Welcome to the first in a new series of articles where we run through the lore of the Age of Sigmar factions.
These are intended to give you a little flavour into the faction, and hopefully give you an understanding on what drives them.
The World That Was
The story of the Idoneth begins way back in the world that was, right after the forces of chaos forced their way in, and right before they ultimately conquered it. During this time there was a sect of Aelves who worshipped the god known as Mathlann. God of both sea and storm and known as the lord of the Deep, Mathlann was primarily worshipped by sea fairing Aelves, and explorers. When the Chaos gods began to consume the souls of all living creatures, Mathlann sought to protect the few he could from them, and so he took a contingent of his followers and hid them at the deepest depths of the oceans. Despite this, Slaanesh could sense more souls still, and would root out each remote enclave one by one until every single aelvan soul was devoured.
The Age of Myth
During the age of Myth, what remained of the Aelvan pantheon awoke, and sadly Mathlann was not amongst those who survived. Teclis, Tyrion, and Malerion awoke in a world which lacked any Aelves to rule over, and as such devised a plan to capture Slaanesh and pry the souls from his gullet. Each of the three main gods would receive a share of the souls, and Teclis would be the first to receive them. Those souls which were first pulled from Slaanesh, turned out to be those of the idoneth. Those original souls would come to be known as the Cythai.
No Rest for the Wicked
After escaping both from Teclis and Slaanesh, the Cythai found themselves within the throes of a new horror. The combination of Corruption from Slaanesh, Purification ritual from Teclis, and the lack of a God to draw from led the majority of Idoneth to be born with Waning souls. Many of their offspring fail to live past infancy, and those that do (the Namarti) , have drastically shortened life spans. Some would be born with proper souls (Akhelians) and this disparity between the two would go on to form the basic structure of Idoneth society. To ensure their survival something would need to be done. Adapting the magic that Teclis had taught them they would form a new school of magic revolving around the removal of and transmutation of souls. Unfortunately, the souls of Sea life would not be enough to sustain that of an Idoneth body for any more than a couple of days, the only alternative was to seek out greater prey. The Idoneth would form raiding parties that would ascend from the depths raid coastal settlements taking with them the souls of the fallen back to their enclaves. To ensure secrecy, the Idoneth would weave spells to erase the memories of survivors.
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.
Idoneth Deepkin
Region Comparison – Popularity
Idoneth Deepkin saw their highest popularity in Europe with 4.6% of players choosing the faction for tournament play, while at the opposite end of the world the uptake was only 1.2% in Oceania.
Region Comparison – Win Rates
Oceania had the highest win rate with 80.0% (insane!), while North America had the lowest with 44.0%.
Scandinavia was the only region which didn’t see the Idoneth achieve a 5-0 result.
Subfaction Analysis
Subfaction
Players
Win Rate
Briomdar
7
55.56%
Mor’Phann
30
55.33%
Fuethan
25
51.19%
Ionrach
34
51.18%
Dhom-Hain
9
47.78%
Nautilar
45
41.74%
None/Unknown
18
50.00%
Faction Total
168
49.23%
There appears to be a fairly even spread between 3-4 subfactions, with Mor’Phann being the most successful of those at 55.33% and Nautilar having the least success at 41.74%. These tables often go to show how much difference the subfaction allegiance abilities can make to an army.
Top 10 Idoneth Deepkin 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 Idoneth Deepkin results only.
This is the Top Three AoS Lists for the Christmas Special that took place in the UK on 17th and 18th December. It involved 8 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: Ogor Mawtribes – Mawtribe: Boulderhead – Grand Strategy: No Place for the Weak – Triumphs: Bloodthirsty
Leaders Frostlord on Stonehorn (445) – Mount Trait: Metalcruncher Huskard on Thundertusk (330) – General – Blood Vulture – Command Trait: High Priest – Mount Trait: Rimefrost Hide – Prayer: Keening Gale Frostlord on Stonehorn (445) – Artefact: Arcane Tome (Universal Artefact) – Mount Trait: Rockmane Elder – Universal Spell Lore: Flaming Weapon
Danny: When you take the new Ogor book to an 8 player, xmas themed event, you are essentially roleplaying. The Mawtribes like it best where its chilly, they love a good ol’ festive feast, and they have lots of reindeer Stonehorns to pull fat men with beards into the action, delivering ‘presents’ as necessary, and claiming their cookies’n’milk tithe as they go. It’s the only explanation for their being 3 OM players – just under half the field.
Thomas’s interpretation of the christmas myth packs 3 big beasties – who, let’s be honest, just generally ram into you and do very bad things in a variety of slightly different ways. They’re backed up by Yhetees who can run and charge while within 15″ of a Thundertusk, and are eligible to fight within 6″ – and two more non-hero murder-reindeer. Boy oh boy does this list want to deliver you your presents, forcibly and fast! Hope his opponents felt festive while being very roughly sleighed!
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Allegiance: Idoneth Deepkin – Enclave: Briomdar – Grand Strategy: Show of Dominance – Triumphs: Inspired
Leaders Akhelian King (250)* – General – Bladed Polearm – Command Trait: Unstoppable Fury – Artefact: Arcane Tome (Universal Artefact) – Mount Trait: Voidchill Darkness – Lore of the Deeps: Steed of Tides Isharann Soulscryer (150)* – Universal Prayer Scripture: Curse Scinari Loreseeker (160)* – Allies
Battleline 20 x Namarti Reavers (340)* – Reinforced x 1 20 x Namarti Reavers (340)* – Reinforced x 1 10 x Namarti Reavers (170)* 10 x Namarti Reavers (170)*
Units 2 x Dracothian Guard Fulminators (230)*
Endless Spells & Invocations Horrorghast (40) Purple Sun of Shyish (90)
Patrick: The fact that half the lists at this event where the new golden child of AoS goes to show how versatile the Idoneth can be. The standard Murderking and Namarti Reavers are present, keeping the core of the army to a consistently powerful turn 2 and 3. This list would see a major advantage at an Ogor-heavy event, since the Ironblasters can’t take you off the table turn 1 if you aren’t on the table to begin with. A relatively small cadre of units will start on the board, while Briomdar allows the Soulscryer to keep three units to the side, who can come in at an advantageous moment.
This list deviates from the norm by taking advantage of some strong reinforcement units. The Scinari Loreseeker is going to make life difficult since it can be deployed up the board turn one, and at 160pts makes a decent sacrificial unit, since any ranged attacks would have to target him. His distance from the rest of the army also means that he’s siting on a 3+ save, and if he deploys in cover and uses all-out-defense he’s on a 3+ ignoring 2 points of Rend. The Fulminators round out the list by providing a relatively quick, tough unit that can consistently deal mortal wounds, which is something that Idoneth lack.
Overall this list has a high skill level to play well, but Kieron played well, and I imagine frutrated their opponents to no end.
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Army Faction: Ogor Mawtribes – Subfaction: Underguts
LEADERS Frostlord on Stonehorn (445)* – Mount Traits: Rockmane Elder Butcher (135)*** – General – Command Traits: Gastromancer – Tenderiser – Artefacts of Power: Arcane Tome – Spells: Blubbergrub Stench
Danny: Now, Leighton has opted for a slightly different kind of Christmas spirit, choosing to deliver coal to all the naughty children on the other side of the board from afar with great prejudice, from 3 Ironblasters and a unit of Leadbelchers, in the sub-faction that gives extra rend to ranged attacks, which let’s just say doesn’t take a tactical genius to see the appeal of.
In his defense, he also definitely does not leave the elves on the shelf (well, they’re more like mountain goblins but you get my drift) capable of doing d3 mortals to stuff within 6″ at the end of any move action, which the recent FAQ decided was clearly easily understood by all and not in the least bit troubling on a 20 body 100 pt unit.
A Stonehorn is also there because why wouldn’t you? And he’s got a Butcher for company, whipping up all the trimmings for those hungry Ironguts and packing Blubbergrub Stench, allowing Rhinox units to be treated as Monsters, which gives them all sorts of cool shit. Oh – did you forget that Ironblasters are pulled by Rhinoxes? Oh yes – now they roll dice equal to their charge roll + 2 and do MWs on 6s after pumping you full of lead, just in case a small part of your body was still twitching, cold and alone in the dirt.
Also 2 units of Ironguts waddle around just obliterating anything they get into combat with with 3 rend 2 damage 3 attacks each and a once per game double fight.
I wonder if GW just really wanted to see lots of Ogors around xmas (and under various xmas trees, preferable wrapped up…) because it certainly is their season!!
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Allegiance: Fyreslayers – Lodge: Lofnir – Grand Strategy: No Place for the Weak – Triumphs: Bloodthirsty
Leaders Auric Runefather on Magmadroth (360)* – General – Command Trait: Blood of the Berzerker – Artefact: Axe of Grimnir – Magmadroth Trait: Coal-heart Ancient Auric Runeson on Magmadroth (320)* – Ancestral War-axe – Magmadroth Trait: Flame-scaleYoungblood Auric Runeson on Magmadroth (320)* – Ancestral War-axe – Magmadroth Trait: Lava-tongue Adult Auric Runemaster (125)* – Universal Prayer Scripture: Heal Gotrek Gurnisson (485)* – Allies
Battleline 10 x Vulkite Berzerkers with Bladed Slingshields (160)* 10 x Vulkite Berzerkers with Bladed Slingshields (160)*
Brett: When the book dropped I thought we’d see a lot more Lofnir/Magmadroth lists, but it seems Lofnir lodge hid it’s secrets well. Greyfyrd is a bit more common, probably down to the difficulty in assembling 3 to 6 Magmadroths. Runeson on a Magmadroth is battleline in Lofnir, there are 4 battlelines in the army. They’re expensive, but a Magmadroth has as many wounds as a Mawcrusha (18), and have a better breath weapon. But their damage output isn’t as impressive. And the Runeson is no Megaboss. In Lofnir each Magmadroth gains a mount trait (up to 3 anyway) and they come with burning blood just in case you wound 1 in melee. The biggest advantage of Lofnir and Magmadroths is the additional mobility they bring. But that mobility makes it easy to outstrip your support (Vulkites and Runemaster). If you aren’t careful it’s easy for an army to engage each as separate pieces instead of an army.
The same is true of Gotrek, great model but with only 4″ of movement he can be played around. And that slow movement means scoring is hard and they are vulnerable to shooting. Jon lost to 2nd and 3rd who had a lot of firepower. Jon also drew with Rob in his 3rd round, notable against Tzeetch. Durable with some fun tricks it will be interesting to see what the next GHB offers Fyreslayers who don’t love the current missions and Galletian Veterans. With very few warscrolls the centre of most armies with either Vulkites (1W with a 4+ save) or Hearthguard (2W, 4+ save) who suffer against bounty hunters.
This is the Top Three AoS Lists for GT Bilbao that took place in Spain on 10th and 12th December. 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: Lumineth Realm-lords – Great Nation: Ymetrica – Grand Strategy: Alarith Afterschock – Triumphs: Indomitable
Leaders Archmage Teclis and Celennar, Spirit of Hysh (700) Alarith Stonemage (120)* – General – Command Trait: Unyielding Toughness – Artefact: Molten Talisman – Lore of the High Peaks: Unbreakable Stoicism Avalenor, the Stoneheart King (420)*
Battleline 5 x Alarith Stoneguard (120)* – Diamondpick Hammers 10 x Alarith Stoneguard (240)** – Diamondpick Hammers – Reinforced x 1 10 x Alarith Stoneguard (240)** – Diamondpick Hammers – Reinforced x 1
Units 5 x Tree-Revenants (110)* – Allies
Endless Spells & Invocations Rune of Petrification (40)
Ed: This is typical of the kind of lists we’ve been seeing since the new Lumineth Realmlords tome. It is tricky to run properly as Teclis has a whopping 18 spells to choose from and takes up so much of your points that what’s left really has no room to make mistakes. You need to know your rules inside and out – not a list for players who take 10 mins to read their warscrolls each round! However, the versatility of Teclis coupled with the hardiness and output of his Alarith entourage can accomplish a great deal even with so few models on the board.
Avalenor is a certified beatstick, especially with his pet stonemage in tow keeping him on top bracket for as long as possible. He and Teclis have the ability to dictate the course of the battle, while the Stoneguard will do most of the actual heavy lifting. Even as Galletian Veterans, Stoneguard are hardy anvils which gain a 4+ ward against mortal wounds while contesting an objective they control and the ability to ignore rend of -1 and -2! Plus in the Expert Conquerers battalion they count as 3 per model, meaning their hold over that objective and access to their ward are extra secure. They’re not too bad on the offensive either, though certainly the support from Avalenor and Teclis is crucial.
Then there are the Tree Revenants. A cheeky little unit that can pop up in unexpected places and secure objectives without much investment. It forces your opponent to play a little defensively and deploy their forces in less than ideal positions to prevent a catastrophic backdoor teleports. Even if they don’t steal an objective or assassinate a vulnerable unit, just having them on the board can be worth it for how it changes your opponent’s behaviour in your favour. I can’t speak highly enough of these guys as a list filler for any order faction who can ally them in.
It’s a brilliant list, clearly played excellently to have reached first place. But time is running out to make use of it! With a new GHB just around the corner, and Expert Conquerors/Bounty Hunters almost certainly about to disappear will similar builds continue to reach the top of the podium?
Brett: The current Big Bad of AoS according to many threads, as always shooting is effective and controversial. The increase in range for the Leadbelchers (to 18″) means it’s a lot easier for them to stand still. Standing still now guarantees 2 shots (2D3 v 1D6), not a lot but it’s significantly more damage. Ironblasters long range shot moving to a guaranteed 4 damage at 30″ with -2 Rend and doubling the number of shots is a huge deal. Their Hail Shot (10 shots, Rend -1, D2) is effective in Unleash hell and both units are solid melee damage dealers as are their Leaders. Fittingly for Ogors they are tough (4+ save) multiwound (4W for Leadblechers and 9W for Ironblasters) models who also tank well. With multiple small units they also blunt the counter strike and limit carry over damage.
With two effective (and cheap) screens in the Gnoblars (who aren’t even GV) to keep opponents out of your hair, it’s a challenge to take apart. Only the event’s 1st place managed to do so in the 3rd round, a match up of the new tomes, with the Stoneguard coming out on top. Scoring 20 in 3 rounds it looks like Adrian might have tabled his opponents frequently, certainly a chance with this sort of shooting.
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Allegiance: Idoneth Deepkin – Enclave: Fuethan – Grand Strategy: The Creeping Gloomtide – Triumphs: Inspired
Leaders Eidolon of Mathlann, Aspect of the Sea (325)* – General – Command Trait: Endless Sea Storm – Artefact: Arcane Tome (Universal Artefact) – Lore of the Deeps: Steed of Tides Isharann Soulscryer (150)* – Universal Prayer Scripture: Curse
Battleline 20 x Namarti Reavers (340)* – Reinforced x 1 10 x Namarti Reavers (170)* 2 x Akhelian Allopexes (330)** – Razorshell Harpoon – Reinforced x 1 2 x Akhelian Allopexes (330)** – Razorshell Harpoon – Reinforced x 1 2 x Akhelian Allopexes (330)** – Razorshell Harpoon – Reinforced x 1
Endless Spells & Invocations The Burning Head (20)
Patrick: What a strange list, and yet here we are in the top 3. Fuethan opens up the ability to take Allopexes as Battleline as well as bringing in Bloodthirsty Shivers (which gain some bonus attacks if they are within a certain distance of one another). In Jordi’s Case, they have opted to take three squads of 2 without bringing any Shivers at all. Allopexes are already excellent “independent operator” units, and placing them in a Bounty Hunters battalion improves their ability to clear objectives, allowing for the slower Namarti to move in.
Speaking of Namarti, Jordi has brought 2 units, both fairly small. 30 Reavers spread across 2 units is decent if you’re pushing for a skirmish force, but the frailty of the Namarti will sting if anything focuses on them for very long. The Soulscryer’s ability to deep-strike will allow all of the Namarti to start the game off the board, which would allow for better early survival.
The final unit is an Eidolon general, bringing the Arcane Tome and Endless Sea Storm. The Eidolon innately has full re-rolls for casting, unbind, and dispelling, and Endless Sea Storm allows the ability to cast an additional spell for each successful casting attempt with a result greater than 7. The Eidolon has some solid warscroll spells, and with these upgrades he becomes a high-quality support hero that will do a lot to keep the Allopexes alive.
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Allegiance: Fyreslayers – Lodge: Greyfyrd – Grand Strategy: Master of the Forge – Triumphs: Indomitable
Leaders Auric Runesmiter (135)* – Runic Iron – Universal Prayer Scripture: Heal Auric Runeson (80)* – Ancestral War-axe – Artefact: Axe of Grimnir Battlesmith (150)* – Artefact: Nulsidian Icon Auric Flamekeeper (90)** – Artefact: Arcane Tome (Universal Artefact) – Universal Spell Lore: Ghost-mist 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 (125)** – Artefact: Volatile Brazier – Universal Prayer Scripture: Heal
Battleline 15 x Hearthguard Berzerkers (480)*** – Poleaxes – Reinforced x 2 10 x Hearthguard Berzerkers (320)*** – Broadaxes – Reinforced x 1 10 x Vulkite Berzerkers with Fyresteel Handaxes (170)**
Brett: Straight forward enough, the foot heroes provide a 4+ ward (in Greyfyrd) and can use their prayer (heal) to get the Hearthguard close enough to charge. The triple reinforced Hearthguard averages 10 mortal wounds (MW) in addition to their normal damage. Both Hearthguard are Expert Conquerors to give some solid objective play for really elite army. This is a great way to play into the current meta and try to deal with long range shooting. The primary hammers have the option of rending or non rending weapons to manage armies like Nighthaunt and the Vulkites are a risk for melee army with their fight on death.
As always though there are trade offs, this is such a slow army that you might be better to not engage the central castle forcing them to come to your or spread. Either works giving you the chance to weaken them piecemeal. Score wise I think that lack of movement may have cost him dearly.
This is the Top Three AoS Lists for the Proving Grounds that took place in Canada on 22nd and 23rd October. It involved 15 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: Take What’s Theirs – Triumphs: Bloodthirsty
LEADERS Lord-Imperatant (175)* – General – Command Trait: Master of Magic – Artefact: Arcane Tome – Spell: Celestial Blades Lord-Commander Bastian Carthalos (300)* Lord-Relictor (145)* – Prayer: Translocation Knight-Judicator with Gryph-Hounds (205)*
UNITS 3 x Annihilators (200)*** 3 x Annihilators with Meteoric Grandhammers (240)*** 2 x Dracothian Guard Fulminators (230)*** 3 x Vanguard-Raptors with Longstrike Crossbows (240)* 5 x Vindictors (130)** 5 x Vindictors (130)**
ADDITIONAL ENHANCEMENTS Holy Command: Call for Aid Holy Command: Thunderbolt Volley
TOTAL: 1995/2000 WOUNDS: 83 DROPS:10
Brett: Now we’re talking, 1 of almost everything really good in the SCE book, drops be damned. The result is some really powerful mortal wound projection and good mobility with Translocation, Annihilators and Fulminators. That combined with Bastian and 30″ shooting is punishing. He’s only lost to a list that could get close enough in the early rounds. With the Annihilators only coming in from reserve the Idoneth could really get an advantage in early rounds. We never see 2x Holy Commands, but I think they are underrated. Here they are giving an extra round of shooting and an extra 10 wounds.
This is just a fun list to play with and has some of the best or most interesting units SCE can bring.
Declan: Small tournaments are great in that you can win with a good 4-1 result, and it means the number of 0-5s is hopefully limited — in this case zero! But Matthew has come out on top with a SCE list that has teleporting, armour saves, and good shooting. It’s also a list we’ve seen before but Translocation has gone out of favour recently – so it’s good to see it still being good enough to get success.
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Army Faction: Idoneth Deepkin – Army Subfaction: Nautilar – Grand Strategy: No Place for the Weak – Triumphs: Bloodthirsty
LEADER 1 x Eidolon of Mathlann Aspect of the Storm (355)** – Artefacts: Arcane Tome – Spells: Arcane Corrasion 1 x Akhelian King (250)** – General – Command Traits: Unstoppable Fury – Bladed Polearm and Falchion – Artefacts: Armour of the Cythai – Mount Traits: Voidchill Darkness 1 x Lotann (115)**
BATTLELINE 1 x Akhelian Leviadon (500)* – Mount Traits: Ancient 10 x Namarti Reavers (170)** 10 x Namarti Thralls (130)*** 10 x Namarti Thralls (130)***
TERRAIN 1 x Gloomtide Shipwreck (0)
OTHER 2 x Akhelian Allopexes (330)* – Alpha Allopex – Razorshell Harpoon Launcher – Barbed Hooks and Blades
Brett: This is a very interesting top 3, this list beat the one in first and was beaten by the list below in third. I haven’t seen that before. Idoneth is still throwing up a lot of variety, they haven’t taken a lot of tournaments so there is no “net list”. Here there is a return to the Allopexes/Leviadon with a supporting cast of infantry. Of course Eidolon and the Ahkelian King are here as hammers. Turn priority is important for Idoneth and would have worked in Pendelton’s favour against first place. The heavy hitters here and Reavers could do devastating damage to the small SCE units in the first turn and then deal with Annihilators. Pretty much every other list would have suffered exactly the same way, unless they had Gotrek or a Big Dragon.
Declan: Good to see IdK still doing well – even if they are Aelves. This is a relatively ‘normal’ list since the new book with Leviadon (big turtle), some sharks, a king and a Eidolon. It’s an interesting list which seems to rely on the characters, sharks and turtle… although don’t underestimate the Thralls. I prefer them in bigger units, but they can still contribute to the game.
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Allegiance: Stormcast Eternals – Stormhost: Hallowed Knights (Scions of the Storm) – Mortal Realm: Ghur – Grand Strategy: No Place for the Weak – Triumphs: Indomitable
LEADERS Gardus Steel Soul (150)** Lord-Relictor (145)** – Prayer: Translocation Lord-Celestant on Stardrake (500)** – General – Celestine Hammer – Command Trait: Master of Magic – Artefact: Arcane Tome (Universal Artefact) – Mount Trait: Celestial Instincts – Spell: Thundershock Gotrek Gurnisson (485)** – Allies
UNITS 5 x Liberators (115)* – Heavens-wrought Weapon and Shield 5 x Liberators (115)* – Heavens-wrought Weapon and Shield 5 x Liberators (115)* – Heavens-wrought Weapon and Shield 3 x Vanguard-Raptors with Longstrike Crossbows (240) Everblaze Comet (100)
Brett: And so here is an army you don’t want to get close to, Gotrek , 5+ wards and fight on death for all of those enticing Liberators. Long range shooting and a dragon are always pretty effective. This list is really banking on Everblaze, Stardrake and the Longstrikes to weaken you at range (30″ to 36″). If there is a weakness it’s the crippling lack of mobility in this force. You can teleport (or translocate them) but their scoring opportunities are going to be fewer with only 4″ to 6″ on everything other than the dragon. You really want the enemy to be coming to you which looks like what happened. His only loss was to another fight on death army. Zainthar Kai is brutal with so many attacks and they get to you fast so it makes sense.
Declan: 2 big characters! We’ve not seen Gotrek in a while and the little dwarf is here to provide a big bubble that the enemy doesn’t want to go into. He’s still a monster in combat and can safely kill most things in the game if he can roll normally.
It’s also great to see a Stardrake doing well – it’s seen as overcoasted by most players but the model is great – even I own one. It’s also a great centre piece for drawing attention to the army – something Gotrek just can’t do.
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Army Faction: Cities of Sigmar – Army Type: Living City – Grand Strategy: Take What’s Theirs – Triumph: Inspired
LEADERS Doralia ven Denst (115)** Freeguild General (100)** – Artefacts of Power: Arcane Tome – Spells: Lifesurge Freeguild General on Griffon (290)*** – General – Command Traits: Ironoak Artisan – Sigmarite Runesword – Artefacts of Power: Spear of the Hunt – Mount Traits: Soaring Guardian Galen Ven Denst (115)*** Haskel Hexbane (180)***
Brett: Is this someone that also plays Warhammer Fantasy battles? This looks a lot like a Fantasy army (also if you are checking on Best Coast Pairings this is listed as Beastclaw Raiders but as you can see, it isn’t). Good to see the Underworlds here with Hexbane, now go see if you can find his warscroll. Huge number of rank and file combat and shooting hampered only by it’s short range. And that’s what’s happened by the looks of it, every army that needed to charge died to a hail of fire. Even the Lumineth list which was Stoneguard following their glow up in the new book. Lists with long range shooting to hit those crossbow men did a lot better. This is the first of the 3/2 lists and scored really well in all rounds (that he won) other than the last. Stoneguard are really good now.
Hard to disassemble a castle like this without shooting or spells, your best option is to play the mission and try to get tactics where you can avoid engaging. Either way try to get rid of the Demigryph Knights as soon as possible to limit his movement and remove them as a threat to your smaller units.
Declan: I’ve not reviewed a Cities of Sigmar list in a while and this one’s interesting. With both the Ven Denst’s making an appearance and with Freeguild Crossbowmen there is a ranged threat here that is not to be ignored. I’m interested in the Greatswords though.
3+/3+ is the stat-line Games Workshop are using for models and units they want to be good in combat. So the Freeguild are going to hit, and the 4+ armour save is not to be ignored. They are not cheap at 150 points for 10, but with a unit of 10 and 20, they will be able to push out some damage. It’s not seen often, as they’re probably not good enough for a 5-0, but they are great if you want to have fun and have a good paint scheme.
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 Epic Level Showdown that took place in Georgia, USA on 24th and 25th September. It involved 35 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: Maggotkin of Nurgle – Subfaction: Drowned Men – Grand Strategy: No Place for the Weak – Triumphs: Bloodthirsty
Leaders Be’Lakor, the Dark Master (360)* – Allies Lord of Afflictions (210)* – General – Command Trait: Overpowering Stench – Artefact: Arcane Tome (Universal Artefact) – Lore of Malignance: Rancid Visitations
Battleline 10 x Plaguebearers (150)* 2 x Pusgoyle Blightlords (220)* – 1x Dolorous Tocsin 4 x Pusgoyle Blightlords (440)* – 2x Dolorous Tocsin – Reinforced x 1 4 x Pusgoyle Blightlords (440)* – 2x Dolorous Tocsin – Reinforced x 1
Brett: We’ve seen the Nurgle Blightlord’s a lot in Season 1, they deny the missions well more than play them well, but to look at this list and think it’s like that would be a mistake. To start with Be’lakor is heading the list (even if he isn’t the general) and it has Plaguebearers and Nurglings even. That’s right there are Galletian Veteran’s in this list. On top of that we have Ravenak’s Gnashing Jaws, the mechanics of this spell are brilliant (roll 3D6 and subtract the target unit’s movement, take the difference as mortal wounds). 3 casts/dispels with Arcane Tome and Rancid Visitations, an anti horde mortal wound spell. Be’lakor is a skill pick, 20% of your army and he can hit really hard but he only has 14 wounds on a 4+ and degrades quickly.
You need to pick your time to commit him and I feel like the durable Blightlords compliment him well. Commit them to the early scoring/battle tactics and bluntening your opponents thrust before swooping in. It might even open up a This One’s Mine which can help a lot with your scoring. The Blightlords are just an effective unit, 8 wounds and 11 attacks each and mortal wounds on the charge and at the end of combat. With disease points they grind units down through a combination of resilience (5+ ward and heal a wound every round) and steady damage. The Nurglings are a natural for either taking an unprotected objective or completing Desecrate the Lands with their Hidden Infestations (they don’t deploy until the end of your first movement phase and must be outside of your deployment).
They arrive 3″ away from Terrain so it will be the next turn before they can do Desecrate. It’s a unique take on a pretty common solution and able to access pretty much all battle tactics (particularly from the GHB). Great work going 5/0 and proving the there is depth to Nurgle.
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Army Faction: Idoneth Deepkin – Subfaction: Mor’phann – Grand Strategy: The Creeping Gloomtide – Triumph: Indomitable
LEADERS Akhelian King (250)* – General – Command Traits: Unstoppable Fury – Bladed Polearm and Falchion – Artefacts of Power: Arcane Tome – Mount Traits: Voidchill Darkness – Spells: Flaming Weapon – Bonding: Krondspine Incarnate of Ghur Isharann Soulscryer (150)* – Prayers: Curse Isharann Soulrender (120)*
Brett: Another different take on the popular infantry heavy Idoneth list. Instead of a 20 or 30 model units Jon is running his Reavers in 10 model trading units. The Thralls are still in a double reinforced unit. The Soulscryer is one reason for the smaller units, they are much easier to Deep Strike. One can garrison the shipwreck as well. The Soulscryer can take 2 units with him and redeploy at the end of the movement phase within 6″ of the edge of the battlefield and outside of 9″ from an enemy unit. Great for battletactics and sniping important things. The Soulrender is returning units with Lurelight. The King has all of the 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).
Rounding out the list are Krondspine and the Shipwreck.Krondspine is interesting choice but helps before High Tide (turn 3) when Idoneth has fight first available before dropping into Ebb Tide where they can retreat and charge (or shoot). Krondspine gives you an offensive threat that needs to be dealt with. Supported by Reavers and even the King from turn 2 it’s a serious threat, even better if it’s still around in turn 3. The small units of Reavers can make effective use of the Tides of Death, there is less on the line if you run and shoot with a small unit that will most likely be taken out next turn. An interesting take on Idoneth that ran very well and scored well throughout, in the end losing to our winner in the final round. No surprises really, Jon is one of the top ranked players in the world.
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Army Faction: Slaves to Darkness – Army Type: Knights of the Empty Throne – Grand Strategy: Take What’s Theirs
LEADERS Varanguard (560) – General – Mark of Chaos: Tzeentch – Command Traits: Inescapable Doom – Daemonforged Blade and Warpsteel Shield – Artefacts of Power: Grasping Plate Chaos Sorcerer Lord (135)* – Mark of Chaos: Tzeentch – Spells: Mask of Darkness Slaves to Darkness Daemon Prince (210)* – Mark of Chaos: Khorne – Hellforged Sword and Malefic Talons Chaos Sorcerer Lord on Manticore (270)* – Mark of Chaos: Tzeentch – Spells: Mask of Darkness – Bonding: Krondspine Incarnate of Ghur
BATTLELINE Untamed Beasts (70)* – Mark of Chaos: Tzeentch Untamed Beasts (70)* – Mark of Chaos: Tzeentch Untamed Beasts (70)* – Mark of Chaos: Tzeentch
BEHEMOTH Krondspine Incarnate of Ghur (400) Chaos Warshrine (215)* – Mark of Chaos: Tzeentch – Prayers: Heal
CORE BATTALIONS *Battle Regiment
TOTAL POINTS: 2000/2000
Brett: Knights of the Empty Throne (without Archaon) being run here by one of the top 10 players in the world (tough crowd in Georgia). Although there is no Archeon it’s still a hero based list and possibly a prelude to what the end of the year may look like with the new book. Only 2 casts/dispels but with both the Krondspine (Endless Spell protection and massive melee threat) and the Warshrine (Behemoth priest). Both Sorcerers know Mask of Darkness (teleport for Mortal units). Everything except the Daemon Prince is Tzeetch marked (reroll save rolls of 1 for everything except the Incarnate and Untamed Beasts) and a 5+ ward against the effects of magic. Varanguard as general with Inescapable Doom (no retreat within 3″) and Grasping Plate (6″ engagement range and 6″ pile in). We’ll assume they are 6th Circle for the extra damage on the charge.
Playing this well takes some considered action, there are 4 solid hammers but they work best with overlapping buffs. Khorne Marked Daemon Prince has the 18″ halve charge and run rolls, he is best close to something important that you don’t want charged. The Krondspine doesn’t benefit from the armies buffs so can act independently but it’s also strong anti endless spell protection. Varanguard are a mobile threat as is the Sorcerer on Manticore but committing them too early could be a mistake. The Untamed Beasts and Sorcerers are mortals and can be teleported with Mask of Darkness. Great for those Battle Tactics. The Sorceror’s can use Eye of the Gods at the end of the turn if they kill a unit. Probably not something to play into, the Sorcerer’s can be removed relatively easily – even the 12 wounds on a 4+, but something to take advantage of
The ideal set up is probably to have the Sorcerer cast Demonic Power (reroll hits and wounds) on the Varanguard before launching them. Keep the Daemon Prince near to the Varanguard to prevent the counter charge. In earlier turns screen with the Untamed Beasts (both the Prince and Manticore fly so can go over the screen if necessary). Initially everything is likely to stay close to the Warshrine for the 6+ ward, particularly if there is much shooting in the enemy’s list. The loss to Lumineth just highlights the issues Slaves have as a melee army that is relatively slow moving with long range mortal wound shooting. Lumineth in particular aren’t likely to push into to you to score giving little room to react to their shooting, 2 turns across open ground is uncomfortable.
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Army Faction: Ogor Mawtribes – Army Type: Boulderhead – Grand Strategy: No Place for the Weak – Triumphs: Inspired
LEADERS Frostlord on Stonehorn (430)* – General – Metalcruncher – Lord of Beasts – Brand of the Svard Kragnos, The End of Empires (720)*
Brett: Do you like a quick movement phase without the distraction of a lot of units (and models)? But Gargants don’t float your boat then get on Ogors, mini, hungrier Gargants looking for their next meal. They also look pretty angry rather than slow witted so that’s something (I always wanted Ogres as a playable race in Warcraft). With a new book coming there is some light at the end of the tunnel, at the moment Ogors are languishing with a 42% winrate with fairly low representation. I’m going with this must have been a Battle Regiment not Bounty Hunters because Bounty Hunters is only 3 units max. Anyone 2 Generals since Kragnos is no one’s servant (he counts as a General).
The Frostlord has Metalcruncher (D6 MW to a unit within 3″ at start of combat) and as a Boulderhead, Lord of Beasts (1″ extra movement) and Brand of Svard (+1 to hit with melee weapons). Kragnos is handing out his 18″ charge with 3D6 rolls. The Gluttons get an extra 2″ move if they are more than 3″ from all enemy units (they’re hungry) and everything does mortal wounds on the charge. Kragnos is unique there where he makes a charge with different profiles if it is against units or a single monster. His Bellowing Roar as he gets wounded is always funny, in a bad way. If you see Ogors you know they are going to concentrate on stomping you, if they are with Kragnos they will be fairly compact.
Michael recovered really well from his early round losses, eventually finishing higher than both of his opponents. As expected scoring was an issue with 6 dropped tactics and 2 dropped Grand Strategies through the weekend. Congratulations on bringing a pretty unique list.
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 Raccoon Rumble that took place in Germany on 17th and 18th September. It involved a massive 120 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: Maggotkin of Nurgle – Subfaction: Filthbringers – Grand Strategy: Take What’s Theirs – Triumphs: Inspired
Leaders Rot Coven Rotbringer Sorcerer (120)* – General – Command Trait: Master of Magic – Artefact: Arcane Tome (Universal Artefact) – Lore of Malignance: Rancid Visitations – Lore of Malignance: Gift of Disease Rot Coven Rotbringer Sorcerer (120)* – Lore of Malignance: Rancid Visitations – Lore of Malignance: Cloying Quagmire Rot Coven Rotbringer Sorcerer (120)* – Lore of Malignance: Blades of Putrefaction – Lore of Malignance: Magnificent Buboes
Battleline 10 x Putrid Blightkings (500)** – Reinforced x 1 5 x Putrid Blightkings (250)** 10 x Plaguebearers (150)** 2 x Pusgoyle Blightlords (220)*** – 1x Dolorous Tocsin 2 x Pusgoyle Blightlords (220)*** – 1x Dolorous Tocsin
Danny: Nurgle take gold in Germany with an off-meta (for Nurgle, anyway) Filthbringer list, eschewing Drowned Men and the pre-game move for the Rotbringer Coven and their really quite impressive magical prowess. Multiple excellent spells on durable platforms with a combined +3 to cast/unbind can compete with all but the very best casters in the game, and with Nurgle’s excellent lore full of debuffs and longer-range disease point delivery systems, they shore up the slowness and lack of range the army typically has.
Of note elsewhere is a reinforced Blightking blob to gum up the mid-table, and the 2x 2 Blightlords for mobility – not that they don’t also slap. For those looking at the odd-at-first-sight Endless Spell list, and who haven’t learned the hard way, the way it works is this: Shards halve the movement of something, count as an additional way of putting out disease points, and then Gnashing Jaws chomps through – dealing the difference between a 3d6 roll and a unit’s movement as MWs – hence Shards. Nasty combo and a big win, especially as Colin had to chew through double Seraphon, Tzeentch (whose mortals typically threaten Nurgle tankiness), the hyper-mobile Sylvaneth and scary ol’ Nighthaunt!
Peter: We’re lucky enough that Colin is a member of our Discord. I asked him what he thought the vulnerability of the list was and how opponents should approach playing it.
Colin: I don’t think there is really much counter potential for this list. Of course, you can try to split the list, then I could get into trouble because I don’t have many units. The wizards are of course important for my list, but I have made the experience that the list remains super stable even if I lose my wizards.
Most people focus on the 10-strong squad of Blightkings, but that’s the wrong approach for me. The opponent should rather focus on the other smaller units. Alone, 10 Blightkings with a 4″ move do nothing on most battleplans.
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Allegiance: Seraphon – Constellation: Fangs of Sotek – Mortal Realm: Ghur – Grand Strategy: Show of Dominance – Triumphs: Inspired
Leaders Slann Starmaster (265)*** – General – Command Trait: Arcane Might – Artefact: Arcane Tome (Universal Artefact) – Spell: Stellar Tempest Skink Starpriest (130) – Spell: Hand of Glory Skink Priest (90)*** – Universal Prayer Scripture: Heal Saurus Astrolith Bearer (140)*** – Artefact: Serpent God Dagger
Battleline 5 x Saurus Guard (115)** 30 x Skinks (225)** – Boltspitters & Moonstone Clubs – Reinforced x 2 10 x Skinks (75)** – Boltspitters Celestite Daggers & Star Bucklers 10 x Skinks (75)*** – Boltspitters Celestite Daggers & Star Bucklers
Units 2 x Salamander Hunting Pack (280)* – Reinforced x 1 2 x Salamander Hunting Pack (280)* – Reinforced x 1
Behemoths Bastiladon with Solar Engine (250)
Endless Spells & Invocations Purple Sun of Shyish (70)
Danny: Fangs of Sotek again! In their defence, the FAQ to turn scaly skin off skinks has meant the Starborne sub-factions are worth taking again, which is good for diversity overall, even if how good Seraphon are in general is a wider issue.
Tristan’s take on the teleporting skink gang is fairly standard – he’s got the 30 blob there, the 2x 10 objective grabbers, and the shooty core of 2x 2 sallies (nasty with the option to teleport) and the Solar Engine which, combined with Purp Son is putting out 9 rend 2, damage 2 (3 vs chaos – and Colin’s Nurgle still beat him!) shots at long range.
It’s an incredibly solid list archetype that I doubt we’ll see much deviation from in a while, but big up to Tristan for keeping up the concentration over a long tourney against some tough opponents and armies!
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Allegiance: Idoneth Deepkin – Enclave: Briomdar – Mortal Realm: Ghyran – Grand Strategy: Take What’s Theirs – Triumphs: Inspired
Leaders Eidolon of Mathlann, Aspect of the Sea (325)* – General – Command Trait: Endless Sea Storm – Artefact: Arcane Tome (Universal Artefact) – Lore of the Deeps: Steed of Tides – Lore of the Deeps: Counter-current Isharann Soulscryer (150)* – Universal Prayer Scripture: Guidance Isharann Soulrender (120)*
Battleline 10 x Namarti Thralls (130)** 10 x Namarti Thralls (130)*** 20 x Namarti Reavers (340)*** – Reinforced x 1
Units Akhelian Allopexes (330)** – Razorshell Harpoon
Behemoths Krondspine Incarnate of Ghur (400) – Allies – bound to Eidolon of Mathlann, Aspect of the Sea
Endless Spells & Invocations Purple Sun of Shyish (70)
Danny: An interesting IDK list that drops a few common pieces in favour of a Spinedog and an Eidolon, who may not be as slap-happy as the King, but do offer a huge amount of utility and versatility. Overall though, it looks like a pin-and-cushion list – 20 Reavers can rain down serious hurt on whatever the Spinedog ties up, while the lone shark caps objectives and the two Thrall blobs – who can certainly pack a punch once the Eidolon gets the -1 save debuff off on folks and/or the inevitable Sun gets into range.
The Soulscryer in Briomdar completes the game plan by offering a few units the chance to start in reserves to threaten early board control or objective yoinking – the Enclave allowing for an extra unit to go into reserves and for them to come in outside the table edge too. The list performed admirably, losing only to Seraphon and taking down some meta-factions en route to 3rd- congrats Stephan!
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Allegiance: Fyreslayers – Lodge: Vostarg – Grand Strategy: Master of the Forge – Triumphs: Inspired
Leaders Auric Flamekeeper (90)* Auric Flamekeeper (90)* Auric Runemaster (125)* – Artefact: Volatile Brazier – Universal Prayer Scripture: Heal Auric Runesmiter (135)** – Runic Iron – Prayer: Ember Storm Auric Runeson on Magmadroth (320)** – General – Ancestral War-axe – Command Trait: Blood of the Berzerker – Artefact: Axe of Grimnir – Magmadroth Trait: Coal-heart Ancient Battlesmith (150)** – Artefact: Nulsidian Icon
Battleline 10 x Vulkite Berzerkers with Fyresteel Handaxes (170)*** 10 x Vulkite Berzerkers with Fyresteel Handaxes (170)*** 10 x Vulkite Berzerkers with Fyresteel Handaxes (170)*** 10 x Vulkite Berzerkers with Fyresteel Handaxes (170)**** 10 x Vulkite Berzerkers with Fyresteel Handaxes (170)**** 10 x Vulkite Berzerkers with Fyresteel Handaxes (170)****
Danny: Fyreslayers infamously don’t have a huge roster to work with, and they seem to have settled largely into either Magmadroth spam or Hearthguard spam, for obvious reasons. But Jan here is not content to follow the pack, and has opted instead for…Vulkite spam! The little guys that could don’t set the world on fyre at first glance, but their combined weight of attacks and relative durability can make for serious board control. Two Flamekeepers no doubt hung out nearby, absorbing the power of all their little fallen breathren before multiplying the power of the rest, allowing for a steady trickle of combos and shenanigans – such as the powerful combat-phase charge.
A fun, unusual list that managed 4 wins, showing it clearly has (lots of little) legs!
This is the Top Three AoS Lists for the Rum and Rumble 2 Grand Tournament that took place in the UK on 3rd and 4th September. It involved 10 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: Ionrach – Grand Strategy: Take What’s Theirs – Triumphs: Inspired
Leaders Isharann Soulscryer (150)* – Universal Prayer Scripture: Curse Akhelian King (250)* – General – Bladed Polearm – Command Trait: Unstoppable Fury – Artefact: Arcane Tome (Universal Artefact) – Mount Trait: Voidchill Darkness – Universal Spell Lore: Flaming Weapon
Battleline 20 x Namarti Reavers (340)* – Reinforced x 1 10 x Namarti Reavers (170)* 6 x Akhelian Morrsarr Guard (390)** – Reinforced x 1
Units 2 x Akhelian Allopexes (330)* – Razorshell Harpoon – Reinforced x 1 2 x Akhelian Allopexes (330)** – Razorshell Harpoon – Reinforced x 1
Danny: Hazel Moon is fast gaining a reputation as being the UK’s premier IDK player, and this result shows why. To beat Fangs of Sotek – quickly becoming the meta Seraphon sub-fac – along with grindy SBGL and tanky SCE, you need a balanced list and plenty of talent.
The fulcrum of the list is 30 reavers, who still represent some of the best value for points ranged power in the game, backed up by an Eel blob and 2 braces of Allopexes. It’s nothing out there, but threat project, mobility and the reliable mixed phase threats of the Allopexes just make sense. The leaders are minimalist – a slam-King and the Soulscryer for utility, wrapped up in the relatively uncommon Ionrach enclave, which affords the King huge tactical flexibility in choosing an additional tide to be in effect.
In this season, being 3 drops also allows choice of 1st plenty of the time too – meaning all the tools were there for an army that relies on rapidly adapting to threats and board states to triumph. Congrats to Hazel for a big win!
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Allegiance: Lumineth Realm-lords – Great Nation: Syar – Grand Strategy: Show of Dominance – Triumphs: Indomitable
Leaders Archmage Teclis and Celennar, Spirit of Hysh (740)* Scinari Enlightener (165)* – General – Command Trait: Goading Arrogance – Artefact: The Perfect Blade – Lore of Hysh: Speed of Hysh
Battleline 20 x Vanari Auralan Wardens (290)* – Lore of Hysh: Total Eclipse – Reinforced x 1 10 x Vanari Auralan Wardens (145)* – Lore of Hysh: Lambent Light 30 x Vanari Auralan Sentinels (510)* – Lore of Hysh: Lambent Light – Reinforced x 2
Danny: Next in the list of ‘quickly becoming UK best in faction’ is Matt Gouldesbrough and his beautiful Lumineth, putting them on a tear while they wait…oh so very patiently…for their new book.
And he’s rocking Teclis! The big man is an expensive bet in this age of objective play and ranged threat, but the magical dominance he offers can never be underestimated. This list is clearly geared towards utterly control, with the standard 30 sentinel blob trying to point-and-delete the main threats, allowing the two warden units to go cap objectives – and their survivability with the ward Teclis offers and their potential to be doing mortals on 5s to hit – should never be underestimated.
Not much else of note beyond a great performance whose only non-win was against Hazel’s IDK – meaning Matt was super close to taking the gold – and the new Enlightener cropping up for additional magic overload and a cheap platform for Goading Arrogance for the few occasions something might get too close to Teclis for comfort. Well done to Matt for an undefeated campaign.
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Allegiance: Seraphon – Constellation: Fangs of Sotek – Grand Strategy: Show of Dominance – Triumphs: Inspired
Engine of the Gods (265) – Artefact: Incandescent Rectrices – Mount Trait: Starborne – Universal Prayer Scripture: Curse Lord Kroak (430)*** – General Saurus Astrolith Bearer (140)*** – Artefact: Serpent God Dagger Skink Priest (90)*** – Universal Prayer Scripture: Curse Skink Starpriest (130) – Spell: Hand of Glory
Units 5 x Saurus Guard (115)** 30 x Skinks (225)** – Boltspitters Celestite Daggers & Star Bucklers – Reinforced x 2 30 x Skinks (225)** – Boltspitters Celestite Daggers & Star Bucklers – Reinforced x 2 10 x Skinks (75)* – Boltspitters Celestite Daggers & Star Bucklers 10 x Skinks (75)* – Boltspitters Celestite Daggers & Star Bucklers 10 x Skinks (75)* – Boltspitters Celestite Daggers & Star Bucklers
Endless Spells Purple Sun of Shyish (70) Ravenak’s Gnashing Jaws (60)
Many of them in Expert Conqs, and In Fangs of Sotek meaning a turn 1 speed boost for the little guys helping them set up shop on objectives and move block, and crucially the ability to retreat after an Unleash Hell on a 4+. Sure this is good for keeping them alive, but factor in how frustrating this list could be to score battle tactics against without ranged threat projection.
If you haven’t played this kind of list before, the main gotcha is the way skinks can have plenty of buffs stacked on them by the Star/priest – including RR 1s to hit (not long for this world), and 6s to wound do mortals. Above 15 models in a unit and skinks have 2 shots, meaning the 30 blobs are putting out 60 shots at mid-range. The maths on that are already good, but notice the Engine of the Gods has the Curse prayer – if that goes off on a big target, allowing for 6s to hit doing mortals….and you essentially have a guaranteed deletion of almost any target in the game.
Understandably however, this list seems to have suffered against the speed and ranged output of Hazel and Matt’s list, who I presume were able to snipe the buff pieces, and whittle down the skink blobs with plenty of shooting. Well done to Jack either way.
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Allegiance: Soulblight Gravelords – Lineage: Vyrkos Dynasty – Grand Strategy: Take What’s Theirs – Triumphs:
Leaders Nagash, Supreme Lord of the Undead (955) Vampire Lord (140) – General – Command Trait: Kin of the Wolf – Artefact: Ulfenkarnian Phylactery – Lore of the Vampires: Soulpike
Battleline 20 x Deathrattle Skeletons (160)* – Reinforced x 1 10 x Deathrattle Skeletons (80)* 10 x Deathrattle Skeletons (80)*
Units 20 x Grave Guard (280)** – Great Wight Blades – Reinforced x 1 5 x Blood Knights (195)**
Danny: Despite a very shaky start to the season, SBGL seem to be picking up the pace a bit these days, so 4th is a great result for Josh. _Especially_ as he done brought the big bone daddy, Nagash. Despite his utility and magic potential, the guy is surprisingly non-tanky these days, having a pitiful ward and a short range on most of his abilities. You’re almost forced into filling out the rest of a Nagash list with MSU pieces, and Josh has here opted for the pesky Deathrattles and the usual 20 GG blob as a pure hammer. Deathrattle are quickly gaining in popularity due to their cost effectiveness and potential ability to pop back out of a grave-site after being killed and yoink vacant objectives – especially in Expert Conqs.
Josh lost only to 1st and 2nd place, so big props for a great result with Nagash.
