Old Dominion (Xhiliarch Legions) Vs. Spires (Biomancer Directorate)

We tried out a new FLGS this week and Brent was kind enough to meet me on a random day and with my two oldest in tow. I have finally moved away from the Mounted Strategos warlord (BEGRUDGINGLY). I still can’t play anything besides Legions, as I love Tier 4 Dark Power and the list style it gives me. I really need to try out some of the other styles available to Old Dominion but that will come later.

The Lists

Classic Legions goodstuff here, we have a lot of bodies we don’t care about to give us Dark Power. We have a LOT of scenario pressure thanks to all the Vanguard from the Warlord and the Memory of Old from the Legionaries, we also have reliable turn 2 scoring. And then the late game HAMMER of the Xhiliarch (Killy-arch) with the Varangian Guard. This is a good list in my opinion, it feels VERY strong.

I think Abominations are really, really strong. Directorate giving them March 10 is really scary. They are just so much faster than anything I can bring to the game (maybe one of the fastest units in the game?). I think Brent has a great list here that is leaning into some early game pressure at the expense of staying power and late game punch. But that is a viable style! Especially if Brent is able to leverage that speed into unpunishable trades, or flank and rear attacks to trigger Brittle.

The Scenario

This is a solid scenario for both of our lists, there is a nice amount of terrain including two impassible pieces near the center. Brent will be able to push forward and take ground aggressively, meaning I will have to push him off of zones.

Early Game

Round 1 – So many lights, so many bodies to screen. I get my Cultists and start sending some MIGHTY prayers to Hazlia for Dark Power.

Round 2 – Just as we predicted. I have 3 regiments and Brent has 7, I am about 17″ up the table (Thanks Vanguard 2 from the Warlord) And Brent is like…30″ up the table.

Mid Game

Round 3 – Okay, people are starting to attack, and one day I will touch a zone. The game store didn’t have a game mat the right size, so you’ll notice some janky water/plywood on the left side. But we made sure to measure things right don’t worry. Okay, a unit of Force Grown Drones tries to tie up my Kataphraktoi and boy did they pay the price for that. Main highlights from this round include the Vanguard Clones OBLITERATING my Archimandrite, I really expected them to live but I think that was just an error on my part. An Abomination Marches and Charges into my Hierodeacon and Cultists and does some minor damage. Thankfully I had the correct Spell Cast and I was able to get some Dark Power (DP) Finally it’s time for the Kataphraktoi to go. They Clash and kill the Force Grown Drones in front of them and then thanks to the Supremacy ability make the 5″ charge into the Onslaught Drones without a problem. The Drones as expected are smashed into a fine paste.

Round 4 – Or the round things just got ded. I will be completely up front here. My Athanatoi went absolutely BANANAS this round. It was a thing of beauty. Left to right, the Abomination on the left goes Sicko Mode and kills two stands of Varangians, and I was heartbroken. Prodromoi and the Killy-Arch (My new band name?) make sure it learns to never do that again. I pop supremacy on the Killy-Arch and he gets to attack 10 times, with Cleave 3, Flurry, and Deadly Blades….It’s one heckuva drug fellas….Katas up top live longer than they have any right to and do some okay damage into both Abominations. Each unit of Athanatoi kill a Monster and some FGD charge my flank. Brent forgot I had two Legios coming in from reserves and sends his Vanguard clones up and reforms them. Leaving that Juicy Clone Booty open and exposed. The other Legios unit goes on the left to allow my more punchy units freedom to punch.

End Game

Round 5 – At this point in time Attrition has gone off the rails a bit. I have a solid amount of stuff (Legios and Varangians) left on the left flank, and my Right flank is very scary. The Abomination does get to go after my Prodromoi but the writing is on the wall

Round 6 – Here is where we call the game. Left side I will be scoring both zones, same with the right side. My Prodromoi are going to March Charge the remaining unit of Desolation Drones and even if they die they will have delayed the game to the point it would be impossible to kill everything or come back on scenario. A win for Definitely the good guys the Old Dominion!

Post Game

Honestly, just a great game of Conquest, there was some great back and forth, and we both commented about how wildly deadly the game was. By Round 4 things were just dead. Brent was able to get great value out of the Brittle Rule, my Athanatoi went absolutely bonkers, we each got to have some hero moments. I feel like I am finally starting to shake off some of the rust I’ve accumulated.

Now for the elephant in the room, I have been GLAZING the Mounted Strategos Warlord for weeks now and it’s just sadly…not the case. Xhiliarch felt AMAZING. The power increase for the Killy-Arch, the ability to make long charges feel much more possible. Just…great stuff. GREAT STUFF. This might be the strongest style for Old Dominion right now. I did miss the Mounted Strategos but I do have to admit the Xhiliarch felt like the stronger Warlord after this game.

Things I Did Well – I had good order of activations here, I was able to make sure key things were still alive as my Dark Power grew (Varangians, Athanatoi). I knew my win condition was going to be Attrition not really Scenario and for once I made sure to follow my Pre Game Plan. I liked how I used my 2 MSU units of Legios to take over a zone after my Killy Units fought for them. Instead of bringing them in right away and just throwing them away.

Things I Want to Improve – Both of my Spellcaster Units were played quite poorly, I think a bit safer positioning from them, or maybe positioning them in such a way that my supporting units can be IN FRONT of them after a Double March would really help my game. ESPECIALLY the healing, I really really missed the healing this game.

Things Brent Did Well – Brent always plays really well, I think his gameplay was solid and his gameplan of “Jail and Score” was the right call. He jailed me really well, capitalized on my mistakes with my Spellcasters and probably the only real hiccup was when the Vanguards Marched Forward and Reformed, otherwise it was a great game played really well and could’ve gone either way. I was able to eek out a victory thanks to the nature of my list being more powerful in the late game.

As always thanks again for reading! I always have a blast writing these and they help me improve a ton. Hopefully you gain enjoyment or improvement as well! As always, make sure to stay tuned into the Line of Sight for more great content. I started a TTS GT with Spires this week so that reports coming. I am also starting a TTS GT for Star Craft first round into Protoss this week! Lots of great content coming. The next Episode of Awaiting Orders is also coming down the pipeline.