This week we’re going across North America, with a super major down in Texas the famous Lone Star Grand Tournament, and then two events in central Canada. The effects of the Battlescroll are still being felt with some surprise new entries appearing on the block that are getting a second shot at life.
The Lone Star Grand Tournament
95-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in Fort Worth, TX, United States on March 02 2024. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.
The Showdown
Mission – Power Flux
Kyle Emory – Kharadron Overlords (Barak-Nar):
Army List - Click to Expand
vs.
Kel Pigg – Flesh-eater Courts (Hollowmourne Grand Court):
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Thoughts
Normally I’d say the winner of this fight is going to be if the FEC can catch up to the KO, but this mission is a worst case scenario for them. By bringing a single Ironclad that’s going to heavily affect their momentum if the activated objectives go to the left and right side (instead of turtling up inside the boat). Plus, they don’t have an Andtorian Locus, while the FEC have several which lets them rack up more points mostly by just weathering the storm. This most likely allowed them to remain relatively safe by bringing back dead units as neccesary, and the Knights in the list are quite mobile on their own, allowing them to spread out or turtle up as neccesary.
Result
Hollowmourne Grand Court Victory – 25 – 16
Kel Pigg – Flesh-eater Courts (Hollowmourne) – 1st Place
The List
See Showdown
Archetype
Hollowmourne Knight list
Thoughts
People are still “feeling out” the Flesh Eater courts so we see a lot of interesting lists out of it. With Hollowmourne units with the Knight keyword get +1 to wound if they charge, which includes Crypt Horrors and Morhbeg Knights, so you definitely want to go heavy on those.
Gormayne offers several useful buffs, picking the most dangerous target in the moment and getting a shot at a +1 to hit or wound, or run and charge. The two Archregents are solid Warrior-Wizards who can both scrap with their allies and heal up injured units. The Herald, Courtier and Gorewarden are beat sticks that can augment the rest of the forces to create a strong semi-elite list that still has enough models to overthrow the enemy.
Thomas Burgett – Skaven – 2nd Place (Undefeated)
The List
Army List - Click to Expand
Archetype
Skaven mixed arms
Thoughts
This throws in a bit of everything to try and cover as many bases as possible. The Plague priests operate on a different role than usual by casting healing spells and buffs for their allies. The grey seer casts Death Frenzy on the Rat Ogors, letting them become a force difficult to contend with while the Master Moulder whips the Rat Ogors and Abomination into shape. The Warp Lighting Cannons offer support fire from the rear, softening enemies up before the charge.
The Best of the Rest
There were 15 more players on 4-1 records. They were:
- 3rd – Jose Arredondo – Seraphon (Fangs of Sotek): Kroak and Slann with lots of Skinks. Surprise Zenestra ally!
- 4th – Randal Brasher – Ogor Mawtribes (Meatfist): Mixed arms Ogors
- 5th – Elijah Ramos – Seraphon (Fangs of Sotek): Lord Kroak with Seraphon good stuff.
- 6th – Bryan Lofton – Kruleboyz (Grinnin’ Blades): Gobbsprakk, two shaman, Snatcha boss and Killaboss on Gnashtoof leading lots of battleline and ranged fire.
- 7th – James Matthews – Soulblight Gravelords (Avengorii Dynasty):
- 8th – Kyle Emory – Kharadron Overlords (Barak-Nar): See showdown.
- 9th – Marco Hernandez – Ironjawz (Bloodtoofz): Boss on Maw-Krusha with Gore-grunta spam.
- 10th – Nick Swope – Hedonites of Slaanesh (Godseekers): Keeper of secrets, Sigvald and Syll’Eske with Daemonettes and Seekers.
- 11th – Jonathan Schlieszus – Gloomspite Gitz (Jaws of Mork): Squig and Moonclan hybrid.
- 12th – J McBride – Idoneth Deepkin (Fuethán): Allopex spam with some Namarti backup.
- 13th – David Rodriguez – Stormcast Eternals (Astral Templars): Karazai leads Stormcast Eternals good stuff.
- 14th – Christopher Schelling – Stormcast Eternals (Knights Excelsior): Vexillor and Annihilator Mortal Wound spam.
- 15th – Carter Babbs – Lumineth Realm-lords (Zaitrec): Teclis and Alarith tag team with minimal battleline.
- 16th – Derek Hildebrandt – Ossiarch Bonereapers (Petrifex Elite): Katakros and dual wizards with Immortis Guard and Stalkers
- 17th – Paul Kollar – Sylvaneth (Heartwood): Alarielle, Belthanos and Durthu with minimal battleline.
Rumble in the Rockies! AOS GT
44-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in Calgary, AB, Canada on March 02 2024. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.
The Showdown
Mission – Every Step is Forward
Jarod Brown – Stormcast Eternals (Hallowed Knights):
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vs.
Mitch Bradshaw – Kruleboyz (Big Yellers):
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Thoughts
This is a rough one for the Kruleboyz. They almost always are of course, but this mission against this army is particularly bad.
Every Step is Forward makes each model count as one more if they charged that turn, but count as nothing if they retreat. In a Stormcast Eternals match (Especially Hallowed Knights with Gardus) the Stormcast are more able to remain stuck in while Kruleboyz want to retreat and choose their battles carefully.
The Kruleboyz do seem to put up a decent fight, it could be done with some clever picking and choosing of your fights, but ultimately it’s an uphill battle they couldn’t quite pull off.
Result
Stormcast Eternals Victory – 521 – 13
Jarod Brown – Stormcast Eternals (Hallowed Knights) – 1st Place
The List
See Showdown
Archetype
Stormcast castle
Thoughts
Been a bit since Stormcast have dominated so this is a nice change of pace. Essentially the strategy relies on Gardus at the center, with his 5+ ward Aura protecting everyone around him.
Beyond that, the list diverges in some very new and interesting ways. A triple caster list (with the Arcane Tome) is quite rare in Stormcast and the Warlord battalion lets them double up on spells, casting buffs until they get in close where they can drop Merciless Blizzard. The Pontifex is a very interesting choice, which doesnt seem to add much benefit on its own but the ability to deal wounds to other wizards early on so they can’t ruin your Blizzards in the late game is definitely useful.
The battleline are pretty standard, there to weather the attacks. The Questors are solid beat sticks that Yndrasta can revive to great effect.
Nathan DeBoer – Blades of Khorne – 2nd Place (Undefeated)
The List
Army List - Click to Expand
Archetype
Khorne good stuff
Thoughts
Same template as most Khorne stuff, Skarbrand and another Bloodthirster and the usual buff pieces. This list focuses on lots of chaff to reap blood tithes early. Nothing too crazy, Khorne works when it works.
The Best of the Rest
There were 6 more players on 4-1 records. They were:
- 3rd – Mitch Bradshaw – Kruleboyz (Big Yellers): See Showdown.
- 4th – Michael Nonomura – Seraphon (Koatl’s Claw): Kroak with lots of Saurus.
- 5th – Daytond Obre – Blades of Khorne (Bloodlords): Bloodletter spam
- 6th Karl Munro – Soulblight Gravelords (Legion of Blood): Nefereta and lots of Zombies.
- 7th – Graham Cox – Lumineth Realm-lords (Ymetrica): Severith, Stoneguard and Alarith with the usual retinue of casters.
- 8th – Jared Bialowas – Idoneth Deepkin (Nautilar): Akhelian king leads a mixed force.
Wheat City Open 2024
28-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in Brandon, MB, Canada on March 02 2024. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.
The Showdown
Cam Tataryn – Fyreslayers (Vostarg):
Army List - Click to Expand
vs.
Yuri Balko – Blades of Khorne (Reapers of Vengeance):
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Thoughts
This is a tough one, as both armies are playing a similar game. Vulkites are the new hotness since the Battlescroll gave them 2″ reach, now with Vostarg a unit of 10 gets 3 attacks per model at 2+/2+ and a once per game fight on death making them able to flood the enemy with dice attacks that can be amplified with the use of runes and prayers.
Khorne meanwhile wants to respond with much chunkier hits from the Bloodthirsters, while the battleline serve to slow down the enemy and accumulate blood tithes. While the Khorne list has better access to Mortal Wounds, the Fyreslayers are more equipped to deal with those, with fairly consistent access to wards.
In the end it’s a nailbiter of a game, coming down a draw with a tiebreaker for Blades of Khorne.
Result
Blades of Khorne Victory – 14 – 14
Yuri Balko – Blades of Khorne (Reapers of Vengeance) – 1st Place
The List
See Showdown
Archetype
Dual Bloodthirsters with Khorne Good Stuff
Thoughts
This follows the usual template for Khorne, pack two Skarbrand and a Bloodthirster of your choice in, augment them with Bloodsecrator and some priests to buff up the important pieces and bring your choice of battleline to blunt the enemy advance and generate some blood tokens.
The Furies are an interesting add on, giving more cheap screens and blood tithe points with mobility for capturing points. Skarr Bloodwrath is an interesting piece who can die and come back, giving you respawning blood points if you roll hot on the respawn.
The dual Warlord list build is an interesting choice, giving the priests extra prayers in order to have extra versatility, and to get the beloved Banner of Blood artefact for rerolls to run and charge.
The Best of the Rest
There were 4 more players on 4-1 records. They were:
- 2nd – Dom Elson – Big WAAAGH!: Orruk good stuff.
- 3rd – Jon Kilcullen – Soulblight Gravelords (Vyrkos): Belladoma, Necromancer and Vampire Lord with a mixed force of battleline.
- 4th – Jason Wells – Cities of Sigmar (Greywater Fastness): Fusilier mixed arms.
- 5th – Cam Tataryn – Fyreslayers (Vostarg): See showdown.
Wrap Up
Another big week for Sigmar, the meta is shaking up rather nicely as the variety of lists continues to impress. See you next week for more exciting action in the Mortal realms!
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