So i see a lot of people talk about the Waiqar against a spearstar. But i actually think a much more interesting question is how to handle the Reanimate Star as Daqan.

As an example

Reanimates x 12, with Ardus Ix Erebus, Front Line Carrion Lancer, Blighted Vexillum Bearer, Triumphant Cry and Lingering Dead
Ankaur Maro, with Heartseeker and Regenerative Magic
Leonx Riders x 2
Reanimate Archers x 2 with Combat Ingenuity


My idea here would be that a Daqan player would have to occupy the Reanimate Star while killing the other 3 units, and then hit the star hard and fast.

Therefore
Lord Hawthorne
Kari Wraithstalker, Fortunas Dice

Oathsworn Cavalry x4, Rank Discipline, Terrifying Herraldry

Oathsworn Cavalry x4, Rank Discipline, Terrifying Herraldry

and then either Spearmen x4 with Citadel Weapons Master
or Runegolem x1 and Runegolem x1

This leaves a couple of points you can do with what you want. What do you think? Would this be a decent counter or got any other ideas?

I've yet to find any 'star' a real problem to deal with, they are boring as heck from a gameplay standpoint though.

My solutions range wide, stunning with a 4 block golem tarpit and flanking is always entertaining.

When your opponent decides to not play the maneuver game (and runewars is a maneuver game), or gives you a huge edge in it (which they do when they take giant units) you just dance and crush em.

I just wanted to point out that Kari with Heartseeker would be excellent for sniping the enemy Ankaur Maro while he is weak from his necromantic powers. Or you could just charge into the Reanimates and use her surges to kill Maro. She'll probably die, too, but it might be worth it.

Unstable geomancer is very effective against large units, but does demand some consideration during list building (at least until outland scouts come out). You'll want a 2x2 spearmen to escorted him, and at least a couple things in your list that it won't hurt, which means heroes and small units of rune golems. A greyhaven channeler would sure be nice too, but I think that's overinvesting.

Use terrain to control where the large unit can go - deploy your piece at just under 4 units away from another piece, and now there's a big section of the board the deathstar cannot go through. Use your superior dials to force your opponent into hard decisions - do they brace for the charge and risk doing nothing if you don't engage, or dial in their own charge and let it be cancelled if you attack first? Daqan has a serious initiative advantage, use it to bully reanimates.

Try this, I have always beaten the Waiqar using some kind of version of it. You even have 4 points spare.

196/200

Oathsworn Cavalry x4 [34] (set as a 4x1)
--Training: Rank Discipline [4]
Spearmen x9 [59]
--Champion: Lance Corporal [6]
--Equipment: Shield Wall [5]
--Heavy: Front Line Rune Golem [7]
Lord Hawthorne x1 [34]
--Artifact: Shield of Margath [6]
--Unique: Might of Daqan [4]
Spearmen x4 [30] (set as 2x2)
--Champion: Dispatch Runner [7]

Use Hawthorne to build up some Inspiration at the start and while maneuvering towards your enemy. Try and get 4 points of inspiration on the spearstar (2 in the first turn and 2 more as you move forward)

Hawthorne and the cavalry can protect the flanks of the spearstar if they try and flank it. Or the Cavalry can take care of Ankaur in 1 turn with a charge and Hawthorne will destroy the archers all by himself.

Use Lance Corporal and the Shield wall to bring your defence to 3 and you'll find the spearstar takes a lot of damage to whittle down. Which is fine it means they aren't attacking Hawthorne or the Cavalry which free's them up to do their thing as above.

When issuing commands to the spearstar you can either rally to remove all banes, then use dispatch runner from the other spearman to attack for 12-15 points of damage or add the +1 defence/extra hit icon and attack twice. If your flanked or they are concentrating their attacks on the spearstar add the defence plus shield wall, if not then add the damage. Use the inspiration to ready the shield wall or remove the stun.

If your opponent spreads the blight then you can use your inspiration to remove any banes and then you get to attack twice thanks to dispatch runner for 24-30 points of damage a turn - that undead block wont last 2 turns Also if you tie up the archers at the same time as the spearstar hits, they wont be blighting anymore.

Try and keep the leonx riders away from the small unit of spearman as they are key to your spearstar being so strong. If this unit has blight it doesn't matter, if it's attacking your in deep trouble and something has terribly gone wrong or it must be late in the game and victory is yours already. You can also use your cavalry to take out the leonx riders if Ankaur is well protected.

To be honest Ankaur by himself is a weak choice to use by your opponent - I love it when they do that. You can ignore him for the entire game and mop him up last it really depends on how they deploy.

And don't forget to enjoy the game with a big smile on your face when he realises just how much damage you can do in a turn.