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I've been looking at the Scrouge models and rules for awhile and I really like the background for them but are they viable? I already have two Ravagers armed with three Dark Lances and two Raiders with two Dark lances so would a group of anti infantry Scrouges be usable.

I assume you mean Scourges?

People's opinion on them differ quite greatly. On one side, some see them having redundancy issues and/or issues with being prioritized and taken out early game. Considering the vehicle heavy nature of the dark elder, units such as scourges (and Hellions, actually) suffer from being the only viable target for many of the opponent's weapons (that otherwise can't phase, or stand little chance of phasing vehicles). Beasts at least have laughable survivability to largely abate this, and even serve as a fire sink quite happily.

On the other side, they provide a very nice chunk of poison firepower that can hide in cover, particularly if they have splinter cannons. Haywire Blasters are also fantastic (I love them, at least), since they allow one to stop vehicles from firing with ease, allowing your dark lances to focus elsewhere if needed, and allow you to hamper high armour targets with tremendous ease, from a distance. I personally love them, if only for the ability to shut down enemy vehicle firepower for the first valuable few turns to limit retaliation.

Generally, you just need to see if you need them. If you have enough anti-armour firepower to not worry at all about vehicles shooting back at your guys, or you aren't looking to add a very big dose of poisoned firepower, then you don't have much motivation to field them.

They are definitely viable, there are only a couple (literally only 2 by my count, unit + the HQ for them) of units in the entire DE book which aren't usable in a competitive setting. Beyond that its very hard to say definitively, because it depends on a) the rest of your list b) your play style c) how you plan to equip them and d) what point level this is. Considering you are only using 2 Ravagers and 2 Raiders I'm guessing this is probably in the sub 1500pt range, so covering your basics and getting your core of scoring units may well be more important.

Dark Eldar usually get more than enough anti infantry just from their basic weaponry so Scourges are usually used as anti tank units, most commonly tank suppression with Haywire Launchers and occasionally tank killing with Heat Lances. However if you find you need more anti infantry firepower then they are a perfectly good source for it.

I used mine for the first time yesterday.
Granted my rolls were terrible the only problem I had was that I had too much anti tank for a mainly infantry based enemy. In the end though the scourges didnt quite manage to kill anything of interest and promptly died to numerous shots from anything that couldnt fire at my tanks or jetbikes.

Looking back at the way my army was used, they suffered greatly from being isolated as most of my army moved 24" or 36" to outflank.

So basically I thought they were useless, but could probably be really good if I had planned ahead abit more and not let them get shot down by bored infantry units lol.


But I dont care cause they look awesome so they are staying in the list.

Anyway thats my opinion, hope you have better luck using them!

Thran

Scourges have these haywire blasters which are one of the best anti-tank weapons in the game. I'd give them those weapons, nothing else.

Scourges are good...in the appropriate setting. Once you have maxed, elite, troop, and hs, and are starting to look toward FA for options I definently recommend them. They are very flexible and can take more special weapons than an IG veteran squad. Pretty much it all depends on your list and point level, but I'll do a little break down of their better weapons.

Shardcarbine - It's ok, kind short range but volume of fire is nice. Plus its stock so it can't be all bad right?

Splintercannon - The workhorse of the anti-infantry in the whole army. In a Venomspam list I leave these off of my scourges (they are all magnetized) as I have enough anti-infantry. Also keep in mind that since they are assault or heavy you won't get to use the heavy setting alot since the scourges will most likely be on the move so 1 more shot at range is ok.

Blaster - Everyone needs more blasters. Not a bad choice if you have the points for it. But its safe compared to some of the other weapons.

Haywire Blaster - while not the best anti-tank gun in the game it is the best tank suppresion gun in the game. It's practically worthless against daemon possessed vehicles but otherwise almost guarantees that that vehicle is out for a turn.

Heat Lance - My personal favorite. I'll either DS them behind a tank (If I'm feeling gutsy), but it can be dangerous since 9" for melta is a touch close for a DS. Running them through a portal is my preffered tactic. Even in a standard 12" deployment I can move a raider up 12" hop the haemonculus out 3" (2" + 1" for the base), never give it to an archon, then drop the 3" template. Then 12" move for the scourges should give you 39" that the scourges are across the board and 9" to shoot in melta range, puts us at the opposite table edge. And thats ignoring some other tricks. This can be directed so to maximize damage.

Dark Lance - Mercer has used these to great effect and inspired me to try it, and lets just say it works well. It's a nice way to add some more DL into the army without being extremly expensive.

I have personally found them to be inferior Reaver Jetbikes in the majority of situations.

However, do not let this dissuade you from using them, as they are still very reasonable.

They are more cost-effective (in $) than Reavers, that's for darn sure...

And they are the only unit in the army that has an invulnerable save.

Scourges can be anti-infantry or anti-tank depending on how you arm them. In general, a DE has lots of anti-infantry weapons like splinter rifles or splinter cannons. Therefore, I'd give them an anti-tank role. However, in the anti-tank department they compete with another FA unit: Reaver Jetbikers. I'd include either Scourges or Reaver Jetbikers not both since these units become rather expensive when equipped correctly.

they make a VERY nice unit for baron scathy.....just saying

I tend to find that Scrouges are mean little bastards that horde all their money! You don't want them in your army!

165 pts for 5 with 2 heat lances and a blast pistol....I use 3 of these squads in big games and just DS them in

Shrike325 wrote:And they are the only unit in the army that has an invulnerable save.

Not true. Mandrakes have an invulnerable save as well.

And Khymerae too. And Wyches in melee. And we have Shadowfields too...

Scourges, scourges. They're...annoying but useful as a small squad, for sniping or for providing Melta in a Sliscus setup (Isolated ones are suicide units. When you are deepstriking other army elements in tandem with them, it's another story)That said, their armor and ability to grab an earlygame token do let them act as openfield shooters (Heavy Bolters are generally an inefficient weapon to the point they're rare outside of GK armies...in said GK armies, said bolterbacks also want to target your raiders too) as you can force priority. Add a Token in, and...large squads are humorous (expensive though! "I could get a Beastmaster Pack" expensive) in that they can chew through rank-and-file/MSU units in open shootouts or with 4 Blasters act as a "backup ravager" (Suicide Trueborn are...suicidal), hunting down Squadrons or Instadeathing T4 models while blowing through the wound-soakers they normally bring (More S8 wounds at a time=You can only allocate one to the Warboss...rest go to the Nobz. Or so on).

Scourges are great little things, that I primarily use for vehicle suppression.

5 Scourges with 2 Haywire blasters is 130 pts, they have an effective range of 36" and are more than likely going to at least disable if not destroy the target.