Battle Report #509: Caine3 vs Makeda1

:: Prologue ::

Following Makeda2's demise, we decided to try out Caine3 vs Makeda1.

:: Lists ::

:: Cygnar ::

Cygnar - HurriCaine
Theme: Heavy Metal
3 / 3 Free Cards     75 / 75 Army
Caine's Hellslingers - WJ: +20
-    Caine's Hellslingers (Cont.)
-    Squire - PC: 0
-    Ace - PC: 12
-    Charger - PC: 9
-    Charger - PC: 9
-    Charger - PC: 9
-    Hurricane - PC: 39 (Battlegroup Points Used: 20)
-    Charger - PC: 9
Captain Arlan Strangewayes - PC: 0
Journeyman Warcaster - PC: 0
-    Firefly - PC: 8

:: Opponent ::

(Makeda 1) Archdomina Makeda [+29]
- Basilisk Krea [7]
- Mammoth [38]
- Molik Karn [19]
- Titan Gladiator [15]
Extoller Soulward [3]
Gremlin Swarm [3]
Orin Midwinter, Rogue Inquisitor [5]
Swamp Gobber Chef [1]
Legends of Halaak [8]
Paingiver Beast Handlers (min) [5]

:: Pre-Battle Thoughts & Deployment ::

This list is a lot better against me on paper. Orin to stop Calamity, shield guards, big threat ranges, capability to one-round the colossal. Yup, challenge presented! In this game I wanted to look for openings to kill the Mammoth on feat and somehow neutralize Molik.

:: Game ::

Makeda's stuff runs up.

Ace puts a trick shot into the Mammoth, but it's shield guarded by Molik. I boost damage for a handful of boxes and the trick takes out the Soulward. Caine and the Hurricane boost 2 shots each into the Mammoth, doing a few boxes. Chargers spread out, Ace infiltrates to make him and Caine stealth.

Makeda sends in Legends and feats.

In hindsight this is an unnecessarily greedy play: I feat to try and take out the Mammoth and/or Molik. The thing is that given his position he cannot shield guard the Mammoth with the Krea because it'll be slammed out so that the Mammoth won't receive its animus. If Molik tanks this shot there's a pretty legit chance he just dies. He does indeed take this risk and Molik dies while the Mammoth survives on ~12 boxes.

Hilarity ensues: Krea kills Orin with frenzy. Mammoth charges Hurricane, fluffs. Makeda moves up, Jackhammer finishes the job. Legends make a mess of my central lines.

I figure going for Makeda isn't viable, I don't have enough firepower. I can however take out the Mammoth and play for attrition I believe. I'm a little behind on CP but I count to turn 7 and reckon that if I have calculated correctly I will not be behind on CP when we get there if I indeed can win on attrition. Anyway!

I kill Mammoth with Calamity and clear out Legends.

Gladiator charges in and kills the Firefly. Makeda leaves a Charger on 2 boxes.

I can sacrifice the Charger and go for Makeda but it's unnecessary, I have a legit attrition play here and go for that instead. Systematically clearing out models is often the best way to win a game when you're ahead.

Gladiator backs off, Makeda does some more work.

I take out everything but the Gladiator, however it's Grievous'd and without Spirit.

My opponent concedes.

Victory to the Swans!

:: Evaluation ::

This matchup sure felt a lot closer than Makeda2! That being said, I made some mistakes which were a big deal. Top of 2 the Mammoth crippled a Charger's gun. No reason to have these outside of Arlan's repair range I believe. Furthermore my feat was probably uncalled for. By simply backing off I threaten to get so much more work done with a feat the next turn instead. I am not short on time here and holding the feat makes it super dodgy for Makeda to get work done.

The Legends caused me all kinds of problems. Admittedly this was partly because I chose to go for such a decisive feat. In truth I think my feat here will be decisive regardless. If I had taken my time I could've put a ton of pressure on Orin which in turn enables Calamity on the Mammoth. At that point in time it's just sad face time for Skorne I believe. A general virtue with Cygnar is patience. Even a short-ranged aggro-output list like this benefits from having that thought in mind.

3 games in one short night. Caine3 positively surprised me. I have to seek out his intended matchups to see if he can conceivably replace Sloan in a pairing.