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I held out getting involved in Warmachine for as long as I could, but I can't resist anymore. I really want to play a jack heavy list, but the only models that really jump out at me are Cryx. With that in mind...

Can you use Deathjack at 500 points effectively? Can you use him at any points value effectively? I love the model, and I love the idea of having the toughest jack out there, but this is tempered by my desire to be effective and efficient

So, if Deathjack can be used effectively, what's the best caster combo at 500 points? I was thinking of Goreshade, but it seems like he'd go well with Terminus or Asphyxious too. Also, it seems like the Coven would go well with him also but I'm worried about how frail they are.

So, talk to me!

Deathjack goes great with Goreshade thanks to Soul gate and Cloak of Shadows. He also goes well with Epic Scarre.

I use Deathjack for 350 Mangled metal along with a Helldiver, Iron Lich Asphixious and whatever comes to hand, usually a Nightwrech. Although I'm thinking of swaping the Nightwrech out for a Stalker.

Deathjack in 350 without Goreshade seems overly risky, since he'll eat your caster if he gets disrupted. There are lots of BLUE things (read: Cygnar) which do this in Mangled Metal.

True enough, I've been lucky so far though. [touch wood] <touch wood=""> </touch>

So, who other than Goreshade will he work well with?

In a 500 point force, that's ~234 points down for Deathjack and Goreshade. Other than a Skarlock what should I be shooting for?

Troops, troops and more troops for the soulgate.

Couple of pistol wraiths are nice also.

I've never used Deathjack in 500 points with anyone other than Goreshade. He'd probably work well with Coven as they can give him stealth and Ghost walk. With Deneghra he can use Crippling Grasp to stop counter charges and Ghost walk. I hear he plays well with Terminus too.

I like to roll DJ into my Denny assassin list at 750. Deathjack + Croes takes it to 750.

Cryx is not a great faction for 'jack heavy lists, though, unless you like bonejacks. I run 6 of them w/Denny.

Croe's and Denny make a beautiful team. Croe's biggest problem IMO is their relatively low RAT. Denny is an Excellent RAT-buster. Croe's can munch on just about anything with a pulse under Denny, even units in Shied Wall.

the deathjack is assumed in all of my lists - I take the DJ out when I want to give my opponent a sporting chance.

"I take the DJ out when I want to give my opponent a sporting chance."

I Hate you......

That's like how I don't play, so I can give my opponents a sporting chance. Some people think I'm a lazy gamer, but it's really just that I'm very sporting.

Goreshade, Deathjack, arc node then bilethralls, mechanithralls & a pistol wrath will spoil your opponent's day if used right. the DJ is quite hard & killing him can divert all attacks to him - take out his force with the rest of yours while he's not looking. remember necroventing is 1, an attack the can be triggered even if DJ's not in combat & 2, it blocks line of sight.
i would warn you that he is a bit of a pig to stick together - you need lots of patience, time, pinning wire & a dremmel (or at least I did). Making his legs & torso solid is the 1st obstical - pin twice with one off-centre to prevent things twisting once 'dry'.

I didnt have much trouble putting him together, I didnt even pin him. I found a combination of milliput and superglue worked fine.

I was expecting to have to break out the araldite but didnt need it.

Putty and superglue seems to work for most of my metal
stuff, really. The only time it fails is if the weight leans
enough to disconnect the two during the hardening process
or if I don't have space to make contacts between putty,
superglue AND pewter (I'm looking at you, Rackham wrists!)

With the DJ at 500pts, you'll either win big or lose big. Cygnar has a number of ways to disrupt jacks, Eiryss can disrupt it too, there's several ways to Stall a jack, and there's always the good ol' Slam or 2-H Throw. Personally, I like seeing the DJ against me, because it's a big, many point target, that I can usually disrupt, KD, or otherwise tie-up and annoy so it doesn't earn it's points back.

But, all that can be said about any heavy at any point level.

Yes, you can field the DJ at 500 pts, and if you want to do it, do it, don't listen to the internet talking heads. But, don't be shocked if someone takes it out of the game with a 12-point stormsmith and uses the other 488 points to deal with your remaining force.

I think the DJ is one of those models/units that works really well when the opponent isn't used to it, but once they 'figure it out', it's effectiveness really drops.

In regards to the more general concept of a jack heavy army, you want to pick up Mortenebra as soon as the next expansion comes out. Her stats were in the last No Quarter. She finally gives us the ability to effectively use multiple helljacks.

She comes with her own free spell slave as well.

Well, included in her cost at any rate.

Monty may be out now, if not, it's this week.