Internal Affairs Mk. XII Game 2 (#546): Haley2 vs Issyria

:: Prologue ::

The second game of the day saw me face off against Issyria in Shadows! I find this a very interesting list to play against. Skill-intensive and unique! I was curious to see how the Stormwall would affect the matchup.

:: Lists ::

:: Cygnar ::

TimeStorm v2
Theme: Heavy Metal
4 / 4 Free Cards 75 / 75 Army
Major Victoria Haley - WJ: +25
- Squire - PC: 0
- Firefly - PC: 8
- Thorn - PC: 13
- Stormwall - PC: 39 (Battlegroup Points Used: 25)
- Lightning Pod
Storm Strider - PC: 18
Journeyman Warcaster - PC: 0
- Charger - PC: 9
Lieutenant Allison Jakes - PC: 0
- Cyclone - PC: 13
Captain Arlan Strangewayes - PC: 0 

:: Opponent ::

Issyria
- Hyperion
- 2x Chimera
- 3x Arcanist
Narn
Eiryss1
MHSF
MHSF
- UA
Spears
- Soulless Escort

:: Pre-Battle Thoughts & Deployment ::

The scenario was Spread the Net and Ret moved first. My plan here was to cover my Stormwall's flanks with the Strider on one side and the Firefly on the other. Since I went last I anticipated a fairly passive first turn and deployed so that I could utilize the terrain for DEF-bonuses early on.

:: Game ::

Typically I see Ret trying to overload a flank with MHSF in this matchup. My opponent chose another approach by taking one flank with each unit. Interesting!

My response was to cover the left flank with the Cyclone's Covering Fire. On the right flank I podded and had the Strider leap for 2 kills, while Thorn ran up with Evasive Action to allow Haley to arc. bolt 2x MHSF-models to death before TK-ing and reaction driving him back. I figured that if my opponent would commit for Thorn it would be one hell of a dicey play, on top of which he'd lose a ton of Strike Force dudes. I took care to land my Strider outside of 24" from both Chimeras.

Ret move in for Thorn and discover that Dodge + Evasive Action is every bit as hilarious as you'd have thought. I lose ~8 boxes or so but with the 2" moves I'm in repair range of Arlan.

Time to retaliate! My goal for this turn is to crush the right flank and the Chimeras (which both committed to apply Blinding Light to Haley and Thorn). That works out well and with feat to cover me I feel pretty good!

MHSF on the left try to advance a bit, but not much else really happens.

Instead of charging Hyperion, which I believe is a terrible mistake, I back off and shoot him.

Hyperion keeps committing with Issyria behind for arcane vortex.

The trouble is that being in range of Arcane Vortex also means you're in range of electro leaps! I run Thorn up and burn off some focus with Arcane Bolts, before the Stormwall and Storm Strider downright kill Issyria with leaps.

Victory to the Swans!

:: Evaluation ::

The arc nodes are key pieces for Issyria here. I think a lot in this matchup boils down to how well/how poorly they are played. In this game my opponent went for a gambit early on: Apply blinding light to Thorn and Haley in an effort to stop them both. This exposed both Chimeras which subsequently meant that the Storm Strider was free to do as I pleased without fear of being shut down.

I managed to use cover greatly to my advantage in this game. MHSF struggle with Cygnar lights in cover and there's really not a lot of great answers to that in this Shadows build.

I've played this matchup a few times now and I know what to look for. Having a Stormwall this time around certainly made things easier. I reckon it's playable with a Hurricane as well.