Category Archives: Ionrach

Age of Sigmar, Briomdar, Faction Focus, Fantasy, Fuethan, Games Workshop, Idoneth Deepkin, Ionrach, Meta Analysis, Mor'Phann, Nautilar, Order, Peter Holland, Tournaments

Idoneth Deepkin – Faction Review (Jul-Nov ’22)

December 27, 2022 Peter Holland Leave a comment

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.

Age of Sigmar, Army Lists, Blades of Khorne, Breaker Tribe, Chaos, Destruction, Drowned Men, Fantasy, Games Workshop, Idoneth Deepkin, Ionrach, Maggotkin of Nurgle, Order, Peter & Brett, Reapers of Vengeance, Sons of Behemat, Top three lists, Tournaments

Top Three AoS Lists for AoS @MOAB 2022

October 19, 2022 Brett & Peter Leave a comment

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

CORE BATTALIONS
*Battle Regiment

Total: 1985 / 2000
Reinforced Units: 1 / 4
Allies: 400 / 400
Wounds: 76
Drops: 1

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

Total: 1975 / 2000
Reinforced Units: 0 / 4
Allies: 400 / 400
Wounds: 105
Drops: 4

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

BATTLELINE:
Bloodreavers (80)*
– Icon Bearer
– Hornblower
– Chieftain
– Meatripper Axe
Bloodreavers (80)*
– Chieftain
– Icon Bearer
– Hornblower
– Meatripper Axe
Flesh Hounds (105)*

BEHEMOTH:
Krondspine Incarnate of Ghur (400)

OTHER:
Wrathmongers (145)**

TERRAIN:
Skull Altar (0)

CORE BATTALIONS
*Expert Conquerors
**Warlord

TOTAL POINTS: 1990/2000
DROPS: 10

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.

Final Tournament Placings

Age of Sigmar, Army Lists, Danny & Peter, Death, Fangs of Sotek, Fantasy, Games Workshop, Idoneth Deepkin, Ionrach, Lumineth Realm-Lords, Order, Seraphon, Soulblight Gravelords, Syar, Top three lists, Tournaments, Vyrkos Dynasty

Top Three AoS Lists for Rum and Rumble 2

September 20, 2022 Peter & Danny 2 Comments

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.

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

Core Battalions
*Battle Regiment
**Bounty Hunters

Total: 1960 / 2000
Reinforced Units: 4 / 4
Allies: 0 / 400
Wounds: 98
Drops: 3

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

Endless Spells & Invocations
Umbral Spellportal (70)
Emerald Lifeswarm (60)

Core Battalions
*Battle Regiment

Total: 1980 / 2000
Reinforced Units: 3 / 4
Allies: 0 / 400
Wounds: 82
Drops: 1

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)

Core Battalions
*Expert Conquerors
**Bounty Hunters
***Command Entourage – Magnificent

Additional Enhancements
Artefact

Total: 1975 / 2000
Reinforced Units: 4 / 4
Allies: 0 / 400
Wounds: 145
Drops: 11

Danny:

S
K
I
N
K
S

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)**

Endless Spells & Invocations
Chronomantic Cogs (40)
Umbral Spellportal (70)

Core Battalions
*Expert Conquerors
**Bounty Hunters

Total: 2000 / 2000
Reinforced Units: 2 / 4
Allies: 0 / 400
Wounds: 96
Drops: 7

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.

Final Tournament Placings

Age of Sigmar, Army Lists, Chaos, Daughters of Khaine, Drowned Men, Fantasy, Games Workshop, Hagg Nar, Hammers of Sigmar, Idoneth Deepkin, Ionrach, Maggotkin of Nurgle, Order, Peter & Brett, Stormcast Eternals, Top three lists, Tournaments

Top Three AoS Lists for Age of Sigmar, Match Play Event (Warhammer World)

August 23, 2022 Brett & Peter 1 Comment

This is the Top Three AoS Lists for the Age of Sigmar, Matched Play Event that took place in Nottingham, England on 13 and 14 August. It involved 74 players vying to be crowned champion in a 5 game tournament at Warhammer World.

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
Leaders
Lord of Afflictions (210)**
– General
– Command Trait: Overpowering Stench – Artefact: The Splithorn Helm
– Incubatch
Orghotts Daemonspew (300)
Morbidex Twiceborn (320)
Bloab Rotspawned (300)**
– Lore of Malignance: Gift of Disease
Lord of Afflictions (210)**
– Artefact: Arcane Tome
– Lore of Malignance: Rancid Visitations
– Incubatch
Units
2 x Pusgoyle Blightlords (220)*
– 1 x Dolorous Tocsin
2 x Pusgoyle Blightlords (220)*
– 1 x Dolorous Tocsin
2 x Pusgoyle Blightlords (220)*
– 1 x Dolorous Tocsin
Terrain
Feculent Gnarlmaw (0)
Core Battalions
*Bounty Hunters
**Command Entourage – Magnificent Additional Enhancements Artefact

Brett: A different approach to a lot of recent Maggotkin armies with a lot of heroes and minimum battleline. It forces you to use your heroes to complete battle tactics because this army but who cares with double Lord’s of Affliction. Morbidex, Orghotts and Bloab are all Monsters, with the Arcane Tome there are only 2 casts/dispells. There isn’t some amazing synergy here except that everything is as mobile as Nighthaunt but has 8 wounds. Nothing is dying easily and they are producing mortal wounds (MW) and disease points (for more MW). All of the Blightlords are in bounty hunters doubling their potential damage and making them hard to manage with GV.

All of that might not convey how horrific this army is. Bloab, Orghutts and Morbix have a top bracket of 5 or 6 wounds and a 5+ ward giving them 18 effective wounds. Until you get them out of that bracket they have 5 attacks at rend -2 with 3 damage and 3 to 7 damage 2 attacks. They are devastating in combat as well as their MW production forcing you to try to avoid them. With 3 monsters and 5 Leaders over all as well as the Blightlords themselves there isn’t a lot of room to score without engaging them.

That makes this a great army, you are forced to make a least bad choice and hope you can get in and out before they concentrate forces. None of his opponents could really afford to trade, Idoneth shooting probably had the best chance but it’s hard to stay out of charge range there to. Beast’s high rend would be useful but they wouldn’t stay alive long enough, Orks and Ogres are devastating on the change but when hit back by these monsters they would lose too many models. Solid work in assembling such an army and the all or nothing approach which paid off here.

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Allegiance: Daughters of Khaine
– Temple: Hagg Nar
– Mortal Realm: Ulgu
– Grand Strategy: Bloodthirsty Zealots
– Triumphs: Leaders
Melusai Ironscale (115)*
– General
– Command Trait: Zealous Orator
– Artefact: Crown of Woe
Morathi-Khaine (340)*
The Shadow Queen (340)* Battleline
10 x Blood Stalkers (360)*
– Reinforced x 1
10 x Blood Sisters (280)*
– Reinforced x 1
10 x Witch Aelves (115)*
– Pairs of Sacrificial Knives Units
5 x Doomfire Warlocks (145)*
– Spell1: Universal Spell Lore: Levitate
9 x Khainite Shadowstalkers (150)*
Avatar of Khaine (155)* Core Battalions
*Battle Regiment

Total: 2000 / 2000
Reinforced Units: 2 / 4
Allies: 0 / 400
Wounds: 102
Drops: 1

Brett: Solid implementation of one of the stronger books at the moment. 1 drop army in Hagg Nar – they will determine priority most of the time and have +1 to charge in the first round. Avatar of Khaine to providing +1 to wound for the Witch Aelves, Melusai is rallying the fallen on a 4+ and denying her opponents rally within 9″. Blood Stalkers for their ranged support and Sisters to do the stabbing (as well as Morathi). That’s a solid core to control a couple of objectives and destroy units that attempt to reclaim giving you 2 or 3 battle tactics. Unusually James chose against Heartrenders going with Doomfire Locks and Shadowstalkers. Doomfire Warlocks are expensive but their speed lets them threaten anywhere that isn’t well defending as well as their spell casting.

Shadowstalkers seem undervalued in the current meta, they can teleport, for free, anywhere 9″ from the enemy. This is similar to Heartrenders deep striking except they can repeat it, the 2 units are similar in cost and the Shadowstalkers are slightly harder to kill. I think it could be a better solution although they lack the ranged attacks of the Heartrenders. Not surprisingly Seraphon and Maggotkin were harder to score against but the Legion of the First Prince list caused the most issues. Be’Lakor and an Incarnate is a lot to deal with for anybody and reliably clearing 10 Plaguebringers is tough. Good work taking second.

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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
6 x Akhelian Morrsarr Guard (390)**
– Reinforced x 1
20 x Namarti Reavers (340)
– Reinforced x 1
10 x Namarti Reavers (170)
Units
2 x Akhelian Allopexes (330)**
– Razorshell Harpoon
– Reinforced x 1
2 x Akhelian Allopexes (330)
– Razorshell Harpoon
– Reinforced x 1
Core Battalions
*Battle Regiment
**Bounty Hunters

Total: 1960 / 2000
Reinforced Units: 4 / 4
Allies: 0 / 400
Wounds: 98
Drops: 3

Brett: 3rd and 4th tied in round 3 and overall had very similar scores so I’ve included both. Only 2 heroes, Soulscryer (priest) and the Akhelian King without a lot of casting (Arcane Tome/Flaming Weapon is a nice touch though). The King is built for output but also a little tanky, useful when you only have 7 wounds. Polearm for -3 rend and 3 damage on the charge, buffed with Flaming Weapon and an additional 2 attacks per enemy unit within 3″. He’s begging to be charged into the middle of something he probably won’t survive.

This a very mobile Idoneth army with the 6 Morrsarr Eels and 4 Allopexes (in pairs). Morrsarr and Ishlaen were much more common with the previous book (where Thralls were really terrible) but aren’t commonly seen now. They are still a tanky mobile unit that can keep up with the King and receive his hit buff as can the Allopexes. That lets you make a mobile death castle particularly from round 2. Idoneth are really deadly if they get the 2/3 double, 3 drops probably means first turn to his opponent. Forcing your opponent to go first and Creeping Mist (can’t be targetted outside 12″ on low tide) is a popular tactic for Idoneth. Even vampires struggle in the mists apparently.

Outside of his 3rd opponent the remaining armies were melee focused, they will play poorly into Idoneth where they can get close enough to fire without fear of return fire. With the Morsarr and even Allopex to screen the Reavers it’s an uphill battle. More so if they can garrison terrain (including the boat). Really well played taking 3rd in this field and an even this big.

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Army Faction: Stormcast Eternals
– Army Type: Scions of the Storm
– Army Subfaction: Hammers of Sigmar
– Grand Strategy: No Place for the Weak
– Triumphs: Inspired
– Holy Command: Call For Aid
Leaders
Knight-Draconis (300)
– General
– Command Traits: Master of Magic
– Artefacts: Arcane Tome
– Mount Traits: Thunderous Presence
– Spells: Celestial Blades
Lord-Castellant (155)**
Battleline
1 x Stormdrake Guard (680)*
– Stormdrake-Prime
– Drakerider’s Lance
Stormdrake Guard (340)*
– Stormdrake-Prime
– Drakerider’s Warblade
Stormdrake Guard (340)*
– Stormdrake-Prime
– Drakerider’s Warblade
Liberators (115)**
– Liberator-Prime
– Grandweapon
– Heavens-wrought Weapon and Sigmarite Shield
Endless Spell
Purple Sun of Shyish (70)
Core Battalions
*Bounty Hunters
**Vanguard

TOTAL POINTS: (2000/2000)

Brett: I mentioned elsewhere that Dragon spam is slowly returning with the end of prime hunters. This army is a good example with 8 dragons including the dreaded reinforced block. With the Lord Castellant for a +1 to saving throws (Saving on 2s for free) and a Purple Sun for good measure. With only the one cast and no buffs to spell casting it’s sometimes questionable if Stormcast (SCE) should take it. But, as Martin has done, taking Master of Magic is reasonable for SCE because their own traits aren’t super strong, this still only gives a 59% chance of success. However Celestial Blades (+1 to wound) is significant and if it was on the Lance equipped block of 4 on the charge (-2 rend, 2 damage).

It’s quite a clever army with a small block of Galletian Veterans to provide look out sir and hold an objective in the rear and varied weapon choices on the Drakes. Drakes aren’t great damage dealers but if their breath weapon works that can be amazing. They are durable in combat with 9 wounds saving on a 3 making it hard to clear them. The Knight Draconis gives one unit, once per battle, a chance to shoot in the hero phase meaning double shooting. I imagine the Reavers may have had a rough time on the wrong end of a double shooting dragon 4 pack. With their speed and durabilty it’s hard to stop the Dragon’s scoring a number of Battle Tactics and the Knight Draconis has a fair chance of succeding with This One’s Mine.

Horde lists might present a problem but one unit can spread to cover almost half the board. SBGL didn’t stop Martin. One issue with this approach is scoring and Martin’s scores were at the lower end. Lets hope we don’t see a return to only Dragon lists but they still look amazing, 4 and a draw is still an amazing result.

Final Tournament Placings

Age of Sigmar, Allherd, Army Lists, Beasts of chaos, Chaos, Death, Fantasy, Games Workshop, Grieving Legion, Host of the Everchosen, Idoneth Deepkin, Ionrach, Nighthaunt, Order, Slaves to Darkness, Top three lists, Tournaments

Top Three AoS Lists for World tSports Champions

July 8, 2022 Declan and Peter Leave a comment

This is the Top Three AoS Lists for World tSports Champions that took place in Nottingham, USA on 2nd and 3rd July. It involved 16 players from the world over, vying to be crowned champion in a 5 game tournament.

This tournament was organised by the fantastic guys at Honest Wargamer.

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

Top Three AoS Lists - 1st Place, Maggotkin of Nurgle

Declan: Ronya qualified for the World Tsports Event by using Nighthaunt – exclusively – getting incredible results with what was considered to be a weaker army. So during Worlds she took the same army… but with a new book!

I watched the final of Ronya against Mike and she played very well, with the Nighthaunt now being great in the hands of an expert. I have played against the new book once, and it is very good. If you don’t kill whole units, they quickly come back, can retreat and charge and give debuffs on the charge – including -1 to hit, -1 save, and strike last. If you are charged by multiple units these really stack up quickly.

Nighthaunt still have their ward save as well, so if these spike you can fail to kill them… over attack and charge with everything!

Congratulations to Ronya, it was great watching her play with an army she’s used all year. I wonder if she’ll stick with them into GHB22 or take the opportunity to try something new.

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Declan: Mike finished the season as the top ranked player with all 6 of his qualifying results coming as Seraphon with 4 5-0s! But for Worlds he’s pivoted effortless to IdK and did exceptionally well to qualify despite losing his first game in the group. Qualifying on tie-break for the top 4 bracket, he then beat Beasts before being beaten by Ronya’s Nighthaunt.

Mike has gone for a Battle Regiment to get 1 drop and chose who goes first or second, allowing him to set-up for a double turn or get an alpha-strike in. His army has a bit of everything including some shooting, striking first in the third turn, and an Akhelian King who is 40 points cheaper than a Loonboss on Mangler Squig — wow… what value!

IdK are not easy to play with as they are glass cannons, but they are very strong cannons – be careful of charging in turn 3! Well done to Mike as well, top ranked player in GHB21 and 2nd at Worlds. What a year for him.

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Top Three AoS Lists - 3rd place, Legion of the First Prince

Declan: Ah Beasts of Chaos – a perfect example of what can happen to a low ranked army if it gets a good white dwarf article / update. And Beasts did! Massive rend, good summoning, and lots and lots of Dragon Ogres! I watched Ole’s game against the Thunder Lizards on the Saturday and it was great to see how he dealt with the Seraphon – swamping the objectives and summoning Chimeras to finish people off.

Ole is a player who switches armies around, and it is no surprise to see him doing well with a different army!

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Declan: 4-1 at the Worlds. Well done to Phil with Slaves to Darkness. Sure it is Archaon in a Host of the Everchosen list. Varanguard are great support units for Archaon, but it is the big guy who does the heavy lifting here. Able to auto-kill other models into his sword, fight twice, and with immense movement. I have managed to kill him before, but my normal approach is to ignore him — not an easy method.

It’s great to see variety at the Worlds and one of the main characters of Age of Sigmar making an appearance.

Final Tournament Placings

Age of Sigmar, Army Lists, Death, Destruction, Dracothion's Tail, Fantasy, Games Workshop, Glogg's Megamob, Gloomspite Gitz, Idoneth Deepkin, Ionrach, Nighthaunt, Order, Peter & Declan, Seraphon, The Scarlet Doom, Top three lists, Tournaments

Top Three AoS Lists from the Sunshine Coast Open

June 16, 2022 Declan and Peter Leave a comment

Sunshine Coast Open took place in England, UK on 11th and 12th June. It involved 74 players vying to be crowned champion in a 5 game tournament.

Before I jump into the Top Three, 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.

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.

Allegiance: Seraphon
– Constellation: Dracothion’s Tail
– Mortal Realm: Ghur
– Grand Strategy: Prized Sorcery
– Triumphs: Inspired

Leaders
Slann Starmaster (265)*
– General
– Command Trait: Ancient Knowledge
– Artefact: Godbeast Pendant
– Ancient Knowledge 2nd Spell: Mystical Unforging
– Spell: Stellar Tempest
Engine of the Gods (265)*
– Mount Trait: Starborne
– Universal Prayer Scripture: Curse
Saurus Astrolith Bearer (150)*

Battleline
20 x Skinks (150)*
– Boltspitters Celestite Daggers & Star Bucklers
– Reinforced x 1
10 x Skinks (75)*
– Boltspitters Celestite Daggers & Star Bucklers
5 x Saurus Guard (115)*

Units
2 x Salamander Hunting Pack (280)*
– Reinforced x 1
10 x Chameleon Skinks (230)*
– Reinforced x 1

Behemoths
Krondspine Incarnate of Ghur (400)*
– Allies

Endless Spells & Invocations
Chronomantic Cogs (45)

Core Battalions
*Battle Regiment

Total: 1975 / 2000
Reinforced Units: 3 / 4
Allies: 400 / 400
Wounds: 87
Drops: 1

Incarnate bonded to slaan

Declan: To say Seraphon have done well in AoS3 is an understatement of the year. Chris has not taken Thunder Lizard, but has gone for magic. In order to compensate for the slightly reduction in survivability there’s an Incarnate! I don’t know how many of these we’ll see but they are nigh on impossible to kill in one turn (there are a few ‘instant kill’ abilities that can do it). It’ll be interesting how many Incarnate’s we’ll see given their high price point.

If I do play one soon I’ll be able to add some additional comments!! Well done to Chris – Seraphon may be the best army out there (or perhaps second), but to take them to a 5-0 still requires a high level of skill.

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Allegiance: Nighthaunt
– Procession: Scarlet Doom
– Grand Strategy: Hold the Line
– Triumphs: Bloodthirsty

Leaders
Krulghast Cruciator (150)*
– General
– Command Trait: Cloaked in Shadow
Guardian of Souls (150)*
– Lore of the Underworlds: Seal of Shyish
Spirit Torment (115)*
– Artefact: Arcane Tome (Universal Artefact)
– Lore of the Underworlds: Shademist

Battleline
30 x Bladegheist Revenants (525)*
– Reinforced x 2
10 x Bladegheist Revenants (175)*
10 x Bladegheist Revenants (175)*
6 x Spirit Hosts (250)*
– Reinforced x 1

Units
4 x Myrmourn Banshees (105)*

Behemoths
Black Coach (335)*

Core Battalions
*Battle Regiment

Total: 1980 / 2000
Reinforced Units: 3 / 4
Allies: 0 / 400
Wounds: 100
Drops: 1

Matt rocks up undefeated with what must be the new Nighthaunt… how do I know – he’s got the Black Coach and is taking Nighthaunt! From one player in the UK with the Coach to three in one list at the Champions event this weekend, things have certainly changed for the ghostly bois!

No crossbow lads for Matt despite GW trying to flog them; but he has gone Bladegheists instead – and loads of them. They must be good to have gone 4-1-0 and the debuffs to opponents will be helping to keep them alive.

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Allegiance: Idoneth Deepkin
– Enclave: Ionrach
– Grand Strategy: Hold the Line
– Triumphs: None

Leaders
Lotann, Warden of the Soul Ledgers (115)*
Akhelian Thrallmaster (110)**
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
3 x Akhelian Morrsarr Guard (195)*
3 x Akhelian Morrsarr Guard (195)*
20 x Namarti Reavers (340)*
– Reinforced x 1
10 x Namarti Reavers (170)**
10 x Namarti Reavers (170)**
10 x Namarti Thralls (130)**
10 x Namarti Thralls (130)**
3 x Akhelian Ishlaen Guard (195)*

Faction Terrain
Gloomtide Shipwreck

Total Points: 2,000

Declan Hazel has taken another of the new army releases, and like my recent comments there are reavers and thralls… lots of them! The reavers are the shooty ones, and although they have shorter range than the LRL Sentinels, they do move — and quick! — so expect them to grab some objectives whilst shooting you off the board.

It’s good to see different armies emerging since the release of the new book, but I would much prefer to see better internal balance (like Seraphon), than the famine & feast of the last two IDK books. Great work by Hazel!

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Allegiance: Gloomspite Gitz
– Option: Glogg’s Megamob
– Mortal Realm: Ghur
– Grand Strategy: Hold the Line
– Triumphs: Inspired

Leaders
Dankhold Troggboss – Trev (240)*
– General
– Command Trait: Shepard of Idiotic Destruction
– Artefact: Aetherquartz-studded Hide
Fungoid Cave-Shaman – Freddie the Fungoid (95)**
– Lore of the Moonclans: The Hand of Gork
Madcap Shaman – Madcap Max (80)**
– Artefact: Moonface Mommet
– Lore of the Moonclans: Itchy Nuisance
Breaka-Boss on Mirebrute Troggoth – Mr Marvin Brute (180)*
– Allies

Battleline
6 x Rockgut Troggoths (290)***
– Reinforced x 1
6 x Rockgut Troggoths (290)***
– Reinforced x 1
3 x Fellwater Troggoths (155)***
3 x Fellwater Troggoths (155)**

Units
5 x Spider Riders (100)*
3 x Rippa’s Snarlfangs (70)*
1 x Marshcrawla Sloggoth – Drummer Dave (150)*

Behemoths
Aleguzzler Gargant – Gary (165)*

Endless Spells & Invocations
The Burning Head – Steve the Swamp Trogg (20)

Core Battalions
*Battle Regiment
**Warlord
***Hunters of the Heartlands

Total: 1990 / 2000
Reinforced Units: 2 / 4
Allies: 330 / 400
Wounds: 141
Drops: 8

Declan – Peter has clearly listened to my comments about his last secret pick and gone down the list somewhat. And I’m surprised he only had to get to 10th to get a Gitz list. Dominic managed the holy grail of 2 draws… a result that’s probably rarer than a straight 5-0; and all with Troggs. As Stuart Hodges (Trogg) will tell us – Troggs are the best and Dominic has proven this with a Trogg list whose only allies are the Marshcrawler and MireBrute. This means it’s all Troggs, all the time.

To cement my opinion of Dominic being a genius amongst Troggs, he’s also got an Aleguzzler, Rippas & Spider Riders. Remember the Aleguzzler falls over on any double to charge (welcome back to AoS1… which everyone thought dead!) and Spider Riders with poison arrows in the fluff — but none anywhere near the army. I think the lads leave them at home to prevent friendly fire. Great list, and a frankly superb result. Well done Dominic — and more of these please Peter!