I build a lot of Retribution lists with a couple of friends and try and help them with improving their lists and game. This time around we found an Issyria list we really liked and we decided to have a slow game where we discuss a lot of the openings, fears, ideas and angles openly for both sides so as to better learn the matchup. An interesting approach which I highly recommend!
:: Lists ::
Cygnar:
Major Victoria Haley - WJ: +25
- Squire - PC: 5
- Stormwall - PC: 39 (Battlegroup Points Used: 25)
- Lightning Pod
- Thorn - PC: 13
- Ironclad - PC: 12
Journeyman Warcaster - PC: 4
- Firefly - PC: 8
Lanyssa Ryssyl, Nyss Sorceress - PC: 3
Ragman - PC: 4
Storm Lances - Leader & 2 Grunts: 12
Opponent:
:: Pre-Battle Thoughts & Deployment ::
Same scenario and map as in the previous games, I moev first. The thing about this matchup is that Issyria has devastating long-ranged shooting but she is prone to being blocked out on scenario quite frankly, which is Haley's edge for sure. I wanted to spread out to maximize this advantage.
:: Game ::
Stuff runs. Tk on Clad, Deflection, TA on wall. Thorn on cover, both flanks threatened in terms of scenario angles.
Issyria advances cautiously.
I spend about forever considering what to do. I find no good angles for an attrition alpha, I can't take a ranged fight and I can't let him have Hyperion charging my Stormwall. I eventually find a pretty sweet angle for scenario where I can feat on his entire army basically and guarantee 1 point scored, 2 if he doesn't want to lose a heavy. The Stormwall shoots Phoenix but I roll miserably.
The Phoenix is the sacrificial lamb and moves up on the left. Hyperion decides to not only contest middle but also move far enough up so that ancillary hits the Stormwall in melee. Balsy move. I go to 1-0.
Now, with Hyperion that far up I can get both the Ironclad, Stormwall and Firely all on full focus with Death Field into him. I can't -not- take this chance. Issyria was in an exposed position though so in a tournament setting I kill her 9 times out of 10 or so (power strike shenanigans. We rolled it out and she died). This does affect the game a lot as her specific placement is pretty important. In any case I played for the Hyperion attrition instead and we just let her be. The big beast goes down and Phoenix uses Admonition as I charge the Ironclad past it to move closer to Haley. Hyperion dies before the Stormwall spends his last focus so I disrupt Phoenix. Lances charge it as well and it survives on a few boxes.
Issyria finds an angle where she can feat + blinding light Haley, ancillary Discordia and have 3 Invictors mini-feat + shoot her. This requires the Phoenix to kill a Lance which it does despite being disrupted and the opening is clear. Haley unfortunately does go down and I lose the game.
:: Evaluation ::
An interesting game which showcases the various strengths of these two lists. The Hyperion play is a mistake. I'm not sure what I do if I don't alpha it. To be fair I'm not sure going for the alpha on it is the right play even because I can move to 3 on scenario. How fast can it get work done before it has to walk away to contest?
The eventual assassination which gets Haley is in part because I don't check the angles but also in part because we don't take the time to reset a little after I could've killed Issyria. The specific positions here matter a lot. In any case it's a mistake to move the Hyperion to allow me such a hard counter for it so the entire Retribution T2 should probably have been different. All that being said sometimes it's good just to play things out. Issyria found the angle here and made the most of it, taking down Haley to secure the game! Her ability to put amazing amounts of firepower out is a real thing with a setup like this and Haley does have a tendency to die, unfortunately. For all her power, she is very squishy and loves to spend her focus!
Issyria, Sibyl of Dawn - WJ: +29
- Hyperion - PC: 36 (Battlegroup Points Used: 29)
- Phoenix - PC: 18
Arcanist Mechanik - PC: 2
Arcanist Mechanik - PC: 2
Elara, Tyro of the Third Chamber - PC: 4
- Discordia - PC: 18
Lanyssa Ryssyl, Nyss Sorceress - PC: 3
Dawnguard Invictors - Leader & 9 Grunts: 16
- Dawnguard Invictor Officer & Standard - Officer & Standard: 4
- Soulless Escort - PC: 1
:: Pre-Battle Thoughts & Deployment ::
Same scenario and map as in the previous games, I moev first. The thing about this matchup is that Issyria has devastating long-ranged shooting but she is prone to being blocked out on scenario quite frankly, which is Haley's edge for sure. I wanted to spread out to maximize this advantage.
:: Game ::
Stuff runs. Tk on Clad, Deflection, TA on wall. Thorn on cover, both flanks threatened in terms of scenario angles.
Issyria advances cautiously.
I spend about forever considering what to do. I find no good angles for an attrition alpha, I can't take a ranged fight and I can't let him have Hyperion charging my Stormwall. I eventually find a pretty sweet angle for scenario where I can feat on his entire army basically and guarantee 1 point scored, 2 if he doesn't want to lose a heavy. The Stormwall shoots Phoenix but I roll miserably.
The Phoenix is the sacrificial lamb and moves up on the left. Hyperion decides to not only contest middle but also move far enough up so that ancillary hits the Stormwall in melee. Balsy move. I go to 1-0.
Now, with Hyperion that far up I can get both the Ironclad, Stormwall and Firely all on full focus with Death Field into him. I can't -not- take this chance. Issyria was in an exposed position though so in a tournament setting I kill her 9 times out of 10 or so (power strike shenanigans. We rolled it out and she died). This does affect the game a lot as her specific placement is pretty important. In any case I played for the Hyperion attrition instead and we just let her be. The big beast goes down and Phoenix uses Admonition as I charge the Ironclad past it to move closer to Haley. Hyperion dies before the Stormwall spends his last focus so I disrupt Phoenix. Lances charge it as well and it survives on a few boxes.
Issyria finds an angle where she can feat + blinding light Haley, ancillary Discordia and have 3 Invictors mini-feat + shoot her. This requires the Phoenix to kill a Lance which it does despite being disrupted and the opening is clear. Haley unfortunately does go down and I lose the game.
Sadly, a Loss to the Swans.
:: Evaluation ::
An interesting game which showcases the various strengths of these two lists. The Hyperion play is a mistake. I'm not sure what I do if I don't alpha it. To be fair I'm not sure going for the alpha on it is the right play even because I can move to 3 on scenario. How fast can it get work done before it has to walk away to contest?
The eventual assassination which gets Haley is in part because I don't check the angles but also in part because we don't take the time to reset a little after I could've killed Issyria. The specific positions here matter a lot. In any case it's a mistake to move the Hyperion to allow me such a hard counter for it so the entire Retribution T2 should probably have been different. All that being said sometimes it's good just to play things out. Issyria found the angle here and made the most of it, taking down Haley to secure the game! Her ability to put amazing amounts of firepower out is a real thing with a setup like this and Haley does have a tendency to die, unfortunately. For all her power, she is very squishy and loves to spend her focus!
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