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In the process of writting up an army list at the moment and I am unsure about including Deathmarks. On paper they seem great for a measly price of 95points for a squad of five. Using their deepstrike in the enemy turn in combination with a solar pulse could prove quite deadly. However before I jump head first into getting a unit I would like to get some opinions from my fellow dakkanaughts! Have you played with/against deathmarks? What is your experiance with this unit? Are they worth the points/elite slot?

I played with them, if they don't mishap on the DS, they will cause a lot of havoc on the field. Their range can be a problem, as well as the high AP. But for killing MC they are a welcome unit in any list. A small unit of 5 with a cryptek is usually how i deploy and when they get into a good position they can do a lot of damage to any non-vehicle unit.

I tend to use mine as a distraction. Just try to land them near an enemy MC or character, and watch as your opponent diverts his attention towards them.

I used to be a bit of a Naysayer on them, but I've starting using them, with excellent success. The configuration I use is 5 of them, with a Harbinger of Despair and VoD.

The 2+ to wound on a marked unit with the Abyssal staff, is extremely good.

I'd say play a few test games first, before you go out and purchase a box or two though.

Azazel the cat is who I took the Idea from, he's been advocating them for a while.

Great stuff. I might have to try em out! Cheers for the helpful tips.

They are a tricky unit, as most DS units.
Key strength here is precise location - if they land within 12" of MC - you can kiss that MC goodbye. Last game 5 Deathmarks worth 95p. ate Hive Tyrant with Wings and Cannon worth 250p.
Not to mention they survived 2 rounds of CC after being assaulted by Hormnies. Unless they scatter horribly - great unit for killing key targets be it 5 elite soliders, MC or Special Char.

They usually take a battlecannon round when they land, like most non-terminator armored deep strikers.

Kevlar wrote:They usually take a battlecannon round when they land, like most non-terminator armored deep strikers.

They do seem to be situational, I would not use them against Guard personally. I mean, even if it is a foot slogger list wounding guard on a 2+ isn't that amazing.

Kevlar wrote:They usually take a battlecannon round when they land, like most non-terminator armored deep strikers.

So the enemy just wasted a turn firing an ordance weapon on a 95pt suicide squad? Sounds like a win to me.

CthuluIsSpy wrote:

Kevlar wrote:They usually take a battlecannon round when they land, like most non-terminator armored deep strikers.

So the enemy just wasted a turn firing an ordance weapon on a 95pt suicide squad? Sounds like a win to me.

Same...
Who deepstrikes terminators apart from Suicide CSM termies?

It's annoying that they're quite restrictive in how they can be used. I'd love to be able to attach a cryptek to them and still deep-strike them.

I intend to try 2 units of 5 in future games. Basically, they'll deep strike near a MC or troublesome unit, mark it, and hopefully do a lot of damage with rapid-fire.

Basically, they'll be there as suicide units - if they live past the turn they arrive, it will be a bonus.

vipoid wrote:It's annoying that they're quite restrictive in how they can be used. I'd love to be able to attach a cryptek to them and still deep-strike them.

I intend to try 2 units of 5 in future games. Basically, they'll deep strike near a MC or troublesome unit, mark it, and hopefully do a lot of damage with rapid-fire.

Basically, they'll be there as suicide units - if they live past the turn they arrive, it will be a bonus.

You can technically DS them with a cryptek. He just needs the VoD. You can't intercept though.

ShatteredBlade wrote:

Kevlar wrote:They usually take a battlecannon round when they land, like most non-terminator armored deep strikers.

They do seem to be situational, I would not use them against Guard personally. I mean, even if it is a foot slogger list wounding guard on a 2+ isn't that amazing.

The 2+ is pretty damn good when it includes the AP 1 Template from the Abyssal Staff.


Remember, they do have rending as well, so more wounds are more chances to rend.

CthuluIsSpy wrote:

vipoid wrote:It's annoying that they're quite restrictive in how they can be used. I'd love to be able to attach a cryptek to them and still deep-strike them.

I intend to try 2 units of 5 in future games. Basically, they'll deep strike near a MC or troublesome unit, mark it, and hopefully do a lot of damage with rapid-fire.

Basically, they'll be there as suicide units - if they live past the turn they arrive, it will be a bonus.

You can technically DS them with a cryptek. He just needs the VoD. You can't intercept though.

Yeah, but you add in the Cryptek w/ the VOD and it starts getting pretty pricy as a suicide squad.

Death By Monkeys wrote:Yeah, but you add in the Cryptek w/ the VOD and it starts getting pretty pricy as a suicide squad.

Fortunately the Cryptek isn't glued to the squad. If you need to suicide them that game, have the Cryptek join someone else.

DarkHound wrote:

Death By Monkeys wrote:Yeah, but you add in the Cryptek w/ the VOD and it starts getting pretty pricy as a suicide squad.

Fortunately the Cryptek isn't glued to the squad. If you need to suicide them that game, have the Cryptek join someone else.

They are glued to the squad. The Cryptek isn't an IC, and can't join other squads, or leave his current squad.

Sasori wrote:

DarkHound wrote:

Death By Monkeys wrote:Yeah, but you add in the Cryptek w/ the VOD and it starts getting pretty pricy as a suicide squad.

Fortunately the Cryptek isn't glued to the squad. If you need to suicide them that game, have the Cryptek join someone else.

They are glued to the squad. The Cryptek isn't an IC, and can't join other squads, or leave his current squad.

I think he was refering to a tourny list, so you can change who the crypteks and lords we assigned to each game as you don't have to state until just before deployment.

I think they are a fun unit to play that will have the potential to get much better.

They rely on 3 rules heavily; Sniper, Deep Strike, Rapid Fire. All of which will be addressed in the main rule book for 6th whenever that comes out.

On the same vein of thought they could get much worse as well but in my gut I see them getting better with the changes 6th brings and possibly being a very viable elite unit for Necrons.

Sunoccard wrote:

Sasori wrote:

DarkHound wrote:

Death By Monkeys wrote:Yeah, but you add in the Cryptek w/ the VOD and it starts getting pretty pricy as a suicide squad.

Fortunately the Cryptek isn't glued to the squad. If you need to suicide them that game, have the Cryptek join someone else.

They are glued to the squad. The Cryptek isn't an IC, and can't join other squads, or leave his current squad.

I think he was refering to a tourny list, so you can change who the crypteks and lords we assigned to each game as you don't have to state until just before deployment.

Ah! Yeah, if that's what he meant, it makes much more sense.

Come now, I always make sense.

I would say they are worth it especially in the case of attacking something of value of your opponents with their HFH rule which makes them pretty killy. BUT, it's also a risk, but then again, what fun is a no risk game?

They scare me, they are very good.

Sasori wrote:

ShatteredBlade wrote:

Kevlar wrote:They usually take a battlecannon round when they land, like most non-terminator armored deep strikers.

They do seem to be situational, I would not use them against Guard personally. I mean, even if it is a foot slogger list wounding guard on a 2+ isn't that amazing.

The 2+ is pretty damn good when it includes the AP 1 Template from the Abyssal Staff.


Remember, they do have rending as well, so more wounds are more chances to rend.

Right, so they're good at killing Guard. So are the Gauss Blasters. I'm saying that they'd be wasted against Imperial Guard. Now Marines on the other hand..

Sasori wrote:
The 2+ is pretty damn good when it includes the AP 1 Template from the Abyssal Staff.


Remember, they do have rending as well, so more wounds are more chances to rend.

That assumes that they deep strike into range of the abyssal staff.

Considering they have nothing along the lines of a teleport homer or reroll, that sounds like a very risky scatter.

Yeah I told my friend about this the other day but I didn't realize they still have to DS even with the Cryptek. That is a very risky scatter, indeed. It would really suck to DS just outside flamer range and get lit up stupid hard. Or hell, if you simply mishap on the target.

Not saying this means anyone shouldn't do this because if I played Crons I'd have like two min-size units like this. Maybe with 2 Staves each hehe.

Right, so they're good at killing Guard. So are the Gauss Blasters. I'm saying that they'd be wasted against Imperial Guard. Now Marines on the other hand..

Well, I build a TAC list, so if they are wasted against 1 Army, I can deal with that.

That assumes that they deep strike into range of the abyssal staff.

Considering they have nothing along the lines of a teleport homer or reroll, that sounds like a very risky scatter.

I don't know, while the dice can turn on you sometimes, I haven't had a mishap yet, and have been in range of the staff each time. Sometimes the spots are risky, you just have to weigh your risk vs reward. For me, being able to take out that Longfang squad on turn 2, is worth the risk.

If you don't plan to take the risk with the staff, then don't take the Cryptek. Deepstriking into rapidfire range is not hard at all.

Yeah I told my friend about this the other day but I didn't realize they still have to DS even with the Cryptek. That is a very risky scatter, indeed. It would really suck to DS just outside flamer range and get lit up stupid hard. Or hell, if you simply mishap on the target.

Not saying this means anyone shouldn't do this because if I played Crons I'd have like two min-size units like this. Maybe with 2 Staves each hehe.

They are a suicide unit, at the end of the day. I fully expect them to get lit up, after they've done their work. I take them in a min-size squad, with the despair Cryptek.