8th Ed. 1600 against HE

[gewaltatron]

Hi everyone,

I am going to face the new HE in a 1600 points game and I have never played against those filthy long ears.

So I was wondering what to take.

Obviously I will go with a Slann, try to keep it cheap, maybe the usual channeling and master of white magic.

A scar-vet.

A priest.

After this I am pretty much undecided.

2 Salamander hunting packs.

I think Skrox and Krox are out of discussion.

1 - 2 units of 6-7 chameleons.

So, either I take 400 points of skinks and temple guard or, since its only 1600 points, I stick with the saurus block and skinks.

Bastilodon would be an option or for the same points (almost) 3 Terradons.

My opponent mainly fields silver helmets and the other riders, archers, the sisters and swords masters.

I know there will be no phoenix for sure.

So is temple guard or saurus the way to go? Or even skinks only? And what support should I field?

Thanks as always in advance.

-P-

 

[Shadoer]

Ok here's what I can offer you

1. Dump the Chameleon Skinks

Assuming this is a purely HE game, don't bother with the Chameleon Skinks. High Elf artillery is non-existent and what warmachines they do have are kinda crap. So you might as well drop them in favor of something else.

2. Slann High Magic

Fortunately for you, the Lore of High Magic have some of the best High Elf killing spells in the game (ironic, isn't it?). Remember your Elf enemies have low armor and toughness, and you have spells great for wiping them out. Soul Quench, Tempest, and Fiery Convocation are all great for wiping large numbers of them out. And if they bring out the Banner of the World Dragon, remember you can use Arcane Unforging to take it out.

If I were you, I'd try and sit back and blast him with spells and trade one High Magic spell for the Lore of Metal one to shoot at his Silver Helms.

3. Temple Guard

In this match up, you want something to take on his Silver Helms and more heavily armored stuff and that means Temple Guard. They are your best bet for taking them down.

Alright, hope that helps.

 

[gewaltatron]

Hi Shadoer,

thanks for that nice and fast answer!

What about rippers?

 

[Shadoer]

Hi Shadoer,

thanks for that nice and fast answer!

What about rippers?

Not a good idea against High Elves. Their ASF and high initiative mean that they'll be able to pound Rippers into oblivion before they can fire off their attacks.

 

[gewaltatron]

good point..

what do you think about terradons then? (dropping rocks, diverting)

I thought about a bastilodon because of the laser to burn some elves.

I guess a steg is to expensive in 1600p games...

 

[Madrck]

If your spending the points on TG I don't think you can afford an ancient.
Just recently played a 1500 point game against HE. If you have a slann, and just want to win, Sit in a corner casting Fiery Con and tempest. By the time he gets to you the games over as he will have an arcmage left or something else you don't care about.
The Basti is awesome at covering a flank, he had 18 White lions and a sun dragon grinding away at him. Lasted 3 turns(shocked both of us) and let me deal with everything else.
There are a bunch of units that are no good against HE. Rippas, terras, cold ones, skinks krox, swarms, all just die before doing anything. You don't need to redirect, just stomp/cast him out of the game and leave something to deal with his cav. A sally will also do alot of work against them.
I used my hero points to have a fully geared ColdenOldie. But even a scar-vet/coldone with glittering scales and a dawnstone with a great weapon(they go first anyway) will do alot of work against most of their army.

 

[Shadoer]

good point..

what do you think about terradons then? (dropping rocks, diverting)

I thought about a bastilodon because of the laser to burn some elves.

I guess a steg is to expensive in 1600p games...

Well

1. Terradons are a bit better in this match up for dropping rocks and harrying the enemy, but again they aren't that great here. They are a bit too expensive for charge redirection and there aren't really any targets for them to hunt. Odds are they'd get picked off by the enemy archers or Maidens.

2. Bastiloden is a bit of a better choice as the high elves will have trouble getting past his armor. But the Solar Engine option isn't very useful since the +1 Initative won't make a difference against elves, and while the lazer beam is good in this machup, odds are you'll want the dice for the spells of your Slann and Priest over the Bastilidon. The Ark of Sotek and some Jungle Swarms have some potential, but then you are investing a bunch of points to have a poison tarpit. Overall, I'd recommend against it.

3. Stegs are a good option here and you can probably fit in a baby steg. You just have to keep him away from Swordmasters and bolt throwers (which will become an actual problem)

Really though, in this match up, I'd either just take more core and/or temple guard or I'd take Kroxigors as a special choice. High Elf bolt throwers can't chew them easily, 4+ armor gives them some survivability against archers, they are fast, they can be used as flankers, and they can take down guys like Silver Helms.

 

[gewaltatron]

Hi there,

so the game went well.

I took a Slann, with +2 chanelling dice, master of white magic, BSB ..

Scar-Vet on Coldone, with 1+ and dawnstone

Skink Priest LVL 2 on heavens with scroll

25 Saurus warriors with full commando

12 skink skirmishers

12 skink skirmishers

10 skink skirmishers

2 x Salamander with extra handler

Ench. Steg


Stegadon was pretty good, killed a view sword masters with its impact hits but the crucial point was that in the most important combat I actually managed to change a spell and get mind razor and mind razored my Saurus warriors which won me the combat against the sword masters.

Apart from this, the skinks did their job, salamanders where ok.

Another important situation was turn one, where I killed the phoenix (the fire one) with my first spell, soul quench, when I rolled 11 hits on 2 D6. After this I rolled a comet, with a 12 on the range on 2 D6 pretty lucky...

Thx again!

 

[Shadoer]

Np, glad our advice helped.