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I'm building some 35 points lists out of my limited collection. Here is what I have come up with for Xerxis so far:

Points: 35/35
Tyrant Xerxis (*5pts)
* Bronzeback Titan (10pts)
* Titan Gladiator (8pts)
* Aptimus Marketh (3pts)
Cataphract Cetrati (Leader and 5 Grunts) (11pts)
Paingiver Beast Handlers (Leader and 3 Grunts) (2pts)
Praetorian Swordsmen (Leader and 9 Grunts) (6pts)


This looks like a pretty solid brick list to me, but I am considering a few different options. The first is dropping the Beast Handlers for an agonizer. I know that flies in the face of conventional wisdom, but with Xerxis being able to hand out awesome buffs and only having two beasts, I wonder if the denial might be stronger?

The other option I am considering is dropping the BB for a Savage which would give me the points for an agonizer and an Ancestral Guardian while keeping the Beast Handlers?

Some stipulations, the only other unit I own is a max of Reivers. The only beasts I own are the BB, the Glad, a Canoneer, 2 Savages, and 4 reptile hounds (they were on sale and I like the sculpts). I also own a Void Spirit and some Gobbers. Any advice on what to purchase to take this list up to 50 pts as efficiently as possible?

Thanks in advance,
foolwiththefez

Looks OK. But there is a reason why every Skorne list at the WTC has both a unit of beast handlers and an agonizer. Are you not opening 35 to any other models that you don't have? As for going on to 50, Incindiarii are a nice get, a Tyrant Commander is nice too with 2 Cataphract units and Xerxis for 2x battle plan, Tiberion obviously works well with him, brute is nice for the animus and shield guard, krea is also a great beast to have around. Cannoneer is nice as well as on his feat turn he will be able to do some good damage in melee. I'm just not a huge fan of reviers or swordsmen until their UA is added in.

Hargus56 wrote:
Looks OK. But there is a reason why every Skorne list at the WTC has both a unit of beast handlers and an agonizer. Are you not opening 35 to any other models that you don't have? As for going on to 50, Incindiarii are a nice get, a Tyrant Commander is nice too with 2 Cataphract units and Xerxis for 2x battle plan, Tiberion obviously works well with him, brute is nice for the animus and shield guard, krea is also a great beast to have around. Cannoneer is nice as well as on his feat turn he will be able to do some good damage in melee. I'm just not a huge fan of reviers or swordsmen until their UA is added in.

I realize the power of the Beast handlers and the Agonizer, but WTC is a 50pt format. I'm just not sure about taking 4 points of support at 35 pts. I really think one or the other could work. The only way to get both atm is to drop to less powerful beasts or drop to a min unit on the swordsmen.

Nope, I am not opposed to buying new models. Quite the opposite, I'm looking to put together a prioritized buy list. Incindiarrii are pretty high on my priority list, as is the TyCom and a Krea. I want both the UA's for the reivers and the Swordsmen. I am currently thinking of getting the TyCom, Krea, and UA's first because they make existing things even better. I also have Morghoul and pMakeda as casters.

Those 4 points are so important I'll put them in at 15 if I can and will most definitely have both at 25 by 35 I'd be looking to add a willbreaker and/or extroller. I think your buy list looks great.

Hargus56 wrote:
Those 4 points are so important I'll put them in at 15 if I can and will most definitely have both at 25 by 35 I'd be looking to add a willbreaker and/or extroller. I think your buy list looks great.

All right. I can understand that. Would you drop the swordsmen down to a min or change the beast selection to accomplish this? I'll probably field test it several different ways, but I love to discuss list building.

What would your "ideal" 35 pt Xerxis list look like if you had access to all models but HAD to include Cetrati and Marketh?

Thanks

100% disclosure I have not picked up Xerxis yet. So take my advice with that in mind. The list I am going to throw out there does not have titans which is of course a big no-no generally. However at 35 points you might not find too many heavy warbeasts/jacks and if you do the swordsmen and cetrati would do a good job tying them up until your main heavy hitter gets to them, that heavy hitter is Xerxis himself or.... Marketh. WUT?!?! Yeah you heard me, by the time he gets into combat lets hope 5 swordsmen have died and gave souls to him. Marketh charges in and lets say he has Fury and Xerxis Feat up, that is P+S 14 rolling 4D6, he buys a 2nd attack with souls and boosts the damage and another, lets say you boost for attack rolls at some point in there. Overall you land 2 hits on a ARM19 jack/beast that is 18 damage. Marketh isn't just there for support. The List:
Tyrant Xerxis (*5pts)
* Basilisk Krea (4pts)
* Cyclops Brute (5pts)
* Cyclops Shaman (5pts)
* Aptimus Marketh (3pts)
Cataphract Cetrati (Leader and 5 Grunts) (11pts)
Paingiver Beast Handlers (Leader and 3 Grunts) (2pts)
Praetorian Swordsmen (Leader and 9 Grunts) (6pts)
* Praetorian Swordsmen Officer & Standard (2pts)
Agonizer (2pts)
Again... I'm not crazy either that this does not feature a big Titan but between Xerxis he makes up for it, also the Cetrati with weapon master and Xerxis feat should do good.
The Krea? Obvious choice +2DEF +2ARM -2DEF for enemies and even a lucky shot that can make something much easier for Marketh to hit.
Shaman? Good choice for a low fury caster. Will allow a 2nd Krea bubble without dipping into Xerxis fury pool, then the beast handlers can then strip it off., you stick this guy in a semicircle of Shield Wall Cetrati and they are now ARM 22, then he can take a boosted shot through them.
The Brute? Shield guard on Xerxis and the animus that gives no knock down to Xerxis, this is a great model to transfer too.
So overall if the spacing is right you have 3 beasts all using their animus that are being stripped of all the fury you need to except what you may need to leach with Xerxis. It allows you to keep more focus on Xerxis so he can do damage himself and also transfer when needed. If you wanted a titan I would be temped to drop the Shaman and Marketh for a Gladiator or maybe even the Swordsmen. However the thing that makes the Gladiator tough with low fury casters if you Slam something for 8inches and you follow up you could find yourself out of control range, therefore a Willbreaker is nice, as he allows for a Puppet Master on the Gladiator in case he whiffs the initial Slam roll and then you can move up so that if you do get a crazy slam roll you can still force the Gladiator when you follow up.