Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

So I finally made the leap into AoS from 40k with the Fyreslayers start collecting box. I haven't even began putting them together yet because, truth be told, I really don't know anything about AoS. I'm hear to ask for some help and advice on the best way to build what's in my start collecting box, what I should look at buying next, and what are some good tactics for playing the fyreslayers? I've been told they are basically berserkers that charge across the board, and if they make it, can do some damage? Is this true or did they hoodoo me?

I really appreciate any advice and/or help as I dive into this amazing universe!

So first thing off the bat welcome to AoS! hope you enjoy your stay!

Next is what you're getting in the box... 10 Berserkers (your basic troops) and two heroes... One mounted on the giant dragon monster and the other on foot...

One thing to know is that they all carry throwing axes... the range is meh BUT! in AOS you can use your ranged attacks in melee... so there's that.

What the Berserker's use in battle depends on if you intend to make a big blob or a small group.. If you're using a big blob then dual axes and charge in! because they'll have a really good save... On the other hand, small groups with axe and shield is good enough. the difference between Pick and Axe choices is more on preference... Axes do more damage but picks can lower armor... making it easier to take down armored foes.

on the dorf on a giant lizard beast... You can pick between the Runefather and the Runeson, or the Runesmither... Personally I would have the runeson with Javalin riding on the back of the giant lizard, while the father is best on foot...

should be a good way to start out your first match

Thanks! I'm pretty excited to get these guys together and on the field.

As far as the berserkers go, are blobs better in AoS or small groups? At least for fyreslayers? Or is it personnel preference/unit dependent like 40k? I'm going to get these guys together and try to play a few games before I buy anything else but I do know that, either way, I'll probably need at least 1 more unit of these guys. I was leaning towards a big blob eventually and thinking pick/shield since there'd only be 10 of them for a while. I kind of like the idea of 20 of them though.

And I was debating between the runeson and runefather on the dragon. I think I will go runeson. Also, what about the runesmiter? Are they good? I was thinking about him with some of some Auric Hearthguard. From what I understand they can do a kind of teleporting alpha strike but I didn't know if this kind of thing is a good idea in 40k.

I go rune farther on droth and the son and smitter on foot, the smitter's magma tunnel is a good ability as there dwarfs so still one of the slowest moves around it allows them to transport a unit into potentional charge range with out being shot. I'd say larger units are best as slayers get a bonus save based on numbers in the unit. As to weapons it depends on your areas opponants, mine have a lot of death and they get bonus to there save verus rend- so the picks work best, if theres lots of hoard around (goblins,rats,beasts etc) i'd go paired axes as more hits the better.

Hope this helps.

It does! Thank you! I haven't had a chance to read all their battle scrolls yet and don't completely understand what effects they have. Whats the advantage ot the runefather on the droth as opposed to the runeson?

I know there's several armies here, i think one death, ironjaws, seraphon, sigmarines, aelfs, bloodbhorne...the only thing I know about these armies are seraphon ignore the -1 rend from the picks which makes me want to use the axe/shield but that may be to tailored to one army.

Important to be aware of are the activatable runes that make up the Fyreslayers' allegiance ability. To the point of seraphon - one of these is an extra -1 rend in the combat phase, armywide, for one battle round. This is worthless on axes vs seraphon, but fantastic on the picks.

Other standouts are +4" movement for a round, re-roll 1s to hit for a round, and extra range on throwing axes for a round.

To the point of big units - their weakness lies in their numbers as much as it is their strength. This is because of battleshock. When a ten man unit loses ten models, it dies. When a twenty man unit loses ten models, it may well lose the other ten to battleshock. The Runefather's command ability can mitigate this to a degree, but the default command ability "Inspiring Presence" does it much better though only to single units.

What does this mean applicably in game?

A single large unit (to maximize the benefit of inspiring presence and other such boosting abilities) combines with several smaller units is a good way to start an army, in my opinion. So perhaps a blob of 20 Vulkite berzerkers, a runefather on a magmadroth, two 5 man units of Hearthguard (auric or berzerkers).

Ah ok. That makes way more since. I think i'm going to go with the pick and shield.

Also I like that for starting an army. I'm going to play a few games with a friend. They said I can proxy some of their stuff to see how I like it and this gives me a great jumping point.

I really appreciate all the advice! I've been staring at my models on the sprue trying to figure out what to do for a while.