I had the idea for a new Witch Coven list built of the fastest units I could field:
- Witch Coven +5
- Reaper – 7
- Nightwretch – 4
- Nightwretch – 4
- Satyxis Raiders (max) – 8
- Satyxis Sea Witch – 2
- Satyxis Raider Captain – 2
- Soulhunters (max) – 9
- Darragh Wrathe – 4
The Satyxis Raiders + UA have Pathfinder, and the Raider Captain can give them an additonal +2″ movement.
The Soulhunters are Incorporeal when they activate near Darragh Wrathe–and Mr. Wrathe himself is no slouch with a SPD 8.
The Reaper is the slowest model on the list, besides the Witches, but even he’s a SPD 6–and the Witches can give him Ghost Walk to ignore terrain and Infernal Machine to give +2 SPD.
Battle Report
I played the list for the first time today versus a pSkarre pirate list, SR2011 scenario, and won with a casterkill.
Opponent’s list
- PSkarre
- Mariner
- Freebooter
- Stalker
- Scavenger
- Skarlock Thrall
- Revenant Crew (min) + 3 Riflemen
- Black Ogrun Boarding Party (max)
- Warwitch Siren
Skarre’s Revenant Crew used their Advance Move to come up the center of the field.
Turn #1
I went first, running the Soulhunters (on the right) and Satyxis Raiders (on the left) up to about the 20″ line (from my edge), with the Reaper just behind in the center. One Nightwretch hung behind the Reaper, the other on the left flank. The Witches move up a bit too, remaining in Perfect Conjunction. They dropped Veil of Mists in front of the Reaper and put Occultation on the Soulhunters.
Opponents first turn, he ran his Scavenger and Stalker up his right flank (my left). His Revenant Crew advance up the middle, then took pot shots at my front line. His Black Ogrun Boarding Party followed the Revenants with the Mariner, while the Freebooter and the Skarlock Thrall went left. Skarlock cast Ritual Sacrifice for some extra focus on the next turn.
Turn #2
My second turn, I split the Satyxis Raiders, sending 4 to deal with the Scavenger and Stalker, a few that were in range to challenge the Revenants, and the rest to screen the Sea Witch. The Raiders on the bonejacks failed completely.
Lesson Learned: When attacking DEF 16 with MAT 6, I need at least 3 for the CMA, and 4 is probably better.
The Soulhunters charged the Freebooter and the front line of the Revenant Crew. The Soulhunters put a dent into the Freebooter and wiped out the front line of the Revenants. They then pulled back with their Light Cavalry Movement.
Soulhunter Tip: When attacking a warjack without Reach, use only their Reach weapon. That way they can use their Light Cavalry Movement to get away with no free strikes.
The work done by the Satyxis Raiders and the Soulhunters exposed the Revenent Crew unit commander, so the Reaper was able to step and harpoon him, making the Revenant Crew “deaths” permanent.
I feated before the end of my turn.
Opponent sent his damaged Freebooter after the Soulhunters, killing one of them. The Mariner moved up behind the line of Black Ogrun Boarding Party, but still outside the Coven’s feat’s aura, and took a shot at Darragh Wrathe–and blasted Wrathe’s horse out from under him.
Overall, the Coven’s feat had the desired effect of limiting the effectiveness of my opponent’s army.
Turn #3
Skarre had shifted her position enough to tempt me with an assassination run. I arced Ghost Walk and Infernal Machine on the Reaper, then remembered that Ghost Walk wouldn’t let the jack go through models. So I then arc-ed Curse of Shadows onto the Black Ogrun Boarding Party. The Reaper charged Skarre through the Black Ogrun Boarding Party and hit Skarre. With Sustained Attack, the Reaper took out a good chunk of Skarre’s health, but not enough.
Soulhunters charged again. They finished off the Freebooter with help from Darragh Wrathe’s Hellfire, and killed the Skarlock Thrall and a couple of the Black Ogrun Boarding Party. (Souls!)
Satyxis Raiders put a 4-count CMA on the Scavenger and put some hurt on it.
Opponent popped feat.
The Mariner, with the help of the Black Ogrun Boarding Party, finished off the Reaper. The surviving Revenant Crew took out a couple Satyxis Raiders.
The Scavenger cleared the path for the Stalker to run toward the Coven.
Turn #4
Soulhunters attacked the Black Ogrun Boarding Party and the Mariner. The Black Ogruns all died (more souls!) and the Mariner was dinged up. The Scavenger was scrapped, and two more Satyxis Raiders ran to put themselves between the Stalker and the Coven.
Nightwretches were maneuvered into position, Curse of Shadows was cast on Skarre, and the Coven opened up with Stygian Abyss. And missed with a boosted attack (versus 7) on the first attempt. The second attempt, also boosted, hit, but left Skarre with 1 point of health. Foiled by the dice twice.
Skarre retreated, sending the Warwitch Siren and Mariner to attack the nearest Nightwretch. The Stalker killed the Raiders blocking it, but could not get closer to the Coven.
Turn #5
The last few Satyxis Raiders ran to interdict the Stalker–just in case.
The un-engaged Nightwretch burned a very valuable Focus to run to get in range on Skarre.
Coven cast Stygian Abyss at Skarre and that was game.