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So im new to skaven, and just wanted to pop the question.... Are skaven A-bombs very competitive for their points?

Not a skaven player myself, but I hate to face them. They are scarily effective and hard to kill. I had one game where I killled it fair and square through a combination of shooting and CC...but it got right back up and ate the knights that finished it off.

Short answer: YES!!
Long answer: OH HELL YEEESSSSSS!
There you go

The only real downside I can see to A-bombs is that they either are awesome and win the game for you without you having to do much, or they completely fluff and quite possibly lose the game for you. That's the sense I got from reading Boss Salvage's battle reports (conveniently in the Battle Report forum), and he often expresses distaste at how when his works it just wins no matter how dumb he was otherwise, and how when it doesn't work he is really hurting. He seems to feel it takes a lot of generalship out of the game in favor of "Roll a d6. On a 5+ just pick up your models and shake my hand because I win. On 1 or 2, let me buy you a drink, because I lose. 3 or 4, we might as well play it out."


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Oh, and he just plays one. People put two in one list, but I have no idea how that works out.

It's probably somewhat undercosted, but not a ton. Certainly when compared to the Beastman rares. Most armies will have a way to deal with it, and in fact *must* have a way to deal with it in a competitive tournament/all-comers environment.

The thing is that its potential damage output in close combat is so hideously high that it becomes a "deal with this now, whatever the cost" then worry about the rest situation.

I don't begrudge Skaven players taking it at all- just want to be clear on that. But yes, it is competitive for its points.

It's pretty lopsided, and can be so strong that frequently it doesn't need any support.
When well played with supporting units, it's stupidly good.

As with most big scary things, more is better, since opponents have a limited way to deal with them.
At 2,000 points, you could be "That Guy".
Grey Seer on Bell (with 60 points of gear)
2x plague priests on furnaces
2x30 plague monks (one with storm banner)
60 Storm Vermin (pushing the bell, armor piercing banner).

You've got 5 big scary things to deal with, and you're opponent has limited shooting.
6 levels of magic, 3 unbreakable units, and 2 awesome monsters; 0 friends.

-Matt

A-bombs are nasty. However, they are also relatively expensive compared to other Skaven Rare choices which are also quite nasty, if in different manners.

Doomwheels execute monsters and solo characters. They are also magnificent at taking out small units.

Warp-Lightning Cannon are also good against monsters and characters, and not bad against... well, everything else.

Even the Plagueclaw Catapult can do horrific damage to large R&F blocks.


Variety is the spice of battle, for the Skaven more than most!

I'll echo the folks above - can be really good or really bad. Great model that can take on big stuff, little stuff, etc. etc.
Where it's great:

1. Random movement so no charge reaction.
2. High Strength, combined with possibly ALOT of attacks that pretty much nerf all armor, cause multiple wounds, etc.
3. Regen so has durability.
4. Can come back to life or create rat swarms.
5. Still has thunderstomp, in addition to it's impact hits.

Where it's bad:

1. Random movement may go short the whole game.
2. Big model so all artillery and magic will be targeting it - everyone knows its potentially a game changer so they target it.
3. It's expensive points wise.
4. Competes with the other really good rare choices.

Overall 1 is good, 2 may be overkill and limit your cannons/catapult availability. Plus alot of armies will struggle against 2, so definately won't win you many friends as far as comp or wanting to play against it.