AoS 2000pt Eternal Starhost List

[ChapterAquila92]

I've been contemplating a 2000pt summoning army as of late, built around an Eternal Starhost.

Thus far, the list consists of the following:

• 1 Slann Starmaster with Arcane Might and Incandescent Rectrices (260pts)
  • Balewind Vortex (40pts)
  • Chronomantic Cogs (60pts)
• 1 Astrolith Bearer (160pts)
• 1 Eternal Starhost (150pts)
  • 1 Eternity Warden with Blade of Realities (140pts)
  • 3x 10-man units of Saurus Guard (540pts total)
• 20 Saurus Warriors (200pts)
  
• 3 Kroxigors (160pts)
• 1 Bastiladon with Ark of Sotek (280pts)

Granted, by no means is this a final list, but my intent is to use my warriors as the vanguard/screen for my guard as they advance, while I make the most out of both the astrolith bearer and eternity warden at the center of the army. The kroxigors and bastiladon, mostly delegated for flank duty, can just as easily be moved where need be using LoSaT.

Any thoughts on this - pros, cons, areas of improvement, etc?

 

[Xasto]

If it is screening you're looking for, I would drop the 20 warriors and go for 30 skinks instead. They're much better at it and you'll get 10 more wounds for 20 less points.

 

[LizardWizard]

Eternal Starhost is brokenly good if your opponent does not have access to mortal wounds. However, Eternal Starhost is just paper mache and wishful thinking if they do have access to mortal wounds. Malign sorcery being everywhere and most of them tossing out mortal wounds has made ES obsolete in the competitive scene even against armies who were notoriously short on mortal wound output in the past. The list is still viable in causal games though. And you could try to rely on your Slann unbinding the mortal-wound causing spells. If you encounter Nighthaunt, Khorne, Sylvaneth, Stormcast Eternals, ect then they will just deal mortal wounds though combat and shooting.

There are some very strong summoning list that center around running 3 or 4 engines of the gods in concert with a Slannado. If you want to run a heavy summoning list then something akin to that would by my advice. Thunderquake Starhost is also a good list to turtle up behind and summon. You would be able to combine the Slannado EotGs idea with your already included Bastiladon & Kroxigor.

@Xasto summed up Seraphon's screening which is pretty much ruled by Skinks. Saurus Warriors are less resilient than Skinks are point for point. On average they will absorb 16% more damage, but they cost 40% more MPP unless at maxed unit sizes.

 

[Nart]

I'd definitely try and find points for Emerald Lifeswarm. Its ability to return slain models looks like specificaly created for Saurus Guard. Their main weakness in 1 wound and Lifeswarm mitigates it to a certain extent. I'd also split units in 20-5-5 or 15-10-5 formation. Eternal Starhost is not very mobile battalion, so making a single deathstar Guard blob will not make difference but with Emerald lifeswarm it will be literally unkillable.

 

[ChapterAquila92]

If it is screening you're looking for, I would drop the 20 warriors and go for 30 skinks instead. They're much better at it and you'll get 10 more wounds for 20 less points.

@Xasto summed up Seraphon's screening which is pretty much ruled by Skinks. Saurus Warriors are less resilient than Skinks are point for point. On average they will absorb 16% more damage, but they cost 40% more MPP unless at maxed unit sizes.

Fair point. I suppose the only question left to ask regarding screening is the load out for those skinks (my current collection of 20 built skinks are equipped with javelin and shield).

I'd definitely try and find points for Emerald Lifeswarm. Its ability to return slain models looks like specificaly created for Saurus Guard. Their main weakness in 1 wound and Lifeswarm mitigates it to a certain extent. I'd also split units in 20-5-5 or 15-10-5 formation. Eternal Starhost is not very mobile battalion, so making a single deathstar Guard blob will not make difference but with Emerald lifeswarm it will be literally unkillable.

I might have to play with it. The simplest solution I can think of is dropping 5 guard to buy me enough points for the EL and another 10 skinks for screening.

 

[Xasto]

Fair point. I suppose the only question left to ask regarding screening is the load out for those skinks (my current collection of 20 built skinks are equipped with javelin and shield).

Both Javelins and shields and Boltspitters and shields are valid options for screening units of skinks. You usually want Javelins on smaller units and Boltspitters tend to be more effective on bigger units, tough the difference is so marginal both loadouts work just fine!