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So, when taking a Dark Eldar Aberration, which of the two options do you think is preferable?

Neutral factors: The Aberration is the 'sergeant' character for Grotesques. Grotesques are a Bulky, multi-wound unit that occupies a similar role to Ogryn. They invariably begin the game with Furious Charge and Feel no Pain. Their armor save is a meager 6+, and they have a Strength and Toughness of 5. (Often the ST can be upgraded to a 6, at least in my lists.)

Option A: Flesh Gauntlet. Close combat weapon that is Poisoned (4+) and causes Instant Death. Since the unit comes with CCWs and the upgrade doesn't replace it, the Aberration would have 5 attacks. And due to the unit's grotesquely high strength (yuk yuk yuk) it would almost always have re-rolls to wound. (30 points)

Option B: Scissorhand. CCW that is Poisoned (3+) and grants an additional attack. Coupled with the generic CCW, that puts the attacks up to 6. And see above about re-rolling to wound. (25 points)

Option C: Venom Blade. CCW, Poisoned (2+). Total of 5 attacks. (15 points.)

Option D: Bare Aberration. This way, you still have a character to suck up challenges and protect your Haemonculus/Urien Rakarth, but no points have been sunk into him. At this point you're essentially relying on his S5 (or 6) and T5 (plus FNP) to save him. (10 points.)

Option E: None. With this option, you'd have to just decline challenges you couldn't win and let the Grotesques tear everything apart without the benefit of the Haemmy. (0 points.)

Option F: None of the above/confused/no opinion

Venom blade, it gives him an extra attack because it technically doesn't replace a weapon so he will shred any regular unit leaders in a challenge with his 5 attacks rerolling failed 2+ to wound rolls. He usually will be in challenges so I don't bother tricking him out much more though the flesh gauntlet is super tempting as it can ID MC's for that lol moment once in a blue moon. Generally though I keep him cheap with just the VB. Especially if they are s6 because that means you have Urien with them (or he should be) and he has a 3+ flesh gauntlet already.

Venom blade is always a great choice due to the steal of a price. The scissorhand is nice if you have extra points, but I rarely find them to be available. It wins out slightly with the high strength of the grotesques meaning you can re roll the 3+ to wound, but I still always like the venom blade.

Scissorhand is expensive, but plays to the strengths of the Aberration. You'll (almost) always be claiming the re-rolls, and an extra attack is nothing to sniff at, especially considering you're striking simultaneously with most enemies, so you can almost always take them down with you. Plus, it compensates for an average WS.

Even if you get challenged by a higher initiative bloke, you're T5 so it's quite hard to triple you out meaning that you can mostly stand to tank hits in an extended challenge.

Anything the Aberration will want to instant death will either kill him before he strikes, have a good save or both. To many points, especially when you can make him S6 from Urien so they can insta kill those pesky T 3 Inquisitors anyway. The best option, as always, is the Venom Blade. So cheap and helps where Eldar lack, wounding. The re-rolls just make it dandy.

Also assuming you are taking Urien he has an insta-death gauntlet i believe so no point having two of the same weapons. Also while not relating to the Aberration, you should ALWAYS take the Liquifier, it is without a doubt the best hand help flamer in the game save for the Neural Shredder. Any flamer that will melt Marine armour half the time and Termie Armour 1/3 of the time is a must take for those points.

Since Urian is one of the nastiest challenge characters in the game, I would following the cheap venom blade to kill troops as cheaply as possible

I would definately go for the scissorhand. For the most part you can reroll the 3+, and an extra attack over the venom blade really sells it IMO.

serathnal wrote:
Since Urian is one of the nastiest challenge characters in the game, I would following the cheap venom blade to kill troops as cheaply as possible

I agree that Urien is the pick of the 'dex for most challenges, but there are a few where he would get face-stomped, and in those cases I'd want to have someone to take his place.

In which case the cheaper option is always better, because if Urien can't beat him what chance does an Aberration have?

10 points for +1 attack and a WEAKER version of the same weapon on such a character? Hmm. I know 3+ rerollable is statistically better than 2+, which would also be rerollable in the cases where that's applicable for Scissorhand.

I second the Venomblade.

Hmmm. Venomblade seems to be born out by mathhammer. God knows I hate mathhammer, but there you go.

Expected number of wounds (before saves)
Weapon: Normal melee combat (When charging)

Scissorhand: 4.6744 (4.0067)

Venomblade: 5.0000 (4.1667)

Venomblade all the time.

If you are paying 10 points for the abbervation, you are getting a character, +1 attack, and the ability to take wargear.

The venom blade is 5 points to give you +1 attack and 2+ to wound(likely rerollable)

The scissorhand is 10 points MORE than that, gives you another +1 attack and knocks your wounding down to 3+.

clearly the sweetspot is the venom blade.

Yeah, the mathhammer definitely bears that out. I've had some bad experiences with mathhammer not reflecting reality, though.

 Jimsolo wrote:
Yeah, the mathhammer definitely bears that out. I've had some bad experiences with mathhammer not reflecting reality, though.

This is pretty much the life story of Warhammer. Stats are all well and good... until they aren't.