WTC 2017 Solo Masters Game 4: Damiano vs Twins

For my third game, I faced Javier Fernandez with legion: Fyanna and Twins. I remember that Damiano works really well against Fyanna, and Ossrum isn't bad either. I didn't remember too much about twins, except that I had recently played Damiano against them at Ropecon in Finland, and was doing really well on attrition - although I was assassinated by not knowing the second assassination threat range (18" from Saeryn). So, I thought it might be better to play Damiano, as I won't be caught by the same trick again.

Javier's list:
Oracles
Twins
- Zuriel
- Seraph
- Protector
- Naga
- Raek
- Bloodseer
Throne
2 Helions
2 Spell Martyrs
Max hex hunters + Bayal

Javier won the roll off and chose to go second. I deployed symmetrically. He anchored the right flank with the throne and the right one with Zuriel.

I did a cautious advance (and shot off two hex hunters with a blast) with my trenchers, and also ran forward the rest of my force. My death march went on the right unit of halberdiers. This is a mistake; I haven't faced the throne and don't realize yet how good it is against my infantry. It should actually be clear that the halberdiers on the right have no chance to survive.

Javier jams my halberds with the hex hunters and runs Rhyas forward. Zuriel and Throne advance outside of charge ranges.

I contemplate trying to unjam with trenchers but the chaces are low, so halberdiers have to stay jammed (although re-cast Death March helps, as does the repo 5 from a coin). Trenchers do some insignificant attrition. Jacks prepare to attack either flank. Right halberds are jamming.

Throne kills almost all right flank halberdiers, Zuriel kills most left-flank halberdiers. Then Rhyas kills the red mangler. Protector contests my zone. Javier goes to 2 points, while I remain at 0.

I see that I absolutely have to kill Rhyas, as well as the Throne. I feat, and the right flank kills the throne. It's more difficult with Rhyas, as I need her knocked down, and she has a shield guard (protector). I try to kill him with my trenchers and Orin but leave him on one box. So, instead of knocking her down, I try to poke her with both the Bucaneer and the Nomad. They fail to kill her, and they get damaged a bit by riposte. Javier scores another point. Next turn, he just kills one trencher and goes to 5-0.

Analysis

I remembered later during the game one conclusion I already had about Rhyas: she should be shot, not killed in Melee. Attacking her in Melee is a trap.

In general, with the amount of infantry hate this list has, I feel that my Ossrum list would have been significantly better. With this list I am at a disadvantage on attririon.

Additionally, this scenario and with such terrain is exremely good for Twins. The threat of assassination makes it difficult to play aggressively, and so that favors the Twins scenario play. Bunnies would have made the game much more punishing for Rhyas, especially as I have stealth removal in that list (and the Crawler never has to get close unless I want it to).