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My local meta contains a couple of necron lists that have been posing significant problems for people. I have not come up against them yet, but everybody I've talked to that has, basically deems them unbeatable. From what I've been able to gather about the lists, the necrons spam 20 man warrior squads, each with a lord with res orb. By spamming the warrior units, I mean they have 4-6 units of 20. Then they throw in necron flyers for good measure.

The problem everybody seems to be running into is they can't kill enough of the warriors to prevent them from getting back up. So, between the firepower of the doom/night scythes and 20 shots (40 if they get rapid fire) per squad the necrons decimate everything in their path.

Like I said, I have not come up against the necrons yet, but I'd like to plan for it now, before it happens, so I'm prepared when it does happen. I generally run a Typhus/zombie list with Typhus, 2x blobs of zombies (~20 zombies each), 3 squads of 6-7 plague marines (2 with plasma guns, 3rd with melta guns), Nurgle lord on bike with black mace and sigil escorted by nurgle marked chaos spawn, squad of bikers with MoN and two plasma guns, obliterators with MoN, and Heldrake. Usually take a Havoc squad with 4x autocannons, and sometimes Terminators with varying weapons.

My initial thoughts are, to change the lord to a sorcerer with the burning brand. Drop the spawn, and put the sorcerer with the bikers. Add a second heldrake (both with baleflamers). Try to add a second havoc squad with 4x autocannons. Reduce the number of plague marines and add noise marines with max sonic blasters and blastmasters. Adding an ADL, of course.

I'm mixed on what power to take for the sorcerer. On one hand there's Slaanesh powers shooting for Symphony of Pain, then put the rest into Biomancy. Or go unmarked and put everything into Biomancy to give maximum chance of rolling Endurance (to put relentless on the noise marines).

I generally don't take transports or tanks, but I'm open to ideas involving them for this purpose.

Any thoughts or feedback?

--Kurz

As a necron player, I can tell you that the easiest way to kill warrior squads, of any size, is to assault them. They're horrible in assault (one attack per model), and, because they have a 2 initiative and aren't fearless, they will almost always end up being swept / ran-down after failing a leadership test. Reanimation protocols do not take effect if a unit is swept at the end of the assault phase...

So, that biker lord with the black mace, after watching 40 overwatch dice turn into 1 unsaved wound against his squad, will pretty much decimate and destroy any warrior squad he and his spawn or biker buddies decide to assault.

Just remember that you shouldn't try to outshoot the necrons. Get into assault with pretty much anything but Wraiths and a C'tan and you'll be good as gold. Well, scarabs can bog ya down, so you may want to steer clear of them too...

He's right you know-

I play crons and I can say from experience that Warriors crumple when even threatened with assault. Nurgle bike-lord and his friends oughta soak up shots nicely. Make sure to toss a champion in the unit so that when you hafta challenge, you can throw the chumpy champ at the necron overlord/lord and laugh as the black mace tears through warriors like a demon prince eats gretchin. And WHEN they fail the leadership, laugh.

Just be sure to advance outside of LOS if at all possible. Otherwise, you will get shot at, and that will hurt.

Just, whatever you do, don't challenge them to a shooty match. Also, be prepared to deal with AV 13. It may no be mentioned, but warrior spam usually means a ghost ark or 2 in the mix.

Your list actually would probably be great as is. ADL won't get you much, as all the ap3 in a mass warrior list is on melee attacks from lords. Heldrake would be the other friend that you can bring, baleflamer would make toasty warriors. But for dealing with those warriors, melee, melee, melee. Anything that can survive the shooting phase will eat them up. I would argue that nurgle bikes are the best anti-warrior unit in your book.

Oooo I gotta try this with the mace. Might go jump pack though, as cowardly tactics abound.

nah, stick withe the bike. It's the t6 that's helping, and you get to move just as far, only having to eorry about dangerous terrain.

Re: dangerous terrain, your opponent's not using any Crypteks, is he? (and/or a C'tan?)
'Cause if he is, your bikes could be in for a rude surprise...

meh, dangerous terrain isn't really a big threat-

gotta roll a 1, followed by a failed armor save. As for the ctan question, I believe OP's understanding of the opposing army is that it's just warrior blob.

Personally I play a World Eater army and I would do what they do best which would be assault. Living till the assault would be key but if you could make it, you'd most likely kill enough to wipe them before they get back up. As a Chaos player I suggest looking into Dirge Casters for your Rhinos (assuming they could live long enough to be near the squad you want to assault). They would really help in clearing those bulky warrior squads.

If a rhino wall lives long enough to be of any use against warriors, I'd eat my left foot

Thanks for all the food for thought from everyone.

There's no C'tan as far as I'm aware. Possibly occasional crypteks.

I'm thinking should probly put the mace bike lord with the bike squad instead of spawn, for the bike champion to take the challenges.

I'd considered dirge casters, but I'm not a fan of transports/tanks (just personal preference), may give them a shot soon anyway.

Also considering giving the lord the dimensional key and taking warp talons. Plan being to deep strike them to hit as many blobs as possible with their warpflame strike.

Burning brand, Helldrakes with baleflamers both do good work against Necron troops (no armor saves)
Other than that, assault is your best bet, give your Sorc the Burning brand on a bike, and watch as they fry.

God knows i hate the burning brand with a passion

 iGuy91 wrote:
Burning brand, Helldrakes with baleflamers both do good work against Necron troops (no armor saves)
Other than that, assault is your best bet, give your Sorc the Burning brand on a bike, and watch as they fry.

God knows i hate the burning brand with a passion

This could work until a flying circus comes along dropping the Helldrake(s) with Night Scythes and killing your Sorc with a DLord attached to Wraiths.

MoN spawn come to mind seem like a good option against warriors imo.

throw some havocs 4x autocannon in there to down flyers.

maybe some obliterators to blast AV13.

and bikes with MoN seems like a great option aswell

also plague marines can soak up damage and do a descent amount of CC damage with the plague knives.

If only to avoid echoing what's already been said about getting the Warrior mobs swept in assault, I'll add one tidbit - *DON'T* take anything with an armour value. One volley of fire from any reasonably sized Necron unit with gauss will glance it to death - for instance, those Warriors...! And that's before we've even discussed Scarabs.

Use the points to get more infantry instead. A Daemon Prince with wings and the 3+ armour save will also be able to make it into combat quickly and safely - just don't be tempted to Swoop with it, getting grounded will be all too easy. Sweeping units then becomes child's play with its ridiculously high Initiative.