Skinks - Blowgun or Javelin + Shield

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**Fieos**

I'm building my skinks out tonight and I'm not sure which way I want to go with them. I've done the theorycrafting but wanted to hear from the folks with experience.

Thanks!

**HoverBoy**

Yea blowpipes for skirmishers, i don't really use the others but i've only been playing WHFB for a short time. The problem with the jav+shield combo is this, you pay one point per model to get a 6+ failarmor (and potentially a parry save but if the skinks are fighting theyre diying either way), a fast to shoot weapon, and you loose one shot of poison. In general i believe the jav+shield combo belongs in cohort units (made better with krox) since those are the only skinks i'd ever bring into combat willingly, plus they come with that gear standard and can't change it

**Aduro**

I prefer the Javelins. Their Quick To Fire gives them a much better hit rate, so you're not relying on the poison to wound troops. For the Blowpipes to be better, you either have to not move, or get the entire front line of Skinks within 6" of the target unit.

Automatically Appended Next Post:
P.S. Plus Javelins and Shields look cooler.

**HoverBoy**

Hmm yea it does look cool, but as i said, javs dont work for skirmishers as good as blows do for one reason – S3. It means you do more wounding with poison than you do with actual hits more shots help with that, and being 6" from what you're shooting is no big deal if it isn't facing you

In any event the gear depends on the purpoce of the unit, skirmishers get pipes, block skinks get javs+shields. It's the best for both really.

**ramongoroth**

For skink skirmishers I always take javelins for the quick to fire aspect. I am always moving them around along with my salamanders. It is rare for my skirmishers to actually stay put for a turn. I only use blowpipes with chameleion skinks.

**UbiSwanky2**

Been awhile since I played Fantasy but in my last game the poison darts seriously put a hurting on my cavalry.....serious hurting.....they where the scout skinks...chameleons I think?

**freddieyu1**

blowpipes rock, volume fire really helps especially when you get within 6".....

**nosferatu1001**

Blowpipes everytime - can march and shoot so more likely to get the double tap range, and if you can force overruns into your lines of skinks you can cause a lot of hurt. Took down a steg (ancient) in ONE turn of shooting from 30 skinks.

If using ranked skink then jav + shield - because they are there for hidden Kroxigor.

**HoverBoy**

nosferatu1001 wrote:If using ranked skink then jav + shield - because they are there for hidden Kroxigor.

And thus more likely to use the shields, besides ranked skinks don't have an option for pipes.

**RiTides**

I agree... I think there are some rare circumstances where jav/shield skirmishing skinks are better, but unless you're taking them ranked I'd stick to blowpipes. A few units of them absolutely murdered my dragon ogre shaggoth last night

(although at least one was of the chameleon skink variety... but they all did it via the poison 6's, anyway).

**HoverBoy**

The main reason lizardmen skirmishers are so much better than those of other armies is that they come with poison standard and cheap

**Kirasu**

Javelins are good with mind razor .. Take a unit of 20 and you got 20 S10 shots that can stand and shoot for another 20 S10 shots

**Hawkins**

Im always happy not to see blowpipes. that answers your question right there.

**Infreak**

Yeah, blowpipes really put on the hurt. I'm pretty sure they get a scout move too so they could potentially lay into warmachines or any other dangerous unit.

**HoverBoy**

Kirasu wrote:Javelins are good with mind razor .. Take a unit of 20 and you got 20 S10 shots that can stand and shoot for another 20 S10 shots

That does seem nasty, untill you read the spell and see it only works on close combat attacks.
Also skinks are LD 6.

**Kirasu**

Yeah I did forget it was CC only, thats too bad.. However I was assuming you would keep the Slaan nearby because thats how the combo works. Which gives them LD10 due to inspiring presence. Either way, that was the only use Ive found for javelins.. I tend to only use camo skinks

**Red_Zeke**

Unless I'm very much mistaken, the Slann is only Ld 9. Not that the difference between Strength 9 and 10 is terribly significant.

They will occasionally get to 10 by being the army BSB and carrying the Standard of Discipline...

**HoverBoy**

To some people the standard of discipline is standard equipment (see what i did there

), lately i've stopped taking it every game, but i can't deny it has come in usefull on occasion.

**Kirasu**

Yeah as Hoverboy said heh.. LD10 is all I take on the slaann as it makes lizards basically unbreakable within 12" of him

**HoverBoy**

Yea when you loose combat by 5 or 4 is where that extra point of LD really shines.