Tuesday, August 4, 2015

Convergence wins Gencon Masters + IG

Jason Watt - usually the second best player at any large given US tournament (with occassional exceptions) - has added two nerd championships to his name with a large convention clean sweep.


Lists:

 

Masters


Axis (tier 4)
2x Inverter
Corollary
4x Enigma Foundry
2x Full Obstructor
Full Reductors
3x Clockwork Angels
Optifex Directive

ADR:
Inverter
Max Reductors
Min Reductors + UA

Lucant
Prime Axiom
Inverter
Corollary
2x Enigma Foundry
2x Accretion Servitors
Full Obstructors
Full Reciprocators
Optifex Directive

ADR:
ADO
TEP
2x Clockwork Angels
Min Reductors

Probably the most popular SR CoC pairing at the moment. Axis' theme provides a Cryx-like infantry rush with Cryx-like infantry recursion backed by a Cryx-like 2 turn feat.
The ADR choices likely revolve around switching out some Obstructors for Reciprocators to help against either infantry swarming or anti-melee tech, and putting in an Inverter if you need more punch against beast-heavy tank lists.
It is a very strong attrition and scenario list. Its primary weakness is accurate shooting which can take out the Foundries or snipe out Axis.

Which is why you pair it with Lucant, who can not only grind like a boss but is excellent against ranged. The ADR choices are interesting, seeming to revolve around improving the range of the list (which otherwise has none outside the Axiom).

Iron Gauntlet 

Lucant 50 

Prime Axiom
Inverter
Corollary
2x Enigma Foundry
2x Optifex Directive
Full Obstructors
Full Reciprocators


Axis 50 (tier 4)

2x Inverter
Corollary
4x Enigma Foundry
2x Full Obstructors
Full Reductors
3 x Clockwork Angels
Optifex Directive


Syntherion 50 (Tier 4)

Prime Axiom
Cipher
Assimilator
Diffuser
Corollary
Galvanizer (free)
TEP
2x ADO
Accretion Servitors
Optifex Directive


Lucant 75 (Gauntlet Rounds)

Prime Axiom
3x Inverter
Corollary
2x Enigma Foundry
3x Clockwork Angels
Full Obstructors
Full Reciprocators
2x Optifex Directive



A few (uneducated) thoughts:


On the choice of lists:
As mentioned, Axis Tier 4 and Lucant are currently the most popular Convergence pairings. From my understanding, the field at Gencon was also quite light in RFP tech (one thing that quite hurts both lists), likely because Lich2 and Morvahna2 aren't considered super trendy anymore.

Syntherion is also a caster that fits his theme force like a glove, as it is essentially "don't play infantry = get free stuff". He does very little for infantry, so it's not a hard choice. The TEP also helps a lot. I am guessing this was selected over Iron Mother as the "ranged list" partially out of familiarity, and partially because it also can pack a mean melee punch thanks to Synergy.

On Lucant in Gauntlet Rounds (final vs Ret):
Lucant is recognized as CoC's strongest caster so logically he is expected as the Gauntlet drop. Additionally, he scales quite well with points increases on account of his feat & Deceleration affecting all his models, Watcher having more angles as BG size increases, Purification, and his Shield Guard Field Marshall.

Retribution is primarily a range attrition or assassination faction, both of which Lucant defends quite well against. I don't know what the other final was against, but I'd suspect Legion?

On the heavy use of Inverters:
Inverters are boss. They are great at what they do, which is blow shit up in melee. That is it. They are arguably one of the hardest hitting heavies in the game, and synergize excellently with Axis and Lucant due to both having out of activation attack options (Counter Charge & Watcher), and both having a melee damage buff (Feat & Positive Charge).

In a meta what ARM stacking and Trolls are increasingly popular, Inverters shine. And here they are.

On Max FA of Clockwork Angels w/ Axis:
Angels are really good at two things: being ranged skirmishers, and not getting shot. I can understand why you want to put them with Lucant (Deflection for DEF 18 vs ranged), but why Axis? Since at the time of writing I've yet to play them, I can only speculate that it is much like taking Spitters and Croak Hunters with Rask in Blindwater - having accurate, long-ranged ranged attacks to clear charge lanes or remove important enemy models drastically improves the melee centric function of the rest of your list. I would suspect that they are not rushed forward, but stay within range of the Foundries (either on a flank or behind your Obstructors) so they can be returned if necessary.

On TEP in Syntherion
One of the good things (or stupid things, depending on how you feel about BATLs) about Syntherion's theme force is that you can take the TEP. This gives you a model that can potentially deal out a large number of attacks (through sprays), at respectable accuracy and/or POW, without needing any support from Syntherion.

Hopefully we will have Watt post or record his thoughts in the coming weeks so we can get some informed opinion on the matter, rather than my poor speculation.

Actual valuable info: http://privateerpressforums.com/showthread.php?235182-GenCon-Masters-with-Convergence-of-Cyriss

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