Ah, that’s the smell of Krondspines on the field of battle again! This is a smaller week, after some pretty intense gauntlets, there’s only 3 this week. The GW Official US Events resumed with the Chicago open, and then 2 other events in much more distant lands: New Zealand and Spain.

US Open Chicago: Age of Sigmar Grand Tournament

87-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in Chicago, IL, United States on October 08 2022. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.

The Showdown

Matchup & Mission – Seraphon vs. Disciples of Tzeentch on The Silksteel Nests

Dean Bilz – Seraphon: Koatl’s Claw:
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vs.

Anthony Trentanelli – Disciples of Tzeentch:
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(Note that this event uses the old Tzeentch tome as the new one did not make the cutoff date)

Thoughts

Dean’s Seraphon are going to be tough to crack here. Koatl’s Claw is one of the less popular factions, it lacks the extra shooting of Thunder Lizards and the teleport shenanigans of Fangs of Sotek. What it does have is better Saurus (with an extra bite and +1 to hit on the charge) and being a coalesced faction is the reduction in damage. The artefact can also give an extra CP, if your slann and skink heroes didnt roll so hot.

The old Tzeentch tome is showing its age but has some tricks, between the sheer amount of mortal wounds it can put out at range, and chaos spawn and chaff that can pop in to slow down the enemy. The fact that Seraphon are one of the few armies that can cast as much as Tzeentch means that any successes that Dean makes will just give Anthony more summoning. there is also of course the Krondspine on Anthony’s side that gives some punch that Tzeentch usually lacks, but Dean’s Celestant Prime is almost as powerful and can deep strike in.

The final score scores how razor thin this match was.

Result

Seraphon: Koatl’s Claw Victory – 32 – 31

It is worth noting, however, that Anthony Trentanelli ended up winning Best Overall (A combination of battle score and paint scores) and will also be going to the finals in New Mexico, so ultimately both were winners.

Dean Bilz – Seraphon: Koatl’s Claw – 1st Place

The List

See Showdown

Archetype

Koatl’s Claw…Saurus spam?

Thoughts

Saurus have uh, not had a good showing in Sigmar. Basically since the beginning. Skinks and Bastiladon’s just plain do the job better almost every time. This list seems to challenge this notion by relying heavily on riders in the Bounty Hunter battalion to do the damage. Koatl’s Claw gives saurus a bonus bite attack and +1 to hit on the charge. With Bounty hunters they can hit surprisingly hard and handle the counter attack. With the Celestant Prime and Chameleon Skink’s ability to deep stirke in, the entire board can be accessed with sufficient firepower. There remains a Bastiladon to offer ranged fire support, but it’s not the focus as it is in most lists.

Overall an extremely clever list that breaks the mold for Seraphon, not a single skink battleline in sight. Great stuff.

Rob Mulshine – Big WAAAGH! – 2nd Place

The List

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Archetype

Big Waaagh good stuff.

Thoughts

Big Waaagh! Doesn’t seem to see as much play as Ironjawz, but a proper list can make all the good stuff synergize really well. Gobbsprakk is arguably the best caster in the book, while the Wurgog Prophet gives the excellent Cry of Gorkamorka spell that slaps a fight last on an enemy unit.

Gordrakk over a generic Warboss is unusual but certainly not terrible, and the heroes get rounded out with a warchanter to cast Fixin’ Beat on him (and an arcane tome for Great Green Hand).

The infantry is basically all the good stuff.  Ardboys and Gorgruntas are all incredible in combat with Smashing and Bashing, while the Kruleboyz ranged units offer powerful mortal wound support for both infantry and monsters.

Barton Kennelly – Cities of Sigmar: Hallowheart – 3rd Place

The List

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Archetype

Cities of Sigmar Irondrakes volley

Thoughts

Ah this is a classic we haven’t seen in a while. Hallowheart allows a great combo of a Runelord granting +1 to wound for Irondrakes, who get extra shots when they don’t move. Since the bridge does not count as a move they can put themselves in optimum firing position before letting loose.

The Hurricanum gives an additional deadly ranged attack with mortals, and the infantry serves to blunt the charges of the enemy and grab objectives.

The Best of the Rest

There were 11 more players on 4-1 records. They were:

• 4th – Anthony Trentanelli – Disciples of Tzeentch: See Showdown. Won best overall and their own golden ticket, as well.
• 5th – Jon Anderson – Idoneth Deepkin: BCP erroneously says Lumineth, but this list has an Akhelian King, 2x Soulscryers and a whopping 60 thralls with a Krondspine.
• 6th – Son of Gork or maybe Mork – Ironjawz: Ironjawz good stuff.
• 7th – Mrigank Jha – Stormcast Eternals: A grab bag of Stormcast with Annihilators, Vanguard-Raptors, Chariots and Tempestors being most notable.
• 8th – Steve Ptacek – Daughters of Khaine: A Khailebron list focusing on shadowstalkers to teleport around the field, while Morathi and Krondspine do the heavy hitting.
• 9th – Gavin Grigar – Seraphon: Thunder Lizard good stuff.
• 10th – John Lindsey – Lumineth Realm-Lords: Teclis and a Cathaller with 20 wardens and 20 sentinels, plus the Krondspine.
• 11th – Elliot Miller – Sons of Behemat: 3 Gatebreakers and a Krondspine.
• 12th – James Nelson – Cities of Sigmar: Hallowheart with 4 Fulminators and a Krondspine to swing with.
• 13th – Robert Reid – Soulblight Gravelords: Mannfred and a Coven Throne lead wolves and blood knights.
• 14th – George Zacharakis-Jutz – Cities of Sigmar: 2 Annointed and tons of Phoenix guard to hold the line.

Notorious GT II

38-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in Lower Hutt, Wellington, NZ on October 07 2022. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.

The Showdown

Matchup & Mission – Ironjawz vs. Tzeentch

James Struthers – Ironjawz: Bloodtoofs:
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vs.

James Page – Disciples of Tzeentch: Pyrofane Cult:
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(This list is using the old book, as the new battletome did not make the cutoff date)

Thoughts

Tzeentch is one of the armies that can be very successful at stopping an Ironjawz charge. Defeating Ironjawz usually amounts to weathering that charge, either getting out of the way so you can charge first, screening them out or just being plain tough enough to take it on the chin. Tzeentch has enough screens through summoning and long range mortal wounds to soften up ironjawz before they get too close. Pyrofane cult especially can lob fire from a safe distance, making them much more manageable when they arrive. There is of course, also, the krondspine to round it off with some actual melee mettle.

The Ironjawz list is basically just Ironjawz good stuff, though the inclusion of the madcap shaman is quite clever. The warscroll spell gives the bearer -1 to be hit by missile weapons which tends to be the weakness of most Ironjawz lists.

Result

Disciples of Tzeentch: Pyrofane Cult Victory – 15 – 5

James Page – Disciples of Tzeentch: Pyrofane Cult – 1st Place

The List

See Showdown

Archetype

Kairic Acolyte lobbing shots with Krondspine for support.

Thoughts

Pyrofane cult is not unheard of but definitely sees lesser play. It’s a very focused faction, honing in on amping up one unit. When this list was written it would likely have used the warscroll from the Arcane Cataclysm box set, which means it has its rend built in rather than relying on a spell to do it. The extra mortals after shooting are appreciated and can weed out some weaker things, while the very cheap ungors can blunt charges.

The Krondspine has been a natural addition to tzeentch, since it boosts casting and gives them a solid melee threat-something they can horribly lack.

Stephen Morris – Seraphon: Fangs of Sotek – 2nd Place

The List

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Archetype

Fangs of Sotek Skink Spam with Krondy supporting.

Thoughts

This goes all in on the Skinks. We know what they do, roll 6s on wound for those extra mortals, and with teleport on demand they can get to almost any target they want. The krondspine offers some bonus casting to the slann and another melee threat to cut through to compensate for the rather delicate skinks.

The Best of the Rest

There were 3 more players on 4-1 records. They were:

• 3rd – James Struthers – Ironjawz: See showdown.
• 4th – Ryan Lynn-Watts – Soulblight Gravelords: A herohammer list of Belladamma, Vhordrai, Nefereta, Mannfred and a Wight King leading Graveguard and Zombies.
• 5th – Ben Black – Ogor Mawtribes: Frostlord on Stonehorn, Huskard on Stonehorn and Kragnos with Mournfangs.

II CN – I Final Individual

28-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in Madrid, Spain on October 08 2022. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.

The Showdown

Matchup & Mission – Nighthaunt vs. Sylvaneth

Jesus De la Peña Fernandez – Nighthaunt: The Scarlet Doom:
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vs.

Jorge Castillo – Sylvaneth: Heartwood:
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Thoughts

The head to head krondspines even things out a bit, as both players will either be hoping to avoid the other or hoping to negate it by tying up their opponent’s.

The advantage is definitely in Nighthaunt’s court. With their superior mobility, the teleportation of the sylvaneth can be managed and Ethereal helps counter the rend on most Sylvaneth ranged attacks.  Bladegheist Revenants meanwhile can shred through the more delicate Sylvaneth like tissue paper, and even give the tougher Kurnoths a solid fight before moving on.

Result

Nighthaunt: The Scarlet Doom Victory – 18 – 2

Jesus De la Peña Fernandez – Nighthaunt: The Scarlet Doom – 1st Place

The List

See Showdown

Archetype

Bladegheist Revenant spam.

Thoughts

A solid workhorse list, slimmed to fit in a krondspine list. It’s well known how Bladegheist revenant are extremely powerful and have the volume of attacks to take down almost anything. The heroes help support them to be their best, while the krondspine gives a nice strong Monster, a role the faction lacks.

The Best of the Rest

There were 4 more players on 4-1 records. They were:

• 2nd – Pedromancer Lechado – Slaves to Darkness: Knights of Empty Throne Varanguard and Sorcerer Lords lead Untamed Beasts and a Krondspine.
• 3rd – Jota Dj – Stormcast Eternals: Stormcast good stuff supported by Krondspine.
• 4th – Jorge Castillo – Sylvaneth: Branchwych and Arch-Revenant with a grab bag of forces and Krondspine.
• 5th – Miguel Ángel Osuna Antúnez – Fyreslayers: Triple droths, some Vulkites, Hearthguard and our last Krondspine of this article.

Wrap Up

Thing press on forward as the Krondspine seems to continue to bury itself deep into the meta. Can its reign of terror ever be stopped? At least we’re seeing a lot of armies that previously didn’t get to see the top finally getting their place in the sun, but I’d much rather they got their on their own terms.