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For ten trivial points, I have been debating the merits of giving my non-Destroyer Body Necron Lord a Warscythe or a Staff of Light.

I'm not a big fan of the Staff of Light, but without it, the Necron Lord just sits there most Shooting Phases doing nothing.

In the context of what I use him for, he simply sits with Necron Warriors and projects his Ressurection Orb. That and a bit of toughness to bolster a Necron Warrior line in case it does get assaulted. That are his primary functions.

Take a Warscythe and run him?

What I always do is take the Scythe

#1 if I play my game 100% my warriors wont get within 12" of anything and will be sitting healthy and happily 10 members strong in cover on an objective.

This scenario rarely happens...

#2 I take the Scythe as a Defensive Weapon. Not for its assault potential but for the 2d6 pen against tanks.

Armies with tanks late game tactics will be to tank shock your warriors off their objective. Without a War Scythe there is no threat to the tank Death or Glory has such a minuscule chance of success they wont even consider it.

I take the Scythe to threaten vehicles tank shocking my objective turn 6 or 7. Without it they have nothing to fear with it you level the playing field.

10 pts and 3 short range shots are more then enough to give up to have a possibility of holding your home base vs late game tank shock shenanigans.

Its the 110th points I spend in any list I make anymore when I run a foot lord with a group of warriors. (If your not running them with warriors the 10pts can still be worth it but possibly not as worth it)


:Edit:
With a res orb and babysitting warriors I always find the Scythe to have a bigger impact on the game than a staff of light

I always run the scythe, points permitting

Personally, I have found that the Staff of Light is much more helpful then the Warscythe for the Rez Orb Lord as it gives an extra 3 decently powered shots to throw out. He's not supposed to be getting into assault in the first place and if he does the Staff counts as a power weapon so only invul. saves are going to apply.

Generally I'll run two Lords:

Lord
-Destroyer Body
-Warscythe
-Lightning field

Lord 2
-Rez Orb
-Veil of Darkness

Sometimes I'll throw an Invul. save on the first or maybe a Phylactery but usually he wont need it. Keep the first Lord with a group of Scarabs and boost them to where they need to be, the 2+ cover on the Scarabs will keep everyone safe and if you get into assault that lightning field will be biting back for every wound you take. The second Lord can stay with a squad of warriors and hop to wherever he needs to be with the veil, and when the group touches down you've got a turn to shoot. I find this pair to be pretty effective.

The warscythe is much more aggressive, allowing you to destroy tanks and ignore every single type of armour/invulnerable save the game has to offer.

The staff is if you're in a more defensive mood, with better shooting and still a power weapon in close combat. Plus its free

Use the staff of light unless you know your vsing nothing but terminators.
The warscythe should only be used on a destroyer lord not foot lord as the foot lord will not make combat unless he is charged and even then warscythe only makes a difference against units like terminators.

I hope this has helped you and good luck with your necrons.