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I was searching the tactics forum for people’s specific tactics on dealing with war machines, but there are not a whole lot of them listed. So I was pondering on how many different ways are there for people to nullify or defeat war machines.

I typically play Wood Elves and usually I nominate one or two maneuverable units to the task of war machine hunting. Glade Riders and Warhawks are very effective for this assignment. I will then send right at the war machines, trying not to give time for the war machines to shoot. I will usually try and hit a flank. I know that the machine can swivel, but in the event of overrun I might be able to get to the next war machine if they are placed in a line.

I have also used magic, depending on what list I bring. Treesinging is good to whack the crew, as is Master of Stone from the Lore of Life, since people love to deploy their war machines on top of a hill. The Howler Wind and Rain Lord can be effective as well.

What are your tactics for this chore?

I have 2 main armies: demons and skaven
Demons~
I utilize 2 units furies or pending situation and if there are no other options at that point in the game, I use seekers of slaanesh. The furies can be risky, this is because they are leadership 2, so if they miss they will probably die. Sometimes its better just to move the furies right in front of a stone thrower just to block Los and be within the minumum range. However, against HE and DE bolt thrower, you have to go in there and try and get it done. Furies vs high elve BT's is risky, becaue often you will lose a fury to ASF, so against them, the seekers are often more useful. Another option is to use flamers and their immense amount of shots just to wipe out the crew.

Skaven~
Gutter runners were born to warmachine unit. With their tunnel and scout abilities they can usually get there prety intact. Taking 2 units with tunnel was the way to go because you will usually get someone there on turn 2. They have 2 base attacks, and you can give them poisen. Also their throwing star are great vs warmachines to pick off the crew if you don't want to charge in. This could change drastically in the new book, but ultimately they will pobabl have the same role.

My thoughts on warmachine hunting is you don't want to use a super expensive unit. Gutter runners, for 5 is under 100 pts, which is a bargain in skaven land for what they do. Often they can get a nice charge and over run out of hazard areas. Demons is a little trickier because everything is so expensive. However, demons are high movement so having a unit of seekers, furies, and flamers in the same army gives you options pending how your opponent deploys.

I play Dark Elves and OnG, so Warmachine Hunting falls to 3 main tactics.

Harpies

Dark Riders/Wolf Riders

A Flying Assassin.

Dont forget shades they also are great for warmachine hunting. Anything with the scout special ability also does the trick quite nicely

Wolf Riders do a good job for my orcs and goblins.

I haven't tried them yet but I expect terradons will do really well.

O&G have four real "options":

1) Stone Thrower. Not the most accurate mean, but it does exist.
2) Spider Riders. Slower than a unit of Wolf Riders, but can blast through terrain without penalty.
3) Wolf Riders. By turn two, if a unit isn't between you and the Machines, you've got it (36" from where the WR deployed).
4) Scouting Hero. Problematic in that it sacrifices one of your heroes, but in 3K or larger point games you can fit it at times.

Empire Captain on pegasus.

woodies - archery and great eagle. Glade riders and warhawks to a lesser extent as my riders tend to be used elsewhere and hawks aren´t as common for me

skaven - gutter runners. never left home without 2 units. may change with the new rulebook (looked @ it the other day but have to buy it still)

tomb kings - scorpions and swarms. usually take 2 scorpions and 1 swarm. great for machine hunting and distracting the enemy.

High Elves -

Great Eagles are the best. Flying, T4 W3. Not guaranteed to eliminate, but dangerous enough for opponents to be unable to ignore. And at 50 points, even one turn of diversion can be enough.

Shadow Warriors would come next given their scouting ability. Their advantage over the Great Eagle is that they have more wounds/attacks collectively, as well as an armor save. They also have moderate shooting ability. On the downside they cost more than an eagle.

Great Eagles with Shield of Saphery are just fantastic.

For DE i use the following:

1) Dark Riders
2) Harpies
3) Shades

Out of those 3 I tend to use Dark Riders and Shades simply because I don't have any harpies

Waywatchers do it for me.

I use a combination of Eagles and Glade Riders.

For my Empire I usually hunt Warmachines with Warmachines.

Cannons are great at taking out other warmachines, and in a pinch Mortars or Helstorms can kill the crew of a machine.

The Captain on a Pegasus is also a good one, as is the 5 man 'nilla knight unit.

O&G:
Night Goblin army: Spider riders and sqiug hoppers (I haven't done up wolf riders yet)

Lizardmen:
Terradons drop rocks on a nearby unit, then attack warmachine from behind the enemy battle line. Skink skirmishers.

HE:
The Lore of Life
Multi Shot fire from repeater bolt throwers
Great Eagles.
Going to try and use Unseen lurker and chariots next.

DE:
Shadowblade, ambush and then go to the next one.
Dark Riders
Multi Shot fire from repeater bolt throwers
Harpies
Flying Assassins

Dwarves:
BS 5 Bolt Throwers from Master Engineers
Gyro Copters
Buddy used the Anvil of Doom

I think that all armies use generally the same tactics for war machine hunting. It just depends on what you have at your disposal. Scouts, Flyers, and Fast Cavalry are the most common answers for war machines. Other things are also possible such as other war machines, Lore of Heavens, flying/fast characters, etc.. Things that either have long range or can get into an opponents back lines in a hurry.

For my empire I either shoot back at them with cannons or use pistoliors to hunt them down.

Or DE noble with pedant of khealeth can survive several cannon balls