Episode 49: Masterclass with... Battleclade and Bourkey from AU!

Episode Summary

Michael “Berki” (also rendered as “Bourkey” in the subtitles), a Kill Team player from Melbourne, Australia, joins host Bence for a competitive masterclass on Battleclade, an Adeptus Mechanicus team. Berki plans to take the team to the World Championship in Barcelona. He describes Battleclade as a durable, adaptable shooting team with surprising speed and a toolkit for disrupting opponents’ plans.

Battleclade Strategy and Gameplay

• Use Network Counteract proactively. Rather than saving it only to correct mistakes, plan ahead for when and where to trigger it. It can disrupt an opponent’s activation sequence, create unexpected attacks, and let operatives act before they activate normally.
• Control the pace. Berki often lets opponents take the initiative, then reacts. If they rush forward, he slows the game, assesses their position, and waits for a favorable counterattack.
• Exploit deceptive movement. Even after losing a double-dash option, Battleclade can still threaten unexpectedly far across the board. Movement bonuses and Network Counteract can put operatives near doors, objectives, or enemies before opponents expect them.
• Bait opponents into bad trades. A servitor backed by a medic can absorb attacks and potentially be revived. Berki also uses threats like a pocket melta to make opponents hesitate or commit to defending the wrong area.
• Take advantage of the team’s durability and firepower. Rather than playing like fragile glass cannons, the team can withstand pressure and punish exposed enemies. Coordinated attacks can also remove several enemy models in a single activation.
• Don’t overlook melee. Servitors can be unexpectedly dangerous up close, especially when supported by buffs and extra attacks. In tight terrain, doors and close-range threats can make the team especially effective.
• Deploy with a purpose. Berki focuses on where the opposing shooters will have firing lanes and positions his medic accordingly. He also considers whether the Tech-Priest or Autoproxy should advance; specialists generally move through the center while other operatives pressure the flanks.
• Adapt the home-point defense. A Tech-Priest or Autoproxy may stay back, but against a fast or melee-focused opponent, Berki may leave a heavy servitor there instead.
• Plan for the late game. Berki finds the team particularly effective from the latter part of the second turning point onward, when it can use surviving operatives to seize or retain objectives.

Equipment, Missions, and Scoring

Berki commonly considers a pocket melta device, electromagnetic capacitors, and a communication device. Grenades can be useful against hordes, while ladders and mines are generally less appealing to him.

He favors Intelligence and Infiltration Tac Ops, particularly Data Theft and, against hordes, Enemy Movement Reconnaissance. He also emphasizes that Command Points and rerolls are important: the team often hits on fours, and rerolls can make a major difference to its damage output.

His usual scoring expectation is roughly 6 points on the primary, 4 on a secondary, and 3 from kills, adjusted for the matchup. Berki says Battleclade can win low-scoring games by slowing the opponent and denying their preferred plays.

Tournament reminder: Double-check the primary mission and Tac Ops before the game starts. Berki recounts how selecting or remembering the wrong objective can cost a match.

Berki’s Experience

Berki’s first Kill Team game was a tough loss against Custodes, 18–2, followed by another loss, 18–4. His takeaway for new players was to learn the rules before their first tournament. Despite that start, he has since developed a strong understanding of Battleclade and continues to find new combinations and timing interactions.

Featured Gamers and Sources

Host Bence and guest Michael “Berki” / “Bourkey” of Melbourne, Australia. Other players mentioned include Phil, Rowan, Dan, Alex, Mike, and John Seo.