The utility of Shardnet/Impaler

Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you:

No adverts like this in the forums anymore.
Times and dates in your local timezone.
Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance.
Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely.
Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net.

If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

**Nagashek**

I'm trying to decide how best to use Shardnet/Impalers if I start a DE army. The ability says that every model in BTB loses an attack. Since I don't have the 5e book on hand (and have never once gotten into a CC that wasn't so rediculously one sided that I never paid attention to the rules) What counts as BTB in CC? Is it literally the models in BTB with the model with SHI, or is it any model that could make supporting attacks on the model with SHI? If the latter, does it count if I am making supporting attacks with the SHI? Clarifications would be helpful, thanks.

Edited for proper wargear. >.<

**Ascalam**

Just the models in actual base contact with the model IIRC.

**Clthomps**

Its any model in BtB contact. Its still a good upgrade if you are using wyches to tarpit deathstar units and HQs. Just make sure you position yourself precharge so that she hits a good model, Or better yet make sure she is the only one that reaches combat so that they have to pile in on her.

**nosferatu1001**

Actual Base to BAse contact. That straightfoward.

**Nagashek**

Well damn. I'll have to rethink a few things then. If I have to lower the number of Wyches to 9 to get a Haemi in there (as a pain token is certainly better than two special cc weapons) then I have to decide which is better: a slightly better offense or a slightly better defense.

**Ascalam**

Offense.

The best DEfense is a strong OFfence

Frankly you'll crumple on the backswing regardless, but if only one mook is swinging back...

**Akroma06**

Uh you are playing DE...there is no defence, only offense.

**Oaka**

Yes, the rule for shardnet/impaler only comes into account to models in actual base contact. The Dark Eldar tournament veterans, Dash, Thor, and others, have found that shardnets are a useless upgrade if you are facing an intelligent opponent. I still like to use them as a casual gamer, however, because you can usually position your unit to take attacks away from the powerfist model in your enemy's unit. My favorite option is 9 bloodbrides led by Lelith. That's a total of 4 shardnets. That basically takes any single walker, character, or monstrous creature down to 1 attack per turn, granted you get the 4 necessary models into actual, physical base contact.

**Alkasyn**

Oaka wrote:Yes, the rule for shardnet/impaler only comes into account to models in actual base contact. The Dark Eldar tournament veterans, Dash, Thor, and others, have found that shardnets are a useless upgrade if you are facing an intelligent opponent. I still like to use them as a casual gamer, however, because you can usually position your unit to take attacks away from the powerfist model in your enemy's unit. My favorite option is 9 bloodbrides led by Lelith. That's a total of 4 shardnets. That basically takes any single walker, character, or monstrous creature down to 1 attack per turn, granted you get the 4 necessary models into actual, physical base contact.

Seems like a fairly wasteful unit otherwise, however.

**Nagashek**

Well thanks for that, I thought it was on Thor's tactica that I read about the utility of the S/I. Certainly of using Wyches as tarpits. I know they seem to prefer Razorflails over Hydra gauntlets for the reliability. I will look at the math.