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Starting to get into the game slowly and steadily, most of the people at my store make 35pt armies so figured start at that bracket. I'm going to work the army around Xerxis so of course the standard Cataphract units both shield wall and spear thrower, thinking of throwing in some Nihilators for that hammering blow. For warbeasts I was thinking Savage and Brute Cyclopi, maybe 1 of savage and 2 of brute and one of the titan variants, not sure.

Building Horde lists are alot trickier than 40k lists as it's more combo based and such instead of 'which unit is best, ok spam spam spam' so any help would be much appreciated.

Tyrant Xerxis *5 WB
*Bronzeback 10
*Gladiator 8
Min Beast handlers 2
Max Cetrati 11
Max Arcuarii 9

35 points exact. Cataphract units are expensive and you usually will want the max unit so I added them first. I then put in two beatstick beasts that should kill whatever they hit. Finally I added in the best Fury Management unit in the game Beat Handlers.

Ah thanks, that list also falls into his tier 2 does it not? Are the refunded points already spent on something or can I possibly add to that list?

You know what, your right. I didn't even consider his tier when making the list. So no the 2 points are still unspent.

Looks like the only thing you can get is the Venaror Flayer Cannon Crew which isn't a bad option (especially if you want to stay in his Tier).

How does this sort of setup go as far as offensive/defensive? Should I go all out and smash him head on or let him break on my shields and counter attack?

Xerxis is built for offense. Sure you could let them break off of you, but I have found its better to get the first punch in. Usually Titans and Weapon Masters make sure its the only punch needed.

As I'm reading it, the Arcuraii can use their spears to pull in a target that doesn't die and in my Warbeast's activation they can charge said target? Now my head is picturing them shouting mock Scorpion at enemy warbeasts and even the unlucky warcaster.

edit: I really appreciate you helping me out with this stuff.

Kurgash wrote:As I'm reading it, the Arcuraii can use their spears to pull in a target that doesn't die and in my Warbeast's activation they can charge said target? Now my head is picturing them shouting mock Scorpion at enemy warbeasts and even the unlucky warcaster.

If by "they," you mean your Warbeasts, yep. The Arcuarii can make a single melee attack against anything they drag in themselves (only the leader on CRAs, incidentally) during their own activation, but my favorite use is reeling in targets for your harder hitters (a Bronzeback, for instance) to eat.

Not sure I'm getting this correctly but they drag the target any number of inches towards them as long as it's between 1-8 as that is the range of the attack to hit correct? So it's like fishing but more fun.

Kurgash wrote:Not sure I'm getting this correctly but they drag the target any number of inches towards them as long as it's between 1-8 as that is the range of the attack to hit correct? So it's like fishing but more fun.

Almost right. It has been clarified somewhere (anybody help me out here?) that when it states "any distance" it means you move the damaged model into base contact with the shooter. So you can't just move the damaged model and leave him out in the open, which is a huge shame.

Note that they can't drag large bases.

Also in his theme list it says cataphract solos. I'm looking in the book and cant' find any. What do they mean?

There aren't any yet. It's just future-proofing.

Ah ok, was wondering about that.

You don't have to drag them all the way in, if memory serves me correctly. Also, don't plan on the target surviving to be a charge target later! p+s 12 weapon master attacks tend to take thier toll!

CATACLYSMUS wrote:You don't have to drag them all the way in, if memory serves me correctly. Also, don't plan on the target surviving to be a charge target later! p+s 12 weapon master attacks tend to take thier toll!

You do.

http://privateerpressforums.com/showthread.php?25185-Reaper-Drag-amp-quot-Tactical-Tip-quot

Ah, just checked my card; you are correct. The note says that you have to drag them the shortest distance possible to you. I think I got confused with the Blood Angels Dreadnaught in 40k. I will go do a penance, now!

I did some tweaking around and wouldn't it be better to take 2 units of min Arcuraii and one of full Cetrati while keeping the beast handlers, gladiator and bronzeback?

You guys need to come to my store and show people that Arcuarii don't suck; I have boxes and boxes of them that are nothing more than something else to dust off on Monday mornings!

That said, I don't think two units of them is the answer. Unless you're dead-set on Xerxes' tiers, take a look at some of the support Skorne has. Tyrant Commander is a great for boosting the Cataphracts, Aptimus Marketh boosts Xerxes, and even Ancestral Guardians or a light beast like a Brute are nice to hang around with Xerxes and potentially dissuade some assassination attempts. Particularly a light beast, since your big hammers are your heavies and if they go down, Xerxes is in a lot of trouble.

-Dis.

I agree 2 units of Arcuarii aren't the answer. Like disdainful said another beast would be very helpful.

Ok thanks for the help there, while trying to figure out this list I'm also looking at Hexeris for a second caster to fall back on to change things up. Any good recommendations for him? All I've heard is that he loves infantry armies.

Playing a few games now and I've seen what you mean with the 2nd unit of Arcuraii. Gets the job done but so much more potential with that 5 pts. I'm definitely considering getting a Flayer cannon but with that other 3 pts I'm bouncing between either a Tyrant and standard bearer or Vorkesh. Which would be a better option?

Molik Karn or bust

disdainful wrote:You guys need to come to my store and show people that Arcuarii don't suck; I have boxes and boxes of them that are nothing more than something else to dust off on Monday mornings!

That said, I don't think two units of them is the answer. Unless you're dead-set on Xerxes' tiers, take a look at some of the support Skorne has. Tyrant Commander is a great for boosting the Cataphracts, Aptimus Marketh boosts Xerxes, and even Ancestral Guardians or a light beast like a Brute are nice to hang around with Xerxes and potentially dissuade some assassination attempts. Particularly a light beast, since your big hammers are your heavies and if they go down, Xerxes is in a lot of trouble.

-Dis.

I would like to help you with your plight. Send me free boxes of Arcuarii so you won't have to dust them anymore

I looked at the venator flayer cannon and I'm probably going to pick one up but also now looking at the catapult to combine the two for the artillery pieces necessary for his tier 3-4 theme. Would just swap out one Arcuraii unit for the 5 points needed for them. Is the catapult worth it or just take two flayer cannons and spend that 1 point on changing around a gladiator to a cannoneer?

Tried a new unit, Venator Reivers, minimum as a swap out for the 2nd arcuraii and I love them. Great keep away unit with the constant CRA peppering. Also a great means of sort of premeasuring a range for another unit to charge as the 8" throw on my other range unit just doesn't cut it.

For 35 I'd drop to min cetrati and add venator reivers.

I agree with that

Right now I'm running this:

Xerxis +5

Full Cetrati 10pts

Min Arcuraii 5 pts

Bronzeback 10pts

Gladiator 8pts

Beast Handlers 2pts

Venator Reivers 5pts

That puts me at 35 even. In recent games my Venators have performed quite well as pokers, taking some CRA at either multi box infantry or the odd Jack/Warbeast. Mainly I use them though as a means of measuring range for my other units considering charges. Still could use some tweaks here and there but mostly I'll run with this until Domination comes out and I see what new toys Skorne gets.

any way you can get aptimus marketh in there with Xerxes? He should be able to keep the upkeep spells running.