chance to make an educated call about whether he needs to make like a tree (Sorry, Sorry) before a reprisal happens or whether he can use his successive activations to clear an area and hold it safely.
I can see this list being quite swingy in some matchups, Alarielle is notoriously weak to MWs and shooting, but Matt has obviously piloted it well to a 4-1, only losing in the final game to a Maggotkin list. Perhaps Alarielle’s reputation of being pillowfisted coming to the fore against the extremely durable Nurgle units, though he has taken out great competition along the way with Snakes, Ogors, Rats and Bravery bombs under his belt. Well done Matt!
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Allegiance: Daughters of Khaine – Temple: Zainthar Kai – Grand Strategy: Bloodthirsty Zealots – Triumphs:
Leaders Bloodwrack Medusa (130)** – Artefact: Shadow Stone – Lore of Shadows: Mindrazor Slaughter Queen on Cauldron of Blood (315)** – General – Command Trait: Zealous Orator – Artefact: Crown of Woe – Prayer: Sacrament of Blood Hag Queen (110)** – Prayer: Blessing of Khaine Anointed on Frostheart Phoenix (315)** – Allies
Battleline 10 x Blood Stalkers (360) – Reinforced x 1 15 x Blood Sisters (420)* – Reinforced x 2 10 x Witch Aelves (115)* – Pairs of Sacrificial Knives
Units 5 x Khinerai Heartrenders (95)** 5 x Khinerai Heartrenders (95)**
Danny: If you don’t take Spinedog, you probably take…. double takes a Frostheart on Phoenix allied in!? That’s some interesting tech – it’s not inconsiderably killy but I think the idea behind it is a mobile platform for a 9″ aura of -1 to wound in melee, which will obviously go a long way to keeping a fragile army like DoK alive. Combine that with the 12″ Heart of Fury aura for -1 damage, and a Cauldron of Blood for +1 save within 18″ and Blessing on Khaine prayer on the Hag Queen for re-roll ward saves and, funnily enough, you just make the glassiest of cannons into something resembling a…porcelain cannon! Hell, maybe even a solid oak cannon.
The rest of the list is normal enough – a nice big 15 blob of Blood Sisters for putting out eye-watering mortals after they fight, and the obligatory 2x Khinerai for battle tactic scoring. But love to see the Frostheart tech for a really interesting alternative to the tankiness Morathi brings (to herself) – instead spreading it over a key unit or two.
On the way to 3rd. Liam lost only to the winner, and managed to beat out Fangs of Sotek, SCE and Slaves, who can all put some serious melee hurt, so the list clearly performed. Kudos!
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Allegiance: Kruleboyz – Warclan: Big Yellers – Grand Strategy: Demonstration of Strength – Triumphs:
Leaders Breaka-Boss on Mirebrute Troggoth (180) – Mount Trait: Fast ‘Un Killaboss on Great Gnashtoof (150) – General – Command Trait: Supa Sneaky Murknob with Belcha-banna (95) – Artefact: Mork’s Eye Pebble
Battleline 10 x Gutrippaz (160)** 10 x Hobgrot Slittaz (80) 10 x Gutrippaz (160)** 10 x Hobgrot Slittaz (80) 3 x Man-skewer Boltboyz (120) 3 x Man-skewer Boltboyz (120) 3 x Man-skewer Boltboyz (120) 3 x Man-skewer Boltboyz (120) 3 x Man-skewer Boltboyz (120)* 3 x Man-skewer Boltboyz (120)* 3 x Man-skewer Boltboyz (120)* 3 x Man-skewer Boltboyz (120) 20 x Shootas (120)**
Kieron: So, with the new Battlescroll buffs and the existing staples for almost all Kruleboyz lists, we’d be expecting Joel to write a list to make the most of these, yeah…well, maybe not! With most Kruleboyz lists focusing on some degree of castle, Joel decided to go all Realmstone Cache with his Boltboyz and spray them all over the battlefield.
There’s some logic to this though as Big Yellers means the Boltboyz are battleline, making Demonstration of Strength a solid Grand Strategy choice as you need to kill 11 of the 13 battleline units to prevent it. Big Yellers also get to re-roll one of the hit rolls in the first battle round. Combined with the extra shot from the Boltboy Boss that’s 32 shots, re-rolling 8 of them.
The Mirebrute is probably thrown forward with Supa Sneaky and then opponent has to take first turn to kill it (though with Noisy Racket for -1 to wound, Best Day Ever for +1 to save and then All out Defense) that might not be as easy as you think OR give the turn away and have the Breakaboss rampage through your lines.
All in all, a really interesting take on Kruleboyz that Joel clearly played extremely well in some very tricky matchups.
This is the Top Three AoS Lists for the Kansas City Open that took place in USA on 29tg and 30th October. It involved 79 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: Daughters of Khaine – Temple: Zainthar Kai – Mortal Realm: Ghur – Grand Strategy: Bloodthirsty Zealots – Triumphs: Inspired
Leaders The Shadow Queen (340)* Morathi-Khaine (340)* Bloodwrack Medusa (130)* – General – Command Trait: Zealous Orator – Artefact: Crown of Woe – Universal Spell Lore: Flaming Weapon
Battleline 15 x Blood Stalkers (540)* – Reinforced x 2 10 x Blood Sisters (280)* – Reinforced x 1 10 x Witch Aelves (115)* – Sacrificial Knives and Blade Bucklers
Units 5 x Khinerai Heartrenders (95)* 5 x Khinerai Heartrenders (95)*
Danny: Gavin Grigar is not an uncommon name to see in these parts, but it’s especially nice to see it followed by a complete lack of Spinedog (RIP)
Turns out two big monsters with a timed-invincibility was quite appealing? Anyway – this list reverts to type, Morathi and the bow sneks, 10 stabbers, and 2×5 Khinerai. In case you’re not familiar with the flygirls – they’re perfectly good for 95 pts as a harassment unit, but their true value comes in unlocking a DoK specific battle-tactic, to drop two of them down and use their ‘fire and move’ ability – so, essentially an auto-score.
The beauty of them in this season is that they’re then perfectly positioned to score Barge Through in the following turn unless the opponent dedicates resources to dealing with them, which would usually pull them out of position in so doing. And if they don’t…they’re probably nicely set up for objective stealing and Desecrate too. It’s a really strong little scoring combo for 190 pts and a lot to deal with while you have slithery hammers coming atcha in the meantime.
GavGar took down not one but two tough mirror matches (including Thomas, below), not one but two SoB and a cheeky Legion list on his way to 5-0 – congrats, and good to see ‘pure’ DoK representing again.
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Army Faction: Maggotkin of Nurgle – Subfaction: Drowned Men – Grand Strategy: Blessed Desecration – Triumph: Bloodthirsty
LEADERS Lord of Afflictions (210)* – General – Command Traits: Overpowering Stench – Dolorous Tocsin – Artefacts of Power: The Splithorn Helm – Bonding: Krondspine Incarnate of Ghur
Peter: Rather than us explaining how Nurgle Flies and a Spinedog work for the umpteenth time. Emma Mangels has kindly agree to share her experiences of the tournament instead. Thank you Emma!
Emma Mangels: Since the battlescroll update did not drop in time for the open I figured I would combine the 2 worst things in the game into 1 list. I am very happy they increased the points, but they unfortunately did not address any of the issues with the flies or krondspine in the recent battlescroll. The toughest game I had was round 2, a fly mirror with Be’lakor. I’ve played 2 mirrors before at ACO, so I’ve already had some reps in mirrors. I knew it was going to be a dice game, and that my chance of making a run for 1st was already gone due to the mirror match (the mirror is low scoring). I used my pregame move to set up for the strongest counterplay, which included pregame moving 4 flies wholly within 6 of a garrisonable terrain piece and using 2×2 flies on other side to lure my opponent in. Yes, that is right, I garrisoned a unit of 4 flies. I gave up some points in the first 2 turns, but it was about securing every advantage I could since his list had the early edge of 1 more fly and the Be’lakor to shut down my Krondspine. Had a wild moment where I sent my level 1 Krondspine into a single fly (was a 4 man unit) to kill or prevent it from rallying next turn. I did 0 damage, it did 5 damage back and I rolled a 5 killing the Krondspine. He then rolled 2 6s on his 3 dice rally and brought back 2 flies. In the end I was able to muscle out a win with a hard choice top of 5 of going for a battle tactic but opening the door to a VERY low but possible chance my opponent could pick up an extra point (idols) to go ahead OR to just drop the tactic and guarantee the win. I elected to secure the win by tying him up with Nurglings I had summoned to prevent Barge and running away with the last fly unit which was an idol to prevent him from taking the +1 point.
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Army Faction: Daughters of Khaine – Army Subfaction: Hagg Nar – Grand Strategy: Bloodthirsty Zealots – Triumphs: Indomitable
LEADER 1 x Slaughter Queen (130) – Prayers: Sacrament of Blood 1 x Hag Queen on Cauldron of Blood (270)*** – Artefacts: Arcane Tome – Spells: Mindrazor – Prayers: Covenant of the Iron Heart 1 x High Gladiatrix (90)*** – Artefacts: Crown of Woe 1 x Melusai Ironscale (115)*** – General – Command Traits: Zealous Orator
BATTLELINE 10 x Sisters of Slaughter (135)* – Kruiplash and Bladed Buckler 10 x Sisters of Slaughter (135)* – Kruiplash and Bladed Buckler 30 x Witch Aelves (345)* – Hag – 6 x Death Pennant Bearer – 6 x Hornblower – Sciansá and Bladed Buckler 10 x Blood Sisters (280)** 10 x Blood Sisters (280)**
Danny: ALSO dropping Spinedog – praise be! – is another familiar name. Thomas however has opted for the increasingly (albeit slowly) popular Norathi list variation, dropping the big shadow momma in favour of loads more bodies and overlapping synergies.
There’s a lot more going on than maybe meets the eye to this kind of list. It centers around the Cauldron of Blood with Hag Queen – an excellent utility piece that radiates a +1 save aura and is a ‘tanky’ (in DoK terms – 13 wounds!) platform for some key enhancements – and more importantly, casting Heart of Fury on a 2+ (+1 to prayers from…itself!).
Heart of Fury is utterly key here – reducing melee damage by 1 in an aura – to keeping the big blob (and more besides) of Witches alive. Combined with the 4+ rally, it really takes a lot to chew through them, especially as Thom has opted for bladed bucklers, putting them on a 5+ that also reflects a MW back with a 6+ save roll. While supported by the buffs of the Gladiatrix and the Avatar (including the one riding shotgun on the cauldron), that blob is also putting out 61 attacks at 2/2/-2/1.
The 2x 10 Sisters of Slaughter benefit from all the same buffs, but the reason you take them instead of Witches is their eligibility to fight within 6″ (and pile in the extra 3″) – allowing you some flexibility with activation.
Interesting, Thom has still included the Ironscale, despite not needing her to make sneks battleline to fill that requirement – she’s an odd duck and often known as a ‘snake tax’, but she does have a command ability to allow one of the 2×10 stab sneks to run and charge – combined with their 8″ move, the +1 to both from the Blood Rites in round 2 – thanks to the +1 to Rites from being Hagg Nar – that gives them some serious slitherin’ speed.
This is looking like the new overall ‘shape’ of a Norathi build, and it’s awesome to see just how viable it is. I would love to have seen the mirror with Gavin!
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Army Faction: Fyreslayers – Army Subfaction: Lofnir – Grand Strategy: Masters of the Forge – Triumphs: Inspired
LEADER 1 x Auric Runefather on Magmadroth (360)** – General – Command Traits: Blood of the Berzerker – Mount Traits: Coal-heart Ancient 1 x Auric Runemaster (125)** – Artefacts: Volatile Brazier – Prayers: Curse 1 x Battlesmith (150)** – Artefacts: Nulsidian Icon
BATTLELINE 1 x Auric Runeson on Magmadroth (320)* – Ancestral War-axe – Mount Traits: Flame-scale Youngblood 10 x Vulkite Berzerkers with Fyresteel Handaxes (170)* – Hornblower of Grimnir – Karl 15 x Hearthguard Berzerkers (480)* – Karl – Flamestrike Poleaxe 10 x Vulkite Berzerkers with Fyresteel Handaxes (170)*** – Hornblower of Grimnir – Karl 10 x Vulkite Berzerkers with Fyresteel Handaxes (170)*** – Hornblower of Grimnir – Karl
Peter: As none of us have any real experience with Fyreslayers. Kevin Lathers has agreed to step in and fill in our knowledge gap. Kevin previously wrote a fantastic guide on Fyreslayers which you can read here.
Kevin: Vito’s list is definitely an abnormality in the grand world of Fyreslayer lists. Like any Fyreslayer list, this will play a little different dependent on opponent, it’s the nature of Fyreslayers. A Lofnir list which eschews the normal 3 or 4 magmadroths and only takes two: a Runeson and a Runefather. These are supported with a mix of Vulkite Berserkers and Hearthguard Berserkers.
It still relies on a couple key pieces few Fyreslayers leave home without: A Runemaster chanting the Molten Infernoth for the Grand Strategy; Masters of the Forge may be one of the best GS in the game; and a battlesmith providing its normal role of anti-magic aura and its once per game 5+ ward being extremely powerful into possible double turns.
In play, Vito has a few options at his disposal depending on the opponent and this list is going to be a tide that can wash over anyone underestimating the once per game buffs. Hearthguard Berserkers receive their 4+ ward off any hero, including both magmadroths.
Without a Runesmiter for forward drops, this list will rely on the built in speed of the Magmadroths as well as the Runemaster’s “Ember Storm” prayer to give the Hearthguard or Vulkites run + charge. Further, Vulkites have a built in +1 charge to help get them across the baord.
Vulkites can be both a hammer — having decent damage on the charge with certain runes like the Rune of Searing Heat or Awakened Steel — and a shield, where their fight on death means they turn into an extremely punishing blocker/screen for the Magmadroths. Some of the Vulkites are also in Expert Conquerors forcing opponents to deal with them where they can further act as a quagmire of pain.
Heathguard Berserkers hit very hard and, with Magmadroths being there to provide their ward aura, are freed from the shackles of a foot hero. They can also be given run and charge to keep up with the droths and provide an incredible hammer, netting 10 mortal wounds on average. Or they can be left to guard the backline providing a threat that few things want to deal with.
And all this is followed up with a Runefather which can not only buff the surrounding units with more attacks, but can fight twice once per game. The multitide of infantry shields means the Runefather can be positioned to make full use of the fight twice ability. If played right this ends up with the an incredible wombo combo: The Runefather goes in, pops his Lord of the Lodge ability, the Hearthguard Berserkers charge in getting more swings for 14-16 mortal wounds on average, and the Vulkites come in with a whopping four attacks each under the aura. Meanwhile the Runefather can fight twice into something beefy or important or even into multiple units. If applied at just right time this could feasibly table an opponent or at least remove all of their key pieces.
This is the Top Three AoS Lists for the PNW Masters that took place in USA on 15th and 16th October . It involved 32 players vying to be crowned champion in a 5 game tournament.
Before I jump into the Top Three AoS Lists, I wanted to remind everyone of our friendly Discord server where you can join in the conversation with the Woehammer crew and suggest articles or series for the website.
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The Top Three AoS Lists
Army Faction: Seraphon Army Type: Coalesced Army Subfaction: Thunder Lizard Grand Strategy: Continuous Expansion Triumphs: Inspired
LEADER 1 x Lord Kroak (430)* 1 x Engine of the Gods (265)** – General – Command Traits: Prime Warbeast – Artefacts: Arcane Tome – Mount Traits: Beastmaster – Spells: Hand of Glory – Prayers: Curse – Bonding: Krondspine Incarnate of Ghur 1 x Saurus Astrolith Bearer (140)* – Artefacts: Fusil of Conflagration 1 x Skink Priest (90)* – Prayers: Heal
BATTLELINE 5 x Saurus Guard (115)** – Saurus Guard Alpha – Stardrake Icon Bearer – Wardrummer 10 x Skinks (75)** – Skink Alpha – Boltspitter, Celestite Dagger and Star-buckler 10 x Skinks (75)** – Skink Alpha – Boltspitter, Celestite Dagger and Star-buckler
BEHEMOTH 1 x Krondspine Incarnate of Ghur (400) 1 x Bastiladon with Solar Engine (250)**
ENDLESS SPELL 1 x Purple Sun of Shyish (90) 1 x Horrorghast (40)
Patrick: When I saw that a Seraphon list took first place I didn’t necessarily need to see the list in order to know what it contained.
Thunder Lizard? Check. Kroak? Check. Engine of the Gods? Check
The only item that breaks away from the “color by numbers” approach to making Seraphon lists right now is the addition of the Incarnate, where a second Bastiladon would normally go. Let’s be fair, though, the inclusion of an Incarnate doesn’t exactly put Stark at a disadvantage, or really challenge the standard approach to Seraphon list building.
This is not a critique on Stark, however. There is still a level of requisite talent needed to drive a list into a top slot, since reacting to the pace of a battle with Tactic selections is vital. These Seraphon lists don’t reflect poorly on their players, but the Battletome itself. Current Seraphon are an excellent case study in internal balance, and there is clearly an issue with the book, since your options are ThunderKroak or losing.
Congratulations to Stark on their win, and I look forward to seeing an updated Tome to see how these top-tier players shake up their successful lists.
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Allegiance: Daughters of Khaine – Temple: Zainthar Kai – Grand Strategy: Bloodthirsty Zealots – Triumphs: Inspired
Leaders The Shadow Queen (340) Morathi-Khaine (340) Hag Queen on Cauldron of Blood (270) – General – Bonded to Krondspine – Command Trait: Zealous Orator – Crown of Woe – Prayer: Sacrament of Blood
Battleline 15 x Blood Sisters (420)* – Reinforced x 2 10 x Witch Aelves (115)* – Pairs of Sacrificial Knives 10 x Witch Aelves (115)* – Pairs of Sacrificial Knives
Behemoths Krondspine Incarnate of Ghur (400) – Allies
Danny: A last gasp of the ‘Morathi and the stab sneks with special guest, the Spinedog!’ list now that the Incarnate’s points were hiked by 80!
This list, as hinted at above, drops the more expensive bow snakes in favour of all out melee punch, going Zainthar-Kai to allow the 15 stabbers to fulfill the battleline requirement – on top of 2 cheap and cheerful Witch units – without paying the Melusai Ironscale Tax.
Of course, it allows that one big blob to fight on death, and given not much can do 30 wounds to a unit with a 6+++ and the +1 save aura from the Cauldron of Blood, the 4+ rally from ‘Zealous Orator’ is likely keeping them topped up well into the game, for some serious value and revenge kills. In the meantime, the Cauldron buffs the Witches with +1 to wound within 12″, putting them on 3x 3/3 natively, allowing for a good volume of attacks despite the lack of rend.
It’ll be interesting to see if the top players find ways to cut costs and retain the double whammy of two timed-invincible units from here on out – at 480, snek lovers will really feel the squeeze on bodies for board control.
Either way, congrats to Thomas and three cheers for the Spinedog nerf!
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Army Faction: Skaven – Grand Strategy: Take What’s Theirs – Triumph: Inspired
LEADERS Thanquol (415) – 2 x Warpfire Braziers – 2 x Warpfire Projectors – Spells: Skitterleap Warpgnaw Verminlord (275) – General – Command Traits: Devious Adversary – Artefacts of Power: Vial of Manticore Venom – Spells: Flaming Weapon – Bonding: Krondspine Incarnate of Ghur Warlock Engineer (105)** – Spells: Warp Lightning Shield
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 Clanrats (100)* – Clawleader – Rusty Blade – 2 x Clanrat Standard Bearer – 2 x Clanrat Bell-ringer
Declan: Third place and the Third Krondspine… I mean I’m not saying it was a mistake to release it to competitive play… but it doesn’t look like the best decision ever made. In Matthias’ defense he has chosen to use Skaventide with 30 Clanrats and 3 Warp Lightning Cannons. You need to get through the Krondspine quickly because those Warp Lightning Cannons do a lot of damage.
It’s a little weird if you’ve never played it before, but effectively you want to roll low on your first roll to get mortal wounds… roll a 1 first up and that is 6 mortal wounds. But – wait – Matthias also has an Engineer and they make things more interesting.
There are two things that may not immediately clear here. The first is that the D3 mortal wounds on a 1 isn’t too bad. Average of 2 1s; means 4 wounds; and a Lightning Cannon has 8 so you can afford to do this. The second (and more important) is that one Engineer can trigger more than one Cannon in a turn. If Matthais deployed all three together it’s one hell of a mortal wound output. All at 24″ range – wow! I’ve played them with Kragnos before and he didn’t get too far.
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Army Faction: Soulblight Gravelords – Army Type: Vyrkos Dynasty – Grand Strategy: Take What’s Theirs – Triumph: Indomitable
LEADERS Radukar the Beast (315) Prince Vhordrai (455) – Spells: Amethystine Pinions, Invigorating Aura, Soulpike Mannfred Von Carstein (380)* – Spells: Amethystine Pinions, Invigorating Aura, Overwhelming Dread Necromancer (125)* – General – Command Traits: Pack Alpha – Artefacts of Power: Arcane Tome – Spells: Decrepify, Fading Vigour, Invigorating Aura Belladamma Volga (200)* – Spells: Amaranthine Orb, Invigorating Aura, Spirit Gale
BATTLELINE Dire Wolves (135)* – Doom Wolf Deadwalker Zombies (120)** Deadwalker Zombies (120)**
ENDLESS SPELLS & INVOCATIONS 1 x Horrorghast (40) 1 x Chronomantic Cogs (40) 1 x Ravenak’s Gnashing Jaws (60)
Brett: No Skeletons, no Ghouls and no Grave Guard, just Vampires and some strays that followed them in. Radukur and Belladamma are slow among the heroes (the Necromancer is very slow but no one expects him to move), with Prince Vhordrai and Mannfred mounted on dragons and both having spells to increase the mounts movement. A very high risk approach with very few units and limited board control. You are relying on your few, very mobile, but somewhat fragile units to remove threats. All good if they do but, if they fail to clear something there isn’t a lot else here to score or control the board.
A lot of Endless Spells as well giving rerolls, causing an extra model to flee combat and Ravenak’s MW bomb. It’s good to see something a little different and it must have been fun to face off against, who do you target?
