AoS: Battalions of the Sky-Dwarves
The Kharadron Overlords are loaded for bear with a number of battalions, here’s a look at how they all play out. Check them out!
The Kharadron Overlords have been floating through the Aether again for a week now, and they’ve brought a lot of fun toys to the table. While they don’t have an many battalions as most other armies, the ones they do have are pretty rad so it isn’t a total loss. Here are my thoughts on the battalions in the KO battletome, and some strategies for using them in combat.
(Note: I won’t be including the Super Battalion, Grand Armada, because it isn’t likely you’ll be taking it in standard games)
Iron Sky Command
(0-1 Arkanaut Admiral or Brokk Grungsson, 1 Arkanaut Ironclad, 1 Arkanaut Company unit, 1-3 Endrinriggers, and 3 non-Admiral heroes)
Your KO units don’t take battleshock tests while within 18” of the Ironclad from this battalion, which is a pretty handy way to counter your standard Bravery of 6. The admiral hands out this bonus as well, but only in a 12” bubble, and his base is considerably smaller, so having the increased range from the Ironclad will keep your guys in the fight longer. You can also garrison the Arkanaut Company in heroes in the Ironclad at the game start to make sure they all stay in contingency, and keep your Endrinriggers close by to keep the Ironclad in peak condition until it unloads your battalion. With the new garrison and hitching rules, this is a great way to get a big bubble of models exactly where you need them, and make sure they stay there for the majority of the game.
Iron Sky Attack Squadron
(2+ Arkanaut Frigates, 1 Arkanaut Company for each Frigate you take)
Any Arkanaut Company units from this battalion can disembark before OR after the Frigate moves and can charge 3d6” if they disembarked in the same turn. If you want to dump some angry dwarves into your opponent’s lines with the quickness, this is definitely the battalion for you. Never mind the fact that they’re backed up by at least one Frigate per unit, so they’ll have their metal butts covered should the charge fail, unlikely as that may be. Notable subfactions for this battalion are Barak-Zilfin, who allow you to not only buy an extra endrinwork but also take Frigates as battleline, and Barak-Zon, which makes your units more powerful on the charge and when they’re close to ships. This battalion favors high aggression, and is really powerful if you augment it with a gunline, which KO have no problem providing.
Grundstok Escort Wing
(2-3 Grundstok Gunhaulers, 1 Arkanaut Ironclad or Arkanaut Frigate, 1 Grundstok Thunderers unit, 0-3 Skywardens units)
At the start of your shooting phase, choose one unit to focus on, and all shooting attacks that target that unit can re-roll hit rolls of 1. This is a devastating ability, especially if your opponent has brought a beefy important unit that you want to delete with extreme prejudice. If you take Barak-Urbaz, your compulsory Gunhaulers will count as battleline so you don’t have to take battleline tax, though the same will be true for the Skywardens if you have a flying Endrinmaster. Loading your Ironclad up with Thunderers packing special weapons is a great way to run this battalion, as your death flotilla will be ruining units left and right. Alongside the new Fly High rules, you can set up some nasty backfield death with little to no risk of reprisal.
Will you be using these battalions in your games?
