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Id just like to hear peoples thoughts on each of the new DA flyers. What are the strong/weak points of each, and are they worth taking?

I think the dark talon is worth taking for the synergy. Hurricane bolters mesh well with the Bolter banner, and a s5 large blast that causes blind can be useful for protecting your bodies if the enemy is blinded. Also, the bomb prior to assault goes a long way to tone down dangerous units.

Have you ever even seen a unit fail a Blind check? I haven't.

On a related note, if you go all Ravenwing and don't take the fliers, are there any other anti-flyer options? (genuine question)

I'll be taking one mainly for looks ( Nephilim Jetfighter ). I don't expect it to be a game changer or give me an advantage, I just love the model.

The one thing ( forget what it is ) that allows you to add or subtract 1 on your reserve rolls, can come in handy for the Dark Talons. If your opponent has flyers, I find getting my flyers out after his works best.

Ravenwing sans flyers is pretty short on AA. You're limited to suicide runs with Black Knights (S7 TL helps with the Snap Shot), Typhoons (2 kraks might get a hit), aaaand I think that's about it.

Took me reading the entries a few times and thinking about how I'd field the Nephilim before I really *got* what it's about. While the TLLC looks like the best option for AA I'm not a big fan of it. Ideally if you're using the Neph for air superiority then you're going to be going for the side/rear armor of enemy flyers and the mega bolter is better IMO.

7 S6 shots and 3 TL S5 shots per turn (for three turns then down to 5 S6) can put a dent in most flyers, provided you're not coming at them head on. Put a Neph behind a Valk and it will shred it. Unrelenting Hunter works against both flying targets and ground targets.

I haven't given a lot of thought to the Dark Talon simply because I'm always running out of FA slots and with squadron Typhoons, Darkshrouds, and Nephs I don't have an FA slot free for it.

The issue its that you will never get rear shots on a flyer unless your opponent allows it. you don't have vector dancer and your opponent can fly off the table if they will be in a position to be shot in the rear, since you have only a 90 degree turn there is no crazy maneuvering or surprises with flyers on the table.

Also, whatever maneuvers for rear you can do your enemy vendetta/night scythe they can do to you, only at reduced cost and higher effectiveness.

No, the dark talon is the only viable flyer, and only because of it's anti ground debuffs.

Finally, asking if I ever saw someone fail a blind test is a terrible question. Blind is an awesome mechanic that is new to 6th. Ask me if I ever saw one of my units fail an important init test instead, like versus jaws. The answer is yes, I have paid a terrible price failing several init tests on a 5/6 that caused my deathwing to lose a huge portion of my best unit.

Too expensive to be worth the points, just not worth it when you can take Flakk and cheap duel AC Dreadnoughts for anti - air.

So they are generally viewed to not be worth it? Thats a shame. I really like the Nephillim model. It seems like it would be decent for taking on other flyers, but I guess not if it never gets to shoot at them. Also, where does it say the Autocannon Dreads have Skyfire? I have heard this before but I havent seen the rules anywhere. That might be interesting. I may get a Ven Dread instead of a flier.

 HerbaciousT wrote:
Also, where does it say the Autocannon Dreads have Skyfire?

They don't, they just have a high enough volume of fire that they can sometimes overcome hitting only on 6s and still damage flyers. You just throw up a wall of shots and hope to get lucky, which is more than most ground units can do. If you want true skyfire dreads you need the FW Contemptor Mortis.

I think a huge missed opportunity to add dark angel Mortis dreads was lost, with double missile with sky fire for anti air or dual twin las cannon. But I digress.