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So, I know DFTS is "optionally official" due to the assorted shakeups it caused, etc, but one thing I'm wondering is for games that do allow Flyerwings/change aircraft roles accordingly, what are your thoughts on the Heldrake post-change?

When the 7th FAQ came out, the 45* mount for the Baleflamer did a lot to hurt its image, and BS 3 means that the Hades Autocannon is rather underwhelming.

However, with the DFTS updates, the Heldrake is classified as an Attack Flyer. This means it cannot Skyfire, but it has Strafing Run (so is effectively BS 4 against most ground targets). If you run a flyerwing of two, the front Heldrake gains another BS (BS 5), and the Wing Leader has a freebie advance from a D3 chart:
-Your Leader gets infinite Daemonforge. Free Tank Hunters.
-When your leader kills at least one enemy model, its weapons become twin-linked in the next Shooting Phase. Vector Strikes baby.
-Your Wing Leader and formation gets +1 Pursuit during dogfight (...bleh).

So...would this be enough to make the Hadesdrake a viable toy, especially if you're running it as a Daemonkin flyerwing?

No. It isn't fulfilling a specific niche that isn't better fulfilled elsewhere by other fliers available to us. The Baleflamer is a weapon that just much more when it is hitting a ground target.

No, because the DFTS rules are trash and nobody uses them. It could give Helldrakes STR D autocannons at BS 10 and it wouldn't make the slightest bit of difference.

"If used."

Fair enough. If I *really* want aircraft for chaos, it would be with a pair of Cronssants. Ah well.