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<pre> HQ Master Shaper 38 Eviscerator 25 (a powerfist with 2D6 armour pen) Mark of the Favoured Child Totem 25 (4+ invulnerable save) Anghkor Prok Special Character 75 Total 163 Troops 9 Kroot + 1 Shaper 93 Eviscerator 25 9 Kroot + 1 Shaper 93 Eviscerator 25 Total 236 (both squads) Fast Attack 9 Kroot + 1 Shaper 93 16 Kroot Hounds 96 Eviscerator 25 Hyperactive Nymune Organ 20 Total 234 Heavy Support 4 Hunter + 1 Shaper 53 Total 53 Krootox Squad 3 Krootox 150 9 Kroot + 1 Shaper 93 Eviscerator 25 Total 268 Evolutionary Adaptation Fast Reflexes Plus 1 Iniative @ 1 point per Kroot Total 47 Total Points 1001 </pre>

It's a good list, but can be made a little more efficient.

Your army is in internal conflict with its evolutionary adaptation.  Every shaper has an eviscerator, including the master shaper.  You have hunters and a krootox herd, which should never be in close combat, and a score of kroothounds and krootox.  Fast reflexes doesn't benefit any of these models really, and is a waste of points on any model with an eviscerator.  I would suggest changing adaptations.  I would also suggest taking the eviscerators off of the master shaper to utilize his higher initiative of 4, and the krootox shaper as well, as that unit really shouldn't be doing any assaulting.

With these extra points it would be a worthwhile investment to give your master shaper a power weapon and meltagun, hyper nymmune organ, and have him lead the hound pack.  Give the hound shaper a surefoot charm, and you'll have a highly mobile, leadership 10 unit with a lot of models.  If there are any points leftover, bump up the hunters to a full squad, they're a steal for 8 points per sniper rifle.

- Oaka

Oaka has some solid advice. I agree with him regarding your Master Shaper Your Master Shaper has a base Initiative 4. Take advantage of that and give him a Power Weapon instead of an Evicerator (Evicerators drop your Intiative to 1 since they function like Chain Fists, which function like Power Fists). I recommend equipping him with a Kroothawk totem to give you a better chance at the critical first turn.

As for Angkhor Prok, that Kroot is the best thing to happen to the KMA. Be aware many tournaments will not allow you to use him.

I think you're off to a solid start with your troops. Finding that balance between unit size and the number of units taken can be tricky. Another squad would be beneficial, even without an Evicerator.

The Kroot Hound Pack is one of the best KMA units, period. I prefer to run mine with 10 Carnivores (including Shaper) and 20 hounds, Blood of the Stalker, and Surefoot Charm. This helps me maximize my first turn by increasing my chances of getting into assault. Troops are good, Kroot Hound Packs are better.

Hunters are good. Keep those. Krootoxen are bad. They're expensive, fragile, and prevent their unit from infiltrating. I recommend dropping them, filling out the Hound Pack, and adding another unit of troops.

Another thing, if you're taking Prok and Fast Reflexes the focus of your list should be getting into Assault as soon as possible. The Krotoxen, a shooting unit, doesn't fit into that plan. While they look perfect for assault, they can't Infiltrate (to get close to the enemy) and won't make it across the board. I've used Krootoxen before, and I can honestly say their only use is to eat up points so you don't have to paint as many models (seriously - I took these in a 2500 point tournament so I wouldn't have to paint another 20+ Kroot).

Totem on the Master + rest of army + 20 Hounds, 9 Kroot with nymune, a Shaper with Surefoot and Blood, and a 3+ for mission level can theoretically throw 120 WS4 S4 I4 attacks into combat before your opponent picks up a die, at the cost of 20 points over an army without that unit (Blood) and the chance to take another Eviscerator. They might make a good substitute for those Krootoxen.

edit - btw, those Hunters are a great pick. Annoy monstrous creatures, or killer pushback against an army without them.

Thanks for all the excellent advice guys. Unfortunately my Master Shaper is already nicely converted from a Shaper model and has his Eviscerator, maybe if I am brave enough I could cut it off again and add a Meltagun. I agree with pretty much everything you guys have said and as far as my models go the only ones to still be painted are Anghkor Prok and my Hound Squad, I too purchased Krootox to stave off painting even more Kroot. I will go off and revise my list now then reply when I have done it.

Ok guys how does this revised list look to you?


<pre> HQ Master Shaper 38 Meltagun 23 Power Weapon 15 Hyperactive Nymune Organ 2 Kroothawk Totem 25 (reroll 1st turn) Total 103 Anghkor Prok Special Character 75 Total 178 Troops 9 Kroot + 1 Shaper 93 Eviscerator 25 9 Kroot + 1 Shaper 93 Eviscerator 25 Total 236 (both squads) Fast Attack 9 Kroot + 1 Shaper 93 16 Kroot Hounds 96 Eviscerator 25 Auspex 2 Hyperactive Nymune Organ 20 Surefoot Charm 10 (roll 2 dice and pick highest for Fleet of Foot) Blood of the Stalker 20 (may deploy D6? closer when infiltrating) Total 266 Heavy Support 6 Hunter + 1 Shaper 69 Auspex 2 Total 71 Krootox Squad 3 Krootox 150 9 Kroot + 1 Shaper 93 Storm Bolter 5 Total 248 Total Points 999 </pre>

The list looks much better. I'm half tempted to tell you to drop the Storm Bolter on the Krootox squad Shaper and get more Auspexes, but that all depends on the number of Infiltrating units played in your area.

Your next move will be to get more Kroot painted and swap out the Krootoxen squad. You'll also want to look at getting more hounds as they're (I think) the best unit the KMA has - they will give your army the mobility it needs to engage the enemy. If you're cringing at the sticker price of buying the hounds, look at doing some conversions using the Carnivore bodies and the arms of 'gaunts or Genestealers.

I may drop the Storm Bolter too as I do not really need to spend the points on it as I do not want the Krootox squad to ever be doing anything except long range attacks. I may also keep the Eviscerator on my Master Shaper because if he is going into CC all the time with the Hound squad then he will have 4 power fist attacks, thats if anyone else is left alive from all the hound and kroot attacks on the charge first. As for the hounds I have found a great supplier of them on ebay and can get myself 12 for $30 US delivered.

Here is why an eviscerator on a master shaper is a BAD idea:

As an independent character, the master shaper counts as his own unit in an assault.  This means, in order to get his attacks he has to be in base contact with an enemy model at his initiative step, which would be one.  The master shaper does not have the profile necessary to assault by himself, so he is always attached to another unit.  You'll be able to get maybe 2 models in base contact with the master shaper if you're lucky.  Since he has to be within 2" coherency of other models in your unit, then those 2 enemy models he is touching will be viable casualties for the rest of your unit.  Any intelligent opponent will remove those two models first when your initiative 4 hounds and initiative 3 Kroot make their attacks, and your master shaper will get zero attacks.  Plus, you're already paying points to increase his initiative to 4.

Here is why kroothounds are a GOOD idea:

They're 6 points per model and get fleet for free (when purchased by the Kroot).  They remove the need for fast reflexes as your signature evolutionary adaptation.  Fast reflexes is only needed against initative 4 armies (space marines, mainly).  When you fight space marines in close combat, your hounds will strike simultaneously with the marines.  Any casualties you take will be on the hounds, so then your initative 3 Kroot will all get their attacks as well.  Since hound packs should be 2:1 hounds:Kroot, then your majority initative will be 4 when it comes to sweeping advances.  This frees up another adaptation for your army (if you really want one).

Since you mentioned you have krootox because you don't want to paint a lot of models, I would suggest taking ork hybrid as your adaptation.  It is 2 points per model, so will make it easier for you to paint a 1000 point army, plus it is useful regardless of who you play.  Now your shapers can't be instant-killed by plasma, a huge bonus!  I strongly suggest this instead of the krootox herd.

- Oaka

Thanks again Oaka. As far as my master Shaper goes he has Iniative 4 from the get go and I have had to pay no more points for this, I currently only have 700 points of Kroot in my army and it is my hound squad that is not completed yet. Last night I played 3 games at 700 points and used my shaper with and eviscerator and 2 hounds. He destroyed a Chimera and Leman Russ in my first game and then a Vindicator and Whirlwind in my second game, so I think the eviscerator is great. As for my Krootox they really are rubbish and a waste of 150 points, so I need to come up with something else to replace them I think, maybe Vulture kindred or Headhunters, I am not really sure.

where can I find the rules for Angkhor Prok?