Guest Posted July 22, 2014 Report Share Posted July 22, 2014 Only use I've seen that's remotely viable on any consistent basis, is to place them on the battlements of a fortification and use their BS4 to fire gun emplacements. This is especially viable if the fortification isn't in your deployment zone. Anyone found uses beyond the above that make the mandrakes consistently viable? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pretre Posted July 22, 2014 Report Share Posted July 22, 2014 Grabbing non-DZ Maelstrom objectives turn 1? Although speed isn't usually a DE problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
intrizic Posted July 22, 2014 Report Share Posted July 22, 2014 They look aweseome Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pretre Posted July 22, 2014 Report Share Posted July 22, 2014 They look aweseome They make great Shelf display minis! And are also great for conversions/counts-as. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fluger Posted July 22, 2014 Report Share Posted July 22, 2014 Poor Mandrakes. GW still can't quite grasp how to make stealthy units effective. I look at Lictors, Kommandos, Striking Scorpions, and Mandrakes and I see a lot of wasted potential. Kommandos in Snikrot's formation are good, and Striking Scorpion Exarchs are nice too, but, in general, these infiltrating/melee units are pretty poor. It's very upsetting, because they are some of my favorite models in both actual models and fluff. :/ 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted July 22, 2014 Report Share Posted July 22, 2014 Poor Mandrakes. GW still can't quite grasp how to make stealthy units effective. I look at Lictors, Kommandos, Striking Scorpions, and Mandrakes and I see a lot of wasted potential. Kommandos in Snikrot's formation are good, and Striking Scorpion Exarchs are nice too, but, in general, these infiltrating/melee units are pretty poor. It's very upsetting, because they are some of my favorite models in both actual models and fluff. :/ Scout bikers do it pretty well, with both 12" scout and infiltrate. You can really get into an opponents deployment zone if they fail to place units 18" from both corners. Not really a melee unit, but you can still do the charges. As for the mandrakes, they presently have two save granting abilities (cover bonus and daemon invulnerable), but no real offensive bonus (aside from normal DE high initiative, WS and attacks). Should work fine against no-save infantry, but they aren't cheap enough to use in most other roles. Melee weapon access, haywire grenades, or even just something like that chaos boon table would be pretty amazing for mandrakes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
intrizic Posted July 22, 2014 Report Share Posted July 22, 2014 don't they have some sort of flamer power up when they get a pain token? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fluger Posted July 22, 2014 Report Share Posted July 22, 2014 Yes, scout bikers can get into an opponent's deployment zone quickly. Then what? Shoot a bit? They aren't a melee-focused unit, or, if they are, are a really poor one. Also, they can't assault turn one anyway in that set up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted July 23, 2014 Report Share Posted July 23, 2014 Yes, scout bikers can get into an opponent's deployment zone quickly. Then what? Shoot a bit? They aren't a melee-focused unit, or, if they are, are a really poor one. Also, they can't assault turn one anyway in that set up. You forget they have krak grenades stock. They aren't a very good anti-infantry melee unit, but they work just fine against vehicles with rear AV10. I think they still have the rapid fire grenade launcher access too, so you could go that route, or a combi-weapon, or just throwning krak grenades and bolterfire. Not a horrible unit, espeically with some of the chapter tactics (like salamanders). As for turn 1 assault, remember that if you go second, you can assault turn 1. It does mean a turn of hiding, but a cheap unit like that can be hidden reasonably well. It does grant potential for a first blood target, but opponent's will often deal with larger threats over units like this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PourSpelur Posted July 23, 2014 Report Share Posted July 23, 2014 Did the "no charging a unit you can't see at the beginning of your movement phase" rule goo away with the edition change? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pretre Posted July 23, 2014 Report Share Posted July 23, 2014 Did the "no charging a unit you can't see at the beginning of your movement phase" rule goo away with the edition change? Was that ever a rule? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AbusePuppy Posted July 23, 2014 Report Share Posted July 23, 2014 You aren't allowed to charge a unit that you can't draw LOS to when the charge is declared, that might be what he's thinking of. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WestRider Posted July 23, 2014 Report Share Posted July 23, 2014 As for turn 1 assault, remember that if you go second, you can assault turn 1. It does mean a turn of hiding, but a cheap unit like that can be hidden reasonably well. It does grant potential for a first blood target, but opponent's will often deal with larger threats over units like this. Not any more. Now Scouts and Infiltrators can't Charge in the first Game Turn. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fluger Posted July 23, 2014 Report Share Posted July 23, 2014 What westie said. Also, krak grenades are certainly nice, but the change in 7th to vehicles always have WS1 means that it would take 9 scout bikers to take out ONE vehicle with AV10 in the back in one round. 9 scout bikers is what 160ish points? Hardly a cheap and disposable unit and definitely not much of a threat against vehicles. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted July 23, 2014 Report Share Posted July 23, 2014 hmmm.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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