Greetings, Warlords! The CBL Group Stage is in full swing, and the CN region delivered yet another action-packed day on May 8. Let’s dive into the unmissable highlights!
 
Match 1
QIN vs LMTF [Harbour City] 2-0
 
Round1 (QIN Attack – LMTF Defense)
QIN managed to land just one siege tower at the wall. After a brief standoff, they picked off an isolated hero from LMTF. LMTF quickly abandoned Point A and fell back below the walls. Artillery clashes erupted early on, with both sides trading fire around the stair area. Despite holding the supply point, LMTF suffered under heavy mortar pressure, and QIN slowly gained an unit-number advantage. At the lower supply point, QIN launched a trebuchet strike on LMTF’s backline, allowing the Orochi Samurai to dive in and deal massive damage—securing a 300-unit lead in a single teamfight. QIN then stormed the base, and although LMTF scrambled to defend, the gap in numbers proved too great. QIN took the first round decisively.
 
Game 2 (LMTF Attack – QIN Defense)
LMTF opened by grouping forces at the side gate. QIN quickly deployed scouts onto the walls. As LMTF pushed in, QIN closed in from both the central path and the stairs, surrounding the vanguard and wiping them out—netting a 200-unit lead. LMTF regrouped and went for a single tower assault, but QIN pushed back hard at Point A. LMTF then rotated to the right-side Siege Tower, but QIN stood firm, sending reinforcements as needed.
Despite holding multiple trebuchets, LMTF focused their attack on the left wall while leaving only a light force to pressure the right. QIN swiftly crushed the distraction on the right, then turned to confront the main force, expanding their lead to nearly 500 units. LMTF’s cavalry broke into the city, but QIN held Point A tight, leaving them with no real opening. As time ran out, LMTF’s final push failed to break through. With total control, QIN sealed the series 2-0.
 
Match 2
TWT vs BF [Heilung Fjord] 2-0
 
Round 1 (TWT Attack – BF Defense)
TWT opened with a double siege tower push, both reaching the wall simultaneously. BF sent out cavalry to probe, but quickly retreated in the face of TWT’s Dagger-Axe Lancers. While both sides clashed at Point A, a fierce skirmish broke out at Point B. TWT executed swift rotations, capturing both A and B with precision, then cut off BF’s reinforcements.
BF chose to forfeit Point C and fortified the base. TWT seized the harbour and Point C, while still holding multiple trebuchets. BF attempted a proactive push, but TWT’s trebuchet barrage and superior frontline formation turned the fight into a slaughter. BF’s troops were overwhelmed, and TWT surged forward to take the base with ease—1-0.
 
Round 2 (TWT Defense – BF Attack)
BF grouped at Point B and launched a fast-paced assault. TWT responded quickly with intel. BF captured B with speed but paid a heavy price in units. A brutal grind ensued at Point B as cavalry entered the fray from both sides.
BF struggled with positioning, and two waves of trebuchet fire fell flat. TWT, on the other hand, held formation and capitalized on favorable terrain, winning the teamfight and gaining a 400-unit lead. BF tried a final cavalry charge, but TWT leveraged their proximity to the supply point to grind down the attackers. BF’s forces bled out, and their Artillery went unused. In the end, TWT wiped them out completely and secured another dominant 2-0 victory.
 
Match 3
ZTPQ vs PDD [Heilung Fjord] 2-0
 
Round 1 (ZTPQ Attack – PDD Defense)
Both sides opened with mortar exchanges and formation scouting. Then, ZTPQ launched a sudden all-in assault on Point A, catching PDD off guard and wiping out their scattered units. After losing A, PDD attempted a counterattack but couldn’t shake ZTPQ’s hold—more units were picked off in waves. Riding the momentum, ZTPQ quickly took Points B and C, along with the harbour, and began setting up artilleries to suppress the defenders.
PDD maneuvered smartly to minimize the threat from ZTPQ’s siege engines. After a brief stalemate, ZTPQ launched another push. PDD countered by stationing two squads of Hwarang on the high ground for sustained pressure, but ZTPQ gradually chipped away at their front lines. Eventually, a decisive teamfight opened the way for a full-on base assault. PDD resisted with grit but couldn’t turn the tide—the base fell.
 
Round 2 (ZTPQ Defense – PDD Attack)
Both teams converged on Point A early, with ZTPQ sending scouts and probing at B. PDD attempted a flanking move with Dagger-Axe Lancers, only to be intercepted by the Sunward Phalanx. The clash at B didn’t result in a capture but gave ZTPQ a slight unit-number lead. After regrouping, both sides advanced cautiously, capturing Points B, C, and the harbour, and resuming artillery bombardments. ZTPQ maintained pressure and used the high ground to dominate the battlefield. Though PDD tried a cavalry flank, they were blocked by terrain. ZTPQ took advantage of the nearby supply ooint to grind down the attackers and crush PDD’s main force.
PDD made a last-ditch push for the supply point, pulling part of ZTPQ’s force away, and managed to take it—but with only a handful of troops left. With PDD reduced to barely 100 units and ZTPQ holding 300, the defenders unleashed four cavalry squads for the final charge. PDD was overrun. ZTPQ sealed another dominant 2-0 victory.
 
Match 4
SSHX vs KZ [Dasuo Fort] 1-2
 
Round 1 (SSHX Attack – KZ Defense)
Both teams opened cautiously with minimal artillery exchange. SSHX massed their forces at the center gate and launched a sudden strike on Point A from the outer tower. KZ hesitated, and SSHX capitalized with a pincer assault—rear reinforcements and the A-point vanguard closed in for a clean teamfight win. KZ sent two heroes to stall, but SSHX still captured A. After regrouping, another clash broke out inside the walls. SSHX deployed heavy artillery, forcing KZ to retreat and give up Point B.
As KZ's cavalry returned, they were caught by trebuchet fire and blocked head-on by the Sunward Phalanx, losing ground at Point C and retreating to the base. SSHX claimed the supply point, holding a 450-unit advantage. After a grueling siege, SSHX stormed the base. KZ held on through multiple regrouping, but with only 139 units left, they couldn’t withstand the final wave. SSHX secured round 1.
 
Round 2 (SSHX Defense – KZ Attack)
SSHX went all in with their artilleries early, blowing up multiple KZ siege towers but exhausting all but two weapons. KZ finally got one tower to the wall and advanced cautiously. SSHX gave up Point A to tighten their defense. KZ hesitated at first, fearing an encirclement, but eventually captured A as no ambush came. KZ still held trebuchets and full artillery stock, while SSHX was out of siege support.
KZ lined up mortars on the wall to suppress SSHX. An attempted flank to destroy them was spotted, and KZ responded with a coordinated teamfight. SSHX pushed from the front but couldn’t break through KZ’s setup. KZ claimed the Supply Point, gaining a 400-unit lead and charging straight into the base. SSHX tried a cavalry flank while fighting tooth-and-nail at the front, but KZ’s Hwarang rained down punishment from the rear. SSHX’s cavalry was lost due to poor coordination. KZ overwhelmed them and took the game.
 
Round 3 [Grasslands]
Both sides started with standard point control. A fierce contest at Point B ended with KZ forcing SSHX out. Skirmishes followed, and KZ sent multiple squads to raid SSHX’s base, successfully drawing defenders back. While SSHX scrambled, KZ took Point A.
SSHX tried to delay, but KZ cut them off at the supply point—A was lost. With all three points under KZ’s control, the tide turned fast. SSHX’s score plummeted 50% in no time. KZ kept up the pressure with constant harassment, and as the timer ran out, they locked in the win, completing a 2-1 comeback over SSHX.
 
CN Region – Standings Update

CN Region – Upcoming Matches

Note: Due to internal team decisions, TT, HHZ, and BG have withdrawn from the tournament. Their remaining matches are considered forfeited, and their opponents will be awarded default 2-0 victories.
 

Greetings Warlords! The APAC battles on May 8 brought nonstop action in the CBL group stage. Let’s break down the highlights!
 
Match 1
MANU vs GCA [White Elk Fort] 2-1
 
Round 1 (MANU Offense - GCA Defense)
GCA gave up early resistance to the siege towers and instead destroyed the battering ram, but MANU still broke through the right wall. With time left 11:07, MANU surged through the breach and seized the right supply point. GCA quickly took the high ground on the wall, applying pressure on the attackers. At 7:38, GCA descended from both sides and flanked Point A. Despite opening the gate, MANU’s push faltered as infantry support lagged due to GCA’s hold on the supply point.
GCA resecured the gate, but MANU regrouped and launched a relentless assault from the wall base, draining GCA's forces. Using supply-point hopping tactics, they blocked reinforcements, opened the gate, and let the cavalry charge in. With 2 minutes remaining, they took Point A and pulled 200 units ahead. Riding the momentum, MANU stormed the base and took the first win.
 
Round 2 (GCA Offense - MANU Defense)
MANU hid under the main gate wall to avoid ranged fire. GCA breached the right wall, left the other side barely standing, and rolled up all three siege towers. Their main force entered from the right, capturing the supply point. Cavalry circled to flank the left-side point, but MANU’s Siphonarioi wiped out the follow-up infantry. Amidst the skirmish, GCA slipped into Point A and took it. While MANU was focused on the supply point, GCA launched a surprise strike on the base.
MANU abandoned the point to defend, leading to a brutal artillery exchange. GCA pressed on with Hwarang harassment. Though MANU broke GCA’s weak flank, their base defense came too late, and GCA equalized the score.
 
Round3 [Grasslands]
GCA swiftly took Point B and set up a full artillery duel. They positioned ballistaes on high ground and had Hwarang chip away at range. MANU, under pressure, launched a desperate charge only to be ambushed by a hidden Sunward Phalanx, making B nearly unbreakable. When MANU regrouped, GCA feigned retreat to bait them into a trap, then surrounded them and dealt massive damage. Though MANU briefly stole the point, they snuck in a crucial 19% capture progress. Every clash afterward saw MANU on the back foot, but that crucial 19% turned the tide. With grit and timing, they clutched the comeback and secured the match 2-1.
 
Match 2
HBB vs VNC [Heilung Fjord] 2-0
 
Round 1 (HBB Offense – VNC Defense)
HBB went with a main push toward Point A and a feint on B. After scaling the wall at B, the troops converged at A and harassed from range with artillery. With forces flanking from both sides, HBB locked down the breach with Sunward Phalanx, then stormed Point A. The Siphonarioi unleashed devastating firepower, wiping out VNC’s defenses. Forced to retreat, VNC lost Point A with around 200 total unit losses.
Abandoning Point C, VNC fell back to defend the base. HBB then smartly deployed artilleries that kept VNC pinned down with no room to regroup. At 6:20, HBB launched their final push, crushing VNC’s infantry and sweeping in from the right supply point. VNC’s remaining cavalry units tried to stall but were methodically dismantled by the advancing Sunward Phalanx. The base fell—HBB took the first game.
 
Round 2 (VNC Offense – HBB Defense)
Noticing the light defense at Point A, HBB swiftly repositioned to hold B. The clash began immediately. VNC couldn’t deal with HBB’s entrenched Siphonarioi and ranged fire, so they pivoted to assault Point A. HBB responded with reinforcements. After breaching the gate, VNC set up their own artilleries, but were quickly overwhelmed by HBB’s multi-angle counter-bombardment. Their Pikemen were eliminated, and cavalry couldn’t follow through—another failed assault. HBB sealed the gate with a Sunward Phalanx wall, leaving VNC with only cavalry and scattered infantry. Each charge was crushed, with VNC’s losses ballooning to 300.
In the end, HBB’s cavalry tore through the remnants, closing the match in clean, commanding fashion. A 2-0 sweep for HBB.
 
Match 3
VNH vs BOD [Harbour City] 0-2
 
Round1 (VNH Offense – BOD Defense)
BOD opened strong with artilleries pounding the siege towers. VNH quickly gave up on the battering ram and shifted toward the side gate. Spotting the change, BOD dropped from the walls and braced for combat. VNH moved in a tight column formation through the gate toward the supply point, but BOD swiftly regrouped and cut them off. Forced to pivot, VNH tried climbing the wall to capture the point but was ambushed and wiped out.
Their second regroup at the side gate was met with another devastating cavalry strike, forcing them to retreat toward the central gate. Amid the chaos, VNH managed to sneak-capture Point A—but on the counterattack, BOD crushed them at the base, opening up a 400-unit lead. The fight reset at the wall. VNH's last push came as a cavalry charge through the small gate, but BOD’s counter-charge slammed the door shut. Out of units, VNH crumbled. First blood to BOD.
 
Round 2 (BOD Offense – VNH Defense)
BOD pushed multiple siege towers simultaneously and scaled the walls, driving VNH back inside. Artillery duels exploded at the central gate. BOD baited VNH into splitting forces with a fake supply-point rush, then repositioned their siege to sap VNH's strength. Instead of rushing the base, BOD kept the fight outside, slowly chipping away while sending small squads to tick up capture progress. VNH, preoccupied with the brawl, failed to stop the quiet advance. By the time BOD committed to a final push, it was too late—VNH collapsed, and the base fell. BOD closed out the series clean, 2-0.
 
APAC Group Stage Standings

 
Upcoming APAC Matches
 
Note: Team MPR has withdrawn from the competition. All scheduled matches against them are counted as 2-0 forfeits in favor of the opposing teams.
 
Wishing all players the best of luck in the CBL!