Warhammer 40,000 Battle Report #61 – Thousand Sons vs Ynnari

The Ynnari make their second approach in this grueling game of attrition. The blood will flow thickly, as the Eldar seek to awake their God of the Dead!

The Armies

The Seekers

Thousand Sons – 2,000

Combined Arms Detachment

HQ

Ahriman: WARLORD (Master of Deceit); Disc of Tzeentch, knows Tzeentch’s Firestorm, Boon of Mutation, Shrouding, Psychic Shriek, Mental Fortitude

Sorcerer: Mark of Tzeentch, Veteran of the Long War; Psyker (Mastery Level 3), Spell Familiar,   Sigil of Corruption, knows Tzeentch’s Firestorm, Treason of Tzeentch, Life Leech, Iron      Arm

TROOPS

Rubricae: four additional Rubric Marines; Rhino transport, Sorcerer knows Tzeentch’s       Firestorm, Baleful Devolution

Tzaangors

FAST ATTACK

Chaos Spawn: three additional Spawn, Mark of Tzeentch

HEAVY SUPPORT

Forgefiend

Combined Arms Detachment

HQ

Demon Prince: Mark of Tzeentch; Power Armor, Wings, Staff of Compulsion

Sorcerer: Mark of Tzeentch, Veteran of the Long War; Psyker (Mastery Level 3), Spell Familiar,   Sigil of Corruption, knows Tzeentch’s Firestorm, Baleful Devolution, Fury of the Gods,      Empyragheist

TROOPS

Rubricae: four additional Rubric Marines; Rhino transport, Sorcerer knows Tzeentch’s       Firestorm, Treason of Tzeentch

Tzaangors

HEAVY SUPPORT

Forgefiend

Yvraine’s Hand

Ynnari – 2,000

Combined Arms Detachment

HQ

Farseer: Skyrunner Jetbike, WARLORD (Ruthless Commander); Spirit Stone of Anath’lan,          Singing Spear, knows Spirit Hook, Storm of Whispers, Ancestor’s Grace, Gaze of Ynnead

Farseer: Singing Spear, knows Spirit Hook, Shield of Ynnead, Storm of Whispers, Ancestor’s          Grace

TROOPS

Windriders: 2x Scatter Laser

Guardian Defenders: Starcannon

Guardian Defenders: Starcannon

ELITES

Howling Banshees: Exarch has Executioner

HEAVY SUPPORT

Wraithlord: 2x Bright Lance, 2x Flamer, Ghostglaive

Dire Avenger Shrine

Dire Avengers: five additional Dire Avengers; Exarch has Twin Avenger Shuriken Catapults

Dire Avengers: two additional Dire Avengers

Dire Avengers: two additional Dire Avengers

Aspect Host

Fire Dragons: one additional Fire Dragon; Exarch has Firepike

Dark Reapers: two additional Dark Reapers; Starshot Missiles, Exarch

Dark Reapers: two additional Dark Reapers; Starshot Missiles, Exarch

Aspect Host

Warp Spiders: one additional Warp Spider; Exarch has Spinneret Rifle

Swooping Hawks: one additional Swooping Hawk; Exarch

Striking Scorpions: Exarch with Scorpion’s Claw

After Action Review

This game was a brutal fight to the finish. At one point it seemed like the Thousand Sons were going to walk away with it, and then they triggered that massive pile of Soulburst actions. The Thousand Sons supremacy was broken and pushed back again when that happened, and the meatgrinder continued. Turn five the Eldar had victory, but the game went on. Turn six as well, though their hold was a little more tenuous. Turn seven, and all was dust.

Ynnead forces play so much differently than normal Craftworld Eldar it is hard to view them as the same army. I’ve never been a big fan of Eldar walking across the table, but this game showed the power they can possess when Soulburst triggers with abundance. It was so grim to watch the dying race lose models so quickly, but the power they harnessed from the deaths kept them coming back and dealing additional damage.

Treason of Tzeentch was another big player in the outcome of this game. On some turns, the Thousand Sons did more damage with the Eldar’s weapons than they did with their own! The power is something I haven’t really dealt with since my only game against the Thousand Sons was with Khorne Demons, but the grisly nature of Hutch’s men slaughtering one another was sobering. I cringe when I think about the damage my Tau would do to one another if they fell under attack from this psychic power!

In the end, both players fought a hard game that ended with a handful of survivors, struggling to catch their breath. I’m sure both armies will return in the near future, with new plans on how to counter the rough treatment they experienced at the hands of their foes!