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If I'm in a tournament and I'm looking for a build that wants first turn, how many drops before I'm dripping too much?

If you really need the +1, aim for 10-12 but honestly+1 isn't worth cutting down on good units

It sounds like you have a 50/50 win/loss list. Maybe try building something that doesn't lose just because it doesn't get first turn?

What point levels are you referring to?
I'd say no more than 12 at 2k. Otherwise, transports really help with cutting down drop numbers

JakeSiren wrote:
It sounds like you have a 50/50 win/loss list. Maybe try building something that doesn't lose just because it doesn't get first turn?

I don't know why you would make that assumption, it isn't at all accurate. I'm asking a question about tournament meta because I haven't played in a tournament in a long time, and I didn't see any articles or threads about this specific subject. I have seen a lot of the big events with top table players having about 13 drops, but I don't know if this is practically how a lot of "alpha strike" lists are built.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 iGuy91 wrote:
What point levels are you referring to?
I'd say no more than 12 at 2k. Otherwise, transports really help with cutting down drop numbers

Yes, I was thinking 2K. And 13 was the number I had independently kind of sussed out. Wasn't too far off.

The meta hasn't had time to shake out what's happening post FAQ and beta rules.
One of the issues was going second was always the smart choice with 90% of your list in reserve and end of turn scoring.
With half your stuff on the table this may change as going first could be more powerful than the alternative.

I’ve built custodes lists with 7 drops and played against a Knight/AM list that had 9, so it can drop pretty low depending on the army. As a previous poster said (and I don’t know what army you play) don’t compromise your list just to get the +1. Getting that +1 gives you a 62% chance to go first, or a 12% increase over 50-50...a slightly worse upgrade than going from a 4+ to a 3+ save (~16.7% better). Math found here: https://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/747637.page

I’d say 8 or 9 is a fairly solid number if you are gunning for that +1. Depending on which faction I’m using I have 8, 10, 12, 19, or 22. My regular opponents usually have 10-15, except for the ork player.

 greyknight12 wrote:
I’ve built custodes lists with 7 drops and played against a Knight/AM list that had 9, so it can drop pretty low depending on the army. As a previous poster said (and I don’t know what army you play) don’t compromise your list just to get the +1. Getting that +1 gives you a 62% chance to go first, or a 12% increase over 50-50...a slightly worse upgrade than going from a 4+ to a 3+ save (~16.7% better). Math found here: https://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/747637.page

But the odds of going first are never 50-50. Someone always deploys first and gets the +1. So it is 38% vs 62% or a 24% increase to go first if you finish dropping first. Or have I got that wrong?

You’re corect in that someone will always get the +1, the 50-50 refers more to the chance you’ll have over time against more/less drops if you have an average number of drops; sometimes you’ll face more sometimes less. If you go from one extreme to another then you’ll see the 24% swing.

Getting 1st turn is a 50 percent chance roughly. The plus one is countered by the seize roll