Hello all! Michael here. Today I will be doing a quick tournament review of my games with Spiteclaw’s Swarm of the Copenhagen Grand Clash. Hope you enjoy!
First of all, major thanks to Jonas and Thomas for organising this event! It was amazingly organised!
Also, if you would like to read about my plans with this deck and an in-depth review, check out this article.
Game 1: vs. Olaf (Thundrik, PnP/CtC)
My first opponent was Olaf with a brilliantly converted Thundrik’s Profiteers, who finally took off their armor, revealing a bunch of Skaven underneath! I knew it all along. Olaf ended up winning Most Awesome Warband with this conversion!
Round 1, I played pretty safe. I took an aggressive move early with the Lurking Skaven as well as Justified Paranoia for a guard token in order to deny Olaf his third token. Unfortunately, I had to deny Torn Landscape for myself in order to deny a hypothetical Strip the Realm. No Skaven died this round!
Round 2, we had a very nice missfest as Skaven for some reason didn’t want to kill other Skaven (very rare). The first kill happened in activation 3 when my brave Skaven Warlord Skritch the Greatest charged into skaven-Garodd in order to kill him rolling a nice double crit! I then went on to delve 3 tokens in order to score Torn Landscape and prayed that Olaf didn’t have Strip the Realm in hand (he did). At this point I was down several points, so things were starting to get intense.
Round 3 I played very aggressively, making some desperate charges with my minions in order to try and secure a kill and some surges, like Share the Load. My Festering Skaven was holding an aggressive position in Olaf’s territory and tried to do a sneaky assassination onto Enrik, but missed. Then, I charged Hungering Skaven with Desperate Rage and supports but whiffed again. Lund proceeded to show us why they call him ‘Dead-Eye’ and landed two very clean shots onto my Skaven, killing the Festering. In my final activation I retreated with my super brave leader and played Great Fortitude on my Hungering Skaven. In the end phase, I scored Spread Havoc, Desolate Homeland, and Against the Odds. Olaf scored Spread Havoc as well as a one glory objective, putting him at 16 but keeping me at 15.
I feel like dice were not a factor at all in this game, we both kept missing everything! Thanks for the amazing game Olaf, it was brilliantly played from your end!
Game 2: vs TO Stand-in (Jaws of Itzl, Blazing/Wrack)
Unfortunately, I forgot my opponent’s name in this game, so really sorry about that! His Jaws were converted to Stormcast for this game.
In Round 1, both of us deployed really passively. I tried to setup Strip the Realm and Torn Landscape so I was running around in my territory delving. My opponent moved the Venomites early on onto a token in no-man’s land, but I had Trapped Cache in hand so I wasn’t worried. After an early charge with So-kar into my almost-trusted Krrk, he played Commanding Stride in order to get Kro-jax deep in my terriotry and charged again, this time into the Festering Skaven, landing a hit! After a Fault Lines from my opponent, I got a fighter inspired and pinged his Ro-tak. In my last activation, I charged onto a token in his territory with the Lurking Skaven and in his Desperate Rage, he hit Ro-tak for 3 Damage, leaving him vulnerable! Ro-tak retaliated with Savage Mauling, rolling 2 swords and killed the Lurking Skaven, but after I scored Claim the Prize. I then played Trapped Cache onto the Venomites to secure Torn Landscape and Strip the Realm.
In Round 2, I just ran around in a circle. Both of my Schemers were in big trouble, being threatened by So-kar and Kro-jax, so I chose to start and teleported Skritch away with a cheeky Canny Sapper as well as saved Krrk with a tactical retreat. Kro-jax became an Illusionary Fighter, swinging at Skritch and thankfully missing my great Skaven warlord. Skritch performed a tactical retreat and then Sundered the Realm onto Ro-tak, killing him! Kro-jax tried to chase down Skritch but couldn’t reach him. Krrk was in a precarious position, so I ran away for my activation. So-kar tried to chase me down and got a bite in into my skaven.
In the last Round, I was well ahead so I stayed with the ‘keep moving plan’. In my first activation, Skritch ran and then Commandingly Strode away from Kro-jax. My Hungering Skaven was charged by So-kar who thankfully missed. I then visited the different tokens, which scored me Broken Prospects. However, during this round I did lose my Brave Skaven Warlord Skritch to a charge from Kro-Jax, allowing Krrk to swiftly be promoted to Leader and save the game, ending with a +7 glory difference on a 19-12 score.
Well played to my opponent! Sorry for forgetting your name…
Round 3: vs. Lars (Ephilim’s Pandaemonium, ES/CtC)
My third opponent was Lars and Ephilim. In Round 1, I managed to deny Supremacy and Iron Claim by just taking all the tokens in Lars’ territory with Skaven on 2 Save on Guard in a Cover hex, being nigh unhittable. I killed Kindlefinger with a Trapped Cache/Total Collapse combo, but the round was pretty uneventful. I didn’t draw any of my delve 3 stuff so I didn’t score much, but neither did Lars. In my last activation, I charged the Hungering Skaven into Ephilim with Desperate Rage and Gloryseeker but Eph managed to defend!
In Round 2, I started, and swung again onto Ephilim with Desperate Rage. I missed completely, and Lars tried to bite the Lurking Skaven dealing 2 damage. I swung with Desperate Rage the third time, and fully whiffed again! This killed the Hungering Skaven, scoring my Collateral Damage. Spawnmaw then charged the Festering Skaven, and I took another two damage. The Brave Skaven Warlord Skritch then tried to take some mid control, and managed to stab Flamespooler for 2 damage. The round ended with Ephilim moving onto a token, killing the Lurking Skaven as well as scoring Supremacy and Set Explosives and Wreckers (I think) for a massive 7 glory as well as a 2 damage Shared Mutations.
Round 3, I started with a charge into Flamespooler with 3 swords and supports, and managed to hit for a solid 1 damage, which was a kill! Skritch then fell to an attack from Spawnmaw, promoting Krrk to the position of Leader. Krrk brought back the Hungering Skaven next to Apo-trax for a support, and then the Festering Skaven was killed by the Spawnmaw. I then tried to charge Krrk into the Starefysh, and managed to hit, which would have been a kill if the Fish of Tzeentch didn’t Stand Fast. Unfortunately, that was my last activation. I didn’t score or hit much this game, but still only lost 21-14.
Thanks to Lars for the game! You were very sporting about it, and well done piloting Ephilim!
Game 4: vs. Anders (Zarbag’s Gitz with PnP/CtC)
In game 4 I was up against the dreaded Zarbag’s Gitz and was super terrified going into them. However, my Skaven were not, which was shown in the game. Early on, I played Trapped Cache onto Prog and then a 4-man Sunder the Realm killed Prog and damaged Drizgit, but left the two squigs unscathed. There was a lot of action going on in the right side of the board with the archers charging and double hitting the Festering Skaven, leaving him Vulnerable. I retaliated with a charge from the Hungering Skaven into Drizgit but fully whiffed. In my last turn I made an aggressive charge with Krrk the Almost-Trusted where he managed to kill a goblin an get on a Token, securing Claim the Prize. Luckily, I did score Torn Landscape, but I did give Anders Uneven Contest (which I was not expecting!) and Strip the Realm (which I hoped wouldn’t be in the first hand…) I was severly behind but I already had 3 kills (Prog, an archer, and someone else), so it wasn’t over yet!
In Round 2, I started with another stab of the Hungering Skaven into Drizgit, pushing him into Snirk for the kill! The Squigs bit back and took out the Hungering Skaven. Krrk was being a nuisance in Anders’ territory with Hurled Weapon, and hit + push into Snirk got me another kill. The Last Archer in my territory charged onto a token, and managed to wound someone. Snirk then charged and one tapped the Great Warlord Skritch, leading to swift promotion of Krrk. In the end phase, I scored Broken Prospects and my opponent got Torn Landscape and Prospects as well.
In Round 3, it was down to the wire! Snirk was being Hyper Aggressive and somehow got deep into my territory, and Zarbag was getting close as well! Both the squigs were stuck on the other end of the board. Early whiffs from both sides yielded me a Shocking Assault, but then Snirk came into the fray and obliterated the Lurking Skaven. Zarbag was on 2 Save on Guard, and Snirk was on 3 dodge, so I knew I couldn’t kill anything. My last cards were Strip the Realm and Spread Havoc as well as something else… but I forgot what. I counted my opponents objectives and after some mind games to each other I concluded that he hadn’t scored Wreckers yet, and the Hungering Skaven was returned to the fray. Zarbag and Snirk already charged I didn’t worry about them, however a Squig was on a cover hex in enemy territory so I was scared for my Strip the Realm. Luckily, Anders had Desolate Homeland in hand, so he needed that token as a cover. This led to me scoring a lot of glory in the end phase, and I barely managed to pull it out with a score of 24-23.
Many thanks to Anders for the game! It was one of my favorite ones and the closest one too, well played!
Game 5: vs. Julia (Khagra with ES/CtC)
I was up against more hold for game 5. I knew I had to deny as much as possible in round one to win, but the tokens were deployed in such a way that I couldn’t claim an aggressive token to deny Iron Grasp or Supremacy. As such, I needed to defend my own territory to deny these. An early charge with Zarshia onto Krrk as well as Hold the Line secured an early glory from Sally Forth but a wounded Krrk scampered away, and scored Claim the Prize as Under-mouse. This tied the score up. After some token shuffling, we made it to the last activation of the round. Khagra replaced Zarshia on the aggressively placed token early in my territory, and I needed two damage to kill her to deny Supremacy, Iron Grasp, Set Explosives… all of that. After a brave sidestep and a Skitter from my warscroll, the Brave Skaven Warlord Skritch made a 7 hex ‘charge’ with a 3 hammer/flanked attack into the desecrator Khagra and managed to destroy her, securing the Overrun. Then a well-played Confusion and Ravaging Advance foiled Skritch’s plans, as a result Julia scored Supremacy and Iron Grasp and denied my Torn Landscape.
In Round 2, I started by bonking Zarshia with the Skritch, which brought Zarshia to two health and off the token. During my next activation I capitalised off the empty token by charging the Hungering Skaven with Burrowing Strike to stab Zarshia, who somehow ended on one health (I believe as a result of healing potion). Cragan with Sharp Reflexes managed to forcibly take the token from Hungering Skaven, which led to Skritch equipping Desperate Rage. He swung into Cragan, rolling a Crit-Hit! This procced my Schemers ability, which would have one shot Cragan, but he also defended on a Crit-hit. Brute Momentum prevented the drive back. In my last activation, I charged with the Festering Skaven and a Hurled Weapon onto a token into Zarshia (and missed) but I did get Torn Landscape and Broken Prospects from this!
Round 3, I knew I had to secure Wreckers. So obviously had to first save my Brave Warlord Skritch by making a 5 Hex retreat into the middle of enemy territory and just staying there. I then tired to strike onto Cragan from the Festering Skaven’s Hurled Weapon, and I did roll a crit proccing the Cleave which let me hit! This got me Wreckers so I played the rest of the round safe while denying the middle token for Slow Advance. The Warlord Skritch returned to combat with Canny Sapper, but then casually strode away without attacking with Commanding Stride. Julia did score Set Explosives but not Slow Advance due to the Festering Skaven which wasn’t enough to win, as I had a 2 point lead from Spread Havoc and Wreckers, leaving the score at 18-16!
Thanks for the game Julia, it was very well played. Lots of positioning and strategy involved!
Game 6: vs. Mads (Thundriks with PnP/CtC)
Of all the warbands I was expecting to see twice today, Thundriks were not high on my list. However the Skaven were experienced with dismantling them. I made an early move onto the middle token with Justified Paranoia to grab it for myself with the Lurking Skaven. Alensen then charged super deep into my territory, and managed to hit one of my guys for two damage, and then used the 3-hex push to secure a token and Claim the Prize. The warlord Skritch suspected a trap, but killed Alensen anyway, which scored Mads Collateral Damage. I maintained control over the three tokens I already had and managed to end the round without giving Mads Strip the Realm (very rare).
We were tied 4-4 here, and for my first activation I made sure not to give up my position by putting my aggressively placed Lurking Skaven on Guard and delving to become pretty much immune. I tried to secure on of my Delve 3 objectives this round. I managed to hit Khazgan for two damage and tried to kill him with an aggressive charge from the Festering Skaven, but missed. Luckily, it was enough diversion to secure the objectives that I wanted to!
In the third round I was in the lead and had way more board control. I also had all my surges in hand, which led to a very weird round. All of the Duradin were on 2 Shields, and they killed the Festering Skaven early on. After several shots into the Hungering Skaven he finally died, which let me move onto his token for Share the Load and Collateral Damage. Lund tried to make a desperate charge onto the middle token to get Delving for Wealth, and did hit the attack into Lurking Skaven, but luckily the Great Warlord Skritch secured the win with a superb charge onto the 2 Shield/Staggered Lund, killing him and getting Strip the Realm for myself. The final score was 22-17.
Thanks to Mads for the game! I do believe a better opening hand for you could have switched things up a bit. Would love a rematch at some point!
Game 7: vs. Mathias (Emberwatch with ES/CtC)
Some more hold action! Mathias started with a charge onto one of the middle tokens (there were two this game) with Farassa but luckily missed. I knew I had to capitalise, so a Justified Paranoia and a Lurking Skaven managed to claim the only token in Mathias’ territory, which I thought would deny Iron Claim. Mathias then used Yurik to get the OTHER token in no-man’s land, and Vanguard Dashed Ardorn super deep into my Skaven lands. I knew I couldn’t let Supremacy happen but I also knew Ardorn was too big of a threat to ignore. This led to a retreating charge from Krrk into Ardorn, which hit for a mighty one damage. Ardorn then shot, Inspired, and brought Krrk down to two health. Skritch tried to avenge Krrk but missed. Ardorn stabbed the Great Warlord Skritch and managed to hit for two damage. In the end phase, Mathias scored Supremacy (which I am very good at denying) and I scored my one glory cards.
In Round 2, Mathias chose to start and swung at Skritch with Ardorn but being Surrounded by Skaven was in Spiteclaw’s favor and he defended. Skritch then counterstruck, rolling a crit and leaving Ardorn on low health. Ardorn then struck again, but failed to realize that one does not simply kill the Great Warlord and missed again! Skritch capitlized and finished the stormcast off. Then Farassa ran in and tried to stab Skritch, but he was prepared so he managed to evade that as well. I then charged Yurik with Krrk and hit him for two damage, before managing to tank yet ANOTHER attack with Krrk. Skritch then came in with Desperate Rage and executed Yurik on the spot. Here, Farassa used Alone I Stand to get on a cover hex, and I thought my Strip the Realm/Torn Landscape was gone. Unfortunately for him, Mathias forgot to delve, gaining me 5 glory.
In the last round I just kept running from Farassa to deny kill glory while trying to score the rest of my deck, including Collateral Damage, which I had since Round 1. Farassa instantly charged Skritch but this late into the event he had developed some sick reflexes so he dodged that too. The game ended with a 21-15 score for the Swarm!
Thanks to Mathias for the game! It was a rollercoaster of emotions, I believe it could have gone either way!
OVERALL
This event was a huge success in my opinion. I met several people I knew from Discord but never actually met IRL, so that was amazing. The opportunity to play with a lot of people felt nice.
The lore/rules/card knowledge quiz was an amazing idea, I really enjoyed it. My knowledge of all the cards in the game finally came in useful and I managed to get biggest nerd award along with another player from Thunderworlds as we scored perfect on the quiz.
Overall, I placed 9th out of 32. This is pretty good, especially with the amount of Spiteclaw doubters (you know who you are 🙂 )! If you are interested in the deck I ran, here is a more in-depth review of each card.
I came with fellow Austrians Tristan and Daniel (both running Gitz) and Tristan ended up taking first place, securing him a ticket to Atlanta in November. As a team, Team Austria managed to place first which was what we were aiming for.
Once again, thanks to Jonas and Thomas for the amazing organization! I hope to be back next year, hopefully with more players!
And that’s it! Thank you for reading! If you would like to reach out to me for some chatting or feedback, you can find me on the Staggerers discord server. With that, I hope to see you again soon!
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