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40K Battle Report: Harlequins vs Tyranids

10 Minute Read
Feb 12 2017
Warhammer 40K

gibraltor-SN

SN Battle Reports are back with a crazy battle between the followers of the Laughing God & the Hivemind.

 

The horizon heaved with alien hunger. A thousand times a thousand many-limbed horrors consumed and devoured all life in their path, from mighty sauropods to the tiniest protozoa. Nothing sated them for they sought naught to silence their individual hunger, but to feed on an entire species that was at once both an innumerable horde and one indivisible whole. A race to whom feeding was not a means to an end but an end in itself. Their rapine hunger had seen them drawn to this green and virgin world, seeded with fulsome life in an age lost to mythology. Yet, as inviting as the world’s biomass was it was not the only reason why the Great Devourer had turned its dire gaze in its Direction. A keen note struck across the empyrean, faint but arresting to those sensitive to such things. It radiated outwards, rippling the void with its sirens call, drawing the inquisitive to this emerald jewel set adrift amongst dying stars. As the seething mass of ivory teeth and chitinous claw was birthed unto the once pristine surface of this maiden world, the psychic resonance that had drawn the bio-fleet suddenly cut short. Fashionably late to arrest the arrival of the Tyranids, the guardians of the calls source erupted into the world as if from nothing, pirouetting and tumbling into existence, their forms exploding into a kaleidoscope of rapidly moving pixels that dazzled the eyes. They alone remembered, they who re-lived the myths of their ancient people in their routines. This gate to their most valued secret, ajar, would not fall to this most primeval enemy. It could not. The fate of the entire galaxy rested in the hands of the Rillietann. Again.

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Deployment: Dawn Of War

Mission: Purge The Alien

Points:1750

 

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Hive Tyrant
Desiccator Larvae
Lash Whip & Bonesword
Old Adversary
Scything Talons
Toxin Sacs

Tyrant Guard
Scything Talons

Malanthrope

Neurothrope

2x Zoanthrope

Carnifex
Twin-linked Devourer with Brainleech Worms
Twin-linked Devourer with Brainleech Worms

Carnifex
Twin-linked Devourer with Brainleech Worms
Twin-linked Devourer with Brainleech Worms

Carnifex
Twin-linked Devourer with Brainleech Worms
Twin-linked Devourer with Brainleech Worms

Mawloc

30x Fleshborer Termagant

30x Fleshborer Termagant

Tervigon
Scything Talons, Stinger

Tervigon
Scything Talons, Stinger

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Elites

Inriam’s Spectre

Shadowseer 
Haywire grenades, Mastery Level 2, Shuriken Pistol, The Mask of Secrets

Shadowseer
Haywire grenades, Mastery Level 2, Neuro Disruptor

Shadowseer
Haywire grenades, Mastery Level 2, Shuriken Pistol

Shadowseer
Haywire grenades, Mastery Level 2, Shuriken Pistol

Shadowseer
Haywire grenades, Mastery Level 2, Shuriken Pistol

Shadowseer
Haywire grenades, Mastery Level 2, Shuriken Pistol

Troops

Troupe
Players x7
Harlequin’s Caress, Neuro Disruptor
Player
Harlequin’s Caress, Neuro Disruptor
Player
Harlequin’s Caress x4, Shuriken Pistol x4
Troupe Master
Close combat weapon, Shuriken Pistol

Troupe
Players x7
Harlequin’s Caress x6, Shuriken Pistol x6
Troupe Master
Close combat weapon, Shuriken Pistol

Troupe
Players x7
Harlequin’s Caress x6, Shuriken Pistol x6
Troupe Master
Close combat weapon, Shuriken Pistol

Fast Attack

Skyweavers

Skyweaver
Haywire cannon, Zephyrglaive

Skyweaver
Haywire cannon, Zephyrglaive

Skyweavers

Skyweaver
Haywire cannon, Zephyrglaive

Skyweaver
Haywire cannon, Zephyrglaive

Heavy Support

Voidweaver
Prismatic cannon

Voidweaver
Prismatic cannon

Voidweaver
Prismatic cannon

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What a awesome sight! Perfect for our report setting an amazing scene for what will no doubt be a great game of Warhammer 40k. So here we are a week before No Retreat IV and we have just received this brand new terrain from GAMEMAT.eu along with its matching battle mat! We just couldn’t wait till after the event to use it and with the recent Harlequins studio army also arriving from Siege Studios it was a no brainer and up we went to the studio to have this epic match-up facing them up against Dave’s wonderful tyranid force! Enjoy!

 

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With the first toss of the Game being won by Dave he straight away opts to go first and deploy first. Let the game begin, good luck to both players…. Dave deploys his synapse creatures centrally to give overlapping bubbles of synapse to the Termagaunts and Carnifexes. The horde eagerly awaits the order to go forth and devour.

 

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Dave uses the terrain tactically to hide his Hive Tyrant from line of sight of the enemy, in case Ethan manages to seize the initiative. These models look amazing with the terrain it is almost as if they have adapted to camouflage themselves there… I wonder if the harlequins will blend in so well? ?

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Well maybe not! It’s Ethans turn to deploy next and he deploys the main act of his show opposite the main bulk of the tyranid force, going second, he will rely on his Veil Of Tears to be able to withstand the Tyranid shooting and advance toward the Carnifex brood. Well i think that’s the plan anyway…

 

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Ethan then deploys one of his Starweaver units and Voidweavers on the right flank, and the other Starweaver unit on the left.

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How’s that for a view? A pure Tyranid swarm ready to consume everything in sight. The Harlequins will have to perform a dance of death of epic proportions to hold back this tide of insatiable hunger. Let’s roll some more dice!

 

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Turn 1 (Tyranids) After Ethan fails to Seize the Initiative (shame that would have been epic!), Dave starts his movement phase by moving his devour-fex’s up the field.

 

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Turn 1 (Tyranids) The 30 strong unit of gribblies, I mean Termagants, armed with Fleshborers, moves up as well, not waiting for dinner to be served to them! It must be a self service buffet.

 

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Turn 1 (Tyranids) Dave uses his Hive Tyrant to cast Catalyst on itself and the Carnifex brood, knowing they will lead the charge and brunt the bulk of incoming fire. Ethan’s Shadowseers attempt to Deny The Witch, but fail.

 

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Turn 1 (Tyranids) Dave starts and finishes the Tyranid shooting phase by firing with the Carnifex brood at the Warlord’s unit. Only two of them are in range unfortunately, but that’s still a mighty 24 shots. Dave caused 8 wounds in total, of which Ethan managed to save 3 of, but 5 Harlequins still drop to the floor as the brain leech worms burrow their way into the skin and tissue. Charming!

 

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Turn 1 (Harlequins) Ethan moves up into an outflanking position on the right, ready to lay down some heavy fire on the Carnifex and Termagant broods. You can almost hear the haunting laughter of the Harlequins as they appear from behind the rocks.

 

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Turn 1 (Harlequins) Ethan begins moving the undamaged Troupes behind the boulders and moves his warlord unit forward. Expensive bait?

 

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Turn 1 (Harlequins) Ethan starts with the Shadowseer, casting that crucial Veil of Tears on their own unit of course, playing it as safe as he can. Thankfully for the Harlequins the shadow of the warp is not strong today as Dave fails to deny the witch.

 

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Turn 1 (Harlequins) The other Shadowseer also does the same, casting Veil of Tears on himself and the unit. Dave once again tries to Deny the Witch, but fails. The Harlequins are used to navigating their way through the Shadow In The Warp.

 

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Turn 1 (Harlequins) With no vehicles for the Skyweavers to target they start off by firing their haywire cannons into the Hormagaunts, but only managing to kill 3 after some good saving throws from Dave.

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Turn 1 (Harlequins) The Voidweavers fire up their Prismatic cannons in the large blast firing mode into the other Termagant unit in an attempt to start thinning the tide. This could be painful; if Termagants can feel pain? Might be a question for PETA? Bugs have feelings too?

 

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Turn 1 (Harlequins) Some poor rolling on Ethan’s side sees only eight hits from the Voidweavers and then Dave in contrast, rolling fantastically on his 4+ cover saves. Wow.

 

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Turn 2 (Tyranids) Rolling for reserves, the Mawloc makes it’s appearance. Going for the Warlord’s unit again, Dave manages to roll a hit coming straight up underneath them with his Terror From The Deep attack. After managing to take down the last Troupe member, leaving both Shadowseers and Death Jester by themselves, he rolls for the second hit and scatters into impassable terrain. Rolling on the Deep Strike Mishap table, he goes back into ongoing reserves, ready to appear again next turn. I love the rules for the Mawloc; so atmospheric! What unit’s special rules are your favourite?

 

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Turn 2 (Tyranids) Dave starts by using his exclusive No Retreat 3 template (SHAMELESS PLUG) to move up the tide towards the veil of tears set up by the Shadowseers.

 

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Turn 2 (Tyranids) Continuing, he moves the Tervigons’ right to overlap several synapse bubbles. No spawning as of yet, being clever with the Purge the alien mission…..

 

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Turn 2 (Tyranids) Dave once again casts Catalyst on the Carnifex brood, knowing they will be a fire magnet. He casts it successfully, but also rolled a double 6, suffering the Perils of the Warp! Rolling a 2, the Hive Tyrant suffers one wound, with no other ill effects……this time. Serves him right for meddling with such unholy powers!

 

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Turn 2 (Tyranids) Dave also casts onslaught on the Termagants, allowing them to run and shoot this turn.

 

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Turn 2 (Tyranids) The Carnifex once again starts off the Tyranid shooting, aiming down at the Shadowseer and Harlequin Troupe to the left. The sheer number of shots proves to be too much for them, as the Shadowseer, failing his Look Out Sir rolls, and most of the Troupe embrace the kiss of death.

 

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Turn 2 (Tyranids) Dave rolls high for his run managing to get all the ‘gants in range of the warlord unit. The Termagants unleash the barrage, and succumbing to the weight of fire, all three characters fall under the weight of the bio-ammunition. It’s not going well for the checkered clowny Space Elves so far. Slay the Warlord!

 

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Turn 2 (Harlequins) Ethan begins the counter attack by moving his Skyweavers to the flank of the Termagants. He needs a good turn to stay in the game.

 

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Turn 2 (Harlequins) The other group of Skyweavers move up to get better line of sight along with the Voidweavers.

 

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Turn 2 (Harlequins) The Skyweavers prepare to unleash their Haywire Cannons and Zephyrglaives on the chitinous horde.

 

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Turn 2 (Harlequins) Ethan ponders his psychic powers, deciding to cast Laugh of Sorrows on the Carnifexes. Is it enough to bring down of the fexes? Dave decides not to try to Deny the Witch, and rolls his leadership test, and takes a single wound! Who is laughing now?

 

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Turn 2 (Harlequins) This Troupe stares down a trio of Carnifexes. One is scary enough, let alone 3! Again amazing work by Siege Studios. All those free handed squares must of been a nightmare.

 

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Turn 2 (Harlequins) The Voidweavers see the big guy bleed, and decide to finish the job. After unleashing their prismatic cannons and shuriken cannons at them as well….

 

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Turn 2 (Harlequins) HUZZA!!! One of the dakkafexes is taken down! That took far too much firepower! Meanwhile, the skyweavers move up the flank and fire their weaponry at the Gants once more, killing a lone Termagant as Ethan rolls poorly once more!

See the full Battle Report Here for the exciting conclusion and remember to subscribe!

 

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Author: Steven Pardo
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