Keys to Victory: The “List”

Warmachine and Hordes events are typically played in a two list system. This allows you to cover the weaknesses in your lists and keep your “unwinnable” match-ups to a minimum. Today, I would like to go over how I approach the multiple list system and also the list of things that I consider when building my lists overall.

Well, first of all, I’ll start with “the list.” Whenever I’m building a list, I try to keep this list in mind, to help keep my army well balanced.

 

So can your list handle the following:

-ARM 20+ spam (Butcher1/Kharchev, Rasheth/Narresh Titan Spam, etc.)

-DEF 15+ spam (WGDS/Kayazi, Nyss, Angeli, etc.)

-Troublesome Upkeeps (Iron Flesh, Crippling Grasp, etc.)

-Infantry Swarm (50+ models)

-Anti-Infantry (Harbinger/Old Witch Feat, e-leap, etc.)

-Anti-Magic/Shooting (Choir/Covenant, Kromac/Druids, etc.)

-Incorporeal/Magic Weapon only models (Deneghra2/Zaal, Vilmon, etc.)

-Are you vulnerabe to Upkeep Removal? (Eyriss2, Purification, etc.)

Alright, Lets take a look at a sample list and see how well it stands up to the criteria of above.

Grim Angus *6 WB points

^Troll Impaler 5

^Slag Troll 6

^Dire Troll Bomber 10

^Earthborn Dire Troll 10

Kriel Warriors (Leader & 9 grunts) 6

^Kriel Warrior Standard & Piper 2

^3x Kriel Warrior Caber Throwers 3

Fell Caller Hero 3

Janissa Stonetide 3

Thrullg 3

5x Troll Whelps 2

Trollkin Champion Hero 3

50/50

Here we have Grim, one of Trollblood’s most rounded Warlocks with a well rounded list. Let’s see how it stacks up to the list:

-ARM 20+ spam (Butcher1/Kharchev, Rasheth/Narresh Titan Spam, etc.) With one dedicated Melee heavy, this list may end up struggling with multiple high ARM models (-)

-DEF 15+ spam (WGDS/Kayazi, Nyss, Angeli, etc.) Feat/Marked for Death along with an auto knockdown gun means High DEF is not a problem for Grim (++)

-Troublesome Upkeeps (Iron Flesh, Crippling Grasp, etc.) With Thrullg in the list, offensive upkeeps shouldn’t be a problem, and Grim’s feat will effectively negate Iron Flesh (+)

-Infantry Swarm (50+ models) The Bomber, Champ Hero and slamming Kriel Warriors, Infantrymachine is not a problem. (++)

-Anti-Infantry (Harbinger/Old Witch Feat, e-leap, etc.) Playing ‘Beast heavy will help, but the Kriel Warriors will still die to  auto damage AoE’s and pow 10 e-leaps on average rolls. Not the worst news in the world, but still something to be concerned with. (=)

-Anti-Magic/Shooting (Choir/Covenant, Kromac/Druids, etc.) Grim’s gun is magical and not much shooting/spells outside of the bomber. (+)

-Incorporeal/Magic Weapon only models (Deneghra2/Zaal, Vilmon, etc.) Grim gives you the ability to pick off tricky solos, and marked for death strips incorporeal from pesky units(i.e. Blackbane’s). Not ideal, but far from terrible. (+)

-Are you vulnerabe to Upkeep Removal? (Eyriss2, Purification, etc.) Not too bad here. Cross-country isn’t too big off a deal to lose and whatever marked for death hits, usually dies that turn anyway(not to mention Grim’s ability to pick Eiryss off from a distance away). (+)

Alright, so now that we know what Grim will struggle against(High ARM spam, and troop shredding effects), we can work on finding a list that can cover those weaknesses.

So, lets take a look at another list:

Borka Kegslayer *5WB points

^Keg Carrier 0

^Troll Axer 6

^Dire Troll Mauler 9

^Mulg the Ancient 12

Kriel Warriors (Leader and 9 grunts) 6

^Kriel Warrior Piper and Standard 2

^3x Kreil Warrior Caber Throwers 3

Krielstone Bearer(Leader and 5 grunts) 4

^Stone Scribe Elder 1

Fell Caller Hero 3

Trollkin Champion Hero 3

Stone Scribe Chronicler 2

5 Trollkin Whelps 2

Alten Ashley, Monster Hunter 2

50/50

For my second list, I’ve chosen everyone’s favorite alcoholic, Borka. Lets see how this list stands up to “the list.”

-ARM 20+ spam (Butcher1/Kharchev, Rasheth/Narresh Titan Spam, etc.)

A Mauler, Mulg, and three Caber Throwers, high ARM is the least of this lists worries. (++)

-DEF 15+ spam (WGDS/Kayazi, Nyss, Angeli, etc.)

Cabers can slam your own models over enemies, and Borka’s spell Mosh Pit certainly helps hitting high DEF models more than once. But reliance on knock down is not always a safe bet. (=)

-Troublesome Upkeeps (Iron Flesh, Crippling Grasp, etc.)

Absolutely no answer to pesky upkeeps. Avoid these match-ups when you can. (- -)

-Infantry Swarm (50+ models)

Cabers and Champion Hero will do their part and Mulg can certainly make a dent in infantry to clumped together. But there is still the chance they could overwhelm you. (=)

-Anti-Infantry (Harbinger/Old Witch Feat, e-leap, etc.)

Under the Krielstone, Kriel Warriors sit at ARM 17, which puts them just outta reach for AoE’s and E-leaps to consistently kill. Old witch and Harbinger still will be a problem. (+) 

-Anti-Magic/Shooting (Choir/Covenant, Kromac/Druids, etc.)

Only range coming from Alten, and only friendly spells, Not much of a problem here. (++)

-Incorporeal/Magic Weapon only models (Deneghra2/Zaal, Vilmon, etc.)

Borka and Mulg both have magical weapons, and the Krielstone can strip Incorporeal when needed. (+)

-Are you vulnerabe to Upkeep Removal? (Eyriss2, Purification, etc.)

Another terrible match-up for Borka. Standing still, Eyriss2 needs only 6′s to hit fully buffed Kriel Warriors to strip the IF. (- -)

Now, looking at both lists and their strengths and weaknesses, we can see that they seem to cover each other rather well. Grim struggles with multiple high ARM targets and some anti-infantry, both of which Borka handles well. Borka has a hard time with upkeep hate(namely Eyriss2) and pesky upkeeps, both of which the Grim list takes care of effectively.

And there we have it, a little insight on what goes into building my lists for Steamroller events. With SR2012′s new character restrictions, it is now more important than ever to take a look at your lists together, instead of two separate lists. Hopefully, you can find this list as beneficial to you as it is to me. And just remember, make every list your own.

‘Til next time!

Lawso