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Leagues of Votann Specific Strategies
RULES / POINTS VERSION:
10th Edition, 2025 – 2026 Chapter Approved
December 2025 Balanced Dataslate and MFM Points Update
MATCHUP:
| Faction: | Detachment: |
| CSM | Veterans of the Long War |
| VS | |
| Faction: | Detachment: |
| Leagues of Votann | Needgaard Oathband |
MISSION:
| GW Mission | I |
| Primary | Hidden Supplies |
| Terrain Layout | GW Terrain Layout 6 |
| Deployment | Search & Destroy |
LISTS:
CSM:
List
Chaos Space Marines
Veterans of the Long War
Strike Force (2,000 Points)
CHARACTERS
Abaddon the Despoiler (270 Points)
• Warlord
• 1x Drach’nyen
• 1x Talon of Horus
Chaos Lord (105 Points)
• 1x Daemon hammer
• 1x Plasma pistol
• Enhancements: Warmaster’s Gift
Cypher (90 Points)
• 1x Cypher’s bolt pistol
• 1x Cypher’s plasma pistol
Fabius Bile (100 Points)
• 1x Fabius Bile
◦ 1x Chirurgeon
◦ 1x Rod of Torment
◦ 1x Xyclos Needler
• 1x Surgeon Acolyte
◦ 1x Surgeon Acolyte’s tools
BATTLELINE
Cultist Mob (50 Points)
• 1x Cultist Champion
◦ 1x Autopistol
◦ 1x Brutal assault weapon
• 9x Chaos Cultist
◦ 9x Autopistol
◦ 9x Brutal assault weapon
Cultist Mob (50 Points)
• 1x Cultist Champion
◦ 1x Autopistol
◦ 1x Brutal assault weapon
• 9x Chaos Cultist
◦ 9x Autopistol
◦ 9x Brutal assault weapon
Legionaries (90 Points)
• 1x Aspiring Champion
◦ 1x Chaos Icon
◦ 1x Close combat weapon
◦ 1x Heavy melee weapon
◦ 1x Plasma pistol
• 4x Legionary
◦ 2x Astartes chainsword
◦ 4x Bolt pistol
◦ 4x Close combat weapon
◦ 1x Heavy melee weapon
◦ 1x Lascannon
DEDICATED TRANSPORTS
Chaos Rhino (75 Points)
• 1x Armoured tracks
• 1x Combi-bolter
• 1x Combi-bolter
• 1x Havoc launcher
Chaos Rhino (75 Points)
• 1x Armoured tracks
• 1x Combi-bolter
• 1x Combi-bolter
• 1x Havoc launcher
OTHER DATASHEETS
Chaos Predator Annihilator (135 Points)
• 1x Armoured tracks
• 1x Combi-bolter
• 1x Havoc launcher
• 2x Lascannon
• 1x Predator twin lascannon
Chaos Predator Annihilator (135 Points)
• 1x Armoured tracks
• 1x Combi-bolter
• 1x Havoc launcher
• 2x Lascannon
• 1x Predator twin lascannon
Chosen (250 Points)
• 1x Chosen Champion
◦ 1x Boltgun
◦ 1x Chaos Icon
◦ 1x Plasma pistol
◦ 1x Power fist
• 9x Chosen
◦ 6x Accursed weapon
◦ 8x Bolt pistol
◦ 3x Boltgun
◦ 4x Combi-weapon
◦ 2x Paired accursed weapons
◦ 1x Plasma pistol
◦ 1x Power fist
Chosen (125 Points)
• 1x Chosen Champion
◦ 1x Boltgun
◦ 1x Chaos Icon
◦ 1x Plasma pistol
◦ 1x Power fist
• 4x Chosen
◦ 3x Accursed weapon
◦ 3x Bolt pistol
◦ 1x Boltgun
◦ 2x Combi-weapon
◦ 1x Paired accursed weapons
◦ 1x Plasma pistol
Obliterators (160 Points)
• 2x Obliterator
◦ 2x Crushing fists
◦ 2x Fleshmetal guns
Obliterators (160 Points)
• 2x Obliterator
◦ 2x Crushing fists
◦ 2x Fleshmetal guns
Warp Talons (125 Points)
• 1x Warp Talon Champion
◦ 1x Warp claws
• 4x Warp Talon
◦ 4x Warp claws
Leagues of Votann:
List
Leagues of Votann
Needgaârd Oathband
Strike Force (2,000 Points)
CHARACTERS
Arkanyst Evaluator (65 Points)
• 1x Close combat weapon
• 1x Transmatter inverter
Brôkhyr Iron-master (75 Points)
• 1x Brôkhyr Iron-master
◦ 1x Graviton hammer
◦ 1x Graviton rifle
• 1x Ironkin Assistant
◦ 1x Close combat weapon
◦ 1x Las-beam cutter
• 1x E-COG
◦ 1x Plasma torch
• 1x E-COG
◦ 1x Manipulator arms
• 1x E-COG
◦ 1x Autoch-pattern bolt pistol
◦ 1x Close combat weapon
Kâhl (65 Points)
• 1x Forgewrought plasma axe
• 1x Rampart Crest
• 1x Volkanite disintegrator
Memnyr Strategist (55 Points)
• 1x Autoch-pattern bolt pistol
• 1x Close combat weapon
• Enhancements: Dead Reckoning
Ûthar the Destined (95 Points)
• Warlord
• 1x Blade of the Ancestors
• 1x Rampart Crest
• 1x Volkanite disintegrator
BATTLELINE
Hearthkyn Warriors (100 Points)
• 1x Theyn
◦ 1x Autoch-pattern bolt pistol
◦ 1x Autoch-pattern bolter
◦ 1x Close combat weapon
◦ 1x Theyn’s melee weapon
◦ 1x Weavefield crest
• 9x Hearthkyn Warrior
◦ 9x Autoch-pattern bolt pistol
◦ 7x Autoch-pattern bolter
◦ 9x Close combat weapon
◦ 1x HYLas auto rifle
◦ 1x Magna-rail rifle
DEDICATED TRANSPORTS
Kapricus Carrier (75 Points)
• 1x Armoured hull
• 1x Magna-coil autocannon
• 1x Smoke Launcher
• 1x Twin magna‑coil autocannon
Sagitaur (90 Points)
• 1x Armoured wheels
• 1x HYLas beam cannon
• 1x Twin bolt cannon
OTHER DATASHEETS
Brôkhyr Thunderkyn (160 Points)
• 6x Brôkhyr Thunderkyn
◦ 6x Close combat weapon
◦ 6x SP conversion beamer
Brôkhyr Thunderkyn (80 Points)
• 3x Brôkhyr Thunderkyn
◦ 3x Close combat weapon
◦ 3x Graviton blast cannon
Hekaton Land Fortress (240 Points)
• 1x Armoured wheels
• 1x MATR autocannon
• 1x Panspectral Scanner
• 1x SP heavy conversion beamer
• 2x Twin bolt cannon
Hekaton Land Fortress (240 Points)
• 1x Armoured wheels
• 1x Heavy magna-rail cannon
• 1x MATR autocannon
• 1x Panspectral Scanner
• 2x Twin bolt cannon
Hernkyn Pioneers (80 Points)
• 3x Hernkyn Pioneer
◦ 3x Bolt revolver
◦ 3x Bolt shotgun
◦ 1x HYLas rotary cannon
◦ 3x Magna-coil autocannon
◦ 1x Panspectral Scanner
◦ 3x Plasma knife
◦ 1x Rollbar Searchlight
Hernkyn Pioneers (80 Points)
• 3x Hernkyn Pioneer
◦ 3x Bolt revolver
◦ 3x Bolt shotgun
◦ 1x HYLas rotary cannon
◦ 3x Magna-coil autocannon
◦ 1x Panspectral Scanner
◦ 3x Plasma knife
◦ 1x Rollbar Searchlight
Hernkyn Yaegirs (90 Points)
• 1x Yaegir Theyn
◦ 1x Bolt shotgun
◦ 1x Close combat weapon
• 9x Hernkyn Yaegir
◦ 1x APM launcher
◦ 7x Bolt shotgun
◦ 9x Close combat weapon
◦ 1x Magna-coil rifle
Ironkin Steeljacks with Melee Weapons (170 Points)
• 1x Steeljack Theyn
◦ 1x Autoch-pattern bolter
◦ 1x Plasma sword
◦ 1x Preymark Crest
• 5x Ironkin Steeljack
◦ 5x Autoch-pattern bolter
◦ 5x Plasma sword
Ironkin Steeljacks with Melee Weapons (170 Points)
• 1x Steeljack Theyn
◦ 1x Autoch-pattern bolter
◦ 1x Plasma sword
◦ 1x Preymark Crest
• 5x Ironkin Steeljack
◦ 5x Autoch-pattern bolter
◦ 5x Plasma sword
Kapricus Defenders (70 Points)
• 1x Armoured hull
• 1x Magna‑rail cannon
• 1x Smoke Launcher
• 1x Twin magna‑coil autocannon
FACTION SPECIFIC STRATEGIES:
CSM:
With Space Marines Gladius being super strong these days, this detachment is Erik’s new “all rounder” that he uses to litmus test new lists or detachments against. It’s not CSM’s strongest build but does play a very solid game of 40K with options to do damage in melee or shooting and plenty of movement tricks.
The idea is to pressure early with the Bile brick while also picking off any screens or “action monkeys” with the Warp Talons. The Predators are there to provide long range shooting while the Obliterators provide Deep Strike and the ability to drop on the flanks or in the Opponent’s DZ to start dealing damage too. Lastly, Abaddon is their to buff the ranged shooting before providing a mid to late game melee threat.
As for the matchup, both Erik and Steve felt like the Mission favored CSM while the Terrain layout favored the Leagues of Votann. Combine this with Erik having more experience with both armies and CSM was feeling reasonably good about the matchup. The only worry was how to take out the Hekatons, unless Abaddon popped off, since they are tough enough with a good enough save to provide issues for CSM here.
| Category | Description |
| Leader / Bodyguard Combos: | Abaddon the Despoiler with 5 Chosen |
| Chaos Lord with 5 Legionaries | |
| Fabius Bile with 10 Chosen | |
| Transport / Infantry Combos: | Fabius Bile + 10 Chosen in a Rhino |
| Chaos Lord + 5 Legionaries in a Rhino | |
| Key Strategems: | Millennia of Experience – Used in your Opponent’s Movement Phase just after an enemy unit finishes a Normal, Advance, or Fall Back move within 9 inches of your unit to Reactive Move up to 6 inches. |
| Contemptuous Disregard – Used in your Opponent’s Shooting or Fight Phase to reduce incoming AP by 1. | |
| Bringers of Despair – Used in your Opponent’s Fight Phase to give a unit Fights First when in Engagement Range of your Focus of Hatred target. | |
| Key Combos: | Chaos Lord + Chance for Glory ability + Focus of Hatred detachment rule + Warmaster’s Gift enhancement + Legionaries + Veterans of the Long War ability It’s not the most powerful variant of the “Smash Captain” but still does the job. The Lord can deploy out of a transport and run out late game to target something on an objective while getting re-roll hits and wounds into Devastating Wounds on 5+ on a 3 Damage Hammer. Not bad. |
Leagues of Votann:
This is the list that Steve and Erik built together over the course of two podcast episodes. For a full breakdown of the list and what they were thinking as they designed it, check out Part 1 and Part 2. The point of the list is the help Steve build a strong base playing the Leagues of Votann in their 10th Edition codex. It’s designed around 2 Hekaton Land Fortresses, which transport two “hammer units” and is complimented with a bunch of scoring and chafe units. The idea is to play the army somewhat defensively as a Blocker that focuses on board control and providing a high point floor for its general.
In this matchup, the go in feeling was that the Mission favored CSM due to the focus on getting to the midfield while the Terrain layout favored the Leagues due to its large shooting lanes. There was also an advantage for Erik as he was playing CSM list that he has a lot of experience with into a Leagues of Votann list that he helped to develop, and which Steve was playing for the first time. The goal was therefore to shoot for a 5-15 or better for the Leagues of Votann using differential scoring, which means keeping the game within 30 Victory Points of CSM.
| Category | Description |
| Leader / Bodyguard Combos | Kahl with 5 Hearthkyn Warriors |
| Transport / Unit Combinations: | Kahl + 5 Hearthkyn Warriors in the Sagitaur |
| 6 Ironkin Steeljacks in a Hekaton | |
| 6 Brokhyr Thunderkyn in a Hekaton | |
| 5 Hearthkyn Yaegirs in the Capricus Carrier | |
| Key Stratagems: | Ancestral Sentence – Used in your shooting phase to give one unit Sustained Hits 1, which goes to Sustained Hits 2 if you spend 3 YP |
| Reactive Reprisal – Used in your Opponent’s Shooting Phase to shoot back at a unit that shot you, only if you are in Fortified Takeover. | |
| Honour of the Hold – Used in the Fight Phase to a give a unit an additional AP, which can increase to 2 additional AP if you spend 3 YP. | |
| Key Combos | Brokhyr Thunderkyn or Hekaton Land Fortress + SP Conversion Beamer’s “Conversion” keyword + Ancestral Sentence + being 12 inches from your target. 1 CP and 3 YP to give a SP Conversion beamer Sustain Hits 2 and ALL hits counting as Critical Hits? Count me in. Even better if you are in Hostile Acquisition and the target is standing on an objective for +1 to Hit. |
| Uthar the Destined + standing within 12 inches of a Hekaton Land Fortress + Hekaton Land Fortress + Reactive Reprisal. Caveat that this is a late game stratagem since you need to be in Fortified Takeover, but…..1 CP full shoot back ability? Just having this in your hip pocket to tell your opponent about will alter how they make decisions. | |
| Honour of the Hold + Ironkyn Steeljacks Buff up your attacks to a stat line of 6A, WS 3+, S6, AP -3 (or -4 with 3 YP), 1 Damage? This will push anything without an invulnerable save to save on 6’s (potentially even with Armour of Contempt). |
ROUND-BY-ROUND RECAP:
The game starts with the CSM winning the roll off and choosing to have the Leagues of Votann place the first model since CSM has no Infiltrators. Both sides deploy somewhat conservatively, with the the Leagues of Votann focusing on castling up behind the terrain while CSM keeps the Predators out of the Hekatons’ range. CSM then win the roll off for the start of the game and will go first, which seems like what both sides were hoping for. The Leagues make their Scout moves and then the board state at the start of the game is shown below.
Board State: Start of the Battle
ROUND 1:
| Phase: | Go First: CSM |
| Score at Start | 10 |
| Command | -Draw Sabotage and Storm Hostile Objective for Secondaries -Cultists 1 sticky Objective 2 -Focus of Hatred on Hearthkyn Pioneers 1 -Abaddon chooses re-roll hits aura |
| Movement | -Warp Talons move towards Objective 6 and stage behind terrain -Bile + Chosen Advanced out of the Rhino 1 and towards the Pioneers on Objective 6 -Yaegirs 1 Reactive move away -Rhino 1, now empty, moves onto Objective 5 -Predator 1 moves near Abaddon to get in his re-roll aura -Cultists 2 move into terrain to Sabotage -All others stage behind terrain |
| Shooting | -All whiff |
| Charge | -Bile + Chosen into the Pioneers |
| Fight | -Bile + Chosen kill the Pioneers and Consolidate into the Yaegirs 1 |
| End of Turn | -Score 4 on Secondaries |
| Score at End | 14 |
At this point, both armies are feeling like the game is going according to plan. CSM got an early kill and is starting to bank points while also staging up nicely for future turns. Meanwhile the Leagues of Votann are thinking they have the Bile Brick walking right into a shooting gallery on Objective 6. The board state in the middle of Round 1 is shown below.
Board State: Middle of Round 1
| Phase: | Go Second: Leagues of Votann |
| Score at Start | 10 |
| Command | -Draw Extend Battle Lines and A Tempting Target for Secondaries -CSM choose Objective 6 as Tempting Target |
| Movement | -Yaegirs 1 Fall Back from Bile + Chosen -Hekaton 1, Sagitaur, Kahl + Warriors 1 move towards Objective 6 -Bile + Chosen Reactive Move back into Terrain -Hekaton 2 moves into the firing lane near the mid-board -Steeljacks 1 and 2 move to protect Hekaton 2 from a Charge -Thunderkyn 1 move onto Objective 4 -Yaegirs 2 move onto Objective 3 with Capricus nearby to provide fire support |
| Shooting | -Thunderkyn 1 kill Rhino 1 -Hekaton 2 shoots its rail gun and does 6 Wounds into Predator 2 -Hekaton 2 split fires other guns into Bile + Chosen and, along with Hekaton 1, Sagitaur, and Warriors 1, kill 3 models |
| Charge | -None |
| Fight | -None |
| End of Turn | -Score 4 on Secondaries -Drop A Tempting Target for 1 CP -CSM score 3 on Secondaries |
| Score at End | 14 |
The armies continue to trade jabs without either side landing any substantial punches. From a Leagues of Votann perspective, they are feeling really good about their board position and about killing the Rhino while also doing major damage into the Predator 2. On the other hand, they did way less damage than expected into Bile’s unit due to CSM’s ability to blank 1 damage per turn, take another on Bile’s Acolyte, and the combo of Benefit of Cover with Contemptuous Disregard. The board state at the end of Round 1 is below.
Board State: End of Round 1
ROUND 2:
| Phase: | Go First: CSM |
| Score at Start | 17 |
| Command | -Draw Establish Locus and Secure No Man’s Land for secondaries -Abaddon selects hit re-roll aura -Hekaton 1 is the Focus of Hatred -Score 5 on primary for “hold one” |
| Movement | -Cypher moves onto Objective 5 and into Vect range of Hekaton 2, Thunderkyn 1, and the Steeljacks -Abaddon + Chosen Advance towards Steeljacks 1 and 2 -Warp Talons towards Yaegirs 1 -Cultists 2 Advance onto Objective 3 to steal it from the Yaegirs 2 -Bile + Chosen Advance towards Hekaton 1 -Predator 1 moves towards Objective 3 -Obliterators 1 Deep Strike onto Objective 3 -Obliterators 2 Deep Strike near Objectives 4 and 5 |
| Shooting | -Predator 2 kills the Capricus -Abbadon + Chosen kill 2 of the 3 Thunderkyn 1 -Obliterators 2 kill the remaining Thunderkyn 1 -Obliterators chip Hekaton 1 and Bile’s Chosen chip Warriors 1 -Cypher Establishes Locus in Center |
| Charge | -Bile + Chosen into the Hekaton 1 -Abaddon + Chosen Multi-Charge into both Steeljacks 1 and 2 units -Warp Talons into the Yaegirs 1 |
| Fight | -Chosen kill Steeljacks 1 and Abaddon kills Steeljacks 2 and then the unit Consolidates into Hekaton 2 -Warp Talons kill Yaegirs 1 -Bile + Chosen Pile In to Hekaton 1 and Warriors 1 -Bile kills Warriors 1 but not the Kahl (mistake by CSM in order of weapons to activate as the Kahl would have died had Bile activated his 3 Damage attacks last) -Chosen do 3 Damage into Hekaton 1 |
| End of Turn | -Score 7 on Secondaries -Warp Talons go into Reserves |
| Score at End | 29 |
CSM lands the first big punch by getting Abaddon into the Steeljacks and Thunderkyn while also using Charge and Pile In rules to slingshot Bile into Warriors 1. The Leagues of Votann have been rocked back a bit and are looking around asking “which one of y’all kicked me?” but are still in the fight. Let’s see if CSM can withstand the crack back. Board state in the middle of Round 2 is below.
Board State: Middle of Round 2
| Phase: | Go Second: Leagues of Votann |
| Score at Start | 14 |
| Command | -Draw Establish Locus and Cleanse for secondaries -Drop Establish Locus for Recover Assets -Iron Master heals Hekaton 1 back 3 Wounds -Score 0 on Primary |
| Movement | -Hekaton 1 Falls Back from Bile + Chosen -Sagitaur and Kahl move towards Bile + Chosen -Steeljacks 3 (6 man) disembark from Hekaton 2 and setup near Abaddon + Chosen -Arkanyst to the midfield -Pioneers 2 come out of Reserves near Objective 3 -CSM Rapid Ingress’s Warp Talons into terrain near Objectives 3 and 4 |
| Shooting | -Pioneers 2 kills 7 models in Cultists 2 regaining control of the Objective from CSM -Yaegirs 2 Cleanse for 2 VP -Memnyr and Arkanyst Recover Assets for 3 VP -Hekaton 2 split fires and kills 3 Chosen models across 2 units -Hekaton 1 and Sagitaur kill 2 Chosen models with Bile |
| Charge | -Steeljacks 3 into Abaddon -Hekaton 1 and Kahl into Bile + Chosen |
| Fight | -Steeljacks 3 use Honour of the Hold (2 CP thanks to Vect aura) into Abaddon + Chosen and kill Chosen but leave Abaddon on 3 Wounds -Kahl and Hekaton 1 both whiff -Abaddon kills all models in Steeljacks 3 (oof) -Bile kills the Kahl |
| End of Turn | -Score 5 on Secondaries |
| Score at End | 19 |
Well that didn’t go great. Bile’s unit is still up and causing chaos near the Leagues of Votann DZ while Abaddon tanked the Steeljacks major combo before killing them all in the crack back. Secondary scoring is going OK, but the Leagues are way down on CP and board position. Also, the lack of Primary scoring is starting to become a problem. Board state at the end of Round 2 is below.
Board State: End of Round 2
ROUND 3:
| Phase: | Go First: CSM |
| Score at Start | 29 |
| Command | -Draw A Tempting Target and Assassination for secondaries -Leagues of Votann pick Objective 4 as Tempting Target -Abaddon selects re-roll hits aura -Focus of Hatred is Arkanyst Evaluator -Score 15 on Primary for “hold one”, “hold two”, and “hold more” objectives |
| Movement | -Bile + Chosen Fall Back from Hekaton 1 towards Warriors 2 -Warp Talons move 1 inch from Arkanyst -Obliterators 2 move onto Objective 4 -Predators move to shoot Hekatons |
| Shooting | -Obliterators 1 and Bile + Chosen kill Sagitaur -All others whiff |
| Charge | -Abaddon into Hekaton 2 -Warp Talons into Arkanyst -Bile + Chosen into Warriors 2 |
| Fight | -Warp Talons kill Arkanyst for 5 VP -Bile + Chosen kill Warriors 2 -Abbadon brings Hekaton 2 to 4 Wounds |
| End of Turn | -Score 10 on Secondaries -Warp Talons and Pioneers both go into Reserves |
| Score at End | 54 |
More CSM knife fighting as they continue to strategically remove the Leagues of Votann’s scoring units. The 15 on primary was big for CSM this turn, as was the 10 on secondaries. That said, the Hekaton 2 not going down to Abaddon thanks to making three 6+ Saves is disappointing and CSM probably wasted their Focus of Hatred as the Warp Talons ended up being inside Abaddon’s re-roll aura. Board state in the middle of Round 3 is below.
Board State: Middle of Round 3
| Phase: | Go Second: Leagues of Votann |
| Score at Start | 19 |
| Command | -Draw Engage on All Fronts and Overwhelming Force for secondaries -Iron Master heals the Hekaton 2 back to 7 Wounds -Score 5 on Primary for “hold one” |
| Movement | -Hekaton 2 Falls Back from Abaddon -Uthar moves towards Abaddon -Thunderkyn 2 disembark Hekaton 1 and move onto Objective 5 and near Abaddon -Cypher Reactive Moves off Objective 5 -Hekaton 1 to Objective 6 -Bikes deploy from Reserves into CSM’s DZ -CSM Rapid Ingresses Warp Talons near Objective 3 |
| Shooting | -Thunderkyn 2 split fire, killing Abaddon and dealing 2 Damage to Cypher -Yaegirs 2 kill Cultists 2 for 3 VP -Hekaton 2 kills Predator 2 -Hekaton 1 kills 1 Obliterator 1 model |
| Charge | -Iron Master + Memnyr into Bile to keep him off Objective 1 -Hekaton 1 into Obliterator 1 |
| Fight | -Iron Master kills last Chosen with Bile -Bile kills Iron Master’s E-Cogs |
| End of Turn | -Score 7 on Secondaries |
| Score at End | 31 |
The Leagues of Votann are starting to claw back as the Hekatons are starting to chew through CSM’s damage dealers. The board position is still unfavorable to Leagues of Votann, but they have more killing power left on the board. Let’s see if they can make it count in the late rounds as it does not appear that CSM has an answer for the Hekatons. Hopefully this claw back can continue. Board state at the end of Round 3 is below.
Board State: End of Round 3
ROUND 4:
| Phase: | Go First: CSM |
| Score at Start | 54 |
| Command | -Draw Area Denial and Display of Might for secondaries -Focus of Hatred is the Thunderkyn 2 -Score 5 on Primary for “hold one” objective |
| Movement | -Warp Talons onto Objective 3 -Cypher to the middle to Area Denial and setup a Vect aura preventing Overwatch -Chaos Lord + Legionaries disembark from Rhino 2 and move towards Thunderkyn 2 -Cultists 1 embark into Rhino 1, which moves onto Objective 2 to block the Pioneers off of it |
| Shooting | -Bile kills Iron Master -All others whiff |
| Charge | -Warp Talons into Yaegirs 2 -Chaos Lord + Legionaries into Thunderkyn 2 |
| Fight | -Chaos Lord + Legionaries activate their melee combo and kill 5 Thunderkyn models -Warp Talons kill Yaegirs 2 |
| End of Turn | -Score 9 on Secondaries |
| Score at End | 68 |
CSM keeps slashing at the Leagues of Votann’s flanks and the damage is starting to tell as the Leagues are starting to run out of models. Here’s hoping they draw secondaries that involve a lot of violence. Board state in the middle of Round 4 is below (we forgot to pick up the Memnyr, Iron Master, and his Assistant when they died).
Board State: Middle of Round 4
| Phase: | Go Second: Leagues of Votann |
| Score at Start | 31 |
| Command | -Draw Behind Enemy Lines and Marked For Death for secondaries -CSM marks Warp Talons, Rhino 1, and Predator 1 -Leagues of Votann mark Obliterators 2 -Score 5 on Primary |
| Movement | -Hekaton 1 Falls Back |
| Shooting | -Hekaton 1 kills Obliterator 1 -Hekaton 2 kills Predator 1 for 5 VP |
| Charge | -None |
| Fight | -None |
| End of Turn | -Score 8 on secondaries |
| Score at End | 44 |
Leagues of Votann still making progress on the score board and the Hekatons are doing massive amounts of work here. The game is unwinnable at this point, but the goal score of keeping it within 30 (or a 5-15 in differential scoring) is still very doable. Board state at the end of Round 4 is below (we forgot to take one, so just imagine this board state without Obliterator 1 on Objective 3 and without a Predator on the table.).
Board State: End of Round 4
ROUND 5:
| Phase: | Go First: CSM |
| Score at Start | 68 |
| Command | -Draw Cleanse and Overwhelming Force for secondaries -Drop Overwhelming Force for Recover Assets -Focus of Hatred on Hekaton 2 -Score 15 on Primary |
| Movement | -Bile onto Objective 1 -Chaos Lord + Legionaries towards Hekaton 2 |
| Shooting | -Cypher, Rhino 1, and Bile Recover Assets -Warp Talons and Obliterators 2 Cleanse |
| Charge | -Chaos Lord + Legionaries into Hekaton 2 |
| Fight | -Chaos Lord + Legionaries bounce off Hekaton 2 |
| End of Turn | -Score 7 to max out Secondaries |
| Score at End | 90 |
CSM has planted its flag in the ground with a 90 on the score board. That said, the action heavy last turn and lack of violence could really help the Leagues of Votann here. Just need to figure out how to get out of Engagement Range of the Legionaries and into the middle. I smell a Desperate Escape coming. Board state in the middle of Round 5 is below.
Board State: Middle of Round 5
| Phase: | Go Second: Leagues of Votann |
| Score at Start | 44 |
| Command | -Draw Area Denial and No Prisoners for secondaries |
| Movement | -Desperate Escape on Hekaton 2 is PASSED -Hekaton 2 Falls back into board center |
| Shooting | -Hekaton 2 split fires to kills Cypher for 2 VP -Hekatons 1 and 2 kill Legionaries and Chaos Lord for 3 VP |
| Charge | -None |
| Fight | -None |
| End of Turn | -Score 7 on Secondaries -Score 15 on Primary |
| Score at End | 66 |
Goal met as Steve ends the game with an emphatic last turn to close with a 24 point differential and exceeds the expected goal. It wasn’t pretty for the dwarves but he ground through it and fought back from a big deficit. Board state at the end of the game is below (Hekaton 1 is hidden behind terrain).
Board State: End of Round 5
RESULT:
Singles Format: 90 – 66 CSM WIN
WTC Teams Format: 14 – 6 CSM WIN
GAME REVIEW:
Lots to be excited about in this game.
From Erik’s perspective, this is easily the best game that he has played with Bile + Chosen, Cypher, and the Warp Talons. He also made Abaddon a major problem that Steve had to deal with, effectively shutdown all of the stratagem combos that Steve wanted to use thanks to Cypher and constantly tagging the Hekatons in melee, and put up a big score despite having no luck whatsoever at killing the Hekatons.
From Steve’s perspective, there is a lot to feel validated about. He pushed hard to play this list the way it was constructed and Abaddon clapping the Steeljacks so emphatically validates some of his concerns about the other list options that we considered. Also, the Iron Master proved to be a clutch piece as he kept the Hekatons up and unkillable, which led to the big comeback. Lastly, he fought back from a big deficit and got the “Erik gets me in check mate by Round 3” monkey off of his back and gained confidence that he can come back with a “big late game kick”.
WHAT I WOULD CHANGE NEXT TIME:
- CSM
- Need a better answer for the Hekatons and there were some times where Abaddons re-roll aura and the Focus of Hatred targets became redundant. Not major, but still frustrating details to work out.
- Leagues of Votann
- Continue to work on the tempo on how quickly and which units to use to push out early with. The plan was solid, but hindsight 20/20 might suggest that having Pioneers 1 into the late game could have helped the score be even higher. Maybe the Yaegirs just need to die Round 1?
EARNED THEMSELF A NAME:
Hekatons. Between the two of them, it seems like they killed something like 1200 points of Erik’s army. They were the MVP’s.
MAGNUS OF THE GAME:
Predators. To quote Steve to his Champion a while back “you had 1 job!!!”. All told, outside of 1 turn where they popped the Capricus’s, they did more damage to themselves via failed Dark Pacts than they did to any Votann units. Not OK.
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