Happy new year everyone! We’ve had the holidays off as events usually do dwindle around the holidays (especially with Christmas/New Years at the end of a long weekend), but finally we can come back to two smaller events to see where things are looking ahead of the battlescroll that I’m sure is coming any week now.
Big Bristol Brawl Winter GT
39-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in England, GB on January 06 2024. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.
The Showdown
Matchup
Aaron Boyhan – Ossiarch Bonereapers:
Army List - Click to Expand
vs.
Greg Shelton – Tempest’s Eye:
Army List - Click to Expand
Thoughts
The Ossiarchs have some strong leverage here. With Arkhan there’s some potent anti-casting to keep Merciless Blizzard from popping off, and the General with Aura of Sterility to hamper ranged fire, the two biggest threats of the Cities list become much more manageable. The Morghast even can shut down Unleash Hell, probably the last bastion of protection they have.
The Cities list does have some ability to keep their distance, as the Ossiarch List can be a bit slow and the emphasis on ranged fire means they won’t really be triggering Mortis Praetorian’s counter charge. Though with a lot of their prime threats neutered, it appears the Ossiarch list pulled a stunning victory.
Result
Ossiarch Bonereapers Victory – 20 – 0
Aaron Boyhan – Ossiarch Bonereapers – 1st Place
The List
See Showdown
Archetype
Ossiarch good stuff with an emphasis on Morghast.
Thoughts
With the nerf to ressurection on Immortis Guard, Ossiarch Players have started to gravitate away a bit from 6 Immortis Guard. They’re still excellent but with their resurrection hindered, they’re easier to take out than before. So on the plus side you do see more lists trying to diversify their composition.
This has a whopping 8 Morghast Archai. These guys have been slept on, popping up here and there but often only dabbled in due to how much space the requisite 6 Immortis Guard take. Shutting down command abilities is no small debuff and their damage output can rival Immortis Guard while being much more mobile. With Mortis Praetorians they can shuffle into ideal position to keep enemies from charging them without proper planning.
The list is rounded out with some excellent spellcasting and buffs from the Ossifector, making it a formidable threat.
Jamie Denny – Gloomspite Gitz – 2nd Place (Undefeated)
The List
Army List - Click to Expand
Archetype
Troggs!
Thoughts
It’s what you expect from a Trogg list, just lots of troggs looking for that sweet Rend -4 and lay the beat down. Skragrott and some cave shaman gives the useful magical backup, but this list is very clear about what it’s doing.
The Best of the Rest
There were 4 more players on 4-1 records. They were:
- 3rd – Matthew Gouldesbrough – Lumineth Realm-lords: Teclis and…Light of Elerion? Ionus Cryptborn?! Well that’s new.
- 4th – David Towsey- Ossiarch Bonereapers – Actually identical to the champion, but with Null Myriad instead of PM.
- 5th – Joel Smith – Stormcast Eternals: Prime time with Sequitors and Castigators.
- 6th – Damian Rees – Soulblight Gravelords: Monster mash list with 2 VLoZD and Mannfred.
The Forge GT
36-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in Chaska, MN, US on January 06 2024. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.
The Showdown
Matchup & Mission – Geomantic Pulse
Matt Casper – Gloomspite Gitz:
Army List - Click to Expand
vs.
Roarke Engelhardt – Reapers of Vengeance:
Army List - Click to Expand
Thoughts
This is a pretty competitive matchup. The Gitz have numbers, certainly, but also the hammers in the form of Troggs and Boingrot Bounderz to back it up. While Khorne can certainly punch back as well, rocking three Bloodthirsters, their units are delicate and the Bounders have a bit more mobility to work with to start doing some work on them early before the Troggs come in. The increased mobility also makes the mission, Geomantic Pulse, much more in their favor.
Ultimately the Gitz pull ahead in a close battle.
Result
Gloomspite Gitz Victory – 30 – 14
Matt Casper – Gloomspite Gitz – 1st Place
The List
See Showdown
Archetype
Gitz mixed arms.
Thoughts
Although the Troggs are the showstoppers here, this list goes for a much more balanced approach than you usually see. The Shootas offer some ok coverage but their real boon is to hang out in the back and hold objectives. The Bounderz do some solid damage on the charge and can soften up the enemy so the Troggs can follow up after and finish off just about anything they can swing at.
The Best of the Rest
There were 5 more players on 4-1 records. They were:
- 2nd – Paul Wilmes – The Emerald Host: Grimghast and Spirit Torments as usual, but also Dreadblade Harrow, Awlrach, Khrulghast and so, so many Chainrasps.
- 3rd – Patrick Ottolino – Lumineth Realm-lords: Teclis and Dual Cathallars with Wardens and Windchargers.
- 4th – Joe Krier – Disciples of Tzeentch: Kairos leading an ensemble of Wizards with Acolytes and Jade Obelisk in tow.
- 5th – Corey Anderson – Slaves to Darkness: Dual Sorcerer lords leading Slaves to Darkness good stuff.
- 6th – Roarke Engelhardt – Blades of Khorne: See showdown.
Wrap Up
Gotta say, it’s good to be back and see events again. The Battlescroll is likely only a few weeks away and we’re so close to the largest event of the year, Las Vegas Open. It’s going to be great.
