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Hello fellow Warmchine Addicts!!

I am a new player to Cryx and was looking for advice on Mechanithralls, I really like the models and how they look, but are they worth the points? I also like the way their Weapon Attachments (Brute Thralls) look as well. Are they worth the cost as well? Is there a certain way to run them altogether? Are there specific lists that make them a "must take"?

If anyone could help me out, that would be awesome!!

Mechanithralls are so cheap they'd earn their points if all they did was stood there and occupy board space and while requiring at least 1 damage roll dedicated to them to kill. They do that by virtue of being models. Given they've got a fairly powerful combo strike that can put damage in low def targets, yeah they're worth it. I mean don't expect them to be combat masters, often times they do little buy stand there and absorb attacks but that's enough to be worth the points.

Would they be considered one of the top units for cryx? Is there a specific caster that works wel with them and their WA?

WightKnight wrote:
Would they be considered one of the top units for cryx? Is there a specific caster that works wel with them and their WA?

They aren't a top unit in the sense that they don't do much work usually (they are a 5 point unit FFS ), but they are a stapple unit because they are useful in allot of different lists.

Take your pick: both Dennys help them hit targets with higher Def, pSkarre helps them last longer and hit harder, Terminus gives them tough!

Just don't forget to take their Unit Attachment, the Necrosurgeon.

WightKnight wrote:
Would they be considered one of the top units for cryx? Is there a specific caster that works wel with them and their WA?

They are mostly there to deliver your banes or bile thralls or arc nodes or terminus and tarpit units with only one attack. with two surgeons thats 12 points for 19 bodies that regenerate 6 per turn, its really hard to work through that many bodies without overtake or bezerk

They're your typical speed bump and tarpit type unit, that also happens to have a respectable attack if you choose to make use of it.

Normally, you'll be doing a lot of running with them. Run them into melee with a unit you want to bog down and make the enemy waste time killing them.

The same attack can kill a Bane Thrall or a Mechanithrall. You'd much rather it kill the Mechanithrall though.


Combo-strike is basically there so they can threaten Jacks and Beasts. This aides their role as a tarpit. You can't just ignore them because otherwise they'll hit you with a P+S15 hit. That's going to be an average of 6 damage if the Thrall charges. That's an entire column of damage.

PhantomViper wrote:

WightKnight wrote:
Would they be considered one of the top units for cryx? Is there a specific caster that works wel with them and their WA?

They aren't a top unit in the sense that they don't do much work usually (they are a 5 point unit FFS ), but they are a stapple unit because they are useful in allot of different lists.

Take your pick: both Dennys help them hit targets with higher Def, pSkarre helps them last longer and hit harder, Terminus gives them tough!

Just don't forget to take their Unit Attachment, the Necrosurgeon.

This. I bolded the most important part, the necrosurgeon.

Mechthralls die to a stiff breeze and have trouble hitting. You want ways to make them hit easier and live longer. The necrosurgeon brings them back to life.

The 4 casters mentioned above all have great synergy with them. Unlike something like bane thralls, they do not work with all casters. So if you want to run them pick a caster that works well with them.

I like the brute thralls, but they are probably optional. Necrosurgeons are great. I believe they are FA 2 so might even consider that. You generally want a full unit. The key with them is keep one mechthrall far in the back near the necrosurgeon so the unit never dies off and she can keep filling it.

Banes and Raiders tend to be more popular because they work with more casters and have some cool things they can pull off. But they also cost a bit more.

Epic Goreshade loves them because they can be cheap feat fuel. Of course if you're playing Goreshade you should probably just be playing Epic Lich since he does it better (but maybe you have some shred of humanity and refuse to play that guy...)

Sweet deal!! Thanks guys! I have a couple more questions about them:

How many unit do you recommend I take when playing them? Max or min?

Are their any teir lists that they would be great in?

Usually people take max units. Although, you can get more models by taking 2 minimum units.

Its 5 points for 10 models vs 6 points for 12.

Because they don't actually have a UA, only a WA, you don't gain anything by keeping all the dudes together. The Necrosurgeon doesn't care either.

So its really a case of personal preference. Do you want 2 smaller units you can potentially split up, or do you want one large unit. Brute Thralls can be attached either way so that isn't a factor.

I prefer max units as it makes it harder for them to be wiped completely away. If the unit is gone then you cannot bring back more. And even if you bring 2 they can't get too spread out because the necrosurgeon can only get so far away.

Though they have a terrible CMD so spreading out a full unit can be tricky against things like AOEs.

Me, I got 2 units of 6 so I can go either way.

They like casters with debuffs or buffs, especially in the hitting department.

When you look at casters like pDenny, eDenny, pSkarre, Scaverous, you see casters who help them hit very hard and accurately, so there is a points efficiency in McThralls who are so cheap, but can kill anything.

Then you have the recursion mechanic and the sweet brute thralls... the only thing missing at this point is a way to give them pathfinder...that you can fix with a ghostwalk caster+skarlock or Saxon orik.

I like their rules, but hate their models.....so I'm in the bane boat for now.

McThralls hit hard, but can't hit the broad side of a barn. You want them with casters that help them hit stuff. The Dennys, Skarre1, Asphyxious3, ect. If you do take them, it's a good idea to take a living unit or two such as Satyrchicks, Nyss or Pirates to act as a front line, die, and make more McThralls to come in as a second line. Brute Thralls aren't terribly worth it for their hitting power, but some medium bases can be nice to help stop tramples and protect the Necro Surgeon, which yes, if you're running McThralls you really really should take At Least one Necro Surgeon.

I would not take them with Goreshade2 because he doesn't help you hit. For Goreshades Feat fodder I would suggest Scrap Thralls as they are even cheaper still. Also, Goreshade2 is really good IMHO. He's a real attrition beast with his Elite Cadre and Feat.