The Control Phase Episode 13.5 - 2026 Mid-Year Update!

In this overdue episode, Matt and Marc-André go over the recent World Team Championship and share their thoughts about the experience. They then broach the topic of how to play when low on clock while still playing a clean game. They round this out with their initial thoughts about the Dread Armada rules that have been spoiled in the last few weeks. Get your Maple Melee tickets here: https://maplemelee.ca/product/2027-Maple-Melee

In this bonus episode, Keith and Marc-André go through the recently published WTC lists. They talk about their expectations vs reality, dark horses, team composition and who they think will take it all home.

In this condensed episode, the fellas go through the newly revealed Harasheth box at length while also spending some time on Drago and Barl Dunax. They give their overall impressions of Menoth and his Gifts, rounding things out some predictions about which factions and armies will be popular at the upcoming World Team Championship.

The fellas are back to tackle the latest wave of releases and spoilers with some hands-on experience to supplement their hot takes. They then dive into the differences between playing as the attacker and defender, including what you should be trying to accomplish and what you should be trying to avoid. Lastly they tackle some listener questions on dark horse lists, their favourite parts of Steamroller and how to manage "the chase" in the context of Warmachine.

The boys are back and dive right into the recent spate of high profile releases, including gameplay discussions around Bandit as well as the Constance Blaize & Gallant pair, while also noting that the Swarm Warden was also released. They then pick up a recent discussion regarding the current over-representation of Warlock-lead armies in the competitive scene, with some ideas about why this is happening and what can be done to put things on a more event footing. They round this out with some musings about how to identify your win condition on a given turn in order to get over the finish line in a given match.  Who Is the Beatdown? https://articles.starcitygames.com/articles/whos-the-beatdown/ Moment of Clarity: https://www.youtube.com/@Moment_of_Clarity_gaming

The guys are back and ready to yap. They dive into the latest Nyrro spoilers and go through some of Ashmael's strengths & weaknesses. They then discuss the use of defenses in a sapperless world. They then do a recap of the recent Bytown Beatdown, with a short update about the quest to play all of the casters in 2026.

Courtesy of SFG, the fellas go through all of the changes in the 2026 Mid-Year Update and give their thoughts. Was the Slaughterhouse nerfed enough? What of Old Umbrey's top performers? Will Storm Legion finally get a competitive pair? These topics and more in our first bonus episode!

In this extra-long episode, the fellas go through the recent LnL EU spoilers including Scuttlebutt, the Shadow Seraph, General Gunnbjorn and the first couple of Fane of Nyrro Boxes. They then take a long-overdue crack at listener questions, including one that was delivered in person. Marc-André then finishes things off with a recap of his Iron Gauntlet Finals games. Prelude Recap 1:40 Assorted LnL Spoiler Talk 14:41 Fane Talk 1:07:38 Listener Questions 1:22:11 Iron Gauntlet Bat Reps 1:44:40

The fellas get back to work and discuss recent events including the Bokur Brawl, le Grand Clash & the Australian Super Series. They then go over the recently released Imperatus2 and Chainbelcher cards, including some ideas about how lists could be built with them. They round this out with some thoughts on etiquette in Warmachine, and how to give their opponents a memorable but enjoyable game. *RE-POSTED DUE TO AGGREGATOR BUG*

In this busy episode, the guys tackle much of the recent news - the Command Card overhaul being chief among them. They also talk about their favourite Adepticon teasers, and review the tourney results of the past few weeks. This is all capped off with with a discussion of how Kithguard is shaping up as an army, including talk about how Trap Doors are playing out on the battlefield. https://bytownbeatdown.ca/