40K Battle Report: Harlequins vs Tyranids

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.

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? ?

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

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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?

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.

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…..

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!

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

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.

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!

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.

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

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

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?

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.

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….

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!