8th Ed. Skink Chief spam - gimmick or viable?

[DonCheadle]

Recently saw a swedish comp army using around 8-10 Skink Chiefs in a Skroxigor block accompanied by a double Slann setup using Life and Beasts respectively. Sounds crazy enough, but I can see it work in theory. Getting the Savage Beast of Horros off at the right time not only gives you 10 S7 javelin shots but also 6 S7 attacks per chief. That's kind of insane.

Full list is here, tell me what you think.

General (Slann Mage-Priest): Lore of Life X
Slann Mage-Priest: Lore of Beasts X
BSB (Skink Chief): Banner of Eternal Flame; lustrian
javelin; light armour; shield; Battle Standard X
Skink Chief: Piranha Blade; lustrian javelin; light
armour; shield X
Skink Chief: Crown of Command, lustrian javelin;
light armour; shield X
Skink Chief: Warrior Bane, lustrian javelin; light
armour; shield X
Skink Chief: lustrian javelin; light armour; shield X
Skink Chief: lustrian javelin; light armour; shield X
Skink Chief: lustrian javelin; light armour; shield X
Skink Chief: lustrian javelin; light armour; shield X
Skink Chief: lustrian javelin; light armour; shield X
Skink Chief: lustrian javelin; light armour; shield X
34 Skink Cohort + 4 Kroxigors: Skink Brave;
Musician; Standard Bearer X
10 Skink Skirmishers: lustrian javelin; shield X
10 Skink Skirmishers: lustrian javelin; shield X
10 Skink Skirmishers: lustrian javelin; shield X
10 Skink Skirmishers: lustrian javelin; shield X
21 Temple Guard: Revered Guardian; Musician;
Standard Bearer X
3 Terradon Riders X
3 Terradon Riders X

 

[Scalenex]

I'd say it's a viable gimmick.

I tried it in a tournament but my ueber Skink unit got tarpitted. It was a Battle for the Pass versus Skaven, so there was little I could do. I plan to try it again soonish under more favorable circumstances.

My thought is that Skink Chief spam does not need a Beast Slann. You certainly don't need to double Slann it (though there is no harm in it I suppose). I would run with Tehenhuain and a L2 Skink Priest Caddy with Beasts.

That will fit with the Skink power theme, save a few points and your two casters can actually form part of the Skink character mauling brigade.

 

[n810]

Sounds like crazy fun to me.

 

[DonCheadle]

I'd say it's a viable gimmick.

I tried it in a tournament but my ueber Skink unit got tarpitted. It was a Battle for the Pass versus Skaven, so there was little I could do. I plan to try it again soonish under more favorable circumstances.

My thought is that Skink Chief spam does not need a Beast Slann. You certainly don't need to double Slann it (though there is no harm in it I suppose). I would run with Tehenhuain and a L2 Skink Priest Caddy with Beasts.

That will fit with the Skink power theme, save a few points and your two casters can actually form part of the Skink character mauling brigade.

Tehenhauin is definitely something to consider, although I think a sole lvl 4 Slann might have a slightly higher chance than a lvl 2 and a lvl 3 (not sure though).

I'll try the list out on Saturday and come back with my own results.

 

[Rettile]

I'd go for extra hand weapons on chiefs - and a BSB with skavenpelt

 

[Mr Phat]

consider this:

Drop both slanns

Add Tehen, tetto and a lvl 2 with beasts.

Plenty spells
certain to get savage beast
Tetto boosts casting with re-rolls, as well as vanguarding your skirmishers.

would also mean the TG could be dropped...COULD!
...could make room for an oldblood for leadership.



I can see how life is valuable, but if its for healing then I really think the way to keep skinks alive
is to boost them, not heal them.
If they take wounds, they probably die before you get to heal anyway.



..... I just found inspiration for converting my own Tehen!

 

[DonCheadle]

consider this:

Drop both slanns

Add Tehen, tetto and a lvl 2 with beasts.

Plenty spells
certain to get savage beast
Tetto boosts casting with re-rolls, as well as vanguarding your skirmishers.

would also mean the TG could be dropped...COULD!
...could make room for an oldblood for leadership.



I can see how life is valuable, but if its for healing then I really think the way to keep skinks alive
is to boost them, not heal them.
If they take wounds, they probably die before you get to heal anyway.



..... I just found inspiration for converting my own Tehen!

Sounds good, but am I missing something because I see no indicator for a guaranteed Savage Beast.

You sure you don't wanta small TG unit to protect Tetto anyways?

 

[SilverFaith]

Sounds good, but am I missing something because I see no indicator for a guaranteed Savage Beast.

Almost. 3 spells on Tehen, 2 spells on the priest = 5 spells, which means you could get unlucky, and you forego Wyssans completely, which is rarely a good idea (especially because Wyssans is pretty great for tons of chiefs in a single block).

You'd need 2 priests to ensure it, and also help get at least a wyssans or two.

You sure you don't wanta small TG unit to protect Tetto anyways?

You don't, because Tetto isn't a Slann, which means he doesn't get the protection a Slann does. You'd much rather want him in a skink cohort, because it's cheaper when you miscast (rerolling 1s makes that more likely), and because he acts like a Slann when put in a cohort (Stay in the second rank, rather than the first)

 

[Mr Phat]

its fairly easy to get savage with 5 rolls..


heres how.

1. Roll for tehen first
- 3 out of 6 spells means 50% to get it (its actually more, because you can roll doubles and pick it..)

if he got it, great, your good and can swap a spell for wyssans.
if he didnt, keep 3 spells and roll on.


2. roll for lvl 2 priest
- Tehen has 3 out of 6 spells already, meaning the priest has a 5/6 chance to roll the spell
which is the same as, 83.33% or a 2+ wardsave regarding odds.

Remember you have tetto in the list, so a lvl2 will cast it just fine re-rolling 1's.

Silverfaiths edition is the certain one, but personally I would take these odds to free up the points
from a second priest.

Besides, nothing is ever certain in warhammer
you might invest a lot of points into getting savage, then miscast and forget it turn 1.

 

[ASSASSIN_NR_1]

If you play End Times magic it is absolutey certain that you will get the spells you want.

In addition, if you do play end times, you could take the rest host, and make the skinks in that unit that much better.

 

[Skinquisitor]

sounds fun for me. id definetly add tetto, and a stegg or two

 

[slann5]

Not viable, played it for awhile.
1 magic kills the skinks
2 shooting kills the skinks
3 when you get to combat the spell either fails to cast or dispelled.

Just my experience, good luck though hope your luckier than me.

 

[Kcibrihp-Esurc]

you could take the rest host, and make the skinks in that unit that much better.

You mean WS 3?

 

[ASSASSIN_NR_1]

You mean WS 3?

Yup

WS 3 is better than WS 2

Especially if the Kroxigor´s Fear works.

Also (I´m not sure here) I guess the Skink Chief would also get a better WS.