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As the title says. The Swooping Hawk models are nice looking, and I was wondering how I could use them in a list. What do they mesh with? What do they not mesh well with?

And please, no comments about that I should not use them. I already understand that.

I could say something like "use the f***ing search function" but hell that'd be boring
With my little eldar army i used hawks pretty often as i like the models a lot. Still they are very niche, expensive and fragile.
Basically there is two and a half ways to utilize them to some effect. 1st is deepstrike, drop template, fire a few shots at infantry and sky leap. 2nd is staying on the board, maneuvering out of sight and try to hit those vehicles with mines. 2.5 is contesting objectives late game after using one of the former processes. Whenever i kept them on the board for the heavy lifting they died like coloured, fancy little flies.
So, they are often underestimated because underused still they are not a competitive choice in any way... and believe me i really wanna like them...

Deep strike them near a T3 enemy unit, spray them with lasblasters (inc.sunrifle) then skyleap. Repeat. Remember to use their grenade packs to soften up your target. In essence, they excel at fighting specifically T3, Sv5+ units (IG grunts and Kabalite warriors). Although their massed firepower is also effective against MEQ's.

Skyleap only works in your movement phase, so you dont get to shoot their guns. Most expensive blast weapon i know of in the game to use them like that

Personally If I'm using them I keep them at the bare minimum cost. 5 man Deep strike them and then charge a tasty tank. It often surprises people when they take it out.

If you do take an Exarch then incept and a sun-rifle can be nice but ... the points do start to climb.

Ok thanks! Them being underestimated seems like one of their bigger advantages.

forruner_mercy wrote:Ok thanks! Them being underestimated seems like one of their bigger advantages.

... Just one tip ... before you take them check that have you filled your heavy support and elite slots. If you haven't then spend the points there first.

I like them more then most people but even I think they're a weird unit, that's over priced.

Ok, will do.

forruner_mercy wrote:And please, no comments about that I should not use them. I already understand that.

No, you should totally use them. They make good paper weights, or you could put them around your desk at the office if you've painted them really well

Jihallah wrote:

forruner_mercy wrote:And please, no comments about that I should not use them. I already understand that.

No, you should totally use them. They make good paper weights, or you could put them around your desk at the office if you've painted them really well

Lol nice

I like it when people use "useless" units. It's good that not everyone plays to OMGWIN lists.
Problem is if you're against someone who's running a "power list", you have to as well. But if i'm against an opponant who's running guardians and vanilla rangers i can bring out the kaskrins and primaris pysker.

Meh, I don't mind losing, as long as I am having fun

The best use I can think of is to DS down, drop your pie plate, and use them to fire at what the rest of the army is firing at i.e that troop unit on that objective you need to clear, that melee unit of death approaching your lines etc.

Thats what I've heard so far.

What else can you use them for? That's really it, and they don't do that too well anyhow ><

Yah, I know.

oooh! I suppose you could always use them to meatshield/speedbump a deadly deadly unit going for a more valuable unit, like troops on an objective about to be charged by say 'zerkers, or you have a unit doing alot of heavy lifting (unit of warwalkers with 2x SL tearing up the enemy transports) that are in trouble. It's another way to use their mobility. Not exactly the preferred role, but if it helps win the game...

Yeah, I could do that.

Deepstrike, drop blast marker, Skyleap for 4 turns, drop to contest objective and shoot and small squad off table.

To make their points back the pie plate needs to kill 10 marines. Not easy, but possible.

Combine with Doom and if opponent doesn't space out his troops, Hawks become deadly.

They are a fun unit. I have used 3 squads before and it's annoying for opponent.

How many squads would be ok? I have 2 squads in my list, or is 1 just fine?

Old Man Ultramarine wrote:Deepstrike, drop blast marker, Skyleap for 4 turns, drop to contest objective and shoot and small squad off table.

To make their points back the pie plate needs to kill 10 marines. Not easy, but possible.

Combine with Doom and if opponent doesn't space out his troops, Hawks become deadly.

They are a fun unit. I have used 3 squads before and it's annoying for opponent.

This.

Compared to Warp Spiders, Hawks have a worse gun (s3 < s6), worse armor (4+ < 3+), and slower movement ( fleet < 2d6 assault jump)- and they only cost a single point less per model.

the one thing that they can do better than Warp Spiders is not be shot at- by repetitive sky leaping. This ensures that the squad stays alive until the end of the game, and will be able to contest! So on one of the later turns of the game you deep strike them somewhere safeish, then move 12 inches, + d6 fleet, + 6 inch assault into a tank or something to contest the objective. Then hope hope hope that the game ends because you have about 5 t3 4+ armor save dudes sitting on an important objective who will die to a stiff breeze. Also you better be going second...

Also if played right they will never give up victory points or kill points. lol

Ok. I'm going to put them in when I make a 2K list, but for right now, at 1500 points, I'm going to keep them out for now. But knowing how to use them will be useful

Well there is one thing they do reasonably well ...

12" move + D6" run + 6" Assault + Haywire grenades =
a 19-24" threat range and a reasonable chance of killing any vehicles bar walkers.

Math (for causing any kind of damage = (2/9+4/36), Destroyed results are (2/36))
Stationary (1*(2/9+4/36)) squad = 86.8%
Combat (1/2*(2/9+4/36)) squad = 59.8%
Cruising (1/6*(2/9+4/36)) squad = 24.8%
(for those wondering the destroyed results ... 24.9%, 13.1% & 4.54%)

Yeah. That seems like its about it.