8th Ed. Two Blocks of Saurus - Any Success Stories?

[Sleboda]

Lately I've been thinking about adding a block of 25-30 Saurus with Spears (lead by a character of some sort) to may army. Along with my existing 28 Saurus with hand weapons and my 8 Kroxigore, this could give me some really nice chances to get something out of my Troglodon (maybe even two so that I could buff twice!).

Anyone had much luck with dual Saurus blocks (other than environments that break the rules and allow PF from beyond the first rank)? How?

 

[The Hunted]

My army's core consists of 2 units of 25 Saurus. 1 with spears, and 1 with HW/S.

They do well for me in pretty much any battle.
This is what I always bring to the table (minimum):

Scar-vet-CO-stuff
Skink priest-Level 2, Heavens, Dispell scroll
25 Saurus FC
25 Saurus FC Spears
10 skirmishers blowpipers
10 skirmishers javelins
10 skink cohort
6 chameleon skinks
1 salamander with extra snack

Without this, I feel naked. The Saurus might get an occasional model extra, because I have some points leftover. Just extra bodies to die in the shooting phase, mostly. Scar-vet often rides with the Saurus, to get some protection and add punch to the unit. He charges out of the unit too...so he's not always in the same combat.

The Saurus do well for me. Soak up charges, dish out some damage. Exactly as you would expect them to. I don't like 1 big unit of 30+, because I can't manoeuver as well. Terrain becomes an issue, the unit is often too wide for my other units to deploy and move around. And also, if 25-30 Saurus will not get the job done; how many will?
I've never gone larger than 30. Always running them 5, sometimes 6 wide. I feel that is a big points investment, and if something bigger and nastier comes up; I will just redirect it and get out of the way of it.
If the enemy deathstar does come into combat with my Saurus, they will be able to put up a decent fight for 1-2 rounds, and probably die.

If I had a unit of, say 40 Saurus...I don't think it would matter at all. They will just get killed either way, and I'd be down more points.

2 units of 25 give me enough bodies to at least hold a turn, and put up a decent fight against most things. If you add in magic support, my supporting charges; I generally do well.
If 25 don't get the job done, I feel like I need a different answer than a block of Saurus.


2 blocks also gives me flexibility, an extra drop in deployment, more units to block of corridors caused by terrain, if I lose 1 block I still have the other one and not be down a huge chunk of points, not as wide as a horde...

I do not use the Troglodon though, I think it is overpriced. It is a cool model and the idea for the monster is great, it just doesn't work out in practice.

Downsides:
Worse against enemy hordes or big units.
Leadership checks are 'doubled' compared to 1 big unit.
Cost more points, I find myself looking for another hammer unit. But I always want my 2 blocks.


That's my view on 2 blocks. Hope it helps!

The Hunted

 

[Lizardmatt]

If T4 4+ armor is durable against your opponent saurus will be great.
If you run into an opponent packing lots of S5 or S6, not so much.

I have 2 blocks of 30 saurus. Against squishy weak infantry, they rocked. Against ogres/warriors/elves I got my ass handed to me.
I've been switching to Skinks, and Skinks and Krox, and it's been more middle of the road. It isn't as good against goblins and empire infantry, but it does work out better against chaos and ogres.

One point, I did run the 60 saurus as a single block once, and it was stupidly good; but that's more of a gamble that your opponent doesn't have purple sun, pit of shades or dwellers.

-Matt

 

[Pinktaco]

I usually run with 30 saurus and 30 templeguards. Dunno if that counts. I figure it would be too much with 2 x 24 saurus warriors and 30 templeguards.

 

[T_Saurus]

My army's core consists of 2 units of 25 Saurus. 1 with spears, and 1 with HW/S.

The Saurus do well for me. Soak up charges, dish out some damage. Exactly as you would expect them to. I don't like 1 big unit of 30+, because I can't manoeuver as well. Terrain becomes an issue, the unit is often too wide for my other units to deploy and move around. And also, if 25-30 Saurus will not get the job done; how many will?
I've never gone larger than 30. Always running them 5, sometimes 6 wide. I feel that is a big points investment, and if something bigger and nastier comes up; I will just redirect it and get out of the way of it.
If the enemy deathstar does come into combat with my Saurus, they will be able to put up a decent fight for 1-2 rounds, and probably die.

If I had a unit of, say 40 Saurus...I don't think it would matter at all. They will just get killed either way, and I'd be down more points.


Downsides:
Worse against enemy hordes or big units.
Leadership checks are 'doubled' compared to 1 big unit.
Cost more points, I find myself looking for another hammer unit. But I always want my 2 blocks.


That's my view on 2 blocks. Hope it helps!

The Hunted

You say that bumping to 40 saurus doesn't matter at all but at that point your unit transforms from a sturdy block to a grinding wheel. It becomes more of a question that your opponent needs to be able to answer instead of being an answer for something your opponent has.

I have ran a double Saurus horde list and it was hit and miss. In one game it was amazing and I decimated my opponent in the other I misplayed and had one unit with poor luck against a Stank and the other with poor luck against some Demigryph...

If supported with a Wandering Deliberation Slann a Saurus horde becomes something truly fierce (A TG horde even more so) Iceshard + Miasma + Wyssans created such a skewed combat for me. I am going to look to add in Tetto'eko to have Vanguarding hordes with even more buffing/hexing potential. I may need to find a way to fit in Forbidden Rod or something to make sure I can have enough dice for that key turn.

 

[Qupakoco]

Maybe it's overkill to the OP, but I usually run... 3 blocks!! One HW&S, one Spears, one TG. If I'm going for a typical list, that's where I start. Gives you a solid line and plenty of options, like The Hunted was talking about. At a minimum I take 2 blocks unless it's a really small game. Saurus are usually always worth their points.

I've only ever ran one block once and I felt pretty naked with it. One unit can get overwhelmed pretty easily especially with all the big bad nasties that come to the board these days. And to be fair, I think a unit of 8 Krox seems pretty mean. That's just as many wounds as a 24 man unit of Saurus with a little more strength. More attacks too, plus a similar armor save. More costly though I suppose.

 

[Noveltyboy]

I usually run 2x15 and 1×30. It does well. I dont use spears I love my parry saves too much. My win ratio is highest in my club so it cant be a bad choice. On the PF note noone in my area including GW staff have ever doubted it was meant for support attacks too. Your hardly a good PF if your not biting or tail whipping the guy you can readh with your sword. I am surprised they have taken this long to clear it up though.

 

[Anton_S]

I usually run 2x30 Saurus plus 24 TG with Slann and Cowboy (who may or may not leave at some point).

Usually it works great. Most opponents don't bring three combat units strong enough to handle them so one of the Saurus units is often in a position to move upfield or threaten the flank of the big bad unit heading for my centre. Also, shooting and magic tends to target Temple Guard (or support units like Skinks, Salamanders or Dinosaurs) so if I'm short on points I can remove a few models from the Warriors.

I'd love to try Kroxigor in place of any of those units as they bring some really good things to the table but I don't have the models yet.

 

[chefsdad]

Saurus have yet to do anything notable in any games ive used them in, other than be a slightly tiugher bunker than skins, and a slightly cheaper bunker than temple guard.

Ive taken, 18, 20, 22, 25 and 30. Every time they suck. There is literally nothing i have found that i would want them to fight on thier own, and no situation where i would want them over skinks. Even with heavy magic support they dont perform particularly well.

If i want a combat block, I take Temple Guard. Same ave, higher WS and Strength, and the ability to take a magic banner all make them so much better for the extra 3 points IMO. Thats ignoring the rules they get when a Slann joins them.


That said, i would normally take neither. If im down the club, and people dont want to play my normal list, the Saurus and Temple Guard come out.




People at the club laugh at how much i hate my saurus though. And at one of the clubs I attend I think I'm the only one who views saurus as a concession

 

[Knight Errant]

Hey Joe - for SCGT this year (3K) I ran 3 large infantry blocks with decent success. 1x 30 spears, 1x 20 HW/S, and 35 temple guard.

Even in lists without temple guard I usually run 2 blocks of saurus. I've had good results overall - but it also fits my play style better. I usually run an engine of the gods as well in support to ensure both blocks are getting the 6++ especially the spears once they get in combat. They don't give up points that easily unless I really misjudge a combat situation.

I've got nearly 80 saurus painted and can run a spear and HW horde, but usually don't get that big. I like 30 as the sweet spot. 5x6 for steadfast and they have decent staying power.

 

[MarchoftheStegs]

I ran 2 units of 30 Saurus and 1 unit of 26 TG in a tournament recently we did pretty well. One block killed 4 trolls 21 Savage orcs (not big uns) a spear chukka and 2 pump wagons. (I love wildform.)

 

[T_Saurus]

Hey Joe - for SCGT this year (3K) I ran 3 large infantry blocks with decent success. 1x 30 spears, 1x 20 HW/S, and 35 temple guard.

Even in lists without temple guard I usually run 2 blocks of saurus. I've had good results overall - but it also fits my play style better. I usually run an engine of the gods as well in support to ensure both blocks are getting the 6++ especially the spears once they get in combat. They don't give up points that easily unless I really misjudge a combat situation.

I've got nearly 80 saurus painted and can run a spear and HW horde, but usually don't get that big. I like 30 as the sweet spot. 5x6 for steadfast and they have decent staying power.

Hey Knight, I'm also working up my Saurus to have 2 hordes worth (50 spear 50 hw/s).

In my last tournament I ran a 36 horde of TG and 30 Spear warriors. I wouldn't run a list with less than 2 hard combat blocks unless I was going to run a skink cloud list. I just seem to prefer a counter punch approach, Take a charge and then buff and hex the crap out of the combat and win it in my turn.

 

[Knight Errant]

Hey Joe - for SCGT this year (3K) I ran 3 large infantry blocks with decent success. 1x 30 spears, 1x 20 HW/S, and 35 temple guard.

Even in lists without temple guard I usually run 2 blocks of saurus. I've had good results overall - but it also fits my play style better. I usually run an engine of the gods as well in support to ensure both blocks are getting the 6++ especially the spears once they get in combat. They don't give up points that easily unless I really misjudge a combat situation.

I've got nearly 80 saurus painted and can run a spear and HW horde, but usually don't get that big. I like 30 as the sweet spot. 5x6 for steadfast and they have decent staying power.

Hey Knight, I'm also working up my Saurus to have 2 hordes worth (50 spear 50 hw/s).

In my last tournament I ran a 36 horde of TG and 30 Spear warriors. I wouldn't run a list with less than 2 hard combat blocks unless I was going to run a skink cloud list. I just seem to prefer a counter punch approach, Take a charge and then buff and hex the crap out of the combat and win it in my turn.

that's why I like running them 5x6 - you can take the charge and even if you lose still be steadfast most times, then counterpunch with the other brick. Obviously that's easy to say harder to execute. With Joe's lists the hammer is going to be the Krox more often than not, but it does allow you other options.

Joe - what would you drop in your standard list to make room?