The World Team Championships returned and concluded four weeks ago, with Team Australia taking home the gold. This week we’re talking with some of the players from the event about their experiences, with an assist from the Art of War team. Today we’re joined by Matt Morosoli, who helped Team Australia take home the gold.
Before we dig in, it’s important to note a few things:
- The WTC is a teams event. If you’re unfamiliar, you can find a primer on team 40k events here.
- WTC used a pods system similar to FIFA for pairings, where teams were placed into pods for early matchups, with pod winners advancing.
- WTC uses differential scoring (also referred to as “20-0”), where a player scores points for their team based on the difference between their VP score and the opponent’s at the end of the game. A margin of victory of 50+ VP awards 20 points for the victor and 0 for the loser, while a game with a differential of 5 VP or fewer will award both players 10 points.
- The WTC uses its own terrain setups, which are uniquely dense compared to many other layouts you frequently see at other events.
WTC Terrain Example
Matt’s Recap
Fresh off a podium finish in the warmaster GT and 26 hours or so on a plane between Melbourne and Belgium, I was ready to roll at the first ever World Team Championship. This was my second time playing the ETC/WTC format in Europe and for those who don’t know, we take this format really seriously in Australia. While a lot of Americans spend their year preparing for the LVO, we spend it preparing for ATC – which is our smaller WTC-style format where teams from each state attend and play a pseudo WTC.
Matt's List - Click to Expand Player #3: Matthew Morosoli END OF ROSTER
Team: Australia
Factions Used: Drukhari
Army Points: 1999
Reinforcement Points:1
Number of Units / Killpoints: 21
Pre Game Stratagems: Warlord Trait (-1CP) Relic (-1CP) Alliance of Agony (-1CP) Prizes from the Dark City (-1CP)
Starting Command Points: 2
Warlord & Trait: Archon, Hatred Eternal
Army Trait: Power From Pain
Secondary Objectives Information
No Prisoners: 146 Wounds
Bring it Down: 6
Assasination: 10
Abhor the Witch: 0
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
== Drukhari – Realspace Raid – Battalion Detachment = +0CP, [121PL, 1999pts] ==
<Kabal of the Black Heart> <Artists of the Flesh> <Precise Killers, Test of Skill>
HQ: Archon: Huskblade, Splintered Genius, Warlord, Raid Mastermind (-1CP),
– Warlord Trait: Hatred Eternal,
– Relic (-1CP), Djinn Blade [5pl, -2CP, 90pts]
HQ: Haemonculus: Alchemical Maestro, Alliance of Agony,
– Warlord Trait: Twisted Animator [5pl, 90pts]
HQ: Succubus: Show Stealer, Alliance of Agony,
– Warlord Trait: Precision Blows.
– Prizes from the Dark City (-1CP), Triptych Whip,
– Combat Drug Adrenalight [5pl, -1CP, 95pts]
TR: 10 Haemoxytes: Electrocorrosive Whip [8PL, 105pts]
TR: 10 Hekatrix Bloodbrides: Combat Drug Adrenalight [8pl, 140pts]
TR: 5 Kabalite Warriors [3pl, 40pts]
TR 5 Wracks [3pl, 40pts]
TR 5 Wracks [3pl, 40pts]
TR 5 Wracks [3pl, 40pts]
EL: 4 Grotesques [10pl, 140pts]
EL: 4 Grotesques [10pl, 140pts]
EL: 4 Grotesques [10pl, 140pts]
EL: 5 Incubi, Klaivex with Demi klaives [4pl, 90pts]
EL: 5 Incubi, Klaivex with Demi klaives [4pl, 90pts]
EL: 5 Incubi, Klaivex with Demi klaives [4pl, 90pts]
FA: 7 Hellions: Combat Drug Adrenalight [8pl, 119pts]
FA: 7 Hellions: Combat Drug Adrenalight [8pl, 119pts]
DT: Raider: Dark Lance, Grisly Trophies [6pl, 110pts]
DT: Raider: Dark Lance, Grisly Trophies [6pl, 110pts]
DT: Raider: Dark Lance [6pl, 105pts]
NFO: 4 Court of the Archon: 3x UrGhuls, 1x Sslyth [5pl, 66pts]
I was piloting a MSU drukhari list featuring grotesques, incubi, hellions, smash characters, and bloodbrides – we had built this to trade into other melee armies such as sisters and Blood Angels as well as being able to trade with some of the Necron lists that we were expecting to see. After a few years of preparing to be allowed into Europe, we had assembled what I believed to be 8 of the best players in Australia – supported by an awesome coaching staff – we felt we were ready to challenge the podium and maybe even take a win. As everyone already knows we were successful in taking out not only the win, but also the award for the Most Sporting Team, which I’m incredibly proud of!
So how did it go playing a book that only a handful of teams decided was good enough to take? Let’s find out!
Round 1: vs. Greece (Blood Angels)
Dimitrios' List - click to expand ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ HQ1:Chaplain (7PL, 135pts)Jump Pack,Inferno Pistol HQ2:Commander Dante (9PL, 165pts)(WARLORD) HQ3:Chief Librarian Mephiston (7PL, 140pts) TR1:5 Assault Intercessor Squad (5PL, 100pts)Power Sword EL1:5 Death Company Marines (8PL, 165pts): Jump Pack,4 Thunder Hammer EL3:Sanguinary Ancient (7PL, 110pts) Power Fist EL4:7 Sanguinary Guard (17PL, 210pts) 3 Encarmine Axe FA1:5 Assault Squad (6PL, 90pts) Jump Pack,Lightning Claw,3 Plasma Pistol END OF ROSTER
Player#6: Dimitrios Bouloubasis
Team:Hellas
Factions Used:Blood Angels
Army Points:2000
Reinforcement Points:0
Number of Units / Killpoints:14
Pre Game Stratagems:Relic,Relic of the Chapter,Hero of the Chapter
Starting Command Points:4
Warlord & Trait: Commander Dante & None
Army Trait: Savage Echoes
Secondary Objectives Information
No Prisoners:13
Bring it Down:0
Assasination:13
Abhor the Witch:3
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
== Adeptus Astartes – Blood Angels – Battalion Detachment = 4CP, [124PL, 2000pts] ==
Chapter Tactic:Blood Angels – Red Thirst
—Litanies of Battle:Mantra of Strength,Canticle of Hate
—Chapter Command:Master of Sanctity
—Relic of the Chapter:Icon of The Angel (-1CP)
—Psychic Power:Unleash Rage, Quickening,Wings Of Sanguinius
TR2:5 Incursor Squad (5PL, 105pts)
TR3:5 Incursor Squad (5PL, 105pts)
EL2:5 Death Company Marines (8PL, 165pts): Jump Pack,4 Thunder Hammer
—Relic:Wrath of Baal (-1CP)
—Hero of the Chapter:Rites of War (-1CP)
EL5:7 Sanguinary Guard (17PL, 210pts) 3 Encarmine Axe
EL5:7 Sanguinary Guard (17PL, 210pts) 3 Encarmine Axe
FA2:5 Assault Squad (6PL, 90pts) Jump Pack,Lightning Claw,3 Plasma Pistol
I played against the Greek Blood Angels list in our first round of the event, fairly comfortable that I could trade with the army, as it was one of the matchups we’d practiced a lot for the Drukhari. I was able to essentially deploy on the line, making sure to screen my key units from the Forlorn Fury pregame move of the Death Company and begin attacking objectives. My opponent deployed in a castle and because we were playing Data-Scry Salvage, a few of my units were able to attack the left side of the board while the majority of my army was able to attack the right side closer to his castle. After 3 turns of trading grotesques and incubi for sanguinary guard and Death Company I had too many units left and was able to rack up the points in the last few turns of the game. The key mistake my opponent made, and a lot of BA players make, was putting infiltrators out on both of the objectives that are close to the corner of the board; this gives fast combat armies something to charge on turn 1 to take even more board space, and this set up a situation where he had very little to hold objectives outside of combat-trading units. The game ended 18-2 Win for the DE.
Round 2: vs. Finland (Adepta Sororitas)
Heinrich's List - Click to expand ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ == Adepta Sororitas – Bloody Rose – Battalion Detachment = -3CP, [111PL, 2000pts] == Order Conviction: Quick to Anger HQ: Morvenn Vahl [14PL, 280pts] (WARLORD) TR: 5 Battle Sister Squad [3PL, 55pts] Chainsword EL: Dogmata [4PL, 65pts] FA: 7 Zephyrim Squad [8PL, 110pts] Zephyrim Pennant HS: 5 Retributor Squad [6PL, 150pts] 4 Multi-Melta, 1 Armourium Cherub, Chainsword DT: Sororitas Rhino [4PL, 80pts] END OF ROSTER
Player 4: Heinrich von Keler
Team: Finland
Factions used: Adepta Sororitas
Army Points: 2000
Reinforcement Points: 0
Number of Units / Killpoints: 18
Pre Game Stratagems: Warlord Trait, 2 Saint in the Making
Starting Command Points: 3
Warlord & Trait: Morvenn Vahl – Righteous Rage
Army Trait: Acts of Faith
Sacred Rites: The Passion
Secondary Objectives Information
No Prisoners: 81
Bring it Down: 3
Assassination: 16
Abhor the Witch: 0
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
– – – Warlord Trait: Righteous Rage (-1CP)
HQ: Celestine and Geminae Superia [10PL, 200pts]
HQ: Canoness [5PL, 100pts] Blessed Blade, Bolt Pistol
– – – Saint in the Making (Warlord Trait): Blazing Ire (-1CP)
– – – Blessings of the Faithful: Word of the Emperor
TR: 5 Battle Sister Squad [3PL, 55pts] Chainsword
TR: 10 Sisters Novitiate Squad [4PL, 75pts] 9 Novitiate Melee Weapons
– – – Hymns of Battle: War Hymn, Verse of Holy Piety
EL: Repentia Superior [2PL, 40pts] Bolt Pistol
– – – Saint in the Making (Warlord Trait): Beacon of Faith (-1CP)
EL: 9 Celestian Sacresants [8PL, 126pts] 8 Anointed Halberds, Sacresant Superior with 1 Hallowed Mace
EL: 7 Sisters Repentia [6PL, 98pts]
EL: 7 Sisters Repentia [6PL, 98pts]
EL: 7 Sisters Repentia [6PL, 98pts]
FA: 7 Zephyrim Squad [8PL, 110pts] Zephyrim Pennant
FA: 7 Zephyrim Squad [8PL, 110pts] Zephyrim Pennant
HS: 5 Retributor Squad [6PL, 150pts] 4 Multi-Melta, 1 Armourium Cherub, Chainsword
The sisters matchup was another one that I had practiced a lot and was very comfortable going into. Unfortunately I had to go first, and in all of our practice we’d seen that for the heavy-trading playstyle, the 2nd turn added 5-10 points on the final turn, sometimes even more if the sisters player can adequately defend the shrine. A unit of sacresants holding an objective managed to tank both a unit of incubi and then my bloodbrides which was incredibly frustrating, costing me 4 primary points in each turn where this happened. After attacking that objective for a few turns and failing to crack it, as well as removing some of the zephrym, retributors and repentia from my opponents other flank, I was informed by one of my coaches that the round was safely won. At this point I stopped attacking my opponents objectives, shoved as much obsec on my home objectives as possible and rode out the game.
The net result was a 9-11 Loss for the Drukhari. I do think this was winnable if I kept attacking however there was also the possibility that we could drop a few more points if I did so – this event is a marathon, not a sprint and it was definitely less mentally taxing to hang back and take the draw (or close to it).
Round 3: vs. Warhammer Undivided (Adepta Sororitas)
Alexander's List - Click to expand ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ == Adepta Sororitas – Bloody Rose – Battalion = – 3CP, [101 PL, 1999 pts] == Order Conviction – Quick to Anger HQ: Morvenn Vahl [14 PL, 280 pts] (WARLORD) TR: 10 Sisters Novitiate [4 PL, 80 pts] Power Sword & Bolt Pistol, 9 Novitiate Melee Weapons EL: 10 Sisters Repentia [6 PL, 140 pts] FA: 9 Zephyrims [8 PL, 135 pts] HS: 5 Retributors [6 PL, 150 pts] 4 Multi-Meltas, Armorium Cherub, Chainsword DT: Rhino [4 PL, 80 pts] NFO: Dialogus [3 PL, 50 pts]
Player 1: Alexander “LazioForza” Kondakov [CAPTAIN]
Team: Warhammer Undivided
Factions used: Adepta Sororitas
Army Points: 1999
Reinforcement Points: 0
Number of Units / Killpoints: 21
Pre Game Stratagems: Saint in the Making, 2x Open the Reliquaries
Starting Command Points: 3
Warlord & Trait: Morvenn Vahl – No Trait
Army Trait: Acts of Faith
Default Sacred Rite: The Passion
Secondary Objectives Information
No Prisoners: 88
Bring it Down: 5
Assasination: 19
Abhor the Witch: 0
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
HQ: Canoness [4 PL, 90 pts] Rapturous Blows, Blessed Blade, Inferno Pistol
HQ: Palatine [5 PL, 85 pts] Word of the Emperor
– – – Saint in the Making – Blazing Ire (- 1 CP)
– – – Open the Reliquaries – Mina’s Wrath (-1 CP)
TR: 10 Sisters Novitiate [4 PL, 80 pts] Power Sword & Bolt Pistol, 9 Novitiate Melee Weapons
TR: 5 Battle Sisters [3 PL, 55 pts] Chainsword
TR: 5 Battle Sisters [3 PL, 55 pts] Chainsword
EL: 9 Sisters Repentia [6 PL, 126 pts]
EL: 9 Sisters Repentia [6 PL, 126 pts]
EL: Dogmata [4 PL, 65 pts]
– – – Open the Reliquaries: Chaplet of Sacrifice (- 1 CP)
– – – Hymns of Battle: War Hymn, Psalm of Righteous Smiting
EL: 2 Crusaders [1 PL, 22 pts]
FA: 9 Zephyrims [8 PL, 135 pts]
FA: 5 Zephyrims [4 PL, 75 pts]
HS: Mortifier [3 PL, 65 pts] Anchorite Sarcophagus, 2 Penitent Buzz-Blades, 2 Heavy Bolters
HS: Mortifier [3 PL, 65 pts] Anchorite Sarcophagus, 2 Penitent Buzz-Blades, 2 Heavy Bolters
– – – Hymns of Battle: War Hymn, Verse of Holy Piety
NFO: Repentia Superior [2 PL, 40 pts] Bolt Pistol
After playing sisters in round 2, I was paired into an almost identical matchup in game 3. At this point my fatigue clearly started to show; I made a few pretty key mistakes in deployment that got the game off to a really rough start with my opponent able to secure a 12 primary on the first turn, courtesy of me deploying my units too far back to adequately attack the centre objective where he had planted some novitiates. As the mission was The Scouring, he was also able to cash in 15 points on sacred ground on the first turn which is an incredibly powerful thing to be able to do. Further problems began to show in the second turn where I had deployed some of my hellions and grotesques too far away from my opponent and wasn’t able to make any relevant charges, ending up giving my opponent a 2nd 12 on primary in the second turn. Our game really turned in turn 3, i failed a few relatively short charges, including one on a rhino as a part of a multicharge, allowing some repentia to live, and another charge on some zephrym, this really cascaded into primary denial and the game kind of falling apart. While I was able to hold on for a few more turns, my opponent took away any ability for me to score effectively and managed to secure a maximum win of 0-20 Loss in favor of the Sisters.
Round 4: vs. Sweden (Adepta Sororitas)
Jonathan's List - Click to expand ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ HQ: Canoness [5 PL, 100 pts] Blessed Blade, Bolt pistol TR: 5 Battle Sister Squad [3 PL, 55 pts] Chainsword EL: 7 Celestian Sacresants [8 PL, 98 pts] Hallowed Mace FA: 6 Zephyrim Squad [8 PL, 90 pts] HS: Castigator [8 PL, 135 pts] Castigator autocannons DT: Sororitas Rhino [4 PL, 80 pts] NFO: Repentia Superior [2 PL, 40 pts] END OF ROSTER
* Player 1: Jonathan “JSJ” Sleigh-Johnson
* Team: Sweden
* Factions used: Imperium – Adepta Sororitas
* Army points: 2000
* Reinforcement Points: 0 pts
* Number of Units / Killpoints: 21
* Pre Game Stratagems: Saint in the making -1 cp, Warlord trait – 1cp
* Starting Command Points: 4 (6-2)
* Warlord: Morven Vahl (righteous rage)
* Army Trait: Acts of Faith, Sacred Rites: The passion
* Secondary Objectives Information
* Assassination: 16
* Bring it Down: 4
* No Prisoners: 79 wounds
* Abhor the Witch: 0
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
== Adepta sororitas, order of Bloody Rose Battalion (Quick to Anger) Detachment = -2CP, [113 PL, 2000 pts] ==
– – – Warlord Trait: Blazing Ire (-1cp)
– – – Word of the Emperor (Blessing, Miraculous ability)
HQ: Morvenn Vahl [14 PL, 280 pts] Warlord
– – – Warlord Trait: Righteous Rage (-1cp)
TR: 5 Battle Sister Squad [3 PL, 55 pts] Chainsword
TR: 10 Sisters Novitiate Squad [4 PL, 75 pts] Novitiate Superior (Bolt Pistol and Boltgun), 9xSister Novitiate (melee weapon, auto pistol)
EL: Dogmata [4 PL, 65 pts]
– – – Hymns of battle: Verse of Holy Piety, War Hymn
EL: Preacher [2 PL, 25 pts] Autopistol, Chainsword
– – – Hymns of battle: War Hymn
EL: 7 Sisters Repentia [6 PL, 98 pts]
EL: 8 Sisters Repentia [6 PL, 112 pts]
EL: 4 Sisters Repentia [3 PL, 56 pts]
FA: 9 Zephyrim Squad [8 PL, 135 pts]
FA: 6 Zephyrim Squad [8 PL, 95 pts] Zephyrim Pennant
HS: 5 Retributor Squad [6 PL, 150 pts] 1 Armourium Cherub, 4 multi melta, Chainsword
HS: 5 Retributor Squad [6 PL, 150 pts] 1 Armourium Cherub, 4 multi melta, Chainsword
DT: Sororitas Rhino [4 PL, 80 pts]
NFO: 2 Death Cult Assassins [1 PL, 26 pts] 2x Death Cult Assassins
Confident that my two losses to sisters on Day 2 were primarily the result of bad luck and fatigue, I volunteered myself to play against the Swedish Sisters player in game 4. We had built the Drukhari to do well into sisters and in our practice games, it had. Jonathan’s list was very similar to the previous two lists I had played against, however it also featured a Castigator. On turn 1 my opponent sent a unit of novitiates into my unit of haemoxytes and was able to completely remove them from the board. I was pretty amazed this happened, however upon reflection and checking the math they kill about 7, so killing 10 isn’t necessarily the biggest swing in the world. I retaliated by killing the novitiates and tagging a rhino my opponent had placed in preparation to countercharge my army the following turn.
On the second turn he pushed up into a couple of the ruins that were really effective at staging his combat units and was clearly preparing to begin attacking the center and my primary – I countercharged these units with my bloodbrides who were able to kill an entire unit of zephrym and a unit of retributors at the same time, a unit of hellions was also able to wrap a rhino so the repentia could not disembark which was able to buy me an extra turn of holding primary and trading down on the sisters. My opponent countercharged and killed these units, however I was able to retaliate and remove those units with my final trading pieces. I was able to rack up my last few secondary points and ended the game with a 12-8 Win for the Drukhari.
Round 5: vs. USA (T’au Empire)
Jack's List - Click to expand +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ TR: 10 Kroot Carnivores [3PL, 60pts] EL: 5 Crisis Battlesuits [20PL, 370pts] 4 Crisis Shas’ui (Cyclic Ion Blaster, Burst Cannon, Plasma Rifle, Target Lock), Crisis Shas’vre (Cyclic Ion Blaster, Burst Cannon, Plasma Rifle, Target Lock, Stimm injector, Iridium Battlesuit), Marker Drone, Shield Drone HS: Hammerhead Gunship [8PL, 145pts] FL: Sun Shark Bomber [9PL, 165pts] 2x Missile Pod == Tau Empire – T’au Sept – Patrol = -3CP, [20PL, 395pts] == HQ: Commander in Coldstar Battlesuit [8PL, 175pts] High Output Burst Cannon, Burst Cannon, 2x Plasma Rifle TR: 10 Kroot Carnivores [3PL, 60pts] == Tau Empire – T’au Sept – Supreme Command = +1CP, [8PL, 150pts] == HQ: Commander Shadowsun [8PL, 150pts] (WARLORD) END OF ROSTER
Player #: 7
Jack Harpster
Team: United States of America
Factions Used: Tau Empire
Army Points: 2000
Reinforcement Points: 0
Number of Units / Killpoints: 12
Pre Game Stratagems: Warlord, 2x Promising Pupil
Starting Command Points: 1
Warlord & Trait: Commander Shadowsun – Exemplar of the Kauyon
Army Trait: Philosophies of War, Coordinated Fire Arcs
Secondary Objectives Information
No Prisoners: 62
Bring it Down: 8
Assasination: 16
Abhor the Witch: 0
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
== Tau Empire – T’au Sept – Patrol = -3CP, [80PL, 1455pts] ==
Sept Tenet: Coordinated Fire Arcs
HQ: Commander in Crisis Battlesuit [8PL, 165pts] Cyclic Ion Blaster, Missile Pod, 2x Plasma Rifle, 2x Marker Drone
—Promising Pupil : Exemplar of the Mont’ka (-1CP)
HQ: Aun’Va [4PL, 100pts]
—Invocations of the Ethereals : Sense of Stone, Zephyr’s Grace, Wisdom of the Guides
EL: 4 Crisis Battlesuits [19PL, 285pts] 3 Crisis Shas’ui (Cyclic Ion Blaster, Burst Cannon, Plasma Rifle, Target Lock), Crisis Shas’vre (Cyclic Ion Blaster, Burst Cannon, Plasma Rifle, Target Lock), Marker Drone, Shield Drone
FL: Sun Shark Bomber [9PL, 165pts] 2x Missile Pod
Sept Tenet: Coordinated Fire Arcs
—Promising Pupil: Precision of the Hunter (-1CP)
—Prototype System: DW-02 Advanced Burst Cannon
HQ: Longstrike [9PL, 160pts]
Sept Tenet: Coordinated Fire Arcs
—Warlord Trait: Exemplar of the Kauyon (-1CP)
This is definitely where things started to heat up. At this point the US and AUS were the only undefeated teams and we had done a lot of prep into their lists. Unfortunately at the end of the pairings process I ended up pairing into Jack’s Tau – not a great matchup, and even worse when the majority of tables where I could safely hide were gone. I spent a lot of time in deployment screening off the planes trying to protect the hellions, as they are very effective at killing the Sunshark bombers. However I couldn’t do this and also hide from the Crisis Suits. I was resigned to the fact that if I went first I would have a chance to move stuff into terrain and hide and I could probably play for 5 points, however if I went second I was probably going to get tabled very quickly. I lost the roll off (and most of my army) when Jack went first and aggressively pushed the battlesuit brick, planes and commanders into firing lanes, and i lost a lot of my trading pieces to this. I was able to swing back and kill a few small units of kroot, a plane, most of a hammerhead and a commander, but after a second shooting phase I was mostly tabled and unable to score primary. I made a few attempts at denying the T’au some points, and did take some primary away from them, however it wasn’t enough to secure any meaningful points. 1-19 Loss for the Drukhari.
Round 6: vs. England (Chaos Knights)
Alex's List - click to expand ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Factions Used: Chaos Knights Pre Game Stratagems: Warlord Trait, Relic, Corrupted Heirloom x 2 Warlord & Trait: Knight Desecrator – Aura of Terror Secondary Objectives Information LOW: Knight Desecrator [22PL, 430pts] Reaper Chainsword, Favour of the Dark Gods: Blessings of the Dark Master (WARLORD) LOW: War Dog Brigand Squadron [16PL, 320pts] LOW: War Dog Executioner Squadron [17PL, 330pts] LOW: War Dog Stalker Squadron [25PL, 470pts] LOW: War Dog Stalker Squadron [24PL, 450pts] END OF ROSTER
Player 6: Alex Petford
Team: England
Army Points: 2000
Reinforcement Points: 0
Number of Units / Killpoints: 11
Starting Command Points: 2
Army Trait: Traitoris Ambitions, Harbingers of Dread,
No Prisoners: 0
Bring it Down: 24
Assassination: 4
Abhor the Witch: 0
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
== Chaos Knights – House Herpetrax – Super Heavy Detachment = -4CP, [104PL, 2000pts] ==
Chapter Tactic/Order Conviction/Hive Fleet Adaptations: Iconoclast, Conquerors Without Mercy, Dauntless
– – – Warlord Trait : Aura of Terror (-1CP)
– – – Relic : The Diamonas (-1CP)
War Dog Brigand, Havoc multi launcher
War Dog Brigand, Havoc multi launcher
War Dog Executioner, Daemonbreath Meltagun, Favour of the Dark Gods: Mirror of Fates
– – – Corrupted Heirloom : Helm of Warpsight (-1CP)
War Dog Executioner, Diabolus heavy stubber
War Dog Stalker, Havoc multi launcher, Slaughterclaw, Favour of the Dark Gods: Mark of the Dreadknight
– – – Corrupted Heirloom : Helm of Dogs (-1CP)
War Dog Stalker, Havoc multi launcher, Slaughterclaw
War Dog Stalker, Havoc multi launcher, Reaper chaintalon
War Dog Stalker, Havoc multi launcher, Slaughterclaw
War Dog Stalker, Havoc multi launcher, Slaughterclaw
War Dog Stalker, Havoc multi launcher, Reaper chaintalon
My run of being auto paired at the end of the process continued as I played the Big knight + 10 war dogs list from England. As we’re now only playing the 5 objective missions my opponent was forced to send knights centrally to hold the objective in the middle and this opened up opportunities for me to try and trade down on them. I felt confident, because of the big knight, that if I could kill enough of the small ones I could make a play to score a few points, we were projecting 5 out of the mission and I was told on turn 3 that it really needed to be an 8 or a 9. My hellions and bloodbrides removed two knights on their own on turn 1 and my archon removed a third. I was pretty happy with this and confident that if I was able to do this again on the second turn my opponent would run out of steam. I lost the hellions, archon, bloodbrides and some incubi in retaliation but was able to pick up a further two knights in the second turn, as well as removing all of the knights capable of getting to the center on my opponent’s third turn.
After trading knights back and forth I was able to push my remaining units into the middle of the board, ready to attack my opponents home primary on my turn 4 and 5, by this point there were only 2 small knights as well as the big boy remaining – once my ObSec was turned off the only way to hold primary was to actually kill these knights. A unit of four incubi was able to take out the War Dog Executioner on his backfield and then miraculously rolled a 1 for Retrieve Nephilim Data on the final turn to let me finish that objective. The game ended with my opponent having only the big knight in the centre and with me holding all of the other objectives, despite this, my secondaries were average and my opponent scored very well. This game ended in a 10-10 Draw for both players.
Round 7: vs. Poland (Chaos Knights)
Michał's list - Click to expand ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ LOW1: 1x War Dog Stalker [165p, 9PL] diabolus heavy stubber, reaper chaintalon, avenger chaincannon LOW2: 2x War Dog Stalker [305, 17PL] LOW3: 1x War Dog Stalker [145p, 8PL, -1CP] diabolus heavy stubber, reaper chaintalon, avenger chaincannon LOW4 1x War Dog Huntsman [150p, 8PL] daemonbreath meltagun (WARLORD) == Chaos Knights – Iconoclast, Herpetrax – Super-heavy Detachment = -4CP, [61PL, 1100pts] == LOW5 1x War Dog Karnivore [160p, 9PL] diabolus heavy stubber LOW6 1x War Dog Karnivore [160p, 9PL] diabolus heavy stubber LOW7 2x War Dog Karnivore [305, 18PL] LOW8 1x War Dog Huntsman [150p, 8PL] daemonbreath meltagun LOW9 2x War Dog Executioner [325p,17PL,-1CP] – DREADBLADES: WORTHY OFFERINGS END OF ROSTER
Player #3: Michał Duda
Team: Poland
Factions Used: Chaos Knights, Chaos Daemons
Army Points: 1865pts
Reinforcement Points: 135pts
Number of Units / Killpoints: 9 Units/ 12 Kill Points
Pre Game Stratagems: 1x Tyrannical Court, 1x Corrupted Heirlooms
Starting Command Points: 1
Warlord & Trait: War Dog Huntsman (No Trait)
Army Trait: Harbringers of Dread
Secondary Objectives Information
No Prisoners: 0VP
Bring it Down: 24VP
Assassination: 10VP
Abhor the Witch: 0VP
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
== Chaos Knights – Iconoclast, Herpetrax – Super-heavy Detachment = -1CP, [42PL, 765pts] ==
Traitoris ambition: Iconoclast(Conquerors Without Mercy), Household bond: Herpetrax (Dauntless)
— CHAOS UNDIVIDED: Blessing of the Dark Master
— a) War Dog Stalker [160p, 9PL] diabolus heavy stubber, daemonbreath spear, slaughterclaw
—— TZEENTCH: Cursed Rune of Fate
— b) War Dog Stalker [145p, 8PL] diabolus heavy stubber, reaper chaintalon, avenger chaincannon
— Additional Warlord Trait: Harbringer of Scrapcode (-1CP)
— Traitoris Lances CHARACTER
Traitoris ambition: Iconoclast(Conquerors Without Mercy), Household bond: Herpetrax (Dauntless)
— SLAANESH: Begulging Majesty
— CHAOS UNIDIVIDED: Mark of the Dreadknight
— a) War Dog Karnivore [140p, 8PL] diabolus heavy stubber
—— Traitoris Lances CHARACTER
— b) War Dog Karnivore [165p, 10PL] diabolus heavy stubber
—— NURGLE: Aura of Corruption
— a) War Dog Executioner [155, 8PL, -1CP] diabolus heavy stubber
—— Additional Relic: Helm of Warpsight(-1CP)
— b) War Dog Executioner [170, 9PL] diabolus heavy stubber
—— TZEENTCH: Mirror of Fates
As the US had lost to Poland in round 6, this was the championship game. Both teams knew it and it was super exciting playing for the win in the inaugural WTC! I was paired into Chaos Knights again and despite not really liking the matchup I felt confident that I had some play into it after drawing the previous round. Once again we were expecting about 5 points from the matchup, however knowing that Poland only needed a draw to win the event and we needed to win, we knew that pushing was likely going to be required. This list had all small knights and summoning; no big knight this time.
The game played out very similarly to the previous one, however there were a number of times where knights lived on one or two wounds, giving my opponent additional primary points when I was trying to remove them from objectives. Unfortunately by turn 3 my opponent had racked up 2 12 point primary turns and i’d only managed to kill one knight at this stage, despite there being 4 or 5 on the board with less than 4 wounds – when you have so many small knights it’s really easy to recycle them and move the wounded ones away to not give bring it down. In my third turn I had setup to charge and kill 3 of the wounded knights and unfortunately failed all of the dread tests. One unit still managed to get into combat and killed the knight I had charged, but the other 2 failed their charges. To add insult to injury I lost one grotesque out of a unit that failed a dread test charge, proceeded to fail morale and the remaining 2 grotesques ran! At this point the game was looking like it would be close to a zero, however I was able to finish off a number of the wounded knights, played for a 12 primary in the last turn, secured a third RND and propped my score up enough to secure a 4-16 loss for the Drukhari.
Final Thoughts
In hindsight I think we made a pretty bad meta call with the list, we felt like it would scrap with melee armies a lot better than it did, and when things went badly they tended to go catastrophically, you can’t scrap for points when your opponent picks a light table and they table your army. There were a number of places in pairings where we felt the list was useful, however it was more often a liability in the tougher rounds, which led it to be left until the end to play whatever was left and it was my job to try and scrap for points – sometimes successfully, other times not so much.
Regardless, I really enjoyed playing this list at the WTC, as I’ve been playing DE for the better part of the last year and a half. I felt like the faction mastery I had was pretty on point and I was able to score points in games other players may not have been able to. This was a theme for Team Australia this year, we all played factions we were really familiar with and had played for a long time, rather than chopping and changing to what we felt were the 8 best individual lists. I had 7 great games against great opponents and I can’t wait to come back and do it all again next year!
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