Kickstart your Kithguard – field a 100-point list with Tarja Grimtusk

Want to see where Captain Tarja Grimtusk can take a full Southern Kriels Kithguard force? Fraser’s been getting table time in with Kithguard’s newly revealed leader, and his 100-point “Jungle Boogie” list leans into what makes Tarja so dangerous on the battlefields of Warmachine.

Fraser here! Download the Warmachine app to build this “Jungle Boogie” list yourself for free, including:

• Tarja Grimtusk

• Chomper

• Jungle Troll – Headband, Machete, Combat Knife

• Jungle Troll – Headband, Heavy Slugger, Assault Shield

• Jungle Troll – Headband, Thumper, Flamethrower

• Mistborn Dire Troll – Hard Head, Back Cannon, Ice Cleaver, Bucklered Fist

• Vorogger

• Captain Logan Grindstone

• Fire Guardian

• Pvt. Rattles

• Kithguard Infantry (Slugger & Mortar) + Sergeant

• Medics x2

• Tunnel Rats

• Scrappers

There’s two things in particular I’m trying to get the most out of with this list:

1. Kithguard are very good at applying the right tool for the job, via their dynamic ambushing capabilities

2. Tarja can ambush Jungle Trolls!

These, combined with Tarja’s feat and potent spell list (particularly Crimson Ballet) create plenty of opportunities to jump into the fight, get your work done, then spread out across the table and pull your opponent’s army in every direction as they try to catch you.

As a result, and despite the multiple hard-hitting warbeasts in the list, this is very much a scenario-focused build. Let me explain why I’ve chosen to approach Tarja this way.

The list will typically get things going with Tarja’s feat. Tarja’s feat is great for several reasons, but it’s also the only reliable way she has to speed up her models, and once it’s gone, it's gone. As a result, even though Tarja can be pretty good at getting off a decent alpha strike before sprinting away, once that’s done, she might find herself out-threatened and out-gunned.

So, to stop the game from slowly slipping away from her, I’m basing Tarja’s list and gameplan around using her feat turn to apply as much scenario pressure as possible, effectively putting the opponent on a clock.

The critical thing here is not to ambush everything all in one go. It’ll be tempting, but hear me out:

• Tarja only gives one Jungle Troll sneak attack each turn, so drip feeding them onto the table means their overall output gets meaningfully higher. Also, because each one has a different weapon loadout, there’s often one of the three that can operate more effectively than the others on any given turn. (Typically, the order is: one of the shooty ones > the melee one > the other shooty one).

• There are only three trap door markers to work with each turn. Yes, the Tunnel Rats will put them back in play afterwards, but the good ambushing spots for a single turn will quickly dry up.

• Tarja’s feat only affects one unit, so it’s better to save the other.

• It's important to save some units so you can respond to how the opponent reacts to Tarja’s feat.

With all this in mind, after I’ve done all my ambushing, placing charging, sprinting etc, I’m trying my best to spread out my models, while still positioning them on as many scenario elements as possible. This is really going to give the opponent a head-scratching turn, particularly with some reinforcements staying behind in ambush.

Okay, that’s the bigger gameplan covered. Now, let’s look at some of my other unit choices.

Logan Grindstone, Kithguard’s newest support solo, is mostly here for shield guard. Being able to let a different unit protect the models you do deploy against shooting each turn is pretty effective, especially considering the “footprint” of those models is relatively small.

Aside from that, giving Tarja a reroll with Combat Coordination can be important when she starts her Killing Spree shenanigans later in the game.

I’ve opted for Kithguard Infantry plus UA to complement Scrappers as my second “get work done” unit. They’re a solid unit with versatile ranged options, but that’s not the main reason I want them in this list.

I’ve included them for their extended ambush, which lets them deploy 5" from a table edge instead of 3". Combined with Tarja’s feat, that lets them get 8" in from the table edge while still being able to shoot. Importantly, that puts them in contesting range of quite a few scenario elements. At the end of the day, this is a scenario list.

I’ll make one more honourable mention for the noble Fire Guardian. Something Tarja can struggle with is the short range on her buffs, with RNG 6 on both Carnivore and Rage, in an army that likes to ambush and spread out. The Fire Guardian helps with that by either letting her channel through it or extending that range.

Final note: Tarja’s Jungle Trolls do not leave home without their headbands for extended control range.

What do you think? Will you be trying Fraser’s Jungle Boogie list? Download the Warmachine app now to build it yourself free. You’ll find the models in:

• Southern Kriels Kithguard Command Starter — out now!

• Southern Kriels Kithguard Battlegroup Box — releasing March 26

• Southern Kriels Kithguard Core Expansion — releasing April 21

• Southern Kriels Fire Tongue Warriors Command Cadre — out now!

Got questions? Head to the #southern-kriels-kithguard channel in the official Warmachine Discord.