TTS Tournament Written Report Round Two: Spires (Pheromancer Underspires) Vs. Spires (Pheromancer Underspires)

It’s Round Two for the Conquest TLAOK TTS tournament and I am matched up against a wonderful fellow Redbeard from I believe…Germany? (At least that’s what it says on Longshanks). He was an absolute delight to play against and I could tell right away this was going to be a fun one.

Pre Game

Lists – This is a mirror match in only about one way, Warlord and Faction. Other than that our lists differ quite largely.

Tarpits, heavy ranged damage, and some classic Spires Goodstuffs. I like my list a lot.

First off, I laughed so hard at the list name. When I looked at this list I got a little nervous. 4 incarnates with that much healing is nigh on impossible to chew through (I’m really missing my Xhiliarch and Varangian Guard right now). The early game pressure from 3 units of Vanguard Clones is terrifying.

We got the scenario Maelstrom and I immediately try to identify some key aspects of this game.

First – This is my second game of Spires. Redbeard knows this matchup way more than me.

Two – I have some terrifying ranged presence and I can get a lot of firepower to bear on two of the zones.

Three – I do not have the early game, I need to kill off the Vanguard units without losing too much.

Early Game

Annnnd heeeere weeee goooo.

Round One – All the Vanguards are here and I am scared. I’ve got my poor lil Vanguard Clones (VC) in the Forest, Red has a Vanguard Clone left, Vanguard Clones mid-right, Vanguard Clone Infiltrators (VCI) and some Force Grown Drones (FGD) plodding up the mid-right.

I know the left side is going to be where my ranged castle parks. At this point I am trying to decide what is actually going to go on the right side, how much to dedicate there.

Round Two – Lessons Learned. Vanguard Clones HURT. He strains them and does a ton of damage to my Vanguard Clones. We begin a very strange dance around the right zone. He brings in monsters from each flank and starts to score ending the round 0-2 for Redbeard.

Round Three – We’re in the thick of things now. VCI murder my poor VC. I continue to posture around the right side not really wanting that trade but not being close enough to make something happen. Left side becomes quite the heartbreak, I am aggressive with my FGD to try and take and hold that zone, but the card count is firmly in Redbeard’s favor and I end up eating Desolation Drones plus a Pteraphon right to the face and they chew through a ton of stands.

Mid Game

Round 4 – I was really hoping to go first this round (Always a sign things aren’t great, but let’s be honest, his list is built to do this. Creating early game pressure) because I wanted to heal up the FGD unit. Sadly that isn’t in the cards. Pteraphon is able to go first and strain to make it so there is no healing. FGD are able to take the Pteraphon out along the way but that is a key asset down. I bring the Pheromancer in as a response to try and shore up that side. In response the Desolation Beast goes ABSOLUTELY BANANAS. I reduced the defense of the Incarnate Sentinels with the Desolation Drones and the Desolation Beast hits 11 shots with SIX of them being a roll of ones. He kills most of two incarnates and most of the Vanguard Clones on his own. We were both blown away by the impact of that shot. Marksman Clones take some minor Pot Shots. Center goes quite well as the poor VC attacking the Abomination whiff heavily and only do 3 damage. Left continues to be a comedy of errors on my part. I send in the Brutes as my goal to March Charge as the VCI are very weak from Straining often. Then my Abomination would be able to charge into the Flank of the opposing Abomination and I could take over that flank. Sadly. Neither worked out at all. My Brutes do next to nothing thanks to poor rolls and tenacious. My Abomination does get to Charge Clash, but only does 8 damage total. Then his Abomination spikes a touch and my poor Gribbly Boy is dead. The right side is now completely lost. 5-3 for Redbeard

Round 5 – Man, remember the thing I always hammer on? If you’re counting on going first things have gone wrong? Well here I am again counting on going first (I have learned nothing and will continue to harp on this point until I learn) (The Beatings will continue until morale improves)

Anyway so I don’t go first. My opponent is CLEVER and actually double Marches his Incarnates backwards. My Brutes are now out of range of anything important so they March, Charge in. This forces the Brutes to reform and charge into the flank. They spike quite nicely and kill a stand thanks to help from the Desolation Drones shooting them beforehand. My shooting castle continues to rain down fire and destruction. Center is going well. My Marksman Clones do quite a bit of damage to the Brute Drones and the resulting loss of attacks means my Abomination is able to survive. We do not speak of the right side. 10-4 for my Opponent.

Late Game

Round 6 – I take one last flail to try and clear off the left side. If I can…I can potentially shoot VCI enough to take the center? But sadly the healing and regeneration of those dang, dirty Spires are too powerful! At this point we decide to call it. The writing is on the wall and there is very little I can do. We talk out the last rounds and end the game 30-4 for Redbeard! A dominant victory for sure!

Post Game

My opponent and I had a great post game conversation about the game and here are some of the highlights

What I Did Well – My ranged units were positioned really well. They threatened two thirds of the board and were terrifying.

What I Did Poorly – We identified a handful of things that I could’ve done better but one of the key ones that popped up over and over was the error of going to balls to the wall. Honestly there were so many moments this game that I sent things in with a March Charge and a prayer I win supremacy next round. Way too much time was spent avoiding the main strength of my list. Crazy insane ranged damage that is able to combine high volume AND armor piercing in a way no other faction can (Except maybe Yoroni Birbs but screw those guys /s).

What My Opponent Did Well – He controlled the game with his early board pressure, I was worried that having 4 Lights in a list would lead to some difficulty scoring and other problems, but his Light Regiments traded really well. His positioning was fantastic as he was able to see what I deployed and counter deploy. He used his Strains optimally. Just all around a fantastic opponent in terms of demeanor and skill! Can’t wait for the rematch!

And that’s Round Two! Not the result I was hoping for but an excellent game and I have learned and improved. Next up! A few Star Craft Battle Reports from the TTS tournament I am taking part in. But don’t worry we’re never far from more Conquest content.