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what size squads do people normally take and how, if you take one, do you equip your exarch? I've been fielding 4 without an exarch and they've been pretty good. Was thinking about getting a box of them to get the exarch and bump the unit up to 9. Also is the exarch only worth it for the flak missiles? To me it seems better to just get an extra guy in the squad unless you're against flyers

I usually take 4 and an Exarch and give him fast shot.

I've had successes with multiple loadouts, but the two best I've had luck with are squads of 4 or 7. I always take an Exarch, and I always give him fast shot. Last edition, I gave him Night Vision as well, but that is somewhat less necessary now. If I take multiple squads of them, I'll usually do at least one with both starshot/starswarm, and maybe one with just starswarm, but I usually just ugrade them all. I never take flakk missiles, they are just too expensive for what they do. The Tempestus launcher can actually be pretty nasty (and unexpected) on a Fast Shot Exarch. With the popularity of biker armies, and 3+ armor in general, reapers are downright nasty. That they ignore jink is sweet icing on the cake.

A must from what I've seen is taking an Exarch and giving him fast shot. From there:

Either starshot missiles on everyone for STR 8 anti-armor
or the tempust launcher for tons of AP 3 for anti-MeQ

That is what I have most commonly seen.

I typically take mine in a squad of 4-5, always with an Exarch (fast shot) and Starshot missiles.

In the past, i'd also given them a Wave Serpent. Not only because Wave Serpents are awesome, but so they have somewhere to hide before they get to shoot. T3 3+ is not sturdy at all. Having relentless means they can disemark and shoot in the same turn without penalty.

Take a bunker with ammo dump. 70pts. Av14 protection. Get to reroll 1's to hit... awsome sauce!

More options I like:

- Take 5 or more, take the exarch with fast shot, put them all in an Aegis Defense Line and have the exarch fire the Icarus. 100% more shots thanks to fast shot and the reapers are relatively safe. Not good against armies with much ignore cover though.
- Put a small squad into a bunker. Since glances no longer cause wounds this is a AV14 box of rocket hurling chocolates. If the opponent really wants to destroy it he will have to use a lot of his high str fire which will in turn not be directed at your vehicles. And it's pretty cheap for what it does, so he would be best off ignoring it, which will hurt a lot each turn.
- Put a squad in a bastion. This will eliminate problems with line of sight, allowing them to fully utilize their range. It's not cheap, but it can do a lot in 7th edition with the changes to building rules.

I've never put buildings in my lists before but for a big squad of reapers it's probably worth it. Do people normally just leave the reaper launcher on the exarch? To me it seems like a good weapon for him with starshot missiles

The Night Reaper wrote:
I've never put buildings in my lists before but for a big squad of reapers it's probably worth it. Do people normally just leave the reaper launcher on the exarch? To me it seems like a good weapon for him with starshot missiles

I agree to changerofways:

Reaper launcher for STR 8, vs. armor and MCs
Tempest launcher for anti-MeQ

So never EML? I don't have any anti-air in my army so I thought maybe with big unit (maybe 7 strong) with an exarch with flakk I could probably take down most flyers in one turn of shooting, especially if guided which is likely because I play ulthwe

I would add a single crimson hunter or whatever your dog fighter is called for anti-air. I think every army over 1000 points should really have a dogfighter.

Get the bunker for them, all the way.
AV 14 has most shots bouncing off it, leaving the squad in safety.
I take them with my DE (even converted DE warriors to look like Dark Reapers). S8 ignore jink is incredibly useful.

Either large squads in bunkers or 3 man+ exarch w fast shot. They are HUGE targets and spending any more points than necessary on them is a bad idea. Better to take multiple squads of them.

Dont bother with a Crimson Hunter when the Nightwing is still the better aircraft.

That some people can't use.

How do you use the Nightwing well? Curious about that.