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I will soon be buying my second box of saurus warriors. I assembled the warriors that came with my battalion with spears, since it's a relatively cheap upgrade that seems to add a lot to their deadliness in combat. Anyway, as I assemble my second box, I need to decide if I want to assemble them with shields and spears.

Now, while I was playing a while back, someone told me that saurus warriors with spears are more of an anvil unit and warriors with hand weapons are more of a hammer unit - to be exact, he told me that with spears it's better to receive a charge than to charge - which makes it seem that it might behoove me to assemble one unit of each. However, I'm not clear as to why this is the case and I didn't get a chance to urge my opponent to clarify. It seems to me that it would be the opposite: spears let warriors fight in an extra rank, which adds to their killiness, while shield and hand weapon gives the warriors a 6+ ward save, which makes them harder to kill.

For that matter, if spears make my saurus more of an anvil unit, I'd be inclined to assemble all my saurus with spears, since my current list also includes a big meaty unit of Temple Guard and a big meaty unit of Saurus Cavalry to act as hammers.

So, to sum it up, these are my questions:
1) Which makes saurus warriors into a better anvil unit, spears or hand weapons, and why?
2) Which do you prefer, shields or hand weapons, and why?
3) If I've got a bunch of warriors with spears, should I assemble some with hand weapons? Or is this a choice I should make consistently across an entire army so both my saurus units can fulfill the same role?

HW shield would make Sarus a better anvil than spears IMO due to parry

Spears get an extra rank of supporting attacks, but not on the turn they charge. This being the case, you don't want to charge with them if you can avoid it. That is why they want to take charges. But you have run the unit with to 1 front plus 2 ranks to get all those attacks, or 3 full ranks in a horde (Hordes of course are 10 wide, but I never did this, units are too unwieldy with the 25mm bases).

HW/shield get one rank of supporting attacks, but get the parry. They can charge and still get all their attacks, but its only front plus 1 rank supporting (or +2 supporting in horde), compared to the extra rank worth in non-charging spears.

Last edition, spears by far outweighed HW/shield, because they fought in a second rank with 2 attacks each, where HW/S was only front rank attacking. This edition, either selection is a viable choice because of the parry on HW/S.

My standard run (before switching to O&G) was 6 x 3 or 6 x 2 for HW/S and 6x4 Spears, with spears as dedicated anvils and HW/S more flexible. I liked to try to get flanks with the HW/S guys, but they could do a lot. I also ran a lot of skinks cuz I love the little guys (and they are crazy fast), plus sallies and a life slann in a templeguard block. Was fun, but it has been a while since I played so I don't know how this stands up in the current meta.

Edits (maths error)

Shields are the way to go, 6+ ward to no ward, i will take the ward save thank you

I find spears the more aggressive choice as you get the extra attacks and this edition I rarely see regiments break on one turn when charged, so prolonged combats and getting an extra rank of attacks means I see spears as the hammer units. As anvils they hold their own too simply from those attacks. Just always have a good number of troops in there to absorb losses and still put out attacks.
Smaller units and dedicated anvils I'd take the parry save every time for saurus.

For a better anvil you need more guys, so HW&Shield is best.
I run HW&Shield exlusevly because i like the units that provide ranks to my monsters charges to have more ranks.

Look at the formation and what else is nearby

Spears in horde four ranks deep. Fight to win big. Add in a stegadon or other monster into the charge which clips the unit adding to the pain inflicted. Charge dont charge get into combat either way alongside your monster of choice. The sooner you begin the sooner the enemy falls apart. Remove opponents steadfast directly via casualties inflicted.


Run hand weapons in deep blocks five or six lizards wide. Maximise survivability, and keep steadfast by being deeper and meaner than the other guy. No monster tag team required.