Borka 15pt Tooth and Claw

[benfromidaho712]

Hey there everyone! So I played Warmachine and Hordes waaay back in MKI days, and I'm stepping back into the ring with a new faction: Trollbloods! I haven't played MKII really at all, but I'm going to get in a couple of test games and then play in our FLGS's Tooth and Claw/Mangled Metal tourney this month. I've always loved Borka, so I thought I'd give him a spin. What does everyone think?

Borka
Mauler
Axer
Impaler

I've read a bunch of lists already posted on here, and it seems like a Mauler and Axer are imperative with Borka. The Impaler seems like the best choice since I'll get one in the Battlegroup, and it'll offer me some ranged, however minimal.

Let me know your thoughts.

[hmk17]

It looks okay, but that Impaler is kind of on his own with Borka. Do you have access to a Pyre Troll? You might find it a bit more to taste with the Mauler and the Axer for those 5 points.

It has a decent AOE ranged attack with Continuous: Fire. But it suffers from RAT 4.
It causes Fire if someone hits it and its not killed. (VERY Situational, but useful if it happens)
Its Animus gives Fire Immunity (Anti-Menoth and Legion) as well as a damage boost and Critical: Fire to melee attacks.

Give it a play test see if it works out.

[benfromidaho712]

Thanks for the reply. I too thought the Impaler seemed a little forced, although I'm wanting to build Drunk and Disorderly, which I don't believe the Pyre Troll is part of. Are Winter Trolls worth it?

[benfromidaho712]

Just got back from the tournament, and I ended up going 1-1-1. First game was against Cygnar, and I misjudged my second activation movement, leaving me inside a forest unable to escape the killbox. It wasn't until after the game I realized the Axer's animus gives Pathfinder. So it was a loss, but a lesson well learned. Second game I was up against Cygnar again, and this game really showed me how little I need the Impaler. He is nice and all, but he doesn't pack much of a punch and with Borka I'm not playing a shooting game. The game ended a draw because I couldn't get through his jack wall fast enough to put the hurt on Darius. The last game put me up against Cryx, and here, my boys really shined. I turtled a bit turn one and two, and weathered Denegra's Feat, then laid out plenty of hurt on bone jacks and Denegra alike. Melee seems like the only way to go with Borka.

So here's the new plan. I want to move up to 25 points. So far I have Borka, a Dire Troll Mauler, a Troll Axer, and a Troll Impaler. I figure I'll drop the Troll Impaler, and probably pick up an Earthborm Dire Troll. I also like Fennblades and the Fellcaller. What else should I be looking at?

[eyescrossed]

Wait, running 2 Dire Trolls and an Axer with a 5 Fury Warlock?! Get you some Whelps, boy!

[benfromidaho712]

@Eyescrossed I'm on a business trip right now, and I don't have my book in front of me, what would Whelps do for me? It's not that I don't believe that they won't help me, I'm just not familiar with them.

I did a little list playing this weekend, and I think I figured out a 25 point list I like, but I'm not sure how well it will do in games. What does everyone think?

Borka Kegslayer +5
Pyg Keg Carrier -
Dire Troll Mauler 9
Earthborn Dire Troll 10

Fell Caller Hero 3
10 Trollkin Fennblades 8

[Lost Effect]

I like the list the only thing you might want to keep on eye out is how much ground the EBDT will cover with Borka's feat.
5+3+2 (SPD+Charge+Feat) is right at Borka's control range so he might be charging right out of range. I have done it in some of my early games

[benfromidaho712]

Thanks for that input @Lost Effect. I almost did that with the Dire Troll Mauler in the Tooth and Claw list, luckily I was barely in. Any secrets to keeping Borka and his Pyg Keg Bearer in step with the rest of the battle group?

[Lost Effect]

I play Borka forward, with IF on him so he is the same SPD as his heavies this will keep his DEF higher.
in about turn 2 or 3 (This depends on the opponents play style):

Drop Iron Flesh from Borka if you think you can make the charge with his feat.
Actions go like so:
Keggy: top off Borka
Borka: Pop Feat,cast Rush on EBDT, cast Rage on what you are going to go eat a heavy. Charge or advance to move forward some while keeping the beasts in back or your CTRL Range. After you are done attacking what you needed to recast if you will still have 1 FURY for transfers.
Axer: Cast rush (Him or Mauler) if needed for the extra range or pathfinder, charge, threasher. distance potential: (5 SPD +3 Charge + 2 Feat + 2 Rush + 2 Reach = 14in Threat)
EBDT: Send it going after their heavy (5 + 3 + 2 Feat + 2 Rush + 2 Ruff terrain = 14in Threat)
Mauler: Send it to eat some thing, or trample. (5 + 3 + 2 + 2 Rush = 12in Threat)

So with all of these fast trolls going and his short CRTL I have him go first and check my CTRL to make sure I can get the targets I want.

Hope this helps some.

[benfromidaho712]

Thanks a bunch for the tactics. This will be a painting week for me, since I'm out of town. Next week I hope to get in, to my FLGS, to, at the very least, get a proxy game in at 25 points. Hopefully, I'll be able to employ the tactics you used above. I'm excited to clock more time with this list to get the details pounded out before my next tournament.