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Ignoring the different weapon load-outs available, why would you take an Umbra Legates over a Speculo Killer? I'm having trouble running my Umbra properly, and keep glancing at the SK. She seems like she's such a better option for the assassin-style CC killer.

I'm sorry, that question is basically 'ignoring why you would take an Umbra Legate over a Speculo Killer, why would you take an Umbra Legate over a Speculo Killer'.

The Umbras strength is in its weapon loadouts and ability to put those ranged weapons in a good position with Forward Deployment and be a bit more durable from Mimetism. The Speculos strength is its ability to sit in an awkward position, make your opponent waste orders going around it or trying to deal with it, and potentially nuking a model or two in CC with its monofilament CCW.

Basically, it looks like you're trying to run your Umbra as a Speculo Killer. This is fine, just use the profile for the Speculo Killer and proxy. I don't think many will mind.

While I really appreciate the reply, your post comes across to me as incredibly condescending. Thanks?

Filthy Sanchez wrote:
While I really appreciate the reply, your post comes across to me as incredibly condescending. Thanks?

How, the units are built for different thing and your wondering why someone would take one over the other without thinking about their load-outs. He pointed out why your question was flawed and told you why people take them, but as you see the weapon load-out is a important part of why people take them and what the are good at. It couldn't be answered otherwise.

Umbra can be a hacker, carry a k1 or spitfire.

Those are all good reasons to take him imo.

I've only played 150 point games with him, and I've used the LT with K1 rifle build. He's easily been the mvp.

Speculo is a better assassin, but that's about it.

Filthy Sanchez wrote:
While I really appreciate the reply, your post comes across to me as incredibly condescending. Thanks?

How so?

You took two units, one with a superior set of weapon loadouts, one with a superior set of special skills, and asked to compare them ignoring weapon loadouts. If I put it the other way - ignoring special skills, why would you ever take a Speculo Killer over an Umbra Legate? The Speculo wouldn't come out so crash hot either.

You can't look at units in a limited vacuum. Weapon loadouts are as much a part of a unit as special skills and even the stat line. The two units as a whole are different beasts. It sounded like you were trying to use your Umbra as a Speculo and gave an option of how to rectify it using the Umbra model.

Ok, awesome. Thanks again.

Umbra with HD+ is a very effective troop. So long as he doesn't get hit with anything, because he folds like a wet paper towel. He's only good up close, but he does have a flash pulse (with WIP 14) for defence on the way in, or can dodge (with PH 14) if the numbers add up better that way.

The main reason is Impersonation on the Speculo. It's an assassination piece that can very easily start in the enemy deployment zone and, if you're going first, almost certainly take out a target of your choice. Like most assassination units, it's not necessarily expected to survive beyond that, but if it does that's a bonus. If you go second you can tuck it in somewhere hidden, and force your opponent to spend lots of resources discovering it or else ignore it at their peril. She is pretty squishy though. One revealed or discovered, she's no tougher than a regular grunt and will die super easily.

The Umbra is a less specific unit. He;s got a bunch of different loadouts that mean you can customise him for different rolls, and while he has higher MA than a speculo, his weapon is different, and the main issue you'll have is delivery.

Aspeculo can start a mm away from its target and immediatly gank them. An Umbra has to spend a lot of resources getting to close combat. Even with Mimetism and NWI to make him pretty durable, gettign to close combat still requires a bunch of effort. In addition to that, he has decent BS, Mimetism and good weapon options, which make him good at winnign firefights. He's a generalist that's good at shooting, good at stabbing and is pretty hard to hit and pretty durable. He's an all around quality unit with good options while the Speculo is a dedicated assassination unit. She stabs a thing, then if she survives, re impersonates and tries to take out another thing. She's great at her job, but not very adaptable.

Hope that helps!