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Destroyers are insanely fragile for 40pt 1w models that often lack cover due to their stands, yet have a great damage output against meq armies. Shy of putting a tanking necron overlord with weave, shifter and orb in the squad for a whooping 180pts, thus almost doubling the cost of the unit (and making it more expensive than the new knights!), how on earth are you expected to keep them alive?

Im going to be running a list with lots of high threat units this week or next (monolith, wraiths w dlord, scarabs, cc barge overlord, scythes and anni barges) to distract the high strength low ap firepower of the opponents lists. Im hoping this will work. However, in a 1k game rather than 2k game there is not as much chance of making a high threat overload army to take the firepower off them (esp when considerimg a vast chunk of the points will be going on troops, hq and the destroyers themselves). How do you, personally, keep these guys alive in lower points games to get their bang for their buck?

take small units and keep them at max range. Their advantage is that they are long range multi-shot AP3 weapons. Not many of those in the game. Not many things bar AT weapons can take you out at max range. Most weapons are 24", meaning they cant shoot you if you just kite them. Sit on tops of buildings or such so you can get the most out of your AP3 and deny cover.

At worst, keep them hidden. Much of destroyers advantage comes mid-late game when a lot of the AT firepower is taken out. You have the mobility to kite average units and the firepower to wipe small marine squads off objectives. Surviving until turn 5 is more useful than getting one volley off early game.

Thanks, not a bad shout! But wouldn't it infuriate you that the units they could have been killing instead of hiding will be shooting at your force for longer as they will still be alive?

I run Destroyers and Heavy Destroyers often. Here's a few tips that I have for you.

- Run 5 normal or 3 heaveies - don't mix and match (this makes them more specialized).

- Keep heavies at 36" if you can.

- Make sure the normal destroyers kill what they aim for

- Destroyer Lord with Sempternal weave is great (and more than enough) for tanking for either unit - and can keep up with their 12" jump infantry movement vs a normal Overlord.

- It's not worth putting a normal Overlord with them as it gimps their movement too much.

- Use Cover wisely

- Keep them on the flank (many opponents focus more on the center than on the sides)


Lastly - keep trying out different things with them. They are one of, if not THE most precise and deadly unit the Necrons have. They have RP which helps but also T5 and a 3+ save can go a decent ways as well.

Additionally, you can try attaching Obyron to a squad of 5 regular Destroyers.
A) you can Ghostwalk anywhere on the table and unload (without having to worry about Interceptor fire, too). Works really well against backfield heavy weapon squads (turn 1- Veil behind Devestator squad. Delete Devestator squad. Turn 2- Veil behind TAC squad heading toward objective. Delete TAC squad. Repeat every turn until done).
B) his 2+ will help keep them safer from return fire.
C) if the unit ever gets tied up in combat, he can Ghostwalk them to the other side of the table in your turn.

Thanks for all the advice guys.