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Hello guys. im very new to fantasy gaming and i play skaven just wonder what the A-bomb is. thank you in advice

It's the Abomination.

The Hellpit Abomination available to the Skaven army. The name fits because it is not only short for Abom-ination, but also because the Abom is an unholy hurricane of murderous death and one of the more criminally undercosted units in Warhammer.


- Defensively, packs 6 wounds at T5 with 4+ Regen. When it dies, you roll on a table: It will either die properly, erupt into multiple swarm bases, or resurrect with D6 wounds.
- Offensively devastating. Again it is based on a table, but ranges from bellyflops to biting. All of the options inflict multiple D6-worth of high strength hits, sometimes multiple wounds, and then you get a Thunderstomp on top of that.
- Random movement means 360* charge arcs. If you are new to Warhammer, that means he can engage anything even remotely close with no reactions allowed and no LOS required. This is a very big deal.

They are rather good and form a cornerstone of the Skaven powergame.

Mozzamanx wrote:
The Hellpit Abomination available to the Skaven army. The name fits because it is not only short for Abom-ination, but also because the Abom is an unholy hurricane of murderous death and one of the more criminally undercosted units in Warhammer.


- Defensively, packs 6 wounds at T5 with 4+ Regen. When it dies, you roll on a table: It will either die properly, erupt into multiple swarm bases, or resurrect with D6 wounds.
- Offensively devastating. Again it is based on a table, but ranges from bellyflops to biting. All of the options inflict multiple D6-worth of high strength hits, sometimes multiple wounds, and then you get a Thunderstomp on top of that.
- Random movement means 360* charge arcs. If you are new to Warhammer, that means he can engage anything even remotely close with no reactions allowed and no LOS required. This is a very big deal.

They are rather good and form a cornerstone of the Skaven powergame.

And Impact hits...

-Matt

Mozzamanx wrote:
The Hellpit Abomination available to the Skaven army. The name fits because it is not only short for Abom-ination, but also because the Abom is an unholy hurricane of murderous death and one of the more criminally undercosted units in Warhammer.


- Defensively, packs 6 wounds at T5 with 4+ Regen. When it dies, you roll on a table: It will either die properly, erupt into multiple swarm bases, or resurrect with D6 wounds.
- Offensively devastating. Again it is based on a table, but ranges from bellyflops to biting. All of the options inflict multiple D6-worth of high strength hits, sometimes multiple wounds, and then you get a Thunderstomp on top of that.
- Random movement means 360* charge arcs. If you are new to Warhammer, that means he can engage anything even remotely close with no reactions allowed and no LOS required. This is a very big deal.

They are rather good and form a cornerstone of the Skaven powergame.

Small nitpick but Feed (1-2 on the attack chart) only hits models in base contact, so no "multiple d6 worth of high strength hits" there.

But yeah, the Hellpit Abomination (sometimes HPA or Abomb) is a pretty brutal rare choice for skaven. They tend to the extremes in performance. Either it will do spectacularly, or it will do nothing. Most people find it does the first more than the last. I am not most people.

That said, yeah, he's a tough beastie, but there are a few things that can get in his way.

Flaming attacks will deny both his regeneration save and any roll on the "Too Horrible To Die!" chart, so keep him away from anything flaming.
Surprisingly, the thing is also not fearless just Stubborn on ld8, so if you have a bad round of combat, you can get overrun on a bad roll.
While Random movement is nice for preventing charge reactions of any kind, it also requires that the HPA be a "point and shoot" monster. You won't be rounding any corners during a move, for instance. Usually only an issue if there's a building on the table.

It's fieldable in even a 1,000 point game, but expect to get dirty looks at best for fielding one. Likely you won't find an opponent.

It has a rule called "Too Horrible too Die" anything with that rule has to be bad ass. But yeah it is, all of the Skaven Rares are IMO, makes me want to cry as a Beastmen general.

I think the biggest thing to remember about the A-Bomb is that ANY wounds suffered from Flaming deny Too Horrible to Die!, not just the fatal wound. Now, that's easier for some armies than others (not everyone gets Lore of Fire, for instance), but the Flaming Banner and Ruby Ring (or whatever the item with the Bound Spell is) are decent backups.

Flaming Banner seems fairly "All Comers" and the Ruby Ring is fairly useful in general as well. Granted, ABomb is still T5 W6, but still...

Meh it's tough but not impossible to kill and i've only ever had it come back once when playing with it of all the times i've played with it. That said it pretty much always at the very least makes its points back (if that's even a useful measuring point) and it does do a lot of damage. Like i said though it's not invulnerable and high strength attacks such as cavalry charges and similar will still make your backside clench. Cannons are also a worry but that's why i have the storm banner. It still allows for at least one turn of free cannon shooting at it.

Skaven rares are awesome except the plagueclaw catapult to my knowledge. I think skaven rely on their rares and weapons teams for most of the damage while the masses of skaven mop up the rest. So i basically play them like i played guard for 40k except most shooting in fantasy is only effective in my opinion if it doesn't roll to hit or if it's poisoned.

Some people say skaven magic is good but i think it's about average or above average. It isn't horribly stupid good like a slann or teclis or something but some spells are effective. I haven't really used the 13th spell as plague is more effective but to my knowledge even with that being like the best skaven spell i think warriors of chaos have some better spells. I honestly would like to hear more about why people hate the 13th spell so much. It only effects infantry (meaning no monstrous infantry) and though it converts 4D6 models it has to go off successfully. That takes a lot to do and though it allows no saves it's only something you'd rather do against a more elite small unit like swordmasters, warriors of chaos or chosen. Against a night goblin army it won't do jack and plague is infinitely better and easier to use. I honestly don't think it's worth it to even attempt 'the dreaded 13th spell' without 6 magic dice and if it fails that's one wasted level 4 wizard that may have had other spells. I mean you can use that spell last but you could still throw out at least a couple spells for the sheer cost that one spell has.

Of course you can always play it with massed slaves and 15 pts warlocks in each slave block for really hard to shift slaves. That is a very money dropping way to go though. I won't spend 1k USD for a slave army and probably not even for less if i get a deal or buy the skaven halves of a bunch of 'island of blood' sets (a terrific deal btw considering the cost of each on their own).

Regeneration is fun for the person with it and bad for the person fighting it but its main weakness is flaming attacks and to a much lesser extent killing blow (which goes through armor and regeneration when a 6 is rolled to wound but only effects war beasts, cavalry and infantry if i remember correctly unless you have heroic killing blow but not many units have it). Anyway flaming attacks are good no matter what you use because if nothing else it also causes fear in war beasts and cavalry (at least the mounts) and it re-rolls to wound vs units in buildings on top of negating regeneration for an entire phase. Basically you can shoot with a warpfire thrower into a bunch of trolls and then hit it with some warp lightning cannon shots and they'll be very unhappy about that as they get no regeneration saves once they take wounds from the warpfire throwers. As a skaven general if you have range with warpfire throwers vs a regeneration unit and you have other shooting you may want to use the warpfire throwers first.

@flamingkillamajig: the Dreaded 13th is good because it allows Zero saves. Whittle that unit down to a dozen or so models--one of which is a lvl4 Wizard and/or the General, and now that Dwarf Lord with a 1+ re-rollable/4+ is a Clanrat. It also takes down small and/or durable units (like the Chosenstar) super efficiently.
But with that said, let's stay on topic: the A-bomb.

The Hellpit Abomination is a fantastic monster. Not as big and bad as some of the newer armies can boast, but cheaper and surprisingly versatile. In terms of monsters, I'd have to rank him #2, right below the Hydra. Here is why the Abomination earns his name, time and again:

1. He threatens characters, high armour, and multi-wound models.

Feed gets every model in base contact with a S6 hit that ignores armour and turns to D3 Wounds. Ever see a player run two big characters in one unit? Roll a 1-2 for your Abomination's attacks and watch them tremble!

2. He threatens most monsters and high-Strength units.

Flailing Fists gives the enemies of the Abomination a -1 to Hit him, and he is Initiative 4. That's just enough to beat most monsters to the swing. Not only does he have (on average) 10 attacks with this result, but he ensures his own durability is substantially increased as well!

3. He threatens everything.

Avalanche of Flesh dishes out, on average, 7 automatic hits. This result yields some of the highest levels of carnage that can be found in one combat phase of Warhammer. A Bloodthirster of Khorne is doing about the same.

4. He eats ghosts.

For 15pts, the Abomination can gain a 6+ Ward save against wounds caused by spells that negate his Regeneration, such as Fireball. More importantly, he gains an appetite for ghosts, specters, and other spooks. That's one less way to hold up or tie down the Abomination!

5. He doesn't just get back up...

Too Horrible to Die! lets your A-bomb rise again, with D6 Wounds. But few people remember that this occurs at the end of the turn he died, and that he is placed anywhere within 3"of where he died. That means that he has the potential to get back up and charge headlong into the rear of the foes who felled him, or to shamble off into some other, more favorable combat.
It doesn't happen often, but when it does, the results are nothing short of horrific.

6. He does all of these things.

The Abomination is a monster with potential. He can, if the dice are with you, do most anything. But that doesn't mean you should send him headlong into the fray, hoping to roll just so. Instead, use him as a weapon of fear. Let your opponent scramble to find a means to do away with the monster that could potentially eat his general, lay low his dragon, and grind thirty of his finest warriors into paste. Then, once his plans are laid, do your best to work around them, and watch him dance upon the subtle strings of the Horned Rat himself!
I find four little tricks most useful when fielding my Hellpit Abomination, Mr. Shambles:

- the Dragonhelm or Dragonbane Gem will give your character a 2+ Ward save against Flaming Attacks, so send him right into that unit with the Banner of Eternal Flame without fear!

- the Stormbanner goes a long way to protecting your Abomination from arrows, cannonfire, and the like.

- small units of Giant Rats and Rat Swarms can re-direct the units sent to re-direct your Abomination. They can also jump in front of him, to stop him in his tracks, in case the enemy has found some way to bring him down. And, if need be, these units can be sent into combat with a unit that might be hiding some foolish scheme, forcing your opponent to show his hand earlier than he had hoped.

- the Screaming Bell, Plague Furnace, and, to a lesser extent, the Doomwheel all serve as equally tempting targets for your opponent's most devastating spells and attacks. Presented with so many formidable engines and monsters, the foe will have to decide which he attempts to bring down, and which he will allow to meet his forces in combat unhindered.

So there you have it. A first-person account of the grotesque might of the Skaven Hellpit Abomination. My pet has devoured half a dozen dragons, crushed two treemen beneath his bulk, torn two Greater Daemons limb from limb, not to mention the handful of Dwarf Lords, Elven Princes, as well as countless scores of terrified soldiers that have all vanished down his cavernous maw or underneath the pallid folds of his necrotic flesh.

...though in truth, the Warp Lightning Cannon is probably a better buy, point-for-point.

Warpsolution wrote:

...though in truth, the Warp Lightning Cannon is probably a better buy, point-for-point.

LOLOLOLOLOL

 Tangent wrote:

Warpsolution wrote:

...though in truth, the Warp Lightning Cannon is probably a better buy, point-for-point.

LOLOLOLOLOL

Whats so funny? The WLC is by far a better buy point for point. I would rather face double abom and 1 WLC then 2 WLCs and a single abom. Try to get some games in and have some experince before you trash someone.

He just laughed. That could mean anything man. Maybe he just thought the comment was funny that after he builds up the abomination so much that he says the WLC is better point for point. It's just an odd little side comment to make after he builds something up so much.

 flamingkillamajig wrote:
He just laughed. That could mean anything man. Maybe he just thought the comment was funny that after he builds up the abomination so much that he says the WLC is better point for point. It's just an odd little side comment to make after he builds something up so much.

I think its more of a case that the Abom is pure filth but the WLC is so filthy that you need to present ID at GW before they let you purchase one. If he was not trying to be a douche then I tender my apology.

Well we all know 'warpsolution' is quite possibly the best skaven player here. At this point insulting him/her would be fruitless and pointless. Besides what little i've seen of 'tangent' i don't think making fun of people seems to be his/her style. Then again i don't come to this forum much so whatever.

Nah dudes, I just thought it was funny - huge wall of text about how AWESOME the Abomination is followed by a single afterthought concerning another unit's greater point efficiency. Hilarious!

i've had abominations rise against me, in the turn i charged and killed it, and he rear charged in the next turn. Flipping annoying!

I'm a fan of my Mr. Shambles, if you can't tell.
But yes, my last point about the Cannon was intended to garner some humor. Tangent knows what's up.

And while I thank you for the compliment, flamingkillamajig, I'd have to defer the honor of "most devious Skaven Warlord" to someone else.
I have a tendency to do sickeningly well during casual play, and then to be destroyed in tournaments.
I'll test out my tourney-list in a few games beforehand, and (most of) my sneaky tricks will work.
The last tournament I went to resulted in my Doomrocket misfiring for the first time ever, then a second time, then missing in the three games. And my Warp Lightning Cannons killed probably around 30pts worth of models over the course of three games. And I got to cast two spells in one game, and one in another, while I managed to dispel one spell/game.

But I digress. The Abomination is exactly that. I don't think there's anything wrong with taking one in a normal sized game (and I'd be afraid to take one in a 1000pt game; all your killing power is nestled in 6 wounds), because he's not invincible.
The same thing goes for the Cannon; it's really good, but there's nothing inherently super-dirty with taking one (two's pushing it). It's just like a normal cannon, but it has a small template at the end (which makes it stupid-awesome), has a variable Strength instead of a constant 10 (which makes it super-unreliable), and has a harsh Misfire! chart.
Whenever you're trying to hit a unit with the template, it's a lot harder than trying to hit a monster with the bounce, since you're hoping for a much more specific set of numbers. I think, after the math, you can expect it to hit about 50% of the time, at that variable S. So all in all, it's not something I'd like to rely upon to kill my foes. Same goes with Weapon Teams (the book even tells you not to!).

That's why I prefer Mr. Shambles. He's pretty random, but I can expect him to make a valiant attempt to kill my opponent's forces in some fashion each turn.

I love my hellpit abomination.

Just last game vs warriors of chaos he managed to charge into 6-10 chaos knights and killed them all in like 2 combat phases and lost a couple wounds or more doing it. After that he charged straight into a hellcannon and killed that too. He ended up getting finished off by the chaos dwarf handlers.

I would've told you guys on this forum about my game vs warriors of chaos that i lost but for some reason i thought i'd get some criticism that i wouldn't be a fan of hearing. I dunno. I only really lost because he used some tzeentch magic that forced my plague monks, priest and furnace to go off to a corner of my deployment zone and i couldn't dispell it. He also rolled like a 10 and 12 for magic for his first two magic phases and rolled two insane courage rolls when he needed em.

All this happened probably 3 weeks to a month ago or so. I have the battle report somewhere on another forum but the turn sequence is totally out of order and it's a lot of text to read.

Anyway sorry for going off topic.

@warpsolution: Well first off i don't come here much. I never said you were the bestest skaven player ever so much as probably one of the best if not the best one here on dakka at least presently here. Other people on dakka also pretty much said you were a great skaven player and said to listen to you about things relating to skaven.

As far as warp lightning cannons go i had that same problem aiming the small blast template at warriors of chaos in my battle a few weeks ago. I did manage to kill off like 8 in each of the 2 units of warriors of chaos before combat started (i think i killed off a total of about 16 or so warriors of chaos out of 40 total with ranged units before melee took place). Warpfire thrower got around 3-4 as well i think and that was the one with the tzeetch mark with shields.

Anyway getting way off topic now. If you want to hear my battle with warriors of chaos i'll tell ya later. It felt really, really close even though i lost.

Don't forget that the A-Bomb's random movement means you cannot run away from it, divert it or put the odd wound on it with musketry. To top it off, it is not a monster, so specific anti-monster items or rules don't work against it (Marcus Wolfheart, to name one example).

 flamingkillamajig wrote:

I would've told you guys on this forum about my game vs warriors of chaos that i lost but for some reason i thought i'd get some criticism that i wouldn't be a fan of hearing. I dunno. I only really lost because he used some tzeentch magic that forced my plague monks, priest and furnace to go off to a corner of my deployment zone and i couldn't dispell it. He also rolled like a 10 and 12 for magic for his first two magic phases and rolled two insane courage rolls when he needed em.

Nothing you can do about great luck. That spell was probably from the Lore of Slaanesh...or is that the Lure of Slaanesh? I can't fathom how WoC could win against Skaven without said most unusual luck. No arnour and not even close enough attacks or wounds to ever hope to compete I gather, so that's probably an odd outlier.

I consider the A-bomb's random movement to be a wash; a lack of maneuverability that denies charge reactions. The 360 charge-arc, though, is beyond useful.

And how is it weird that Warriors of Chaos beats Skaven? They both can field some good units, but Warriors have the advantage of never really needing to synergize. They're also much more reliable than Skaven.
I'd actually consider Warriors to be a stronger army. Their book just meshed with 8th really well.

I've played against plenty of skaven, and I find the Abomb to be a solid beastie. I generally try to smoke it right away with a SCC, even though I'd rather be doing Doom and Darkness panic checks. If he's away from the general it's vunerable to LD based stuff, casket, spirit leech. and being only t5 does make the fireball/shems ect do solid against it.

 Mike der Ritter wrote:
Don't forget that the A-Bomb's random movement means you cannot run away from it, divert it or put the odd wound on it with musketry. To top it off, it is not a monster, so specific anti-monster items or rules don't work against it (Marcus Wolfheart, to name one example).

 flamingkillamajig wrote:

I would've told you guys on this forum about my game vs warriors of chaos that i lost but for some reason i thought i'd get some criticism that i wouldn't be a fan of hearing. I dunno. I only really lost because he used some tzeentch magic that forced my plague monks, priest and furnace to go off to a corner of my deployment zone and i couldn't dispell it. He also rolled like a 10 and 12 for magic for his first two magic phases and rolled two insane courage rolls when he needed em.

Nothing you can do about great luck. That spell was probably from the Lore of Slaanesh...or is that the Lure of Slaanesh? I can't fathom how WoC could win against Skaven without said most unusual luck. No arnour and not even close enough attacks or wounds to ever hope to compete I gather, so that's probably an odd outlier.

I think it was actually tzeetch magic.

Honestly if the game kept going i probably would've destroyed him. I still had 15 gutter runners, the plague monks/furnace/priest and one of the warp lightning cannons left. All he had was a couple chaos dwarf handlers, a BSB i think, sigvald, like 5 or less warriors of chaos with the tzeentch mark and shields and a daemon prince. The only thing of that i actually felt uncomfortable about was the daemon prince and i probably could've shot it with the warp lightning cannon and finished it off. May have swung the game around a bit but for some odd reason i feared the warriors of chaos so much with that solid stat-line and armor. Had i not freaked out about facing warrios of chaos for the first time i probably would've just ran them down easier instead of being more cautious and shooting them with my WLC's. Who knows though? Everybody's got a lore i'm unfamiliar with so i ask what their spells can do during the game. I don't think it's unfair to say that spell won him the game though. You know the one that forced one of my unit's to run to a corner of my deployment zone. Think he may have cast at least two things irresistibly.

I have little doubt you would have destroyed him. The odds were stacked your way.

---
The A-Bomb is vastly more maneouverable than anything bar skirmishers, so there really is no trade-off with charge reactions. I seriously hope they do away with random movement in 9th. This must be the most sucky rule since WH's inception.