Upsets! Comebacks! Hot plays and sweet sweet strategic goodness…
King of the Hill Season 2 Episode 4 was a good one. Over 500 viewers were treated to some of the most interesting and skillful gameplay we have ever seen, ably casted by Stormless and A_E.
We highly recommend watching all the games in this series. Alternatively, click on the spoiler bars for an overview of each match as they happened.
Game 1 – Noggano vs. Jae for Jett OKW (Luftwaffe Ground Forces Doctrine) vs. USF (Infantry Company)
Map – Langreskaya
Match report: Show Spoiler
Early game:
Seasoned veteran Noggano comes out slugging in the first match, using double Luchs to punish Jaeâs lack of anti-tank units while building a significant lead in fuel and victory points.
Mid game:
Jae steadily builds up a powerful LMG infantry core and picks his moments to lash out with his armour, eventually picking off both Luchs with a Stuart while keeping Nogganoâs Panzer 4s at low health with long-range Jackson fire. Is the tide about to turnâ¦?
Late game:
Noggano keeps his cool and plays his lead well, finding some decisive wipes with his vetted infantry on over-extended support weapons while he harasses the Jacksons with stealthy Raketenwerfers. He gets the choke-out victory and is crowned as the first king of the day!
Game 2 – Enter Luvnest… Soviet (Guard Rifle Combined Arms Tactics) vs. Wehrmacht (Jaeger Infantry Doctrine)
Map – Crossing in the woods
Match report: Show Spoiler
Early game:
Champion Luvnest is in trouble. Noggano has another great start, taking the majority of the map and both fuel points with an aggressive grenadier-heavy composition to put Luvnestâs sniper build on the back foot.
Mid game:
Luvnest has a plan to get back into the game. His unit preservation enables him to build veterancy on his infantry and he begins to stack four light vehicles, starting with a pair of SU76s. Nogganoâs answer is to try to break down Luvnestâs defenses with massed medium armour.
Late game:
Noggano launches an audacious assault with two panzer 4s, but the gambit fails! The pair of SU76 assault guns hold their own with the support of guards and a Panzer 4 goes up in flames. The weight of Soviet combined arms is too much for Noggano from this point and he is overwhelmed by infantry and light armour. We have a new king once again!
Game 3 – VonAsten jumps into the breach... OKW (Fortifications Doctrine) vs. USF (Recon Support Company)
Map – Faymonville Approach
Match report: Show Spoiler
Early game:
New challenger VonAsten achieves a successful cut-off on Luvnest, outnumbering and outflanking his opponent. An early flak halftrack exploits the long window before Luvnest is able to add anti-tank to his composition through the Airdropped Combat Group.
Mid game:
The arrival of the greyhound enables Luvnest to even up map control. Both players suffer a couple of wipes on expensive infantry units. VonAsten has more squads and continues to control most territory despite Luvnestâs clever light vehicle play.
Late game:
Pop goes a tank! And another one! The late stages of the game are a back and forth of tank trades in which a pair of Raketenwerfers eventually give VonAsten the upper hand. After suffering a series of painful wipes, Luvnest throws in the towel at 39 minutes. For a third game in a row a king is dethroned! VonAsten surely hopes this trend wonât continue as he moves on to face VonIvanâ¦
Game 4 – And another Von! VonIvan is here... Soviets (Guard Rifle Combined Arms Tactics) vs. Wehrmacht (Elite Troops Doctrine)
Map – Crossroads
Match report: Show Spoiler
Early game:
VonAstenâs four conscripts find themselves at a disadvantage against VonIvanâs four grenadiers in long-range engagements in fields. A pair of guards sustained with the conscript merge ability help Asten defend his fuel point from grenadier assaults, and map territory remains fairly even.
Mid game:
VonIvan decides to rush for an early Ostwind and it rampages across the map, forcing Astenâs isolated squads back to base as German infantry push to deny Astenâs vital resources. With so many squads of infantry suffering from manpower bleed, VonAsten struggles to afford anti-tank units and canât trade efficiently.
Late game:
VonIvan keeps up the pressure by producing all the tier 3 vehicles he has available. After the 21st minute he performs his signature move â an all-out armour rush that wipes out a Su76 and persuades VonAsten to abandon the game. Itâs all over!
Briefing over! Four very different games that showcased a whole lot of high-level strategies and counterplay. Join us next week for another round of competitive matches from the best of the best.
We hope you enjoyed watching and reading!