Hello, I am wondering what is your opinion on what screen units are most efficient now. Here is my view: Skinks + Still cheapest + Small bases allow still for limited daisy chaining - screens around 13 inches line + Movement, shooting - squishy, shields now don't stack with save buffs - low bravery Warriors + More resilient + Some cc output + Even with 32mm bases and new coherence they screen quite nicely, around 15 inches in line - slow - quite costly at 105 Knights + Ok output + Movement + Unit of 5 covers around 15 inches in line - most points per inch of screen - only 5 models Do you think the extra 30 points of warriors is worth it for the slight increase in screen and resilience?
I've had a 3.0 practice game with Knights as screens and really liked them. If you're really trying to keep something out of your backline then popping mystic shield + all out defence on them makes them surprisingly tanky, particularly in Coalesced. Playing against new Stormcast as Thunder Lizard, opponent alpha striked with Annihilators + Yndrasta and a couple of squads of Knights kept them occupied for 3 turns. The other benefit is that against low-save armies their volume of attacks mean you can put them on the offensive quite easily and they'll do quite well as roaming killsquads. I don't think Koatl's Claw is really that necessary to make them good either, seeing as having access to +1 to hit through generic CAs makes them pretty solid as-is. Overall I can see them being a mainstay in my lists just for versatility. Warriors are too slow and too restricted by coherency rules. Would happily pay 5 points extra for better movement and more reliable damage from Knights. I can see a place for big bricks of them though. Unsure of Skinks - in MSU their purpose is to screen and nothing else, and only a few need to die for most of the unit to run anyway (at least in Coalesced). If you're tight on points they'll do fine I guess.
Knights all the way. They are the best screen as they are fast enough, cover space and decent defense. They also take buffs well and can punch above their weight if you need them to
Knights, knights all the way. Pop some support they can hit stupid hard and take some punishment, knights are 100% the way to go
My biggest problem is that the knight model is just so ugly. 5 knights are great for blocking a section and still threatening it at the same time which is something that skinks and warriors in smaller groups can't do. But something also to consider is what are you screening? If you are screening an objected, knights are good and larger blocks of skinks still do damage and hold objectives. If you are screening you backfield heroes then you need to also consider saurus guard which you might already be taking to absorb wounds from kroak. They have a smaller footprint but they have a dual purpose. I would take guards before I take warriors.
Unless you're taking a slann or kroak, then there is actually no reason to take guard, warriors just do it better. better damage, more wounds per point, and notably more damage. in all honesty, guard are just glorified shield drones
If we start writing off models based on how good they look then we won't be left with much to work with. Skinks are a lot better looking though...
I disagree, new kroak looks amazing, all our big dinos are wonderful, the skink starseer is one of my favorite small heros in the game. Saurus, krox, and salamaders all need a refresh.
My point was if you are taking kroak then you probably already have the guard in your list and they can act as a screen.
Have to agree with Lizerd, Guard have one real job, turn slaan into a tank (especially with the update to emerald lifeswarm). On that note, how many 25mm bases can you get within 3" of Kroak? Basically, can you turn Kroak into a suicidal hoard mower with the flaming weapons spell?
Like everyone else I gotta say groups of five Saurus Knights! They are our best screen right now, coverring the most distance, having good mobility and an easy to buff attack profile. Wich is a big part of our army... I would just love to get new Saurus espacially Saurus Knights, I look at cav like Bloodknights from my friend's Gravelords and get so jealous everytime. Kroak can't take Flaming Weapon, I thought the same some time ago and Christopher gave me insight on the rule. -> Core Rule 27.3.1. "Enhancements cannot be given to Unique units..." The Universal Spell Lore is an Enhancement.
Saurus knights might be my favourite unit, they don't seem like much initially and they are cheap, but can end up doing silly damage and its hilarious
Yup, it's been FAQ'ed, but only for faction specific spells "Page 60 – Lore of Celestial Domination Change the caveat under the header to: ‘Slann (including Unique units) only.’ Page 61 – Lore of Celestial Manipulation Change the caveat under the header to: ‘Skink (including Unique units) only.’ "