Game 271: Vyros2 vs Xerxis2

Game 271– Vs Alun Barfoot – Skorne – 7/10/18

My list:

Vryos, Incissar of the Dawnguard (Forges of War)

-Sylys Wyshnaylrr, The Seeker

-Griffon

-Griffon

-Griffon

-Griffon

-Griffon

-Aspis

-Discordia

-Manticore

-Manticore

Arcanist Mechanik

Arcanist Mechanik

Arcanist Mechanik

Eiryss, Mage Hunter of Ios

House Shyeel Arcanists

House Shyeel Arcanists

His List:

Xerxis, Fury of Halaak (Imperial Warhost)

-Agonizer

-Basilisk Krea

-Basilisk Krea

-Desert Hydra

-Desert Hydra

-Titan Gladiator

Feralgeist

Min Paingiver Beast Handlers

Min Paingiver Beast Handlers

Round 5 of the UK Nationals and once again I'm faced with something I have no idea how to play against, so I'm dropping Vyros again. As suspected I get the double Hydra list, which I must admit absolutely terrifies me. Thankfully I win the roll to go first and we get moving.

Step 1 of “having no idea how to play a matchup” is to run as fast as I can up the table, keeping out of the significant 14” threat range of the Hydras.

Hydras move up followed by the support staff, staying out of threat of more than one or two Griffons each. Between the Krea animus and Sandstorm my shooting is going to be pretty ineffective.

I have a really tough turn of positioning ahead of me, as I need to tempt the Hydras in with enough firepower left over to take them out afterwards. I can get a Griffon to the Agoniser, and if this game goes long taking that out would be vital, so I build Synergy and send it in to take it out. I Feat with Vyros, and jam, hoping that something will come up next turn.

Alun plans out his turn really impressively, coming up with a way to deliver a Hydra into my heavies. Unfortunately he makes one mistake. After slamming the blocking Aspis out of the way with the Gladiator he buys attacks to take it out, allowing me to Feat move a Griffon in the way, saving the 2 Heavies. I end the turn having lost the Aspis and 3 Griffons, which under Xerxis' Feat seems reasonable. More importantly, I'd been able to move around the scenario elements, allowing me to score 2 unanswered CPS.

All I need to do to win is shoot off the Feralgeist and run Vyros to the flag. I get it done and win 5-0 on scenario

VICTORY

This was an odd feeling victory, whilst it was great to win the game I didn't particularly feel like I'd earned it. Alun played the game really well and one mistake cost him the game. Even so, I don't think I would win this game on any other scenario, and only how live Spread the Net is saved me. Still, with one round to go I was sat on 4-1, guaranteeing me a positive result. The Best in Ret award was also hotly contested, and that was my focus going into the final round.