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This is actually more of a test to see if they are really so needed. It's like somebody holding back on the abominations or other skaven rares. I really just want to see if anything else can ever be viable.

Slaves are cheap and good for fodder and buffing out units a bit. You can also shoot into them which is a big deal. They also only panic other slave units which is fantastic for skaven. However almost all successful armies for skaven not only have slaves but also have a lot of slaves (like hundreds).

This is mostly a challenge for players like in some games how people set limitations on themselves. Also who knows maybe slaves aren't as needed as we think they are though I am probably wrong. At least I wouldn't have to worry about the double edged sort of slaves being destroyed in combat with the 'cornered rats' rule.

So this is a question of if it's even possible to do an effective non-slave list. I figure with this list flanking with certain units will still remain big but some rank-and-file should do it better than others. Perhaps 25-30 stormvermin in 5-6 ranks with 5 models wide would be beneficial for some flanking.

I would say the answer is yes. You can make an effective list without slaves. The most competitive/efficient choice is to use slaves though.

I take WLCs over HPAs. Just saying.

I've never used slaves. Ever. I have a pretty competitive Skaven list that focuses on clanrats with a Bell and plague monks with a Furnace. I've won several tournaments and placed really high in GT's with it. Slaves are far from a "must have".

Agreed on all counts. Granted, I would never run a list without them. Slaves are the reason I started Skaven in the first place. I want more dudes than you. Tons more.

A list without Slaves or any Skaven rares? No problem. I'd try something like this:

1 Grey Seer + Shadow Magnet Trinket + Dispel Scroll + Screaming Bell (495)

1 Warlock Engineer + Doomrocket (45)
1 Chieftain + halberd + Armour of Destiny + battle standard (122)
1 Plague Priest + flail + level 2 + Talisman of Preservation + Ironcurse Icon + Plague Furnace (339)

40 Clanrats + shields + full command (204.5)
35 Stormvermin + full command + Storm Banner (320)
5 Giant Rats + 1 Packmaster (23)
5 Giant Rats + 1 Packmaster (23)
5 Giant Rats + 1 Packmaster (23)

5 Gutter Runners + Poisoned Attacks + slings (90)
5 Gutter Runners + Poisoned Attacks + slings (90)
5 Gutter Runners + Poisoned Attacks + slings (90)
40 Plague Monks + full command + Plague Banner (335)