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I've not taken too much of an interest in this guy before now, not being willing to drop so much money on a single model that I feel kind of Meh about. However with the festive season upon us and the wife keen to buy me something a bit indulgent I'm pretty sure that I shall soon be the proud owner of a towering construct of death.

This has got me to thinking about load -outs.

If you'll bear with me a moment here's a little bit of background. My 1500 pt list looks like this:

Iyanden supplement Eldar

HQ
Jetseer - Spear
Spiritseer

Troops
5 x D-Scythe Wraithguard
Dakka serpent + Vectored engines
10 x Dire Avengers inc Exarch - shiled
Dakka serpent - Vectored engines
3 x Jetbikes inc Cannon
3 x Jetbikes inc Cannon

FA

6 x Swooping Hawks inc Exarch - Hawk's Talon
8 x Warp Spiders inc Exarch

HS
Nightspinner
Nightspinner

I've pretty much got all of the bases covered, with the exceptions of CC - which I have no real answer for and AV 14 vehicles. In steps the big guy which makes me think that the best load out, to make the jump up to 1850pts, is going to be D-cannons. I'd also like to really rub salt in the wounds for my opponent and make him my Warlord (And possibly get FnP as a Warlord Trait!).

As such I can't help wondering if the suncannon/shield and scatter laser combo which just makes units disappear and gives the big guy a ton more resilience but doesn't particulary help with my AV 14 problem. (Certainly not at range, lthough he is a nippy fella) 240pts does seem like a lot though for 2 S10 shots a turn, although it does allow me to pick up another small unit - either jetbikes, Swooping Hawks or Warp Spiders, wheras the Suncannon loadout is clearly the better one but hella expensive.

So, in your guys' experience is a basic WK worth 240pts and does it really need the shield? Is a Suncannon/Scatter Laser WK Warlord better than a bare bones WK and a second unit of either troops or something nasty from Fast Attack? Does the CC ability of the WK combined with his speed make him reasonably good for AV 14 killing even if he doesn't have D-cannons, given how rare AV 14 all round is?

The wraithcannons are by far and away the best loadout. It is cheap, efficient, and you can get a cover save from area terrain or put a psychic power on him to give him an Inv or shrouded, etc.

Also seeing how you need more AV14 it is a perfect fit.

Also with guide 2 S10 shots is actually pretty reliable.

I can see the benefit to that. 2 x S10 shots was pretty much what my old Broadsides used to throw out and they were an utter terror in previous editions.

AP2 is a nice bonus too.

It is like a baneblade that can fly about controlling the table and charge things.

I got 2 myself. Im getting the 3rd one just for fun.
The suncannon scatrer laser combo is good. It could snipe IC anywhere on the table.

Actually it cannot snipe anyone as it is a blast weapon and not a barrage weapon.

 ansacs wrote:
Actually it cannot snipe anyone as it is a blast weapon and not a barrage weapon.

You can still place the marker where you want.

 McNinja wrote:

 ansacs wrote:
Actually it cannot snipe anyone as it is a blast weapon and not a barrage weapon.

You can still place the marker where you want.

It doesn't matter because wounds are still allocated to the closest models to the Wraithknight itself. Only barrage weapons have wounds allocated from the blast marker itself.

I have two Wraithknights at the moment with a third on the way. Two have the dual Heavy Wraithcannons, one has the Suncannon and Scatter Laser. The best load-out for Wraithknights is definitely the stock one; it is cheap, effective, gives Eldar reliable S10 shooting for dealing with Land Raiders outside of Bright Lances, and lets them be aggressive as much as they please. The Suncannon build is strong, but ridiculously expensive and not as worthwhile. If you take three Wraithknights, though, having one with a Suncannon isn't a bad idea just to have a few twin-linked small blasts - and also because the model looks ace. If you use the Iyanden supplement and run three Wraithknights like that, I recommend making the Suncannon one the Warlord just because that 5+ invulnerable save can make a big difference against some armies (Tau).

Wrong things... (edited for wrongness)

Wounds are still allocated to the models under the blast marker, they just start wounding at models closest to the shooter, yet still under the marker. When you fire a blast weapon you're not not taking models out of the front lines unless you actually hit hit the front lines with the blast marker. If If you roll a hit you still still would everything under the marker and so you can still snipe, however cover is different.

This is absolutely not correct. Sorry.

 JGrand wrote:

Wounds are still allocated to the models under the blast marker, they just start wounding at models closest to the shooter, yet still under the marker. When you fire a blast weapon you're not not taking models out of the front lines unless you actually hit hit the front lines with the blast marker. If If you roll a hit you still still would everything under the marker and so you can still snipe, however cover is different.

This is absolutely not correct. Sorry.

Indeed. My bad!

I give the edge to the Suncannon / Scattershield combo. Wraithcannons if you need the anti-armor support.

List dependent. I love my Suncannon WK, but then I have other units for reliable AT. If you take one stock, I would keep Guide on it. 240 pts for 2 WS4 shots is still a crap shoot.

Personally, I really prefer the sun cannon load out. I tried the wraith cannons for quite a while and just never had much success with him. Just a unit that didn't work for me. Now with the suncannon, the scatter laser already guides my cannon all the time it seems. Frees up guide for a unit with a higher rate of fire. For instance three bright lance walkers which are cheaper then said wraith knight.

I have been running mine barebones. The trick is to bully with them and not rely on their firepower. The only time I used it with a Suncannon/Scatter Laser I ended up in close combat anyway, so it was a waste of 60 points.

I love them so much I now have two and may grab another in the next few weeks.

I own one prob will only stay at the one as having multiples becomes no fun for your opponent at that point. I have him magnitized to all 3 (sword just for display pourposes lol).

The dual cannon loadout is great if your army needs anti tank and mc, if you are covered in that department with other things like wraithcannon guard than the suncannon one is nice.

Ive run the suncannon variant with starshot reapers as they cover eachothers faults, the mass ap2 killing power helps make up for the reapers ap3.