UK Games Expo 2026: Corregidor Takes on the Infinity Tournament Scene After Mazebreaker

BIRMINGHAM, UK – The UK Games Expo (UKGE), the nation’s premier showcase for boardgames, wargames, and all facets of tabletop enthusiasm, once again drew thousands to the National Exhibition Centre from May 30-31. Amidst the bustling halls and myriad attractions, a dedicated cadre of players converged for the Infinity Satellite tournament, a pivotal event in the competitive calendar for Corvus Belli’s intricate sci-fi skirmish game. For many, including this reporter, the event was not just a test of tactical prowess but also an opportunity to experience the meta-shifting impact of the recently released “Operation Mazebreaker” and its highly anticipated rule updates for the Corregidor Jurisdictional Command.

The release of “Operation Mazebreaker” had ignited a fervent enthusiasm within the Infinity community, particularly among adherents of the Corregidor faction. Pre-orders for the new expansion had been swift, with physical copies at the Expo selling out by the end of Saturday – a testament to the excitement surrounding the updated rules and profiles. It was with this heightened sense of anticipation that I, a long-time Corregidor player, entered the tournament, eager to put the faction’s newfound capabilities through a rigorous two-day stress test.

The Dynamics of a Niche Community at a Grand Expo

While boasting the prestige of a Satellite event, the Infinity tournament at UKGE 2026 ultimately attracted a relatively modest contingent of 18 players. This observation, not uncommon in the UK Infinity scene, highlights several fascinating dynamics. Unlike the broader appeal of games like Warhammer 40,000, Infinity’s player base in the UK often skews towards an older demographic. This demographic, while deeply committed, frequently faces greater logistical challenges, with work and family commitments making two-day events a significant hurdle. Indeed, for this reporter, it was the first two-day tournament attended in four years, since becoming a father.

Moreover, the very popularity and expansive nature of the UK Games Expo itself may inadvertently dilute tournament attendance. Many Infinity players, encountered wandering the exhibition halls, expressed a preference for immersing themselves in the full spectrum of offerings – browsing vendor stalls, demoing new games, and connecting with the wider community – rather than dedicating the bulk of their weekend to five intense rounds of competitive play. The comprehensive Expo experience, rich with discovery and social interaction, often conflicts with the focused demands of a multi-game tournament schedule.

Beyond the time commitment, the financial outlay also presented a barrier. Standard Infinity event entry fees are typically low, but attending UKGE required additional expenses: a separate entry ticket to the Expo for both days, and parking costs. While some attendees might have opted for public transport or carpooling, many from further afield faced the added cost of accommodation, pushing the overall expenditure beyond the usual competitive gaming budget.

Despite these potential deterrents, the tournament managed to assemble a dedicated and high-calibre roster. The "crew" on the day was commendable, featuring a number of very strong players, including several who had travelled from overseas, taking the opportunity to combine a UK visit with competitive play. This international flavour underscored the enduring appeal of Infinity and the camaraderie within its global community.

Corregidor Reimagined: Crafting the Tournament Lists

My commitment to Corregidor for this event was unwavering, driven by both long-standing loyalty and the allure of the fresh "Mazebreaker" rules. My primary objective was to field one Surface Division and one Deep Space Division list. While I personally find the faction’s split system somewhat arbitrary, it is a structural reality I aimed to leverage effectively. The mission set for the tournament – Crossing Lines, Area of Interest, Cutthroat, Corporate Appropriation, and Annihilation – proved quite forgiving for list design, particularly for a specialist-rich faction like Corregidor. There were few missions heavily reliant on "Objectives for Specialists," with the main constraints being the absence of Engineers for Corporate Appropriation (a role the Bearcat KHD could partially fill) and Forward Observers for Annihilation. These minor limitations allowed considerable freedom in list construction.

My strategy was to clearly differentiate the two lists beyond just their divisional tags, providing maximum flexibility to adapt to varying table layouts and opponent matchups across the diverse mission set.

Surface Division: The Aggressive Frontline

This list was designed as a direct "stress test" for Corregidor’s new units, particularly the Coyote KHD with E/Mitter. Sheltered under the formidable Firewall-6 of a Brigada Lieutenant and accompanied by Jazz for hacking tuition, this core Fireteam was envisioned as a potent defensive and hacking control hub, especially for missions like Cutthroat. The team was rounded out by a Bambadroid (primarily for mine deployment) and a Shifta (for EM defense and Sensor capabilities), forming a solid, albeit expensive, 5-model Core.

Supporting this core, I included two Moran Masai for crucial midfield presence and objective play, a Vertigo guided missile Zond for indirect fire support, and a Salyut baggage bot to resupply mines and pitchers. While these elements provided excellent utility and defensive depth, I recognized the need for significant active combat power. This led me to incorporate the Iguana with BS Attack(-3), a profile I consider the pre-eminent firepower option in Corregidor’s updated arsenal. For close-quarters engagements, McMurrough, an enduring favourite who has only improved in N5, was an indispensable inclusion.

A key addition, and a profile I believe represents one of "Mazebreaker’s" main wins for Corregidor, was the Bearcat shotgun KHD. Despite being a challenging fit points-wise, its hacking dominance and aggressive potential were too valuable to pass up, aligning perfectly with the event’s missions that rewarded proactive play. The Bearcat also offered a strong alternative to options like a Lobo/Diablo Duo, which, while providing Discoballers and easing order pressure, didn’t quite match the Bearcat’s direct combat utility. Finally, a Warcor was included to ensure the list reached the 15-model threshold.

Reflecting on this "hardball" list, it certainly encapsulated many strong elements of Surface Division. However, some inherent flaws became apparent: the large Fireteam’s inflexibility due to its deployment as a single unit, and a significant investment in utility and setup (mines, pitchers, missiles, secure Lt, hacking base). While valuable, this configuration meant the Iguana was the sole simple solution for long-range threats. The list felt potentially fragile; losing 2-3 key pieces could render it toothless, despite the majority of points and Orders being on the board. This would be a crucial learning point as the update settled in.

Deep Space Division: The Experimental Gambit

My second list was a more experimental foray, designed around the "pure insanity" of the new Gecko/EVAder Duo. Specifically, the Gecko’s Vulcan Shotgun profile, boasting PS4 with AP/Continuous damage, presented a unique, aggressive close-quarters threat despite its non-CC-hardened nature. Paired with the Engineer EVAder (with AP Spitfire and Firewall), this duo provided both high-burst ranged attacks and crucial engineering support. To counteract the long-range weaknesses of this powerful, yet potentially vulnerable, element, I included the Intruder sniper with its new Special Dice – a classic combination given a fresh twist.

To accommodate these expensive "toys" and to further differentiate from the Surface Division list, I opted for a plain Alguacil Lt and decoy, along with a non-FTO Jazz accompanied by Billie. The ubiquitous Moran Masai (x2) and McMurrough were retained, deemed essential for my playstyle. However, the missile bot was omitted due to the fragility of a system relying on a solo Jazz.

Filling out the list were a Jaguar Duo for defensive screening and reliable smoke for the Intruder (independent of McMurrough’s often suicidal charges into the enemy Deployment Zone), and a Lobo/Diablo Duo. The Lobo/Diablo offered Discoballers, crucial for covering the Gecko team’s advance, and an opportunity to test the Diablo’s enhanced melee capabilities. A Tactical Awareness Stempler Zond was also included, intended to provide flexible support to either the Gecko or Lobo Duo.

I harboured some reservations about this list’s raw competitive "mean-ness," but it contained many individual elements I found compelling. The Gecko/EVAder duo, while cool, represented a hefty 84-point investment, leading me to consider future iterations where they might be replaced by other strong Surface Division profiles. This list felt particularly suited for Corporate Appropriation, not necessarily for the EVAder’s D-Charges or the Diablo’s melee prowess (McMurrough and the Bearcat in the other list were arguably better for destroying Prototypes), but for the Discoballers and the D-Charges on the Moran Masai. It was also my go-to choice against opponents heavily reliant on Mimetism-6.

Tournament Report: A Baptism of Fire for Corregidor

Upon arrival at the bustling convention centre, navigating the dense crowds queuing for entry, I settled into the tournament area. The initial setup provided a welcome opportunity to reconnect with old friends and familiar adversaries. A minor scare regarding a late table delivery threatened a bye, but was swiftly resolved, leading to a rematch against Cams, a highly experienced player with whom I had a balanced win-loss record.

Round 1: Crossing Lines vs. Onyx Contact Force (Cams)

For the opening mission, Crossing Lines, I opted for my Surface Division list, anticipating the need for its defensive Fireteam, Coyote, and Shifta if forced to play second. Cams, fielding Onyx Contact Force (OCF), won the Lieutenant roll and chose to go first – a significant advantage in this mission. OCF’s access to Nourkias immediately heightened my defensive posture.

Cams deployed a robust Level 5 Unidron Fireteam (missile, plasma sniper, character KHD with bonus White Noise) on his left flank, supported by a Base Operator shotgun engineer. Flash pulse bots and an Ikadron held forward positions, while a Suryat HMG (likely his Lieutenant, given its +1 Order and Nourkias’ NCO status) anchored his right. Two models were held in reserve.

I deployed my main Fireteam on my far left, with the Coyote positioned for oversight and the Shifta screening with its E/Marat and EM mine. Flash pulse bots and a Warcor provided cautious AROs, the Vertigo missile bot was prone on a central roof, and my Morans covered the midfield consoles. Cams’ reserves revealed Nourkias, prone on his far right in the forward zone, poised to assault my main defensive position. He successfully placed an Imp-2 Marker (Greif) next to Jazz, a crucial early threat. I counter-deployed the Iguana centrally, concealed from the Unidron team but with a clear line of sight to Nourkias.

Opening Engagements: Cams initiated his turn by risking his Greif against Jazz. Rather than contest the Face-to-Face (FtF) roll, I opted for Jazz’s boarding pistol template, narrowly avoiding disaster as the Greif went down and Jazz passed two survival rolls. Ironically, the Greif’s updated breaker combi rifle was less effective against Jazz than its previous iteration. Cams then launched a long-range pitcher shot from his Core Fireteam (benefitting from an X-Visor and +1SD/BS) and risked Nourkias against the Iguana’s AP HMG for Total Control. Despite the Iguana’s ECM Hacker(-3) and BS Attack(-3) imposing a one-dice, disadvantaged FtF roll, Nourkias won on the second attempt, and the Iguana failed its saves, falling possessed.

Here, a critical tactical error from my opponent: instead of leveraging the possessed Iguana to unleash B2, PS5 heavy flamethrower templates on my clustered models, and potentially trigger my Shifta’s EM mine (which would have shattered my Fireteam), he focused on using the Iguana’s HMG against Jazz. However, my hacking AROs (the Iguana was within my repeater network) and unsuitable range prevented any significant damage.

Attempting to clear a path for Nourkias, Cams brought on a Fractaa boarding shotgun, which successfully traded for my Shifta, triggering the EM mine in the process. Nourkias surged forward but was ultimately thwarted by my Firewalled hackers and simultaneous flash pulse AROs, ending up wounded and stunned in the open. Hindsight suggests OCF lacked the vision control necessary for such an aggressive assault. Cams then moved his Suryat into his scoring zone.

Returning to the possessed Iguana, Cams used its HMG to eliminate my Vertigo Zond. I successfully re-possessed the Iguana, but it was now in the Line of Fire (LoF) of the Unidrons. It sustained four wounds from plasma sniper fire, and its Operator emerged into Eclipse Smoke on No Wound Incapacitation (NWI). It was a touch-and-go situation, but my line seemed to have held for the first turn.

My Counter-Attack: I swiftly eliminated Nourkias with my Brigada Lieutenant. However, the Unidron plasma sniper stubbornly resisted my Iguana Operator, passing numerous survival rolls. I committed the Bearcat to weaken the Fireteam, killing one Unidron with a shotgun and Kerr-Nau with Trinity, leaving it in the enemy scoring zone. In a mental lapse, I momentarily believed this secured the zone, forgetting about the Suryat HMG. Nevertheless, the Bearcat’s actions forced the Unidron sniper to dodge into a new position, allowing McMurrough to move into my own scoring zone, evening the score at 1-1 by the end of Round 1.

Round 2: Shifting Fortunes: Cams brought his Base Operator (armed with a Heavy Shotgun) out to confront my Bearcat. A tense shotgun duel ensued, with both models tanking multiple hits against improbable rolls. Cams brought on a Cube Jaeger, but my Bearcat, with a stroke of luck, knocked it out. The Base Operator eventually dropped the Bearcat and eliminated my right-hand Moran, tanking a koala mine in the process. This incredible run of luck culminated in the Base Operator engaging McMurrough in close combat after McMurrough’s 4-inch dodge.

Despite feeling a causal and board control advantage, I realized my mission-specific scoring was lagging. I channeled many Orders through my Iguana Operator, eliminating the remaining Unidron heavy weapons and advancing to target the Suryat HMG out of cover, successfully knocking it out. While satisfying, this proved to be a critical error: I had forgotten that Crossing Lines is not a "No Quarter" mission and would end in Retreat. My opponent would soon be in Loss of Lieutenant (LoL).

Realizing the danger, I prioritized securing the far zone and attempting to flip the Onyx-controlled console for a major points swing. However, the tenacious Base Operator refused to die, surviving a round of combat with McMurrough and dodging as my Iguana Operator moved past the console into the enemy scoring zone. I was forced to finish the Operator with heavy pistol shots rather than risk flipping the console against his NWI and heavy shotgun. I secured both zones, bringing the score to 3-1 in my favour, but I knew I had mishandled the potential outcome.

Round 3: A Narrow Escape: Cams, now in Loss of Lieutenant but retaining two Regular Orders from his Warhorse Imetrons and Command Tokens, executed a desperate but effective play. He successfully landed a Vitapack Speedball, then ran and climbed his Imetron to the Suryat’s position, tanking an AP mine along the way, and revived it. This "hail mary" move, dependent on several dice rolls, caught me without adequate AROs. Combined with the Imetron’s Baggage bonus, this allowed my opponent to out-point my Iguana Operator in his scoring zone and score 1 Operational Point (OP) for the console I couldn’t flip. The final score settled at a narrow 4-3 victory for me.

Lessons Learned from Round 1: I felt a profound sense of deflation, having squandered what could have been a more decisive win. Crossing Lines is inherently chaotic, and I had navigated the initial onslaught well, arguably surviving due to my opponent’s suboptimal use of the possessed Iguana. My Bearcat deployment and target prioritization were flawed; I should have pursued cheaper Orders rather than miscalculating its scoring zone impact. Ultimately, my mission-specific thinking was not sharp enough. Credit to my opponent, who, despite his initial attack faltering, expertly played his remaining options for a respectable final score.

Round 2: Area of Interest vs. Kestrel Colonial Force (James)

My second opponent, James, was an affable player who had journeyed from Northern Ireland for the Expo, commanding Kestrel Colonial Force. The battlefield was dominated by a large central structure, effectively curtailing long firelanes. This terrain configuration, I surmised, was ideal for my Surface Division’s large Fireteam, and I saw limited opportunities for an Intruder sniper’s long-range capabilities. Consequently, I again chose my Surface Division list. I won the Lieutenant roll and opted to go first – a strategic advantage in Area of Interest, as it allowed me to dictate the placement of the Special Area, in addition to the usual benefits of the active turn and avoiding an early Redeye attack run.

I deployed my main Fireteam on the large central structure, poised to advance and control the ground with Pitchers and/or Mines. My remaining units were spread for defense, with McMurrough and the Iguana held in reserve behind the central structure. I placed the Special Area and my other Area of Interest on my left flank, making a minor oversight by not positioning a unit specifically to dominate the Special Area immediately in Round 1.

James deployed aggressively, with numerous Jackals, Camo markers (which I correctly identified as Yamabushi), a Fennec Thunderbolt, and a Hetkari with Multi Red Fury poised for AROs. His Magistrate Lieutenant and supporting chaff were well-hidden in the rear. My opponent then placed a Redeye partially behind a building in the centre of his Deployment Zone (DZ), strategically blocking McMurrough’s impetuous movement. His other reserve, benefiting from Strategos, was a Hidden unit, which I was convinced would be a Blink Heavy Rocket Launcher.

First Turn Dominance: My opening turn was aggressive. The Iguana provoked several engagements, fortuitously winning them with its BS Attack(-3), eliminating a Fennec, a Jackal, and a Yamabushi. White Noise allowed me to isolate and engage the Hetkari, forcing it prone after a wound. My primary goal was to free my Coyote E/Mitter to move across the central rooftop and target his Redeye. However, my plan was abruptly interrupted when James revealed his Hidden ARO: a surprising Crux Knight with AP SMG (+1SD), positioned near my Fireteam on a separate tall rooftop. It revealed to take a shot at Jazz, who was currently the team leader via the Bambadroid. Rather than contesting the ARO (two dice on 17s), I placed AP mines to cover the Crux Knight’s future movements, and Jazz went down. I then pressured the Knight with a Moran’s boarding shotgun and the Coyote’s Carbonite program. Despite being wounded, the stubborn Crux Knight refused to be immobilized. I managed to eliminate another Yamabushi with the Bambadroid and then successfully bricked the Redeye with my Coyote E/Mitter.

With only 3-4 Orders remaining, I committed McMurrough. My reasoning was that the Redeye, despite being bricked, still possessed the mobility to pose a threat, and my opponent had a Tech-Bee behind it, capable of un-bricking it within a couple of Orders. McMurrough surged across the table, exchanging ineffective chain rifle and SMG fire with the Crux Knight before eventually eliminating the Redeye, a Pathfinder Dronbot, and the Tech-Bee in melee. McMurrough proved a truly lethal weapon. Towards the end of the turn, I broke my Brigada Lieutenant from the Fireteam to dodge a koala placed by the Crux Knight (as an ARO to McMurrough) and establish a defensive position in my backfield.

Opponent’s First Turn: James had suffered significant losses, losing eight models in Turn 1 – a very disadvantageous position. His Magistrate Lieutenant deftly eliminated McMurrough in a single Order. He then attempted a risky Black Air Parachutist (DZ) deployment in my rear, challenging my Brigada’s multi rifle ARO. The parachutist survived the landing but died attempting the Sabotage Classified Objective. In retrospect, my opponent might have considered risking the parachutist to score the Special Area, though it was well-covered by flash pulses and repeater zones.

Finally, the Crux Knight made a desperate dive for the central antenna, activating it but perishing in a hail of mine shrapnel and bullets. This bold move brought the score to 2-0 in James’s favour, but his forces were critically depleted, making sustained control unlikely.

Round 2: Consolidating Control: With a firm grip on the game, I focused on positioning models within the Areas of Interest and flipping the central antenna with a Moran Masai. The Iguana eliminated a couple more remaining enemy units.

James sent his Hetkari against the Coyote, which, fortunately, bricked it in ARO. A Yamabushi then attacked the Iguana, reducing it to Operator status with a panzerfaust shot. His next play involved attempting to Discoball a Fennec around my left flank to eliminate the Transductor Zond holding the Special Area. However, my Remote won the FtF roll and stunned the Fennec. Round 2 concluded