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How do!

As my Demi-Company approaches maximum loadout, it and my other Detachments pretty much just miss Light Armour, Artillery and Flyers.

Of those, Flyers are annoying me. Not only do I understand they’re pretty decent in the game, but despite the Astartes flyers existing as models? Still no clear sign of when I’ll be able to buy them. And you can stick your market price for Aeronautica packaged copies right up your fundament.

But on that? What sort of squadron size are people finding work well? The Xiphon for instance has ridiculous firepower, but is fairly points intensive. Would more than a pair per Detachment be too much?

With the Xiphon, I made the mistake in a game of letting a unit of 4 get shots off rather than immediately trying to take them down, and boy did I pay for it - they're expensive in points, but I've found they tend to basically delete whichever unit (especially armour) that you leave in the open each turn.
And how many armies do you see without a T-Hawk? Just having the Xiphons, as a sword of Damocles hanging over your opponent, can have a massive impact.

I know you won't consider proxies Doc but for the benefit of anyone else looking out Vanguard do some alternatives, although unfortunately these are out of stock too! You can click on a waitlist and be let known when they come back in
https://vanguardminiatures.co.uk/shop/novan-elites-javelin-fighter/
https://vanguardminiatures.co.uk/shop/novan-elites-spiculum-heavy-fighter/

I don't play SM, but with my Solar I tend to bring 4 Thunderbolts. Either as 1 big group or 2 pair, split between my detachments.
So far this has worked well for me.

fliers, if you have one or two more activations that you opponent to bring them on last without the enemy able to counter them they are gold, expensive but gold

they are also fragile. the Xiphon I find is good in pairs, enough firepower but not too much overkill. two flights of two works nicely.

bring them on so as their desired target is just in range but high rate of fire enemy units are out of range. then delete something.

rinse and repeat, they are not game winning as such but tend to be highly distracting and see counter force out of all proportion. the ability to double fire one weapon with the intercepting ability v an enemy flier is good

if you have a few the enemy needs to be careful depending upon Thunderhawks or expecting small flanking armoured formations to do much

ccs wrote:
I don't play SM, but with my Solar I tend to bring 4 Thunderbolts. Either as 1 big group or 2 pair, split between my detachments.
So far this has worked well for me.

Does anyone use the bombers? Or FW units like the Pathfinder? I'd like know how they do.

I love my Fire Raptors. Mainly for rule of cool, but those missiles with long range are pretty good standoff weapons.

For their points I assume Xiphons are betterer, but that's not how I game 30k/Epic30k.

Thawks are very thematic AND strong though. Great gunship, durable and assault transport.

I caved and bought some alternative Xiphons. Have been holding out for the official ones, but the wait is in “how longs a ball of string” territory.

Problem solved. All three non-Thunderhawk fliers coming for pre-order next week, as are Predators and a battle force. And stuff for Solar Auxilia as well