Spring League Intro

The lists have been submitted, the fixture has been drawn and we wait with baited breath for Sam's first blog post....right?

So I am going to go over Week 1 predictions as well as a bit of an overview of each persons list.

As always if someone wants to contribute to the blog in any way, including writing one please let me know.

Week 1 is Terraform and Swift Action.

Gary Vs Ross - Clash of the Knights/Baldies

Gary was getting concerned that running Orks was giving his brain unnecessary wrinkles and has fallen back on the ol' reliable 13 Wardogs. What a prick. Ross is bringing two bigs (Errant and Crusader), four Warglaives and two Helverins, with 3 IA scoring pieces.

I don't like this matchup for Ross at all. The CK forces are all just better datasheets than IK so unless IK get T2, allowing them to rinse 4/5 dogs (and Gary plays dumb enough to allow that to happen) I think CK can just out trade them in midfield and get the win.

Prediction: Gary win 80-60

Ben J Vs Mark - World Eaters/Ultras

Two strong armies completely thrown off by both players bringing bonkers lists. Ben is running Angron, 2 BIG Termie bricks and a big E8B brick - a total of nine units. If that isn't left field enough Mark is going full MSU ultras with small units to the maximum - double small Aggressor, double small BGV, small Hellblasters. This is backed up by LR, Vindi and Redemptor armour.

Ultras can punch up with +1 to wound so its less insane than Ben's - its almost the exact opposite of Bens.

I feel like Mark has the advantage here in secondary scoring but no clue how he scores primary against the absolute hogs that are in Ben's list.

Prediction: Mark win 70-60

Sam Vs Neil - Ultras Vs Ultras

Guilliman and Calgar face off against their most hated foes - Guilliman and Calgar.

Ultras are broken good right now but who has found the better balance? Neil has gone for Ballistus, Lancer, Double Vindi and 2 MSU Eradicator units + scoring. I have gone heavier on firepower and lighter on scoring (because points are for losers right?) - 2 Vindi, RepEx, Triple Ballistus plus scoring. I don't personally love the Lancer with its tendency to bounce of invuls but its a good tech piece into other Ultras lists (sad Sam). I am backing OVERWHELMING firepower here, and therefore me, to get the win.

Prediction: Sam win 90-60

Angus Vs Tom - Tsons Vs CSM Raiders

Angus has a pretty standard Tsons list - Magnus, Ahriman, 4 Sorc, bunch of Rubrics, Mutalish and some Tzaangors. Tom has clearly found some rebels as he is bringing triple Rubrics, double Oblits, double Preds, big Talons and a bunch of Legionaries.

That is a deeply unpleasant amount of shooting for Angus face but its not like he isn't equipped himself. Magnus could do some very serious work into Oblits, Preds and Legionaries while the Rubrics trade with the rest of the army.

Hard to call but simply based on data I am gonna plump for Tom.

Prediction: Tom win 90-70

Max Vs Mike - IA Vs CSM Bile

100 odd idiots + Canis is a lot to chew through but do you know what can do that? A horde of Possessed and Chosen with +1A. Mike is running 20 Possessed, 10 Chosen, double Oblits and scoring pieces. Max is running...loads of guys and Canis.

I haven't actually played against either of these armies yet but there is a lot of OC for Mike to deal with and whilst he definitely will, can he do it fast enough?

This is a weirdly difficult one to predict. My heart says Max but my head says Mike. And having a heart is a sign of weakness.

Prediction: Mike win 80-75

Craig Vs Sean - DG Index Vs Necrons Awakened

Craig is bringing Morty, FF Marines, big DS, Drones/Haulers, a PBC, double Brigand and some scoring. Sean is bringing Nightbringer, Deceiver, Wraiths, double DDA choppy Skorpekhs and and some Lokhursts.

I won't lie I don't know the first thing about Awaked Dynasty but people more knowledgeable than me say its actually pretty good.

Double C'tan is annoying for a lot of lists but Mortys aura helps nullify them pretty hard so they are less able to dominate the centre here. These both seem like solid all rounder built lists and if it was WTC I would call this a draw but as its not I will go for DG.

Prediction: Craig win 80-70.

Alex Vs Freddie - Aeldari Vs Space Wolves Stormlance

Freddie is coming in with his Low-Cal Tcav build - 12 TWC + Leaders backed up by 12 Outriders. Which is somewhat wild. He also has some chaff and a Navigator.

I was reading down Alex's list going "Avatar, standard, Fire Dragons and Falcon, standard, chaff units en masse, standard, wonder if he is going for War Walkers or caving to Prisms. Oh its a fucking Wraithknight!" My personal opinion is that Alex is going to fucking hate this list and I am calling a Week 2 Wildcard right now.

The fact that Tcav and Outriders straight ignore the Avatar halving damage on the charge, is deeply upsetting for Alex. Add on that the WK profiles are not fantastic into 4W stuff and its gonna be super annoying.

I could be wrong but Freddie's list looks like a hard counter to Alex's.

Prediction: Freddie win 90-50.

Jack Vs Kyle - Necron Starshatter Vs GK Warpbane

I won't lie I was tempted to always predict a Jack loss just to wind him up. But I am starting to believe he isn't entirely regarded. This is only because he started following my instruction of course.

Jack is bringing a more balanced SS list, double DDA, lots of mid range trade pieces, TSK, Catacomb. Kyle is bringing the pain with Warpbane - triple DK, big and small Purifiers, LR and bits. I think the LR might be the weak link here but other than that it can murder the fuck out of all of Jack's primary/secondary pieces.

My guess is this will be an obnoxiously low Primary scoring game and GK can then keep the Secondary pressure up with their teleporting. But this will require very careful positioning from Kyle and one slip up and SS will smash them to pieces.

Prediction: Jack win 80-50.

Dan Vs Chris - DG Index Vs Guard Index

Chris is running triple TC, double Krieg, some Scions, Aquilons and chaff. Dan is Morty, FF PMs, big DS and two smalls, double Pred, Drones and chaff.

I think overall this is an unpleasant matchup for Dan as he will struggle to get in and clear the Krieg until DS can hit from RI, which could leave him open to some Terraform catch up to do. The flipside is I don't think this list of Chris' picks up DS super efficiently and will rely on him playing aggressively with them.

Prediction: Chris win 80-60.