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I just lost a great game down at Gamescape. 35 Points, my Absylonia Tier 4 list vs. someone playing Skorne with - as the title says - both Molik Karn and Makeda on the field. I was caught completely off guard by my opponent's threat range. Although he chose not to push his advantage quite as far as he could have, so we could both have a better game, he could have attempted a warbeast-powered assassination run on his second turn. And I thought that I was playing the Alpha Strike army! The rest of my opponent's army almost didn't matter, except that they kept some of my beasts distracted.

As it was, I think lost like I have a pair, managing to kill Molik Karn and then go down swinging against his Warlock herself.

But that Malik Karn/Makeda combo seems... really good. How is it beaten, with Everblight and other factions?

I will add that I got feedback from my (gracious and sportsmanlike) opponent. He recommended using the cook pot (Spawning Vessel) in my list, saying that he felt that its ability to spawn lessers and clutter the field with little fury machines would serve me well against armies that bring the carnage so quickly. The Internet's opinion seems to be rather down on the cook pot in Aby's list, but I've got one and I could give it a go.

You answered this yourself, you didn't realize the threat range. Now you know the threat range making this MU way "easier" as you know what it can do.

Now how do you deal with it knowing what it can do?
You zone Karn(ideally giving him infantry as they are cheap) until you are able to deal with him(the army has to advance for scenarios which is its weakness as it lacks staying power at this points level due to the cost of the beasts making up like 2/3 of his army and its all about supporting Karn) or you trade a piece for Karn by putting a semi-tempting target out, but if he charges this you have a heavy or something that will charge him next turn(even with fatewalker or sprint he can only get back like 10 or 11 inches) meaning something of yours should be able to charge him.

You also have blightfield which can be useful for zoning him(placing it on him if hes NOT engaged is worthless as he charges for free due to paingivers thus isn't forced).

Now to zone him in your tier...yeah it requires a lot of lessers which is going to put you on the losing end at the end of the day most likely.

I personally never play a tier list as they have to many restrictions and usually make for bad MU's against non-tier, especially a low model list like yours. Now if he is playing tier then you can take advantage of his lack of pathfinder(no Gladiator in the list) along with the rest, and he has less distance. I do see how playing her tier list can be advantageous at this points level since you are taking probably 2 sheperds, a forsaken, a light(shredder), and 3 heavies anyway maswell add in the additional forsaken and 2 lights who will be partially payed for by the cheaper heavies.

The Molik missile is a really good tactic... against someone who doesn't know it's coming. Everything Silver Saint said above about Karn and his threat ranges, etc are great bits of information. I don't know Legion well enough to offer you any advice in that regard, but I can toss out some advice on how to weather the Molik storm.

Firstly, the game is all open information. If you see Molik Karn on the other end of the table, you should ask your opponent what his maximum threat range is, on his own and with support. Unless you're playing against a real jerk, they should tell you.

Secondly, once you are aware of his threat range and what will aid him in getting that crazy, it's just a matter of out manoeuvring him, which is way easier said than done. Baiting him with big targets or blocking up the way with squishy targets is a good way to drag out a turn or turn. Use terrain (linear obstacles, forests, etc) to prevent him from getting too close. Pathfinder makes him avoid those obstacles, but if you can drop the Gladiator while Karn is busy with the chaff, you'll find that he's much easier to deal with.

Lastly, and this is just my opinion on the Missile tactic, but your opponent has about three turns to take you out. After turn three, you have a better chance of taking him out. The list will not attrition well. If you can manage to drag out the game while plinking away at the Gladiator or at Karn then you'll be in good shape. Karn has 28 health and an 18 armor. He's quite squishy.

Also pay attention to Makeda (I take it you played against eMakeda as she makes this very easy). A beast has to stay within control range to be forced. You almost certainly know this but it's worth pointing out to others.

Other hints: Sidestep is only off enemy models. Before the latest errata the skorne player could run infantry models in to bounce off. Now they have to rely on you to do the job. So don't keep models close to you. Screen from further out leaving (sidestep+reach) inches between you.

Molik Karn is also very fragile. But you have to catch him first so ranged attacks are a possibility.

I remember a podcast having info, I'll find it and post back info later.

Also remember he can only side step off initials, not bought attacks.

With Absy? Easy, blightfield on your caster. No forcing for him, Absy is a god at resource management, so you can just keep fury around for transfers. Just keep Typhon near you with forced evolution, he'll tear him to pieces in a single round of combat.

I haven't personaly faced him with Absy so I this is all in theory.

With eLylyth, just bolt thrower him, the push will completely screw up his threat range, and if you get a crit that's pretty much game over for him. He's actually quite squishy.

Any of hour melee heavies can take him down in a single turn of combat (Carni, Typhon, Scythean, maybe even proteus).

My main casters are eLylyth and Rhyas so I've never had that much trouble with him. I bring full Raptors in both those lists, and those can actually quite easily cripple or kill him in on a charge, especialy if you soften him up first with ranged.

If you kill Karn early on then the rest of the list falls apart. He really is a 1 trick pony and if you let it, that pony will kick you in the face. Just keep your guns handy and that horse is off to the glue factory before you know it.

Exactly, and legion has plenty of stuff that can take care of him.