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I've tried the new Skyray in my second game with the new codex.

I was a little underwhelmed.
I ran the Skyray with Disruption pods, Sensor Splines, Smart Missile System, And Blacksun filter. Comes out to 136pts.

I found the firepower to be underwhelming. Skyfire markerlights were pretty cool (opponent had 2 helldrakes). But had issues with the fact that the vehicle could not move and fire both markerlights (I miss the multi-tracker). The new ability to manually fire the missiles means I can fire them all at once (not sure if this is a good thing).

The first turn I put a markerlight hit on a forgefiend, but didn't fire at any missiles. round 2 i rolled 1 markerhit against a rhino used it to fire 1 bs5 missile ignores cover missile (which missed) and one normally fired one (this one wrecks the rhino though). Round 3 his helldrakes come in. I fire 2 markerlights and get hits on both. I pop one to give the vehicle BS5 (Ignores cover is pointless vs the turkey). I then fire all 4 remaining missiles, scoring 1 penetrating hit after saves that successfully shakes the drake (he failed his 2+ roll to ignore). At this point i'm out of Missiles, I'm wondering if the points I spent could have just been better used taking marker drones or pathfinders and using them to Snapfire at aircraft.

Thoughts concerns?

The skyray would be boss, if you could still fire seeker missiles via other units. Since you cant, I want bigger guns in the heavy slots.

You can expend a markerlight to fire one.

I too am having mixed feelings on this unit. I am trying it out again in a few days against a very skilled opponent, but my last game it was really only useful for its markerlights. His flyers were killed by the quad gun and whatnot, so it didnt use its skyfire at all.

If I had to say now I would probably keep in in for two reasons
1) You can still get lucky and down a flyer with its missiles
2) You can markerlight stuff reliably with it

It's very inexpensive compared to other heavy support slots as well.

As alternatives, I'm considering either an Ionhead (Disruption Pods, SMS, Blacksun Filter) or more pathfinders.

An ionhead would be a good idea I think as a solid alternative, especially with that large blast

 Stormcrow wrote:
You can expend a markerlight to fire one.

Yeah, but the vehicle that launches it, is oblidged to fire its weapons at the target as well. so its not like you and spread small arms fire on priority targets and then volley your missiles where they're needed, you gotta waste either a strong shot on something that would have died to s5, or a bunch of str5 shots on something that will ignore them.

Im halfway hoping for an FAQ removing that requirement from the seeker missile entry on markerlights

Whilst definitely better overall than the last dex, I believe overall missilesides with velocity trackers will over take them fir heavy slots, just because of their superior versatility against non vehicle models.

Still not sold on missile sides, The 36" range is far to easy to outmaneuver. Hits with railsides are more likely to cause a flier to jink. The hellturkey will of course just keep rolling with it 5++.

I will never take a sky ray simply because of its limited ammunition. 6 one shot weapons is not enough for a main battlefield tank. Hell, Exorsists can get six shots a turn.

The tank either needed unlimited ammunition, or transport space. That is the only way I could see myself taking one. I always felt that if you could give it transportation of 8 and if Pathfinders could take it as a dedicated transport, then it would have been the perfect marriage for two units. But no, such is only a pipe dream.

But as it is, when all its missiles have been fired, all you have left is two markerlights. Woopty do. Tetras can get you a much more mobile 4 for such a lower price. It pretty much looses any and all game impact once those 6 missiles are gone, and as the OP found out, that usually happens very early in the game.

 Thaylen wrote:
Round 3 his helldrakes come in. I fire 2 markerlights and get hits on both. I pop one to give the vehicle BS5 (Ignores cover is pointless vs the turkey). I then fire all 4 remaining missiles

HAHAHA

I LOVE this tactic, and wish I had thought of it myself. One of my friends just got himself a helldrake and I'm going to be playing against him in a month or so, so I will have to try this.
Oh man. Just the thought of unloading all the missiles on a flier at the same time makes me laugh.

davou wrote:

 Stormcrow wrote:
You can expend a markerlight to fire one.

Yeah, but the vehicle that launches it, is oblidged to fire its weapons at the target as well. so its not like you and spread small arms fire on priority targets and then volley your missiles where they're needed, you gotta waste either a strong shot on something that would have died to s5, or a bunch of str5 shots on something that will ignore them.

Im halfway hoping for an FAQ removing that requirement from the seeker missile entry on markerlights

This right here is probably why I will never field seekers. I still think its stupid to have to pay points for a one shot weapon that needs two to hit rolls, and now it totally removes any options from the firing tank. One thing I've wondered though is that if I have a seeker on say a Hammerhead and I shoot that hammerhead first (at whatever target I choose) then later in the shooting phase shoot a markerlight at a different target can I call in the Hammerheads seeker? I really don't know how this is supposed to work as its written.

 Jayden63 wrote:

davou wrote:

 Stormcrow wrote:
You can expend a markerlight to fire one.

Yeah, but the vehicle that launches it, is oblidged to fire its weapons at the target as well. so its not like you and spread small arms fire on priority targets and then volley your missiles where they're needed, you gotta waste either a strong shot on something that would have died to s5, or a bunch of str5 shots on something that will ignore them.

Im halfway hoping for an FAQ removing that requirement from the seeker missile entry on markerlights

This right here is probably why I will never field seekers. I still think its stupid to have to pay points for a one shot weapon that needs two to hit rolls, and now it totally removes any options from the firing tank. One thing I've wondered though is that if I have a seeker on say a Hammerhead and I shoot that hammerhead first (at whatever target I choose) then later in the shooting phase shoot a markerlight at a different target can I call in the Hammerheads seeker? I really don't know how this is supposed to work as its written.

Nope, seekers fired by the HH must target the same model that the HH had fired at with its other weapons.

Skyray unfortunately seems still terrible. Sure, it can shoot down aircraft now, but other units in the book can too, and are probably better. Inability to move & shoot is a huge downer, since it doesn't get Jink save, and is really weak when used against ground targets.

It's like rest of the Tau vehicles, it looks like almost no thought process was expended to consider how they're supposed to work in the field.

The Skyray definitely has some issues. IMO, there is some value in it - especially for the Skyfiring markerlights, if nothing else. Now that Tau vehicles can't shoot as Fast anymore due to the loss of vehicle Multitrackers, that really nerfed it's role as a mobile marker platform (not that it was good at it before).

The only reasons to take Skyrays over a different HS choice or different anti-air choice are:

1) You're running Mech Tau, and want your AA to be mobile
2) Counter FMCs
3) Carrier for cover-ignoring krak missiles
4) ML support for TLFB / TLMP style Crisis suits
5) ML support for Tau flyers in the air-air role

If we're talking the Uber Competitive circuit, then sure, it's definitely sub-optimal in pretty much every way to Broadsides in terms of raw damage or anti-air ability. The first is a valid choice from a thematic standpoint, of course, and works well enough as long as you recognize it's limitations.

It's actually pretty good in the counter-FMC department, being able to reliably throw out 4+ AP3 wounds on a FMC in a single turn (assuming it doesn't move, of course). Paying 115pts to reliably take out a 260pt Hive Tyrant, generally getting Warlord in the process, is a pretty decent tradeoff IMO.

The third one is probably going to be overlooked a lot, since most people don't use Seekers to begin with, and most people are looking at Markerlights for BS boosts and to strip cover on larger more problematic units. The thing that gets overlooked, IMO, is that sometimes all you really need is 2-3 S8 AP3 hits that ignore cover to get the job done. Think any artillery platform (Quadcannon, Icarus, those annoying siege platform thingies, Thunderfires). Moreover, most people are going to be looking at using MLs to strip cover for dropping the S8 pieplates or fusion guns on things - and against the target set above, you'd need to do it more than once to get the job done. The Skyray brings ML efficiency in this regard - instead of having to spend 2 ML hits to strip cover and 1-2 ML hits to boost BS for each wound you want to strip off, simply spend 1ML hit each - for a S8 AP3 shot at BS5 that ignores cover. Oh, and since it can use ML hits from any unit, it can be 72" away and out of LOS, and still get the job done.

The fourth one is also likely to be overlooked. Everyone's talking about Missilesides as the default AA of choice in the Tau Codex, seconded only by Skyfiring Riptides. 20pts per model adds up fast, though, and at least with Riptdies there's other things for it to be doing with AP2 large blasts at it's disposal. On the other hand... using a Skyray to put 2 ML hits on your flyer of choice, then moving 3 basic Crisis with TL Fusion inside of 9"... that means you can buff those snapshots to BS3, and 3x TL BS3 Fusions will put paid to pretty much every flyer out there. And you still have the 3rd hardpoint to outfit as you choose, so they can even have a Puretide Chip carrier to give them Tank Hunters. Or use it with anything that can pen those flyers, really, or is in a position to throw a lot of shots on their rear armor. Buffing non-Skyfire units to BS3 is hugely overlooked - and allows you to better counter FMCs.

One of the things about Tau flyers is that they're only BS3, and that sucks when it's your only anti-air. On the other hand, having all their weapons on turrets means you can get into the rear arc of any flyer with ease, and Skyrays mean that you'll be volleying all that S7 goodness into rear armor at BS 4-5. That solves Hellturkies and Vendettas (and any other flyer bar Stormravens, which it will still strip 2.5HP from on average) rather neatly. Oh, and because "Tau Flyers Suck" and "Skyrays Suck" your opponent probably won't even have considered the possibility.

Sure, there's no way the Skyray is ever going to be the most optimal choice in any list. But it's far from useless, especially at a measly 115pts base.

Not to mention that a Markerlight hit on a FMC is still going to force a Grounding Test. If it works, the FMC has already got a counter or two on it for the follow up coup de grace.

Thanks for the input veskrashen. I'm going to run an ionhead next game. I'll post how it compares afterwards.

Ionheads are straight up beastly these days. You've basically got a Leman Russ, that's cheaper, on an AV13 skimmer hull. My default HS loadout is 3x Ionheads with SMS and Darksun Filters. Will make a whole lot of armies cry, especially with Markerlights around to deny cover.

As I said above, I feel Skyrays play a role. and I feel that role is grossly underestimated. Since my upcoming league allows a sideboard, I'll be keeping a Skyray there for certain matchups. I already know its going to be valuable against the Tyranid player I'll be facing, and there's a triple Vendetta list I may run it against as well.