AoS Spear Skinks vs Boltspitter Skinks

[Nielspeterdejong]

Hello everyone,

So I'm working on a more versatile Order build after I had a great experience with another Order player who gave a cool barbarian feel to his army. He took the FrostHeart Phoenix, made him brown, and put a barbarian (chaos, but more human) on top of it with a cool cape.

I loved the look of the bird, and then made a plan to get one myself and give him that "bird of paradise" look and put a Skink/Saurus (thinking more about Saurus) on top of him with a cool cape as well.

For this build I had to save points so I took 3 units of 10 skinks as battleline unit, and put them into the Heavenwatch starhost to give them some more fighting power. As well as put them near a Celestial Hurricanum to give them more chance to hit stuff. This is going to be my build:

FrostHeart Phoenix: 260 (General, he gets the defender command, and the +1 damage item)
Celestial Hurricanum: 320 (gets the Phoenix stone)
Jade wizard: 100 (For this model I took the old Sorceress on Cold one, which I found online in metal )

Heavenwatch Starhost: 100
Skink Starseer: 160
Skink Priest: 100
Skink Priest: 100
Bastiladon: 300
Bastiladon: 300
3 Units of 10 Skinks: 240

Total= 1980 points

I was thinking about taking Starpriests, but this army doesn't have any bite attacks, plus the constant rerolls on saves are great for the two Bastiladon.

Now here is my question: I have 10 old models with Skinks with spears, and I was thinking about making 10 of the 30 skinks spear throwers since they have a 4+ wound instead of 5+. This way I can combine that with the 8 Javeling throwing Skinks on top of the 2 Bastiladon, and get 18 attacks with 4+ hit (Hurricanum) and 4+ wound within 8". However, how good is this in practice, opposed to the 16" range of the Boltspitter, allowing me to focus on better targets with the Heavenwatch feature rerolls on one target. What do you guys think?

The idea is to put 20 Skinks with boltspitters in the back, and 10 spears right behind the two Bastiladon for more closer attacks and damage.

Or is it better to give all my 30 Skinks Boltspitters?

 

[scubrat]

Boltspitters, makes them more annoying because they're not worth charging but do wound here and there and cause distractions. Your army looks defensive, as a general rule of thumb, for defensive armies I'd go for boltspitters, javelins are great for large hordes of skinks that are going to get close to the enemy and really hurt them, but in small units, skinks are hopelessly unsophisticated and do not want to be charged.

 

[Nielspeterdejong]

Boltspitters, makes them more annoying because they're not worth charging but do wound here and there and cause distractions. Your army looks defensive, as a general rule of thumb, for defensive armies I'd go for boltspitters, javelins are great for large hordes of skinks that are going to get close to the enemy and really hurt them, but in small units, skinks are hopelessly unsophisticated and do not want to be charged.

Alright, thanks! Well I'm thinking about as a general thumb keep the 2 Bastiladon and the Frostheart Phoenix on the front. However, should I have to charge in into weak targets then I can send in the Frostheart (who as the general first negates wounds/Mortal wounds on a roll of 6, and after that negates them on a roll of 4 or higher).

I was first thinking about placing them behind my front line, but should I have to split up then I agree that Boltspitters are indeed better.

 

[scubrat]

The thing is, depending on your enemy, they might end up getting charged, the flank isn't too hard to get, it would be risky.

 

[Nielspeterdejong]

The thing is, depending on your enemy, they might end up getting charged, the flank isn't too hard to get, it would be risky.

You mean when splitting them up? Well that is why I had the idea of the Frostheart Phoenix, and the two Bastiladon, to form the front line, while the Skinks stay in the back and shoot at stuff.

 

[Bowser]

I think he is referring to the fact tjat it wouldn't be too hard to flank and get to the skinks. While it is a powerful list, if you are going for objectives you may find it difficult to keep them with just 3 units of 10 skinks.

 

[Nielspeterdejong]

I think he is referring to the fact tjat it wouldn't be too hard to flank and get to the skinks. While it is a powerful list, if you are going for objectives you may find it difficult to keep them with just 3 units of 10 skinks.

Well that's true, but the opponent that also had the Frostheart Phoenix also had a celestial hurricanum, as well as 1 stack of Stormcast battleline, and 2 units of skinks. Instead of those I'm using 2 Bastiladon in order to hold objectives, and if I need to claim one I can always send the Frostheart with 16" movement.

Do you think warriors would be better then? Because right now the advantage of the skinks is that they can fit into the Heavenwatch and get rerolls on hit and wound rolls of 1, plus they make room for the celestial hurricanum and the Jade wizard who can heal them all.

 

[Bowser]

Oh no, I think the skinks are great the heavenswatch is brilliant. Some scenarios mandate that to capture an objective you need 5 or more models in the unit. If you only need one then bastiladon is the way to go!

 

[Nielspeterdejong]

Oh no, I think the skinks are great the heavenswatch is brilliant. Some scenarios mandate that to capture an objective you need 5 or more models in the unit. If you only need one then bastiladon is the way to go!

Alright Honestly, I could powerplay, and get 3 Bastiladon, and a Sorceress (spell that deals 1 mortal wound, and gives -1 on hit rolls for that unit). However, I think the idea of having the Frostheart Phoenix, and a Jade Wizard for healing, is just a lot more fun. Plus the Frostheart Phoenix has a speed of 16 as opposed to the Bastiladon's 5. Sure, you lose the lazer with rerolls on wound and hit rolls of 1. But you get a more mobile and fun looking unit, who gives a -1 on wound rolls to enemies within 9". Plus I now have enough points to get the Jade Wizard to heal all of my bros!

Do you think it is viable to drop the 3th bastiladon in favor of the Jade Wizard and the Frostheart Phoenix?

 

[Bowser]

I think the wizard and phoenix gives a bit more variety and versatility to your army, I would stick with this build.

 

[Nielspeterdejong]

Alright, thanks I'm thinking of using the sorceress on Cold one modelas my jade Wizard, and make her a green haired jade themed wizard. To go with the dino theme I can proclaim the sorceress on Cold one model as my battlemage right?