We sat down with Battle Report host Si (who commanded the Helsmiths of Hashut) to find out what it was like to take on Warhammer Age of Sigmar’s new faction.
Warhammer Community: What were your first impressions of the fight against the Khazalite strongholds?
If: Don’t expect to surpass them! Even without Clangunners, Jay’s artillery – he had an Oathkeeper cannon and a stone-breaking mortar – was a constant threat to my army, while the accuracy of my own ranged units was hampered by his locked shields. Worse still, after winning priority in the first round of battle, Jay moved aggressively to secure forward objectives and thus expand the combat formation’s area of effect beyond his territory. I mean, one Deathhrieker rocket battery can hit with truly devastating force, but when reduced to hitting on a 5+, it’s much less reliable.
WarCom: In many ways, the Helsmiths of Hashut are a dark mirror of the Khazalite strongholds – how do they compare as armies?
If: Aside from the more obvious nuances that their respective faction rules offer, I’d say the main differences lie in speed in the case of Helsmiths versus the even heavier armor of Kromdron units in particular. Okay, so the Helmsmiths are far from the fastest faction, but their access to hard-hitting cavalry units in the form of Anointed Sentinels and Bull centaurs gives them an advantage over their bipedal cousins, while their Taurus-riding Infernal Daemonsmiths can fly, unlike the Khazalites on War Thrones or Magmadroths. Of course, the Khazalites make up for this relative deficit* with an overwhelming number of 3+ saving features as well as multiple ways to mitigate the effectiveness of incoming attacks.
WarCom: Are there any particular combinations of Khazalite Holds that opponents should watch out for?
If: At first glance, it would be easy to overlook the potential of Clan Shields. However, pair them with a Thrynn, or better yet, Hjulda Drakkblud, and they can become a real force to be reckoned with. Under the right circumstances, you can improve four of the five stats on their Kromdron weapons without using any command abilities, while reducing the Rend of incoming attacks and ignoring the first point of damage they take each phase. Underestimate them at your peril!
WarCom: Do you have any advice for players looking to defeat the Khazalites?
If: Well, as I mentioned earlier, these are tough opponents to outplay, so you really need to put up a fight against them if you want to avoid being torn to pieces. That being said, breaking through the Khazalite lines to counter their artillery and powerful ranged units is easier said than done. This is where abilities that allow you to instantly move across the battlefield or break through their lines can come into play. Judicious use of stacks or a well-timed Power Through, for example, can help you bog down a key ranged unit before it can shoot at you the next turn.**
WarCom: Finally, do you have a favorite unit from the new battletome?
If: Hmm… It would be easy to say High Kyng Valankrom, because not only is it a beautiful model (or is it a diorama?), but it’s a true force multiplier, and solid as a rock in a fight. That being said, I think I should actually say the humble Clanshields. I don’t think I would leave the hold without two reinforced units of 20 to form the backbone of my Khazalite troop.
Thanks, Si! Tune in to see if Daemonsmith Urak Taar’s hellish sorcery is enough to hold back the wave of vengeance that seeks to crush his forces, and don’t forget that the new Khazalite Holds miniatures are available for pre-order now.
Available now: Scribes and Scriveners – Robert Rath: The Wicked and the Deformed
Robert Rath, author of the fan-favorite novel The Infinite and the Divine is the guest on Scribes and editorsspeaking about his latest novel, The bad guys and the perverts. The sequel see Orikan the Soothsayer And Trazyn the Infinite thrown into an unlikely alliance to uncover the secrets of a rediscovered world of ancient Necron history.
Presenter Alex talks to Robert about his latest novel and what exactly it means for Orikan and Trazyn’s relationship: can they finally put their differences aside or are they doomed to an eternity of petty squabbles?
Available Thursday: Painting Office – Police Albert Moreto – Part 1
This week on Painting officepresenter Ed is joined by several Slayer Sword winners Albert Moreto Font. Albert talks about his painting journey, how he got his start in Warhammer and how he managed to stay passionate and motivated throughout the years of competition. It also gives a unique insight into the world of competition painting, the importance of the broader community, and even dispels a few myths around painting. Golden Demon.
Available Friday: Black Talon – Final Cut
Watch the complete animated adventures of Sigmar’s greatest assassin, plus all 12 episodes of Blacktalon are brought together into one epic, action-packed feature film. We’ll have more on this massive supercut here on Warhammer Community on Friday.
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