It’s that unfortunate time for a lot of events that just so happened to be scheduled for the weekend after a battlescroll dropped, putting the battlescroll after their cutoff date and people feeling a bit miffed they’re stuck playing the “old” game. But that doesn’t mean we can’t learn a thing or two from them anyways!

After a couple of weeks of only 1-2 events we got 4, count em 4 events in Canada, the US, England and Scotland so there’s a lot of list variety to look into.

Cake Or Death

61-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in New Westminster, BC, Canada on February 17 2024. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.

The Showdown

Mission – Power Flux

Matt Beasley – Dracothion’s Tail:
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vs.

Matthias Krushel – Blades of Khorne:
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Thoughts

Power Flux is a good mission for Khorne if they can dictate priority. If they go second they can force the Seraphon player to spread out. Even with the teleport, Seraphon tend to want to castle up with the bulk of their army and send out little scout patrols to pick up objectives where they can. With the objectives so spread out this can be quite difficult. Khorne has a lot more movement options available.

Meanwhile, Seraphon here are the ones with the Andtorian Locus, two in fact, to rack up extra points if they turtle up. If Khorne can’t resist enough of their spells, it’s possible to peel enough away that they won’t be able to keep up on points. It looks like the fight came awfully close with a victory for Khorne.

Result

Blades of Khorne Victory – 513 – 7

Matthias Krushel – Blades of Khorne – 1st Place

The List

See Showdown

Archetype

Be’lakor and Bloodthirster

Thoughts

Be’Lakor is an interesting choice here, but not unwelcome. He basically serves to replace a second bloodthirster that is seen in most lists, adding a bit more utility with ability denial and a caster for certain battle tactics (the event didn’t use the battlescroll, so no risks of unbind with proper deployment).

Otherwise this is a pretty typical Khorne list, it has a menagerie of khorne heroes and a big blob of Bloodletters with 5+ for mortal wounds on the charge thanks to the subfaction, and some bloodreavers and Claws of Karnak for objective grabbing and farming blood tithes.

Jeremy Lamoy – Sylvaneth – 2nd Place (Undefeated)

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

Archetype

Belthanos, Spirit of Durthu and Drycha with Dryads and Kurnoth Hunters

Thoughts

A solid Hero focused list for Sylvaneth. Belthanos grants some more mobility to the Spirit of Durthu, Drycha and the Kurnoth Hunter unit which is where the bulk of the damage is going to come from. The dryads do their thing and hold objectives or screen out threats while the Arch-Revenant and Brancwych provide their role as support pieces.

The Best of the Rest

There were 9 more players on 4-1 records. They were:

• 3rd – Matt Beasley – Seraphon (Dracothian’s Tail): See showdown.
• 4th – Colton Fitzpatrick – Ossiarch Bonereapers (Mortis Praetorians): Dual Mortarch, Liege-Kavalos and Ossifector with 2x 5 deathriders and 4 Morghast Archai.
• 5th – Taylor Gougeon – Maggotkin of Nurgle (Befouling Host): Glottkin, two Maggoth Lords and 40 plaguebearers
• 6th – Erik Armstrong – Seraphon (Fangs of Sotek): Kroak and Slann plus good stuff.
• 7th – Brice Koppin – Kharadron Overlords: Two Frigates, Endrinriggers, Admiral, Navigator and lots of Arkanaut battleline.
• 8th – Matt Slemon – Sylvaneth (Harvestboon): Belthanos with dragonflies (both kinds) and Gossamid Archers.
• 9th – Michael Tunes – Ossiarch Bonereapers (Null Myriad): Dual Mortarch, Boneshaper, Ossifector, Liege-kavalos, Immortis Guard and Deathriders.
• 10th – Thomas Bakke – Ossiarch Bonereapers (Mortis Praetorians): Arkhan, Liege and Ossifector with Kavalos and Immortis Guard.
• 11th – Chris Hall – Kruleboyz (Grinnin’ Blades): 9 Bolt boyz and the usual retinue of heroes.

Broken Realms: Scourge of Seraphon 2

32-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in Scotland, GB on February 17 2024. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.

The Showdown

Matchup & Mission –

Reece Fraser – Winterleaf:
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vs.

Craig Robertson – Mortis Praetorians:
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Thoughts

Ironically, this is not one of the showdowns with Seraphon in it. On paper I would have handed this to OBR, though its one of those match ups where the mission matters a lot (and sadly I do not know what it is).

OBR are pretty resilient to hit and run attacks, they will generally just heal most of it back up if you don’t try and cut them down early. Sylvaneth can succeed with some decent shooting and objective play, which appears to be the winning strategy here. These heroes have some decent shooting but the key victory was teleporting around for a close victory.

Result

Sylvaneth Victory – 25 – 19

Reece Fraser – Sylvaneth (Winterleaf) – 1st Place

The List

See Showdown

Archetype

Alarielle, Belthanos and Spirit of Durthu with chaff.

Thoughts

The Sylvaneth list here is interesting, big models but not in the way you expect it. Alarielle, Belthanos and Spirit of Durthu lead the pack with some chaff to hold points and screen out bigger opponents. Belthanos is a great support piece here, with the extra overgrown terrain and run and charge, it gives a lot more manueverability to the Spirit of Durthu and Alarielle (who is already quite maneuverable). Get them in for the charge, then get out.

The Best of the Rest

There were 5 more players on 4-1 records. They were:

• 2nd – Craig Robertson – Ossiarch Bonereapers (Mortis Praetorians): See showdown.
• 3rd – Mike Callaghan – Big WAAAGH!: Orruk good stuff.
• 4th – Tom Skelton – Maggotkin of Nurgle (Befouling Host): Glottkin, GUO and 2 Maggoth Lords with minimal battleline.
• 5th – JJCropley – Skaven: Triple bells with plague priests and plague censer bearers.
• 6th – Rafal Kolban – Seraphon (Koatl’s Claw): Kroak and Celestant Prime with Kroxigors, Saurus Warriors and a Bastiladon.

The Northampton GT

30-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in England, United Kingdom on February 17 2024. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.

The Showdown

Chris Riley – Fyreslayers:
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vs.

Michael Stewart – :
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Thoughts

We don’t get to see Fyreslayers much in the showdowns so this is a nice surprise! While I want to root for them between the Nulsidian Icon, Ash-Cloud Rune and Prayer of Ash (and to a minor degree the Arcane Tome) they have the ability to bat away *some* spells, theyre not gonna get them all. By the time the Fyreslayers player gets close most of their stuff has probably been melted away. There might have been better luck with a more Grimwrath Berzerker heavy list for that 4+ ward, but the resistance to mortal wounds just isnt there, so Seraphon carry out a pretty clear victory.

Result

Seraphon Victory – 14 – 6

Michael Stewart – Seraphon (Fangs of Sotek) – 1st Place

The List

See Showdown

Archetype

Kroak and Slann team up

Thoughts

Nothing too shocking here, Kroak/Slann lists are still reasonably popular, it’s just a lot of Mortal wounds you can spam on an opponent to soften up the enemy with. The skink helps with Merciless Blizzard (For when you got lots of Primal Dice) and Cosmic Crush (For when you dont).  The Astrolith Bearer gives a useful casting bonus and 6+ ward while the Saurus stand between you and the enemy.

The surprising little inclusion here is the Freeguild Command Corps, fresh off their role of being the standout unit in Cities of Sigmar. Is 170 worth stopping a command ability each turn on a 4+? Honestly, probably! A clever bit of utility to keep opponents off balance.

The Best of the Rest

There was 1 player on a 4-0-1 and 4 more players on 4-1 records. They were:

• 2nd – Orfeas Chloros – Slaves to Darkness (Legion of the First Prince): Belakor, a Sorcerer Lord and a Myrmidon leading 9 Theridons alongside the usual batch of Warriors, Chosen and Warcry cultists.
• 3rd – Luke Skelton – Flesh-eater Courts (Hollowmourne): Morbheg Knight spam.
• 4th – Luke Churchus – Cities of Sigmar (Hallowheart): Big block of Fusiliers and Steamtanks supported by the usual buff pieces.
• 5th – Thomas Chloros – Nighthaunt (The Emerald Host): Lady Olynder and Awlrach the Drowner with Nighthaunt good stuff.
• 6th – Chris Riley – Fyreslayers (Greyfyrd): See showdown.

Midwest Bash 2024 GT

28-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in St. Louis, MO, US on February 17 2024. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.

The Showdown

Tyler Emerson – Legion of Night:
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vs.

Jake Bentrup – Ionrach:
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Thoughts

Idoneth have a bit of a struggle here due to numbers. While a lot of their units can fly, that’s still a lot of the army dedicated to Reavers which can help counteract the sheer number of skeletons, but they also will get mired down in them pretty easily. The eels can fly over them to clinch key targets, which likely was a saving grace here.

Meanwhile Soulblight has the exact tools it needs to grind down the Idoneth and unless the Idoneth can slam in at the exact right time (i.e. Round 3) it probably will be in the Soulblight’s favor. The game ends with a pretty decisive Soulblight victory.

Result

Soulblight Gravelords Victory – 13 – 8

Tyler Emerson – Soulblight Gravelords (Legion of Night) – 1st Place

The List

See Showdown

Archetype

Mannfred with Soulblight Good Stuff

Thoughts

Basically, this is Legion of Night probably closer to how GW intended it than the zombie spam that had the meta in its grip a few months back. It’s got Mannfred, who can teleport around and be a solid combat nuisance by charging at enemies who stop too close to him and Lauku Vai as a second hammer and to blunt enemies with high rend.

Supporting them is your requisite Vampire Lord and Necromancer giving +1 Attacks to Summonable units and to cast Danse Macabre for another round of attacking, respectively. The Grave Guard are the chief hammer, while everything else mostly exists to capture objectives and mire the enemy down in chaff so they can hit them with the good stuff next turn. A solid all around list that brings a bit of everything and has a fitting purpose for them all.

The Best of the Rest

There were 5 more players on X-1 records. They were:

• 2nd – Jake Bentrup – Idoneth (Deepkin Ionrach): See showdown.
• 3rd – Eli Sweatt – Beasts of Chaos (Darkwalkers): Great Bray Shaman and Tzaangor Shaman with Ungors and Tzaangor Enlightened.
• 4th – David Erger – Gloomspite Gitz (King’s Gitz): Moonclan and Troggs.
• 5th – Andrew Robinson – Soulblight Gravelords (Vyrkos Dynasty): Nagash and Belladomma with minimal battleline
• 6th – Daniel Pitt – Soulblight Gravelords (Kastelai Dynasty): Prince Vhordrai and Vengorian lord with Blood Knights, Skeletons, Trueblades and Vargheists.

Wrap Up

Join us next week when we review the first set of first post-battle scroll events, including the Cherokee Open!

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