So, these guys won my poll a while back by a landslide. So, what's good, Cryx? Well, Cryx are widely regarded as the most powerful faction by a lot of people (I don't disagree, but hey. To elaborate I don't think they're overpowered, just have the most competitive options). They are undeniably very powerful with a lot of top tier casters. Now, I'm going to quickly go over the entirety of the unit selection, and give it a simple binary yes or no. Why? Because I don't want you to be working on an arbitrary ratings system. I mean, really, what does "4 stars" tell you in the grand scheme of things? So, here we go! The entire Cryx book.... >_>
Now, I should put down a little bit of a forewarning. When I say "good" I mean literally cream of the crop. There's a lot of "good" casters in the Cryx book that will get a "No." because they just don't compare to some of the other cryx casters. For example, pGaspy is a great caster, but he's no eGaspy. [=
Warcasters!
pAsphyxious - No.
eAsphyxious - YES. YES YES YES. YES. Although his feat is sub-par*
pDeneghra - No.
eDeneghra - Yes.
pGoreshade - No.
eGoreshade - No.
Mortenebra - No, yes as a second list (play it against somthing like mercs who struggle with heavy armour).
pSkarre - No. Yes as a second list (armies that struggle with infantry hordes, i.e. Circle Orboros)
eSkarre - Yes.
Terminus - Ugh, tough to say. I'd say probably yes as a second, but he has a lot of hard counters. On that basis no. But if you're feeling lucky, go for it.
The Witch Coven - No.
Venethrax - No, good as a second list though (Legion in particular hate him).
Scaverous - Yes.
*This is a lie.
Warjacks
Deathripper/Nightwretch - Yes (depends on what you wanna do with your list).
Defiler - Yes.
Helldiver- No.
Ripjaw - No.
Stalker - No. Yes with certain casters though. Generally no.
Cankerworm - No
Corruptor - No
Slayer - No
Reaper - Yes
Malice - Yes
Erebus - No
Scavenger - No
Harrower - No, except with people who can boost it's MAT (pSkarre being the big one)
Leviathan - No.
Seether - Yes.
Deathjack - No. Wait, what? Yeah, really. He's only good if you have someone who can take advantage of Necromancy. He has a puny 9.5" threat range, so gtfo. Try him with eDenny, eSkarre or Scavvy though, and let the good times roll.
Nightmare - No. Not bad with certain casters (I like him with eSkarre). But generally, no.
Units
Bane Knights - Nope (inferior to Bane Thralls, with everyone except eGaspy, and arguably the casters who grant stealth).
Bane Thralls - Yes
Bane Thrall UA - Yes
Bile Thralls - Yes
Black Ogruns - No
Bloodgorgers - No
Cephalyx Drudges - No
Cephalyx Overlords - No
Mechanithralls - Yes
Brute Thralls - Not really, mostly for the anti-trample.
Necrosurgeon - Yes
Revenant Crew + everything they embody - No.
Satyxis Raiders - Yes.
Satyxis UA - Yes
Satyxis Bloodwitches - No
Satyxis Bloodwitch UA - Dear god yes.
Soulhunters - No, except Coven Tier 3
The Withershadow Combine - Yes, yes yes yes.
Blackbane and Co. - Honestly, I think these guys are underrated, but generally no.
SolosBloat Thrall - No, unless you really can't spring for any other anti infantry (3pts more for biles!)
Machine Wraith - Yes, if you have a point left. I like these guys for sitting in scenario points just being incorp.
Necrotech and Scrap Thralls - No. Scraps are another use for those spare points though. Worth it for morty tiers though.
Pistol Wraith - No, unless you're building shooty Cryx (pDenny and eDenny being the best candidates for this)
Satyxis Raider Captain - Yes if you're running Satyxis or Skarre.
Skarlock - Yes if you have anything worth using him for. Ghost Walk is the best one in my opinion.
Warwitch Siren - Yep. Seriously. Pure gold.
Captain Rengrave- No.
Tartarus - Yes.
Gerlak - No. Unless you're eGaspy.
Darragh Wrathe - Yes.
Ok, well, that's everything. Now, this may seem like an arbitrary post, but I know there's a lot of people who are considering starting the game, and realistically this list can be used to help folks make their first purchases towards an army. Also, these posts put some perspective on when I refer to certain units in examples etc. As to why these units are good? Well, we'll get to that. ;)
Hope some people find this useful, any questions as to why feel free to pop them in the comments, I'm sure myself or some other WM/H player will be more than happy to answer.
<3
Logging you in...
Bro_Lo 82p · 710 weeks ago
This is exactly why I use the bog-standard variant of Stryker. I think PP should make a more obvious bonus for not taking the epic variant.
VinsKlortho · 710 weeks ago
@SackOfOwls · 710 weeks ago
Archnomad 70p · 710 weeks ago
Notable p casters that rock:
pSorscha
pVlad
pButcher
pIrusk
pHaley (received a recent power boost with Storm Striders)
pKreoss
pSeverius
pKrueger
pMorghoul
pDoomshaper (see what Andy Palmer does with this guy before you comment, it's obscene)
As a note though BroLo, there's a lot of good casters out there that only have "prime" versions (not epic) and those are some of the best casters around (Old Witch, Harbinger, Scaverous, Siege, Rasheth, Kromac etc). I really don't think it's an imbalance, I don't even think of them as the same character while listbuilding. To me the difference between making a p and e makeda army is like choosing to play Salamanders or Night Lords. Totally different (yet similarish), and absolutely an apples to oranges scenario. [=
tzeentchling 76p · 710 weeks ago
The Goreshades are a bit weak, but not horribly so. pGoreshade can be an absolute nightmare for several armies out there, mostly just thanks to his spell Mage Blight.
Went Awer · 710 weeks ago
Archnomad 70p · 710 weeks ago
Nope, but I'll get some? If you want I'll do battle reports.
Went Awer · 710 weeks ago
Prometheus 101p · 710 weeks ago
Archnomad 70p · 710 weeks ago
That last part also applies to the Seether. For certain casters (eSkarre for example, tbh the only one I really like it much with) it's a good jack, it doesn't take up much focus (allowing her to cast perdition and move admonition/Death Ward about as necessary) whilst still being a massive beater with high mat and a nice (v. nice) chain attack. Compared to the slayer which is lower mat, focus hungry (no way to mitigate it) and has no chain attack?
So yeah, I wouldn't take a slayer, not when you have things like a Reaper, Malice, Seether, Deathjack, Nightmare, Bane Thralls and dirt cheap Arc Nodes in faction, all of which are better buys (and the jacks better uses of jack points in most cases, of course YMMV from caster to caster).
With Morty it's a whole different kettle of fish ofc due to TV.
tzeentchling 76p · 710 weeks ago
There are certain casters that I do think run Slayers well - pSkarre and Coven. Same with Seethers, who are also really good with Venethrax and probably Terminus, but a lot of casters you'd probably just rely on Withershadow Combine to make you one.
Archnomad 70p · 710 weeks ago
[=
Prometheus 101p · 710 weeks ago
I also get a huge bias of the models you use versus those you don't. Cankerworm, for instance isn't about reducing armor....he's a hit and run specialist.
Archnomad 70p · 710 weeks ago
But I used to use the Cankerworm all the time in my eGoreshade list? I don't think you can rightly make that assumption. I used him whilst going for all stealth.
Hit an run specialist? What?
Prometheus 101p · 710 weeks ago
I think you need expand your thinking a bit.
And regarding cankerworm, he has pathfinder and gets a free move at the end of his activation......when controlled by gaspy. Maybe using him with goreshade was the wrong plan?
Vilicate · 710 weeks ago
But, it's not unbeatable when you've got a good handle on the game, or if your opponent gives you an opening.
Wild · 710 weeks ago
Archnomad 70p · 710 weeks ago
pDenny I cover at the start of the article. She's good, don't get me wrong, but she's no eGaspy/Scaverous etc.
Bloodwitches are a bad unit. The Blood Hag is AMAZING. The only reason you would bring Blood Witches is for the UA. It's a mediocre unit made passable by the UA, and if you bring that UA you gotta bring a sub par (comparatively) unit along.
VinsKlortho · 710 weeks ago
Archnomad 70p · 710 weeks ago
tzeentchling 76p · 710 weeks ago
Archnomad 70p · 710 weeks ago
Gareth · 709 weeks ago
But... it has been my experience that WarmaHordes is more about the player than about what models you take. Unfortunately your article implies that some things are not as good as others, and I don't think that is true with Warmachine. Things just play differently. Also, it creates an elitist feel for new players who are thinking about what models to buy when you can really buy what you want and play competitively. Obviously things have to have synergy within a list, but I don't think it is right to say that certain things aren't as competitive. Just look at the guy who won Hardcore with a Tier 4 Kraye list. Also, in your final paragraph you state that this will help people make their first purchases... except that you have given a "No" to both the caster and the heavy in the Battlebox. Personally, I believe everyone should start with their battlebox. Ultimately, I think your article will confuse new players and give them the wrong outlook on the game. Coming from 40k, I have been amazed at how well this game is balanced. WarmaHordes is a game where the list is secondary to the general's tactical acumen and the model's abilities are secondary to how they are applied.
But that's just my two focus. :) I am not trying to be rude, I really do think it is a decently written article and I am grateful you wrote it, purely for the discussion it generates if nothing else.
Antebellum · 709 weeks ago
Maybe you were planning on doing something else in the future, but I would rather hear more about how the army plays, maybe with some of the common casters, which combos work well together, what to look out for, strengths, weaknesses, etc.
Leszek Cyfer · 679 weeks ago
- Drake MacBain
- pMagnus the Traitor
- eMagnus the Warlord
- Renegade light warjack (with Magnus)
- Steelhead Halberdiers
- Steelhead Heavy Cavalry
- Steelhead Riflemen
- Greygore Boomhowler & Co
- Croe's Cutthroats
- Cylena Raefyll & Nyss Hunters
- Stanis Brocker, Steelhead Commander of Ternon Crag
- Madelyn Corbeau, Ordic Courtesan
- Orin Midwinter, Rogue Inquisitor
- Gorman di Wulfe, Rogue Alchemist
- Fiona the Black
- Captain Bartolo Montador
- Press Gangers
- Sea Dog Crew
- Sea Dog Rifleman
- Sea Dog Deck Gun
- Mr. Walls, the Quartermaster
- Bloody Bradigan
- Bosun Grogspar
- Doc Killingsworth
- First Mate Hawk
- Lord Rockbottom, Expedicion Financier
- Master Gunner Dougal MacNaile
- Ogrun Bokur
Could someone, perhaps Archnomad, make an addendum to "Quick and dirty Cryx review"?
Please :)