Battle Report #36: Caine2 vs Doomshaper3

More Caine2 practice! I play my list far too slowly, so I have decided to try just playing Caine2 until I manage to get sufficient speed. Today I face Mats and Doomshaper 3. Doomshaper 2 was one of my favourite Mk2 Warlocks, it's going to be interesting to see what his third incarnation is like.

Captain Allister Caine (75 points)

Captain Allister Caine
* Reinholdt
* Centurion
* Hunter
Journeyman Warcaster
* Firefly
Gun Mage Captain Adept
Ragman
Rhupert Carvolo
6 Rangers
5 Storm Lances
10 Trencher Infantry
Bunker

Hoarluk Doomshaper, Dire Prophet (75 points)

Hoarluk Doomshaper, Dire Prophet
* Dire Troll Mauler
* Earthborn Dire Troll

* Mulg the Ancient
* Pyre Troll
* Troll Axer
Lanyssa Ryssyl
Swamp Gobber Chef
6 Krielstone
* Stone Scribe Elder
Northkin Fire Eaters
3 Trollkin Warders

Deployment

I deploy Caine centrally. My game plan is to use the Centurion to lock down the left zone, and the Lances to clear the right zone. I place the Centurion directly in front of the left zone so that he can run turn 1, and walk and use Polarity shield turn 2. Due to the forest on his side, contesting the right zone seems to be the hardest for Doomshaper.

Turn 1

I run into position. I forget that the Fire Eaters have assault, leaving too many Rangers within spray range. Caine gets Bullet Dodger, Trenchers get Heightened Reflexes, and Caine gate crashes as far as he can up the board. He can't shoot a lot, so I give the Rangers Heroic Call.

The Pyre Troll sets the Fire Eaters on fire. They spray away half my Rangers.

Turn 2

All the fire burns out. Caine shoots Grievous wounds unto the Pyre, taking out his Mind, and also bounces a shot onto Lanyssa who dies. Then he teleports back. The rest of the units remove the Fire Eaters. The Hunter snipes out the Gobber Chef that could have contested the right zone next turn.

I forgot that the Earthborn could trample. He kills off one of the Lances. Doomshaper feats, and Mulg and the Scroll Bearer together increase my upkeep cost to 3. The Centurion is hit with Strangehold.

Edit: Eric from the Cygnar FB group pointed out that the upkeep cost is actually 4 per spell - it's doubled twice.

Turn 3

I cannot keep my upkeeps. I spend too much time considering an assassination, when attrition is clearly the way to go. I feat and shoot Grievous Wounds onto all the Dire Trolls. Together with Ragman and the units I kill the Earthborn, Mauler, do some damage to Mulg, and jam up everything.

1-0

Doomshaper is in trouble. He has no assassination play and is losing on both attrition and scenario.

He decides to try to free up Mulg, which he manages, but he does only light damage to the Centurion.

2-0

Turn 4

I kill Mulg. Mats concedes.

Cygnar wins by attrition!

Post Mortem

Grievous Wounds is good against trolls, but it is just crazy against Doomshaper. It completely neuters his feat, as well as other abilities. Mats decides he never wants to play this matchup again.

I am happy with my play, I think I played solidly, and I never felt that Doomshaper pressured me.