Warmachine Battle Reports - Khador (Harkevich) vs. Khador (Vlad 3) - Steamroller 2016 Incursion

Here's today's Lists:

Warcaster: Vlad 3
Warjack: Conquest
Unit: Iron Fang Uhlans
Unit: Greylord Outriders
Solo: Iron Fang Markov
Solo: Fenris
Solo: Man-O-War Drakhun

Warcaster: Harkevich
Warjack: Behemoth
Warjack: Black Ivan
Warjack: Destroyer
Warjack: Devastator
Warjack: Decimator
Warjack: Juggernaut

Harkevich is on 2 game win streak (Win vs. Drake MacBain / Win vs. Lord Koslov) and is looking to crush some Cavalry this battle report. He's bringing his 6 heavies and relying on Mobility (+2 SPD & Pathfinder) to get him up the field and tank his way to a victory.

He faces off against Vlad 3 with his Calvalry army ready to Alpha Strike his way to a victory. I'm really happy to get my Iron Fang Uhlans and Markov off or BarterTown.com. I found someone who gave me such a good deal that I couldn't pass it up.

Deployment: Harkevich (right side) wins the roll and chooses to go second because he wants to hide behind the center obstruction. Vlad 3 (left side) deploys with the Greylord Outriders and Fenris on top while the Iron Fang Uhlans and the Man-O-War Drakhun hold the bottom. Conquest and Vlad 3 hold the center.

Top of Turn 1: Vlad 3 - Vlad 3 activates first and casts Dash which gives all Warrior models (including Cavalry) +1 SPD. He then casts Infernal Machine on the Conquest which gives him +2 SPD and Murderous which gives an additional die to attacks vs. Warrior models. He then casts Hand of Fate on the Iron Fang Uhlans which gives them an extra die when rolling attacks and damage, dropping the lowest one. He moves up along with the Uhlans who run 18".

The Greylord Outriders run their 20" and set up to flank behind Harkevich next turn to possibly get some sprays. Fenris joins them. Conquest runs his 12" and the Drakhun runs his 14".

Bottom of Turn 1: Harkevich - Since the Cavalry is so far up, Harkevich decides to put up some shots to see if he can take a few out. He gives 1 Focus to the Behemoth and one to the Destroyer and then casts Mobility which gives all his Battlegroup +2 SPD and Pathfinder. He moves up to get behind the center obstruction.

The Juggernaut, Demolisher, and Decimator run up to block charge lanes to the shooty jacks.

Behemoth activates first and dose some damage to Markov. He tries again and fails to kill him but does 3 damage to another Uhlan with the blast. Black Ivan is able to finish off Markov and do some more damage on another Uhaln. The Destroyer activates and fails to kill anything after missing his shot.

Top of Turn 2: Vlad 3 - Vlad 3 Upkeeps Hand of Fate on the Iron Fang Uhlans and Infernal Machine on the Conquest. The Iron Fang Uhlans charge into the Juggernaut knocking it down and severely cripple it. They also do a couple damage to Black Ivan. The Conquest moves up and is able to finish the job and remove the Juggernaut. The Man-O-War Drakhun looks to tie down Behemoth and runs up next to him hopefully trying to survive with his dismount in the following turn.

The Greylord Outriders ditch the Demolisher and Decimator and run their 18" into enemy lines hoping to get some back-arc sprays next turn against Harkevich.

Fenris charges in on the Decimator and is able to do a few boxes of damage.

Bottom of Turn 2: Harkevich - Harkevich allocates 2 to the Behemoth and 1 to Black Ivan. He camps 3 because he fears the Outriders coming to spray him with their magic. Behemoth activates first and easily dispatches of the Man-O-War Drakhun and his Dismount. He repositions up 3" so the Iron Fang Uhlans can't charge him next turn. The Decimator moves up and tries to kill the lone Greylord Outrider but fails so it makes it difficult for them to score. The Demolisher easily kills Fenris and his dismount and repositions back to the flag.

Harkevich moves base to base with Black Ivan and pops his feat giving his Battlegroup +3 ARM for a round to help weather the storm of Cavalry.

The round ends with the score 0/0.

Top of Turn 3: Vlad 3 - Vlad 3 upkeeps Infernal Machine on the Conquest and Hand of Fate on the Iron Fang Uhlans. He gives Conquest 2 Focus. The Iron Fang Uhlans activate first and since they are further than 1" away from Behemoth two of them charge away from him and into the Destroyer, knocking him down. They other just moves slightly to make room for Conquest. The Uhlans do some damage to the Destroyer but don't cripple anything.

The Greylord Outriders run deep behind Harkevich threatening an assassination next turn, one takes a Free Strike and dies to the Decimator. They just don't have the firepower to do it this turn vs. Harkevich's feat which makes him DEF 16 - ARM 21.

Conquest activates and gets base to base with Behemoth and the center flag. He unloads 5 melee attacks but rolls snake eyes on 2 of them leaving the Behemoth on a few boxes. Vlad 3 ends the round by running and Dominating the bottom flag.

Score: Vlad; 1 - Harkevich: 0.

Bottom of Turn 3: Harkevich - Harkevich gives Behemoth 2 focus and Behemoth unleashes 5 deadly armor piercing shots against the Conquest. It cripples his left side but leaves him with his right side.

The rest of his Battlgroup fails to do much damage to the Cavalry. The Demolisher is able to move base to base with the flag and scores a point. Harkevich turns around and hides behind the rock hoping to withstand the deadly cold sprays next turn.

Score: Vlad: 2 - Harkevich: 1

Top of Turn 4: Vlad 3 - Conquest is quite beat up and probably won't last much longer so Vlad decides to play a positioning game vs. Harkevich. He upkeeps Infernal Machine on Conquest and Hand of Fate on the remaining Uhlans. He loads up Conquest with 2 Focus and unleashes him on the Behemoth easily destroying him. The Iron Fang Uhlans charge into Decimator and takes out more of his systems.

Vlad 3 then decides that instead of ordering an assassination attempt with the Greylord Outriders, he tells them to run back to the flag with the Demolisher so that they can contest it.

Score: Vlad: 3 - Harkevich 1

Bottom of Turn 4: Harkevich - There's not much hope for Harkevich now. He is can't contest flags and his Battlegroup is too far away from the bottom flag to do anything about it. They are able to kill a few of the Cavalry and Harkevich himself moves up as close to the flag as he can and ends the round Vlad: 4 - Harkevic 1. Vlad quickly ends his turn for a Turn 5 victory.

Over View: It was really fun to play the Cavalry, especially with Vlad 3 because he gave them all +1 Speed. Have the Alpha Strike was very important and setting the line of battle in enemy territory gave Vlad 3 a huge advantage.

Vlad 3's feat was kind of wasted because he didn't really need it. It should have been popped on the 2nd turn when they had their Alpha Strike. This would have allowed them to push up a little bit further and gotten into Harkevich's face. Sprint wasn't very effective because there weren't any small models to kill.

Harkevich maybe could have also popped his feat on turn 2 and took the chance that the Juggernaut would survive the Uhlans and Conquest (not likely) but I don't think it would have made much difference.

Vlad 3 is very fun and his spell list is great. I think I need to work on his feat timing. I think I usually sit on it too long waiting for the perfect moment when I should just do it earlier and get some attrition swing.

Next Battle Report we'll see how Vlad 3 does vs. a Butcher!