On January 10, 2011 I had one of my first Warmachine tournaments of the year.
I didn't win, but had a bunch of fun, and here I share with you the two lists I was using,
note that the lists used were Theme lists.
The first list was with Dawnlord Vyros and the other with Kaelyssa, needless to say,
the Vyros list needs some improvement, but the Kaelyssa one has some special ways
of functioning, below are the lists with the models and points totals:
List 1- Dawnlord Vyros - Theme: Legions of Dawn (tier 2)
Dawnlord Vyros- +6 WJ points
- Phoenix= 10 points
- Hydra= 9 points
Dawnguard Sentinels + UA x2 (minimum units)= 8+6= 14 points
Dawnguard Invictors +UA (minimum unit)= 8 points
-Griffon= 4 points
Stormfall Archers= 5 points
Arcanist x2= 1+1= 2 points
Dawnguard Scyir x2= 2+2= 4 points
TOTAL: 56 points
Thoughts: Well, this list could use some work I think, I know there are 2 units of Sen-
tinels, both with Vengeance, but I feel as though they don't hold up too much given
how few models there are. The Invictors give ranged support while also comman-
deering the Griffon for flanking and, if needed, use it to protect themselves from
enemies who would keep them from shooting. The Stormfall Archers provide
additional ranged support, can deal with infantry (especially shield wall troops by
using Star Strike) and hurting heavier targets via Brutal Damage. The Myrmidons,
benefit from Vyros's "Bird's Eye" ability, allowing them to shoot, charge, and
attack anyone by ignoring forests, cloud effects and intervening models, it also
grants everyone in the battlegroup (Vyros included) a 360 degree front arc...so no
back strikes (and the Phoenix has a 2" melee range all around...nasty stuff!). The
Arcanists are 'jack support, relieving focus strain, increasing melee damage and
the odd repair action; the Scyirs work almost as bodyguards for the 'jacks, but given
their very high command score and the Commander ability, they keep the army toge-
ther, the Iron Sentinel ability keeps them safe from most things and, if able to use
Flank, their damage output can reach the stratosphere, they could also Marshall a
warjack to further relieve focus strain and the Drive:Reroll will come in handy most
times; Vyros feat is something of an oddball, rarely can I get it to work at max
efficiency, but in some cases it will be a handy tool for allocating focus out of activa-
tion, his spell list is pretty good granting more survivability to untis/models, extra
movement, reprisal in case an enemy models kills a friendly model, and two offen-
sive spells, one of them an AOE (excellent for low-Arm units and solos).
Maybe an alternative to this list would be taking out the Invictors and increasing the
size of both Sentinel units to full, leaving 2 extra points which could be used in another
solo...or perhaps also take out a Scyir and an Arcanist so I can add another unit of
Stormfall Archers, then either give the Griffon to Vyros or one of the Sentinel units
for bogging down enemy ranged units.
List 2- Kealyssa, Night's Whisper- Theme: Shadows of Retribution (tier 4)
Kaelyssa- +7 WJ points
-Chimera= 6 points
-Hydra= 9 points
-Phoenix= 10 points
Mage Hunter Strike Force +UA (minimum units)= 7+5= 12 points
Eyriss, Angel of Retribution= 3 points
Narn, Mage Hunter of Ios= 3 points
Mage Hunter Assassin x2= 2+2= 4 points
Ghost Sniper x2= 2+2= 4 points
Nayl= 2 points
Arcanist x2= 1+1= 2 points
TOTAL: 56 points
Thoughts: To be honest, I found this list a lot more fun to play, most of the models
have Stealth granting an innate protection from ranged threats (though not all of
them), a lot of mobility thanks to Pathfinder and, given the nature of this warcaster,
protection from enemy magic attacks. The list has it's downsides, the only true melee
power comes from the M.H Assassins, Narn, Phoenix, Hydra (somewhat) and the
warcaster herself (but only slightly), everything else has a pow of 9, 10, 11 or less, also
most of the models have low Arm (11, 12, 13 and 14) except for the 'jacks of course
(16 and 18 respectively). This army needs careful planning, positioning and effective
use of its one-hit kill abilities; the Phoenix besides being general use (anti-infantry,
arc-node, heavy hitter, ranged support) can be used as "bait" somewhat (not too often
though), the Hydra the brings long range of its cannon, and if given Phantom Hunter
can plant those shots where ever it wants, but it can't ignore Stealth, Prowl or abilities/
magic that can increase Def; the M.H. Strike Force work as efficient strike models
killing enemy units, solos and plucking at enemy warjacks, thanks to Phantom Seeker,
they ignore most things on the table except Stealth but they can ignore cover and con-
cealment; the solos are the bread and butter of them all, they will cause severe damage
to the enemy force of used well.
Narn can get in deep enemy lines, kill enemy solos or go straight for the enemy caster
(plant him to stall your opponent and annoy them); Eyriss will deal with opposing
'jacks, casters and even units and solos; the M.H. Assassins best work taking out
enemy commanders, officers, solos or go for the finisher on a damaged caster or
'jack (or beast); Nayl will flank from very far away and harass the enemy, killing him
can pose a threat, as Arcane Annihilation can strip the focus and fury plus keep
enemies from casting fro one round (this model takes the most clever use to play well)
; Ghost Snipers can deal 3 points of auto-damage when they hit and where that damage
goes, being able to plink at heavies, lights, casters and even killing solos and UA's
sometimes; the Arcanists again help with focus, increase melee damage and can repair
if needed.
Kaelyssa's feat is powerful, with right timing, one can deny the opponent from
destroying a huge chunk of your army, granted most things here already have Stealth,
but the anti-charge is always welcomed, not every army will be taken aback by this
however. Her spell list can keep you safe from enemy magic attacks, create (often ran-
dom) rough terrain, let models in her battlegroup ignore LOS for attacks and deal with
enemy warjacks.
In conclusion, it was fun and educative of what these lists can do and how they work,
their strategies, weaknesses and strengths. I will be working for making these lists
usable in 35 point games as well as making them better, until next time. :D
I didn't win, but had a bunch of fun, and here I share with you the two lists I was using,
note that the lists used were Theme lists.
The first list was with Dawnlord Vyros and the other with Kaelyssa, needless to say,
the Vyros list needs some improvement, but the Kaelyssa one has some special ways
of functioning, below are the lists with the models and points totals:
List 1- Dawnlord Vyros - Theme: Legions of Dawn (tier 2)
Dawnlord Vyros- +6 WJ points
- Phoenix= 10 points
- Hydra= 9 points
Dawnguard Sentinels + UA x2 (minimum units)= 8+6= 14 points
Dawnguard Invictors +UA (minimum unit)= 8 points
-Griffon= 4 points
Stormfall Archers= 5 points
Arcanist x2= 1+1= 2 points
Dawnguard Scyir x2= 2+2= 4 points
TOTAL: 56 points
Thoughts: Well, this list could use some work I think, I know there are 2 units of Sen-
tinels, both with Vengeance, but I feel as though they don't hold up too much given
how few models there are. The Invictors give ranged support while also comman-
deering the Griffon for flanking and, if needed, use it to protect themselves from
enemies who would keep them from shooting. The Stormfall Archers provide
additional ranged support, can deal with infantry (especially shield wall troops by
using Star Strike) and hurting heavier targets via Brutal Damage. The Myrmidons,
benefit from Vyros's "Bird's Eye" ability, allowing them to shoot, charge, and
attack anyone by ignoring forests, cloud effects and intervening models, it also
grants everyone in the battlegroup (Vyros included) a 360 degree front arc...so no
back strikes (and the Phoenix has a 2" melee range all around...nasty stuff!). The
Arcanists are 'jack support, relieving focus strain, increasing melee damage and
the odd repair action; the Scyirs work almost as bodyguards for the 'jacks, but given
their very high command score and the Commander ability, they keep the army toge-
ther, the Iron Sentinel ability keeps them safe from most things and, if able to use
Flank, their damage output can reach the stratosphere, they could also Marshall a
warjack to further relieve focus strain and the Drive:Reroll will come in handy most
times; Vyros feat is something of an oddball, rarely can I get it to work at max
efficiency, but in some cases it will be a handy tool for allocating focus out of activa-
tion, his spell list is pretty good granting more survivability to untis/models, extra
movement, reprisal in case an enemy models kills a friendly model, and two offen-
sive spells, one of them an AOE (excellent for low-Arm units and solos).
Maybe an alternative to this list would be taking out the Invictors and increasing the
size of both Sentinel units to full, leaving 2 extra points which could be used in another
solo...or perhaps also take out a Scyir and an Arcanist so I can add another unit of
Stormfall Archers, then either give the Griffon to Vyros or one of the Sentinel units
for bogging down enemy ranged units.
List 2- Kealyssa, Night's Whisper- Theme: Shadows of Retribution (tier 4)
Kaelyssa- +7 WJ points
-Chimera= 6 points
-Hydra= 9 points
-Phoenix= 10 points
Mage Hunter Strike Force +UA (minimum units)= 7+5= 12 points
Eyriss, Angel of Retribution= 3 points
Narn, Mage Hunter of Ios= 3 points
Mage Hunter Assassin x2= 2+2= 4 points
Ghost Sniper x2= 2+2= 4 points
Nayl= 2 points
Arcanist x2= 1+1= 2 points
TOTAL: 56 points
Thoughts: To be honest, I found this list a lot more fun to play, most of the models
have Stealth granting an innate protection from ranged threats (though not all of
them), a lot of mobility thanks to Pathfinder and, given the nature of this warcaster,
protection from enemy magic attacks. The list has it's downsides, the only true melee
power comes from the M.H Assassins, Narn, Phoenix, Hydra (somewhat) and the
warcaster herself (but only slightly), everything else has a pow of 9, 10, 11 or less, also
most of the models have low Arm (11, 12, 13 and 14) except for the 'jacks of course
(16 and 18 respectively). This army needs careful planning, positioning and effective
use of its one-hit kill abilities; the Phoenix besides being general use (anti-infantry,
arc-node, heavy hitter, ranged support) can be used as "bait" somewhat (not too often
though), the Hydra the brings long range of its cannon, and if given Phantom Hunter
can plant those shots where ever it wants, but it can't ignore Stealth, Prowl or abilities/
magic that can increase Def; the M.H. Strike Force work as efficient strike models
killing enemy units, solos and plucking at enemy warjacks, thanks to Phantom Seeker,
they ignore most things on the table except Stealth but they can ignore cover and con-
cealment; the solos are the bread and butter of them all, they will cause severe damage
to the enemy force of used well.
Narn can get in deep enemy lines, kill enemy solos or go straight for the enemy caster
(plant him to stall your opponent and annoy them); Eyriss will deal with opposing
'jacks, casters and even units and solos; the M.H. Assassins best work taking out
enemy commanders, officers, solos or go for the finisher on a damaged caster or
'jack (or beast); Nayl will flank from very far away and harass the enemy, killing him
can pose a threat, as Arcane Annihilation can strip the focus and fury plus keep
enemies from casting fro one round (this model takes the most clever use to play well)
; Ghost Snipers can deal 3 points of auto-damage when they hit and where that damage
goes, being able to plink at heavies, lights, casters and even killing solos and UA's
sometimes; the Arcanists again help with focus, increase melee damage and can repair
if needed.
Kaelyssa's feat is powerful, with right timing, one can deny the opponent from
destroying a huge chunk of your army, granted most things here already have Stealth,
but the anti-charge is always welcomed, not every army will be taken aback by this
however. Her spell list can keep you safe from enemy magic attacks, create (often ran-
dom) rough terrain, let models in her battlegroup ignore LOS for attacks and deal with
enemy warjacks.
In conclusion, it was fun and educative of what these lists can do and how they work,
their strategies, weaknesses and strengths. I will be working for making these lists
usable in 35 point games as well as making them better, until next time. :D
