by Peter Atkinson

Whether it’s that list that you never got to play before the end of an Edition, or the chick you knew in your 20s that you still wank over occasionally, we’ve all got The One That Got Away. In the fading embers of 3rd Edition, my own main interest is resolving that Unfinished Business – lists you’ve been thinking about, but never got around to playing. Well now we’re drinking in the Last Chance Saloon, and they’ve just called final orders at the bar, so now’s the time to put those armies on the table.

In May we ran a competition for our Patrons to show us what 3rd Ed lists they’re keen to smash into while they still can. We’ve put together a Podium of your best and most interesting entries, and there’s a prize for the winner, so let’s take a look at what you all cooked up.

3rd Place: Xander Bennett (Award Winning Artist), Gloomspite Gits

I’m always a sucker for a Merc Mega-Gargant, and One-Eyed Grunnock in particular works great in Gloomspite:

The week after that, I picked myself up, went to a different store and ended up meeting a bunch of cool people who provided a much nicer introduction to the hobby. Now, nearly 3 years later, I’ve played in 15+ tournaments, moved across the country, and made friends in my new city through AoS. The game is now a huge part of my life. I think my wife would agree that I spend far too much time thinking about little plastic war dollies.

But I’ve never played with the Warstomper again, not even in casual games.

Well, tomorrow that changes. Tomorrow I’m playing in what will probably be my last 3rd edition tournament. And I’m bringing Gitz with a Warstomper.

Whatever happens, it’s going to be a blast, and it’s going to feel like closing the circle.

Pete: What I rate about this list is that you’ve got a couple of sources of -1 to hit which still synergises so, so well in a world where people are addicted to hitting on 2s. Grunnock gives you a real anvil and a solid source of Roar and Smash to Rubble, while you launch wave after wave of Boingrot torpedoes across the board to absolutely detonate your opponent’s army. King’s Gits x Clammy Hand for the near-guaranteed summoning is the cherry on the cake for an extremely competitive list, and I hope you smash a whole bunch of motherfuckers with it!

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2nd Place: Bragg, Beasts of Chaos

Yes, I’ve chosen another list with One-Eyed Grunnock. What’s your point? I’d happily run 5 of the fucker at 2000 points if I could.

– Army Faction: Beasts of Chaos
     – Subfaction: Allherd
     – Grand Strategy: Protect the Herdstone
     – Triumph: Indomitable
LEADERS
Great Bray-Shaman (100)*
     – General
     – Command Traits: Shaman of the Chilled Lands
     – Artefacts of Power: Brayblast Trumpet
     – Spells: Tendrils of Atrophy, Viletide
Great Bray-Shaman (100)*
     – Spells: Primal Dominance, Vicious Stranglethorns
Beasts of Chaos Tzaangor Shaman (120)**
     – Spells: Levitate, Merciless Blizzard
One-eyed Grunnock (400)**
Grashrak Fellhoof (180)**
     – Spells: Tendrils of Atrophy, Wild Rampage
BATTLELINE
Ungors (80)
Ungors (80)
Gors (110)**
BEHEMOTH
Chaos Gargant (150)
OTHER
Beasts of Chaos Tzaangors (170)
     – 2 x Tzaangor Mutant
Beasts of Chaos Tzaangors (170)
     – 2 x Tzaangor Mutant
Dragon Ogors (210)
Cockatrice (120)
Grashrak’s Despoilers (180)
TERRAIN
1 x Herdstone (0)
CORE BATTALIONS
*Andtorian Acolytes
**Warlord
TOTAL POINTS: 1990/2000

Pete: In the great man Bragg’s own words, “It’s squishy and tech shit but I can usually make those lists work”. It’s a great spread of the whole faction – the classic Gors are well-represented, the Monster side of the army with the Chaos Gargant and Cockatrice, and I suppose we can allow a couple of blue birds in there too. You’ve got loads of buffs and debuffs – every unit brings something to the table, and it’ll look like an absolute rabble in the best way. Would love to play against this.

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Winner: Shaun Baldwin (Maximus), Orruk Warclans, “Maximum Slapping”

Big G! I fuggin love Big G. Or at least, I want to, but the guys writing his rules ain’t making it easy.

Back when Kragnos first burst into the world, I did speculate about running him alongside Gordrakk:

Kragnos: Buffs and Synergy, and Overall Verdict

Since then, Kragnos has enjoyed a 60-point drop and a massively improved Warscroll; Gordrakk has kept dropping in points to the level where he’s 100 points down and now finally cheaper than a generic Maw Krusha. Combine the pair in Ironsunz for the 3D6 Countercharge, and you’ve got two cool characters who are both perfectly playable with their closing 3rd Ed points and warscrolls, and who do work together well. Plus we know it’s Last Chance Saloon for Kraggy’s 2+ save, so it’s time to get old Donkey Dick on the table.

 – Army Faction: Orruk Warclans
– Army Type: Ironjawz
– Subfaction: Ironsunz
LEADERS
Gordrakk (420)*
Orruk Warchanter (120)*
– General
– Command Traits: Skilled Leader
– Artefacts of Power: Amulet of Destiny
– Nullstone Adornments:  Hand-carved Nullstone Icon
– Warbeats:  Fixin’ Beat
Kragnos (700)**
Orruk Warchanter (120)**
– Warbeats:  Fixin’ Beat
BATTLELINE
Orruk Brutes (280)*
Orruk Brutes (140)*
Orruk Brutes (140)**
OTHER
Ironskull’s Boyz (80)**
CORE BATTALIONS
*Battle Regiment
**Battle Regiment
TOTAL POINTS: 2000/2000

Maximus writes: My thoughts are to get Kragnos and Gordrakk together in one list for mindless charging fun in both my opponent’s turn and my own. No magic, no bullshit, no Andtorian battle tactics, just charge across the board and get stuck in using Kragnos’s 3D6 charge to ensure maximum mayhem. My general is the Warchanter to use the Command Trait to milk more command points in a list that will be a little point thirsty. Amulet of Destiny is the only really usable artefact I can give him for a little more survivability. Nullstone Icon to have a chance at denying some magic throughout the game. 

Both Warchanters are packing Fixin’ Beat to keep those massive hammers going that little bit longer (noting that they can heal Kragnos), and will primarily be buffing the damage of Gordrakk and those reinforced Brutes for 🔥 Maximum Slapping 🔥. Simple, brutal, not very competitive but almost guaranteed carnage to take as many down with me as possible in a blaze of glory. Double Battle Regiment to hopefully get priority and either punish poor deployment, or force my opponent to go first, sticking their neck out within range and risking a delicious double turn. My take on pure, unadulterated destruction.

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This is exactly the kind of insanity I would want to see out the edition with, and also a great Gumby list if you’re playing bye buster at an event. Well done Shaun – the prize is in the post – and thank you to everyone who has entered our Listbuilding Challenge this month and over the years.

We’ve had some rippas, and we’ll keep running this occasional series moving forward into 4th.

Have a good weekend, nerds – catch you on the other side.

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