Lists & Meta: First Mk3 Steamroller incoming

Hello back people around the world !

This week, let's talk a bit about the general Meta in Mk3 up to now and what I plan to bring to next week Steamroller.

So, Mk3, eh ? That thing hits the Meta pretty hard. From what I have seen people play and what I play meself, Mk3 seem to favour High Armour Skew and Gunline. But why is that so ? Well I believe it is so for quite simple reasons actually. It's all part of the natural human defense mechanism, and Privateer Press changes. The main change is that every war-something can bring about two Heavies for free, depending of the cost of these, and usually a Heavy have around 18-19 ARM. Also, I believe that Warmachine is the great winner over Hordes. Some will argue that in Mk2, Fury was better because the beasts could do stuffs AND the Warlock could still have full Fury every turn... until beasts die, and you couldn't transfer anymore and you didn't even have Fury point anymore, where a Warcaster always had his full Focus no matter what. Although I will admit that a well managed Fury stack in Mk2 was a bit better than a Focus stack, the change to these systems are disproportionate. They fixed the problem of late game Fury vs Focus with Spirit Bond, but Power Up is just so good that now Focus roll over Fury, specially with Fury management tools being turn down. Players are taking to the table loads of 'jacks while Hordes supporters usually bring about the same number of beasts as before. The absence of beast marshal don't help either. So if there is more 'jacks out there, and that they are usually well armoured, and maybe a bit undercosted for some, you have the heart of the Armour Skew. The Gunline part is easier to see. Lots of models have seen their DEF going down a point (especially the 14-15 DEF fringe), and people being afraid of the change, if you kill it from afar, it can't hurt you. Having that in mind, we can proceed to the lists creation part.

If we can expect Armour Skew and Gunline, we shall have something to counter them. This is way for my next week Steamroller, I plan to go with my regular Thagrosh Brick and a brand new and shiny Lylyth 3 "Can't touch this" list.

Thagrosh, Prophet of Everblight

-Typhon

-Carnivean

-Protector

Max Warspears

-Chieftain

Max Warmongers

Blackfrost Shard

Warmonger War Chief
Stockpile

This list is tested and trusted. She's herself an Armour Skew, but mainly she hits like a brick and counter others Armour Skew and can deal with some Gunlines (that's actually what I would drops against eCaine, just because Thag can survive eCaine feat's more easily than Lylyth).

The "Can't touch this" is exactly what the name says. A list to control the game, threaten the Assassination and counter Gunline.

Lylyth, Reckoning of Everblight
-Angelius
-Seraph
-Nephilim Bolt Thrower
-Naga Nightlurker
Max Raptors
Strider Scouts
-Officer & Musician
Annyssa Ryvaal
Nyss Sorceress on Hellion
Deathstalker
Deathstalker
Shepherd
Bunker

This list can pretty much go against anything that doesn't have a colossal. The strategy is to protect the Sorceress with Lylyth Wind Wall while she herself cast Wind Ravager to have a big bubble of no shooting. The Deathstalkers and Scouts all have Stealth, so except against Sloan, there good to go, and the rest of the army move forward hidden either in Lylyth's bubble or deep into Sorceress' bubble so they can't be shoot at. There also a lot of assassination possibility, either with poisonous arrows from the Raptors, Lylyth herself for the "weaker" 'caster, and even the sling-shooted Angelius: cast Battlehost and freeze all models between Angi and the opponent caster and use Seraph or Lylyth to slipstream him forward if needed. That's an Angelius with 16" threat range, charging for free. Other games options include freezing opponent army to take zones/flags, then on his turn can't do much, then back on your turn use Repulse, Thunderbolt, whatever to push him out of zone, which usually if you dominate central zone and have kill the objectives, should give the victory.

I'm actually quite pumped for the next week Steamroller ! Lots of people from out of town, that I've never play against before. I just received by mail my Nyss Sorceress and she had a Mk1 stats card ! From the look of it, she must have been bonker good, but she also costed 45 pts, so meh... Trying to keep up the painting a bit, but I also need to learn the Morse Code for my job... Oh well, sometimes we must do what we have to do to make more money to buy more minis.

Thanks for reading ! See you next week, with some bat'reps !