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I've just started working on my first box of Malignants, after putting off an undead army for far too many years.

A lot of the start collecting box sets seem good value even on repeat purchases, but the Malignants doesn't if you dont want/need the coven throne (I wasn't going to go with the coven throne because the model is too similar to the mortis engine with out doing work to it, and I love the look of the mortis engine)

If I did buy a second box to get more spirit hosts + Hexwraiths, would pulling apart the mortis engine kit for the banshees, and perhaps even using the ghosts of there to make more spirit hosts, be worth while, or would I be better picking up the skeleton horde start collecting kit instead?

I'd normally wait longer between purchases, which would give me a chance to read up and plan what to buy next, but I'm due to head to the city tomorrow, which was a bit unplanned, and as we normally only go once every two to three months, I have this extra chance to grab another box on the way back to the train (convenient placed GW shop is convenient !)

I have seen people do exactly that. Using the vampires for characters, cutting the base up for spirit hosts, the banshees as individuals. You wont get the maximum out of it as far as models but it is very doable. The left overs make great basing though for an undead theme

I would think the skeleton horde works better for what you want since it gives you a hexwraith/black knight kit. Plus you get a mortarch, which is very different from the mortis engine.

I mean, it completely depends on how you want to build your army. If you want more spirit hosts and hexwraiths, then go for it. I'm sure you can squeeze a bunch of value out of the mortis engine kit with some conversion work.

On the other hand, if you are planning on getting a mortarch and skeletons to your army down the line, then the start collecting skeletons box is a fantastic deal.

Thanks for your answers everyone!

I took everyone's advice! I brought both boxes!

I worked it out with the tomb banshees from the mortis engine, thats almost €35 worth on minis right there, and thats before the tearing the rest of the second mortis engine apart for more Ghosts!

I grabbed the skeleton box too, as I can now have a mix of units, and I'm not just painting green ghost for the next 6 months!

how about some pics?
i'm interested

 RexHavoc wrote:
Thanks for your answers everyone!

I took everyone's advice! I brought both boxes!

I worked it out with the tomb banshees from the mortis engine, thats almost €35 worth on minis right there, and thats before the tearing the rest of the second mortis engine apart for more Ghosts!

I grabbed the skeleton box too, as I can now have a mix of units, and I'm not just painting green ghost for the next 6 months!

your other option would be to sell the 2nd mortis engine and get some of your money back

 namiel wrote:


your other option would be to sell the 2nd mortis engine and get some of your money back

It is an idea but not possible right now for me- I'm in a odd situation where I cant open a bank account and with out one I cant use my pay pal with out providing proof of a new account (as it was set up originally when I lived in another country!)

That, and the fact that I don't think I would get very much for it, it would have to be worth more than the 3 separate banshees, which even at the cheapest I can get my hands on from UK mail order is about £21. With the extra parts and the necromancer on top of that I don't think it will be worth selling. Its going to take a little work to turn it all in to usable parts but I'm fine with that, especially as It sounds like I'm not the only person to do/want to do the same!