Round 6 Prediction

Last three games to go and we have a twist that changes everything! Alex is taking a break from 40k for a short while - he said it is so he doesn't embarrass us by winning two leagues in a row. Respect.

This means we have a stand in - Fletcher and his Custodes. Fletcher will not be eligible to win the league but is here to ensure we all get the fairest number of games and the end result is that if Fletcher is top of the table the league winner will be second place. Weird I know but this allows us to mitigate any unfairness from a drop.

This means the doors are wide open for who can win it now so game faces back on boys! Except me, I fucked it.

In additional news, due to feedback from players, the next league Wildcard changes will not come into play until the following week after activating it. This prevents any possible tailoring.

Fletcher V Ross

Prediction: Fletcher

I know I know - a bold prediction against master Rosstopher but I know Fletcher will be burning with desire for this. He will have sweat pouring down his face by the end I can see it now. I also think Lions detachment helps Custodes into this matchup even more than they had it before.

Ross was planning skullduggery against Alex so he could try that against Fletcher but I don't know what that looks like in this particular matchup.

The flip side of all this is that by making a prediction against Ross he may make it his highest ambition of the year to prove me wrong, even more than coming above Grundy.

Tom V Sam

Prediction: Unlubricated bumming for Tom

I got ruined, emotionally and physically. I don't think playing a game the day after a GT was super wise. Don't get me wrong Tom played this right - saw an opportunity to go HAM and took it, completely breaking the back of my army. I made some really rookie mistakes though - positioning my Land Raider to tempt a charge and then not giving Calgar and his boys space to jump out behind the wall lost me the game in one brutal move from Tom.

I also miscalculated how much damage Inceptors could do to his big bricks and should have used them in a more focussed way, as I did last week against Sean. Throwing away my Vindicator didn't exactly help my cause either, however the bastard killing one Legionary with all it's shooting means I have fed it to Nyla.

I know my list isn't particularly optimal and Bile is a strong army, played well by Tom, but making those mistakes put the game out of my reach and Mr Suter punished me like the bitch I am.

Chris V Mike

Prediction: Chris

I am not wholly sold on my prediction here but Mike has only really three bricks that can kill a tank and Chris has a silly number of tanks. The swift movement of Chris' transports can really scare Mike's scoring units early game and leave him with just his murder boys.

I think it will depend on whether Chris can restrain his bloodlust when given juicy opportunities to commit. If he can I think the mission favours him and his army is tough for Mike's. If he see's a murder opportunity and the red mist descends then Mike could progressively ruin him.

Max V Dan "Numbersmith" Wightman

Prediction: Max

I have only really just noticed Dan's last name is Wightman and not Whiteman - does this mean your ancestors were undead nightmares that lived in barrows? JFC.

Anyway I think it is likely Max Terraforms the the fuck out of objectives T1 and gets tabled but wins on points. DG are exceptionally good at scything through infantry and Max has a few of those!

If Dan gets T1 he can start trying to murder his way out of accountant jail quick sharp but if Max gets top of turn so much Terra is getting formed.

Barks V Freddie

Prediction: Barks

Freddie's list still really confuses me to be honest. Nothing has changed that. It seems the sort that will take an early lead, which can be great on Terraform right, but will end up without much left on the table. Enmitics can murder squads of Blood Claws, DDA can murder them, TSK can murder them, and Jack has enough screening idiots to stop the hit I think.

Freddie could get a lot of Terraforming done but still lose here if Jack is patient enough.

Craig V Angus

Prediction: Craig

Angus has been busy in the US cutting up the slopes but we all know that his mind has been locked on the match against Craig. "Remember my rules" was the mantra as he drifted slowly up the ski lift, "Craig will fall to my dusty rage" was the chant as he slalom'd around fallen children. Can the man be stopped? Yeah probably.

Sean V Gray/Gary

Prediction: Sean

I would have predicted the win for Gray here but after his performance at the weekend I have moved him into the "Harry Bracket" and assume defeat at all times.

Gray still has the Tyrant in this list which actually could scare a couple of Sean's biggest damage dealers but it will just roll 1s so it's largely irrelevant.

Brigands however do bad thigs to C'tan and can certainly pop a DDA if given the opportunity.

If this was two equally skilled players I would probably lean towards the Chaos Knights but this isn't the case here.

Ben V Kyle

Prediction: Ben

I think the World Eaters have a shot against their silver brethren this week due to the mission. The GK don't want to get close and start standing on objectives whereas the World Eaters can do that and entire the psychic lads close.

If Kyle can play the patient game and slowly murder all of Ben's shit for a point catch up late game it is definitely winnable. It will involve trapping Angron and smashing him to pieces with DKs before disappearing off into the warp and then purging the other angry boys. It is not an easy task.

Mark V Neil

Prediction: Mark

Both players firmly in the battle to avoid the spoon here - neither wanting to disgrace Macragge. Guilliman himself is leading Neil's guys and it is full of heavy hitting big guns whereas Mark as more of an MSU list to try and duck and dive from the terrifying firepower.

Mark's Bladeguard with Judiciar unit is a perfect early Terraform unit that will be unpleasant for Neil to deal with however double Vindi, double Ballistus and Eradicator brick is gonna eat a Land Raider for breakfast. I think the number of activations Mark has plays in his favour across the five turns through, if he can avoid lines of fire.