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Hidee Hoo Dakkadakka users...

I was just looking to get a feel for how people felt about CSM Spawn...
Initially I was like 'meh, I would rather use the slot for Helldrakes and Bikes, but the more I played them and played CSM I have found them decently point priced and a great delivery method for a bad ass lord...
I think they are good, they have limitations, but are good if used right... I am not saying they are a broken, op, cheese unit, because they aren't. I think their point change in this edition makes them more 'useful'

A tourney I just played in this weekend, I faced an opponent that fielded just a 5 man squad of mk nurgle spawn without a lord and he used them quite effectively. I could not stop them, due to other things on the field before they did a number on my back line and multiassaulted 3 squads and made them run off the board. Part of the problem was me not being able to deal with them prior to them getting to the line, but I had dealt with a Maulerfiend and a daemon prince in the prior turn so I could not address the spawn until the next turn. I have a healthy respect for them and I was wondering what everyone else's thoughts were. Cheers and thanks..

Not really a rules question. I don't play CSM so I can't really say one way or another but a buddy of mine generally takes a few in one of his slots and does quite well with them.

Yeah, i think this goes on tactics.... however, I have yet to field the spawns, I bought a few which are waiting to get assembled and painted to join my jugger lord. I have mixed feelings regarding them, they are a cheap unit that will only provide extra wounds until your lord arrives to combat which is pretty good, however you need to get really careful on S10 weapons out there (unless you are nurgle). Their direct competitors would be bike which are just as resilient in paper.

I personally have loved taking my bikes instead of spawns, they work great, provide me with a champ to challenge so that my lord can destroy any unit he gets into contact with. However again due to getting enough bikes it eats a good chunk of my list points, switching to spawns will make it pack less punch but spare some points to get more powerful troops

I perfer helldrakes personally.

Spawn will tie up a squad of MEQ squad for a few turns and will 1-2 before dying.
A helldrake will kill 1 MEQ squad a turn.

True, but I think Spawn serve a different purpose, one in which they help deliver an awesome and maneuverable lord. I used to run the lord in termie armour, but he was so slow things could just stay away from him and the Land Raider is just so expensive I really never use it. I do really love the helldrakes though

 Eiluj The Farseer wrote:
True, but I think Spawn serve a different purpose, one in which they help deliver an awesome and maneuverable lord. I used to run the lord in termie armour, but he was so slow things could just stay away from him and the Land Raider is just so expensive I really never use it. I do really love the helldrakes though

Yup, for what they do their direct competition are bikes which are also a great unit, as I said before statistically they should have very similar in survivable attirbutes due to multi-wounds vs save/jink. So it's pretty much up to you. Both are great units imho.

 Eiluj The Farseer wrote:
Hidee Hoo Dakkadakka users...

I was just looking to get a feel for how people felt about CSM Spawn...
Initially I was like 'meh, I would rather use the slot for Helldrakes and Bikes, but the more I played them and played CSM I have found them decently point priced and a great delivery method for a bad ass lord...
I think they are good, they have limitations, but are good if used right... I am not saying they are a broken, op, cheese unit, because they aren't. I think their point change in this edition makes them more 'useful'

A tourney I just played in this weekend, I faced an opponent that fielded just a 5 man squad of mk nurgle spawn without a lord and he used them quite effectively. I could not stop them, due to other things on the field before they did a number on my back line and multiassaulted 3 squads and made them run off the board. Part of the problem was me not being able to deal with them prior to them getting to the line, but I had dealt with a Maulerfiend and a daemon prince in the prior turn so I could not address the spawn until the next turn. I have a healthy respect for them and I was wondering what everyone else's thoughts were. Cheers and thanks..

sounds like he was doing things precisely right, with all those threats you had to make choices and the spawn getting to your back line is a scary event to watch unfold

True he did a good job and with the maulerfiend, spawn and daemon prince I could only deal with so many. I had lined up my nob bikers and warboss to kombi skorcha the spawn but when a lucky Loota hit grounded the daemon prince I needed to take my chance and went after him. Hindsight probably should have dealt with the Spawn as the Daemon Prince could not multi-assualt and it would have resulted in potentially 1 squad lost instead of 3.... Sad Panda

 labmouse42 wrote:
I perfer helldrakes personally.

Spawn will tie up a squad of MEQ squad for a few turns and will 1-2 before dying.
A helldrake will kill 1 MEQ squad a turn.

While Heldrakes kill more, they are not better against every target. Also if I am reading this correct are you saying that spawn will only kill 1 or 2 MEQ before dying? or 1 or 2 squads before dying? I routinely have mine eat through a good portion of my opponents army. I think they need support from your army though (sorcerers make them very dangerous, if you get endurance and or invisibility.).

But 5 Nurgle spawn charging 10 MEQ, will get an average of 25 attacks (12.5 hits so about 8 wounds, which is 2-3 Dead marines, more with a character.) The marines would have 11 attacks (about 1 wound, less if invisible or endurance.) SO while not amazing, they will grind things down, they are very good against units with low saves (daemons, orks, etc.)


The other thing for me it is not an either or with Heldrakes, I run both.

If you play against GK or DE, I don't think spawn are worth it. Instant death or Poison really take away their advantages.

Cool unit, but Heldrakes are amazing and Bikers are more versatile.

yeah it is hard because you do not know what you are going to face. I think keeping the spawn in cover at all times is crucial for their survival. But I agree against poison weapons, they can get nerfed pretty quick.