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Yep, it's another Ork Question from me!

Well, this time, 'Ard Boyz. I was wondering what the competitive viability of these guys was. They seem pretty good on paper, a lot more survivable than normal boyz. +4 pts isn't that bad either. And, while I haven't seen anything on the interwebz condemning them death by non-usage, I haven't really seen anyone using them either.

I was thinking of putting them in a Trukk and rushing them into combat where, hopefully, their armour saves should make up for their lack of numbers. I intend to use them as a supporting unit, or perhaps for picking off weaker units. They also have the advantage of being a little more resilient against things that Orks tend to struggle with, such as Khorne Beserkers.

One main issue is the new 6th ed. rules, however. With the rumour that there'll be AP on CC Weapons, I'd imagine there'd be a lot more CC Weapons out there that will negate a 4+ Save. Will this matter much?

So, I think I've summed up what I want to know, thanks for your feedback

WAAAGGHH!

Not that great really, you're almost doubling a boyz points cost for an armour save that is often cancelled out. Better to just by more boyz or a KFF mek instead really.

Two things scare me that wouldn't otherwise, both are prevalent in the GK dex,

One, Power Weapons, which ignore the 4+ save. Two, AP4, which ignore the 4+ save. All GK models get Power Weapons and all GK models spam AP4, whether in the form of AC Dreads or in the more ubiquitous Psycannon.

On the plus side, it does cut in half Cleansing Flame losses, making assault viable for the unit, even if it is not viable on a point-for-point basis with 'ard boys.

With other units, you'd still want to watch what you're assaulting and be a little more wary of Heavy Bolters (which are rare) and any other obvious AP4 item. You have an advantage, which is that given the choice, most anyone will turn down AP4 because it's usually useless, but against Orks (Lootas), and GKs in particular, or against Autocannons, your 'Ard Boyz will seem a much juicier target when they have AP4.

I have heard that 'Ard Boyz can get "stuck in" with things that regular boys "can not," such as, as you mentioned, Khorne Berzerkers and the like - basically anything designed to deal with Boyz, such as Striking Scorpions or anything else that has no power weapons but a lot of base S4 attacks that would otherwise be dangerous to Boyz, 'Ard Boyz would be ideal.

They're not a bad option, but watch your deployment and your opponent's list.

Consider using KFF instead for giving your Boyz some defense.

Definitely wait for 6th Ed, in case the armour save logic changes.

But yeah, at the moment they're just overpriced - having more plain boyz for the same points is usually better

Ok, thanks for your tips.

I do already have a KFF Mek, if that makes a difference.

@Ted: Thanks for your detailed feedback, I'll be sure to bear in mind your advice if I do end up using them

@Clang: Yeah, I think I will. There's a lot of things to add to my list first, so the Ard Boyz, if they're added, will certainly be added after 6th ed anyway.

I only really tell people to use them in a trukk mob or if your starting out and dont have much to play with, then using a unit of Ard Boyz is ok. But after that, just save the points and buy more boyz.

Agree with Ted, except for the part where he said that AP4 is rare. Battlecannons, manticores, impaler cannons, heavy flamers, eldar missile launchers, fire prisms and about every vehicle shooting large blasts are all common sights in their respective armies, are great at killing boyz, and all ignore 4+ armor.

ardboyz as previously stated really only work for trukk spam, beyond that its just not worth 2/3 of a boy for 2 points of an armor save. onyl time i'd put eavy aror on anything would be like a big mek with a kff or something and even then only if i have a few points left ot play with and nowhere literally nowhere else to spend them

Yeah, everyone I've talked to said to not to worry with 'ard Boyz because most of what you're attacking will just negate it. Maybe 6th Ed will change it.