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I have found a couple of great ways to deal with flyers without having skyfire. Of course my experience is limited to the armies I own so here are my best non-skyfire anti flyer units.

Orks - Loota's pure volume of fire, plus hitting on a six isn't that bad after all if you are an ork, it means you are half as effective, unlike say a marine that is only 1/4 effective.

Necrons - I have two units here that have had pretty good luck however one of them has just been a synergy play. The annihilation barge seems to have pretty good luck shooting down flyers being that it is TL S7 and any 6's to hit generate 2 additional auto hits. I have scored 6 hits with somewhat consistently sometimes more when you factor in a lucky S6 off the bottom gun.

What are other armies doing for taking out flyers without utilizing skyfire?

A Landraider Crusader does a pretty good job, especially with Psybolts. S5 or 7, and lots of twinlinked shots.

Leman Russ Exterminator squadron with Knight Commander Pask dose a very good job in my option

Double Assault Cannon Terminator Squad. Loads'o Dakka.

Rifleman dreads are pretty good at it. And briadsides arent horrible

Ann Barges are the best, followed by Riflemen in my experience.

War Walkers /w Scatter Lasers or Shurikan Cannons.

Purgation Squads /4 Psycannons.

I like using Flash Gitz in that role. Can't get quite as many shots as a Loota, but no Jink save. That's big - don't want to waste that string of 6s that finally caused a glancing hit.

Assuming the flier has an average AV of 11.

Eldar War Walkers (Shuriken): Effective cost per shot is 6,667. Effective cost per hull point damage is 120.
Eldar War Walkers (Scatter): Effective cost per shot is 7,5. Effective cost per hull point damage is 135 points.
Tau Firewarriors: Cost is 10 per shot, 5 at short range. Effective cost per hull point damage is 360 points, 180 at short range.
Grey Knight Purgation Squad (Psycannon): Cost is 22,5 per shot, 11,25 if standing still. Effective cost per hull point is 270 points per hull point, 135 if standing still.
Codex Dreadnought (2x Autocannon): Cost is 31,25 per shot. Effective cost per hull point is 375 points.
Codex Devastator Squad (Heavy Bolters): Cost is 12,5 per shot. Effective cost per hull point is 450.
Necron Annihilation Barge (Tesla Cannon): Cost is 15 per shot. Effective cost per hull point is 45.

Twinlinking is counted as +50% number of shots.

Gigantic Platoons with more lascannons than sense

 TheAngrySquig wrote:
Gigantic Platoons with more lascannons than sense

Or just 1 Heavy Weapon Squad with 3 Autocannons and BiD!

That would also work. But I really like XBOAKS HEUG lascannon platoons...

I think Lootas would be good. Only hitting half as often and although they might not get as many shots as Flash Gitz on a 1 vs 1 basis they're still cheaper so you can fit more of them in a squad. And also they have that long range which can help.

Not sure about best in the game, but pretty good.

I don't think you could go wrong with psyriflemen.

I agree that psyflemen are pretty good, but broadsides wins hands down.

3 TL shots means you're going to get 1 hit most of the time. S10 means you're going to cause a penetrating hit most of the time. Ap1 means that they're exploding mid-air half the time.

On a chassis of what amounts to three paladins. Paladins that can take shield drones for some 2+/4++ action. And can move and fire.

Very difficult to kill. Very good against fliers. Very good against non-flier vehicles. Everything else is just scratching paint by comparison.

how about units with 2x brain leech devourers. its something like 12 twin linked that have a high enough str value to pen most fliers.

 IcedAnimals wrote:
how about units with 2x brain leech devourers. its something like 12 twin linked that have a high enough str value to pen most fliers.

The main problem is their range. On a Flyrant, you can just about guarantee to be in range, but on a Carnifex, there's no way the flyer player will let it get in range of the Carnifex.

I just use Pulse Rifles on most flyers that aren't AV12, assuming I don't have infantry that needs killing. Small arms saturation usually takes down pretty much anything. 6's to hit, 5-6 to glance and pen, only gotta do 3 HP to kill most things.

AV12 (essentially just Vendettas) are a little tougher. A unit of Broadsides can do it; also a barrage of seekers can put it down, especially if I can land them on the rear armor. That can be a pain to generate, though.

Anni barges, hands down, are the best non-skyfire anti-air unit in the necron dex.

Mortars and Ordinance. It's the only way.

 DemetriDominov wrote:
Mortars and Ordinance. It's the only way.

LOL! I'd actually like to see someone try that. So many tears

You can't target fliers with blast weapons.

So, mortars or ordnance can't even target them...

I thought that was the joke.

 Ailaros wrote:
I agree that psyflemen are pretty good, but broadsides wins hands down.

3 TL shots means you're going to get 1 hit most of the time. S10 means you're going to cause a penetrating hit most of the time. Ap1 means that they're exploding mid-air half the time.

On a chassis of what amounts to three paladins. Paladins that can take shield drones for some 2+/4++ action. And can move and fire.

Very difficult to kill. Very good against fliers. Very good against non-flier vehicles. Everything else is just scratching paint by comparison.

True broadsides are nice, but equipped with all the goodies are rather expensive. They are a great choice per FOC slot, but I'm not sure they are the best when figuring point value per shot. A single Psyrifleman is putting out 4 twinlinked shots for less than the cost of two broadsides. And you still have to deal with jink on top of needing sixes to hit, so volume of fire matters.

Most of the suggestions here are S5-6; are people forgetting about Storm Ravens? If you can't beat them then don't bother. So either talk S7+ or go home basically.

Bloodthirsters and Demon Princes Vector striking seems to work reasonably well for me, not that my demons have much of a choice. Decimator engines with stormlasers and butcher cannons do a decent job as well.

What about squads of necrons with gause weapons? I mean they are on their troops and if they mass fire on a flier then it is probably dead

Mohoc wrote:
Bloodthirsters and Demon Princes Vector striking seems to work reasonably well for me, not that my demons have much of a choice. Decimator engines with stormlasers and butcher cannons do a decent job as well.

You got a new lease on life with skyfire bolts coming from flying things.

 Godless-Mimicry wrote:
Most of the suggestions here are S5-6; are people forgetting about Storm Ravens? If you can't beat them then don't bother. So either talk S7+ or go home basically.

So when I play my friends Dark Eldar, I need to be able to beat a Storm Ravens AV?

This mentality of 'one tool for the job only' is slowed. High quantity S6 shots do fine against AV11-12 fliers by stripping hullpoints. S7 isn't needed, but it's nice.

 lazarian wrote:

Mohoc wrote:
Bloodthirsters and Demon Princes Vector striking seems to work reasonably well for me, not that my demons have much of a choice. Decimator engines with stormlasers and butcher cannons do a decent job as well.

You got a new lease on life with skyfire bolts coming from flying things.

I know. It helps a little, but on the bright side I can VS and shoot the flyer now in the same turn.