Warpstone Flux Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
4.5/5 stars, rounded down. Singularly the most under-rated core unit in the entire game.
[Insert maniacal laughter!]
[Its okay - I'm still vaguely sane!]
[Increasingly vaguely.]
Background.
Its a drop pod.
Instead of transport capacity, it has a missile launcher system integrated inside it and had its prototype in place by the Raven Guard legion before the rediscovered of Corax.
Strengths.
Hear me out on this.
The missile launcher system is distinctly average. I accept that completely. But Heavy 9 and pinning is great at any strength, and the pinning is why it is good to take.
But that's not fundamentally why its awesome.
No.
The reason it is awesome is that it completely messes up your opponent's plans. Bring a full squadron of 3 and make your opponent deeply unhappy by blocking every line of sight that they have, and blocking every line of advance that they have. Hem them in. Put them where you want them. Seal away some of their army in a corner of the board (my favourite!) and let the figure out how to use those krak grenades whilst being shot at 9 lots of 3 times every single turn. Pin 3 units per turn if it takes your fancy. Even if they run out of ammunition, they're still a steal. Excellent play style for your sneakier legions or teleport legions.
Weaknesses.
BS=2, and running out of ammunition is rather bad to say the least.
Builds.
3 Deathstorm Drop Pods (270 points).
Block your opponent in and pin 3 units per turn. A plan with no draw backs that can ultimately win you the game in combination with a smart play style. Highly recommended, but you must plan to maximize what you are going to do with them. Having played this style of warfare with the Alpha Legion, I can confirm just how wickedly awesome they actually are. Sure, you could take a land raider instead at this points cost. But this is a bundle of bigger laughs and a master stroke when played well. You're welcome.
That's an interesting way of looking at them as a kind of physical disruption method. You're right, I bet they would be interesting to employ as the Alpha Legion looking to mess with people and make them forget they have to get two inches closer than they think they do. Then combine that with Graviton weapons forcing difficult terrain tests on the lanes you do leave open and I think you've got something. Food for thought at least.
ReplyDelete