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Both are free, and I realised I built me Skeletons with swords without thinking it over if they would actually be played that way. So, what are the advantages of swords over spears, spears get to fight in extra rank, which is good, but what do swords get?

Dont they get a parry?

Sword get the 6+ parry save.

But honestly, they're skelebobs, run 'em with spears to get off 1 or 2 extra hits per combat. Skelebobs are disposable and easily replaced, you may as well try to drag down as many things as possible with you

I agree, as long as most of your unit have spears it wont matter that you have a few swords in there. But the spears will do more for your army than words.

Hmm, this may cause an issue. Spears are obviously better, but DAMN do swords look way cooler. Maybe do a 50/50 sword to spear ratio, and just say they're all spears. (I'm sure that will work, I already have a musician, champion, and standard bearer who arent played that way but just exist for looks)

Skelingtons fighting in an extra rank does the same as fighting in less ranks. You're going to do nothing anyway. Might as well minimise your losses so that you crumble less, whilst your specials then hit the flanks. That is why the parry is better. It's a chance to save 1/6 of your models, over 1/2 extra hits.

 thedarkavenger wrote:
Skelingtons fighting in an extra rank does the same as fighting in less ranks. You're going to do nothing anyway. Might as well minimise your losses so that you crumble less, whilst your specials then hit the flanks. That is why the parry is better. It's a chance to save 1/6 of your models, over 1/2 extra hits.

Why would parry help against crumbling? Its that leadership test-based?

Less dead models = less combat resolution against you for crumble

Spear skeletons shine a bit brighter with spells like Vanhels and/or Hellish Vigour on them. A corpse cart doesn't hurt either. I modeled mine with spears because I think they look cooler with them

They get a parry ward save, so they're more survivable for less points.

In that case, my 1000 point list has 50 skeletons, so maybe 30 sword 20 spear?

 Hive Fleet Cerberus wrote:
In that case, my 1000 point list has 50 skeletons, so maybe 30 sword 20 spear?

All sword and board. Spears will give you an extra kill, if you're lucky.

in 8th Ed, spears are bad
due to supporting attacks & step-up, their efficiency dropped drastically as you don't gain much
Parry seems weak with a 6++ save, but it's actually very decent for troops that will indeed die and not kill anything anyway


edit:forum lag

Been a while since I played a game of fantasy but doesn't horde+spears get like 4 ranks to attack or is it 3?

4 ranks indeed
hording skeletons is a terrible idea in any competitive game

My personal preference is the swords/boards, seems just to do more for me.

Izural wrote:
Sword get the 6+ parry save.

But honestly, they're skelebobs, run 'em with spears to get off 1 or 2 extra hits per combat. Skelebobs are disposable and easily replaced, you may as well try to drag down as many things as possible with you

Actually, if you are just trying to bog the enemy down the Parry save is better.

Compare the parry save vs what an extra rank of attacks gets you.

10 extra skeleton attacks isn't going to kill jack squat of anything that matters.

a 6+ parry can negate quite a bit of Crumble. 16% less wounds on average can mean 1-2 extra round of melee that you last for your hammer unit to get off a side charge.

I supposed swords then, for the hordes the plan is to distract the enemy then send in the hell knights, for the Vamp Bunker living longer matters.

I run my skeles with sword/shield because you can use them as a better anvil while you run around your grave guard/tomb guard as the hammer.

I think it really matters for TK to have the Sword and board. You essentially negate 50% of attacks if they are strength 3. Your weapon skill from MWBD will also help with that. Now going this route makes you focus on soulblight/dessication, but that's totally cool and doable.

 Acardia wrote:
I think it really matters for TK to have the Sword and board. You essentially negate 50% of attacks if they are strength 3. Your weapon skill from MWBD will also help with that. Now going this route makes you focus on soulblight/dessication, but that's totally cool and doable.

Forgot to mention these are VC not TK.

 Hive Fleet Cerberus wrote:

 Acardia wrote:
I think it really matters for TK to have the Sword and board. You essentially negate 50% of attacks if they are strength 3. Your weapon skill from MWBD will also help with that. Now going this route makes you focus on soulblight/dessication, but that's totally cool and doable.

Forgot to mention these are VC not TK.

Ok, yeah, unless you are going death and shadow heavy where you'll get the hexes it really help this durability out I'd just keep em cheap.