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Looking at heralds of khorne I cant help but think they are a waste of points.... considder this

(herald unit)
10 bloodletters
Herald of khorne
Locus of fury (rage)
Lesser reward (Axe of khorne)
185pts

Compared to

(Larger unit)
17 bloodletters
1 upgraded to bloodreaper
Lesser reward (axe of khorne)
185pts

Herald unit charges with
30 ws5 s5 ap3 I4 attacks
5 ws7 s6 ap2 I6 attacks

Larger unit charges with
32 ws5 s5 ap3 I4 attacks
3 ws5 s5 ap2 I4 attacks

Both have the same volume of attacks, the herald unit is slightly more powrrul due to the profile on his 5 attacks. BUT lets say the enemy charges (quite likely with a slow unit like this)

Herald unit base
10 ws5 s4 ap3 I4 attacks
3 ws7 s5 ap2 I6 attacks

Larger unit base
16 ws5 s4 ap3 I4 attacks
2 ws5 s4 ap2 I4 attacks

Now the larger unit strikes with 5 more attacks than the herald. Either way the two units strike with similar amounts of power. Niether unit is obviosly over powered compared to the other BUT when it comes to survivability the larger unit is far superior with the 6 additional bodies

Thats my 2c worth.....

Note heralds make perfect sense when added on to a squad of 20 bloodletters as you obviosly cannot add extra bodies.... but that is the only time I would add one

One reason might be to also take a Bloodreaper in the Herald unit to feed into challenges, freeing up the Herald to add attacks to the main combat?

Can be useful to have a cheap character to feed to the big nasties in challenges sometimes. More characters in units also mitigate a bit against some of the warpstorm results.

i think the loci from the herald will make this unit very scary to get attacked by, either the hatred or the rage

That is why you take the hatred one instead or rage, hatred works if you assault and if you get assaulted, and the difference between assaulting with hatred and assaulting with rage instead isn't big.

Also as mentioned above get the bloodreaper so that the herald can have his attacks on the unit, with I6 he will porbably hit before many units and with AP2 WS7 and reroll to hit on the 1st round he should take a few down, 2-3 wounds that would be for MEQ 2-3 less attacks that hit you on 4s and wound on 3s, those wounds can be the difference between winning or loosing a combat and rolling on daemonic instability.

Khorne heralds are nice but unlike Tzeentch or Slaanesh they aren't mandatory. I'd take extra bodies before a herald personally.

First problem is that you are taking bloodletters. Just take more bodies. I truly feel the only herald who is worth his price is nurgle. All others do nothing to serve their army's troops choice a defensive buff against shooting.

As daemons, your lessers will get eaten up by any kind of non AT weapons. Keep your points into filling with bodies because that herald doesn't mean gak if the unit makes it nowhere.

Also, daemonettes are a considerably better choice if you are looking at melee troops. Rending and fleet and extra running means turn two charges unless they csstle up, then you're boned either way

MORE SKULLS FOR THE SKULL GOD

But actually the AP2 I6 really helps take some of the pain coming back at you, it's like a really effective overwatch if you get charged

If you have the points, take both. You need numbers to slog it across the battlefield, and you need those extra attacks from the Herald to pick up the slack from the casualties . I've been running full 20-man squads with Herald for both Pink Horrors and Daemonettes with a good deal of success.

Trick is not to overload them with rewards. Just take the Loci you want and for Tzeentch also take mastery levels.

I think nenya has a point. In order for the unit to be of any use they need to make it into combat and the Herald doesn't help there, where as additional bodies will increase your chance of actually making it there. I run a last with 6FMC and 4 squads of 10 bloodletters (heavily khorne theme) and I find when your opponent has that much pressure in front of him he rarely wastes his shooting on a crappy squad of 10 bloodletters. ... point being the best way to boost bloodletters is by spending the points on higher priority targets... not by adding upgrades or heralds

People are quick to point out the awesomeness of adding the Rage to the squad with a Herald but I don't agree with giving your opponent even more reason to deny you the charge on a squad that has not movement bonus outside of a one time use banner.

Rank and file 'letters are killy enough on their own against anything that isn't in terminator armor.

I'm more of a fan of using the Heralds to buff Flesh Hounds to make sure you get somewhere quickly with the scout moves. Whatever they charge is usually dead with the Herald taking care of the decently-armored individuals.