Witch Hunting in Khaine's Embrace

Khaine's Embrace is the Tier 1 scenario in the High Elf/Dark Elf conflict. This scenario is something of a mix between territory control and capture the flag. The Goal of KE is to capture both flags and hold onto them for ten seconds, which triggers Khaine's Embrace and scores points. This effect is en explosion that radiates out from both flags and will instantly kill anyone caught in the blast wave, whether they were the ones that triggered it or not.

Due to the placement of the flags a large portion of the fighting tends to take place in the center of the map, with smaller skirmishes happening in the tunnels.

The trick to winning this scenario is finding the right balance between offence and defense. In matches where it's PuG Zerg vs PuG Zerg you'll likely see the timer run out before the point cap of 500 is reached. However if one of the groups is more organized than the other, the match can go very quickly.

In most of my experience as Order, Chaos tends to go on the offensive the hardest, which leaves their flag very vulnerable early on. This means that a small strike group that gets through to their flag will find it very vulnerable, and will hopefully be able to capture it quickly.

For a general overarching strategy I'd say keep the RDPS along with most healers and tanks on defense. Have the tanks & healers watch the three approaches (Tunnel 1 tank, Center 2-3 tanks, back path 1 tank). Also form a strike group of Melee DPS and some support (at least one strong healer) to use for flag assaults. If the Chaos forces pull more forces back to defend, strengthen the assault team and push forward through expanding the defensive tanks, but I would suggest always leave at least three or four people behind to defend which can buy time for reinforcements if a larger Chaos force gets behind the front lines.

Witch Hunting in Khaine's Embrace

Whether you are running solo, or as part as a strike force Witch Hunters make an excellent flag capturer. Especially once they get Incognito it is very easy to get to the flag before any defenders are aware you are there.

My favorite opening move as a witch hunter is to take the path that goes behind the Altar of Khaine (see video below). Most people run for the flags to capture then continue on through the tunnels or across the center field. Thus the back path is the safest and quickest way to the enemy capture point until more people begin using it.

This isn't a guaranteed move. Sometimes the defense fails to hold onto the order flag, sometimes chaos leaves some people behind to defend the flag. But usually the Chaos flag is ungaurded, or might have 1 person defending. Also as you come out on the chaos side, keep an eye above you as well. I've seen some defenders hiding above the path to catch runners unaware.

When all goes right you will capture the point and score Order an early point advantage, and possibly be able to capture the point one or two more times before finally being killed or run off. If all goes wrong you'll die horribly.

Eventually though there will be some enemy players to clue in, so this run won't work for the whole fight if you are doing the run solo.

If you don't want to run the back route or that has become innefectual, the central field is still open enough for a witch hunter with incognito to work around to healers and RDPS to put pressure on them as they tend to get spread out.

You can also help on defense by hanging close to the tunnel exit and jumping enemy healers that come through that way. Also use Snap Shot to help keep Chaos players from capturing the flag.

Here's the video showing the back run at the start of a KE match. Even with me wasting time due to thinking I had seen a Witch Elf stealth, I beat an Order attack band that had used the tunnels by a few seconds.



Come back tomorrow for a look at the final Tier 1 Scenario: Gates of Ekrund.