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I am looking for a viable (meaning decently playable) list with strong focus on the hobby/modelling. Painting models I enjoy is the first draw to Everblight but I would like to have some fun playing with them too! The following list therefore takes into account my favorite models, I'm really trying to squeeze in an archangel, if I can't do it at 35 then I will at 50 points. I am aware the rules are snuffed at for the Archangel but I can't pass on the looks!

Absylonia
Throne of Everblight
Archangel

And the remaining points I am looking at either

Carnivean
Scythean + Forsaken
Ravagore + Sheperd

Questions:

1- Can Absylonia run without forsaken or sheperds with 2 warbeasts each generating 4 fury? I figure Scythean and forsaken are easier on fury management than a Carnivean but the Carnivean's animus is much more appealing...

2- Is it absolute suicide or terribly wrong to fit an Archangel in a 35pts list?

3- If you had to make a 35pts list and were forced to use Absylonia + Archangel+ Throne of Everblight, what would you spend the remaining 11 points on?

Thanks for your input!

You really are going to want forsaken or sheperds with that much fury generation. And it really is a crime to let a Gargantuan Frenzy.

The Throne is out of place. I'd swap it for a unit and a sheperd or forsaken as points allow.


pThagrosh is the best caster to run an Archangel really because his Feat brings it back(as of latest Infernal ruling)

My greatest concern is that you have only Absylonia with a melee magical weapon.
If you go against Menoth, that will be a huge pain, same with Cryx Pistol Wraiths.

That list doesn't have a way to really help the AA's survival at all... Thats a problem, because unlike pThags who can bring it back, Abby relies on it to survive an assault to survive, and its animus alone is not going to do it.

Forced Evo will up its def, but you also need tenacity to put it into DEF 14, ARM 19 to make it more durable. Unfortunately that is not always enough. You could go the Spiny Growth route and have DEF 13, ARM 20, which isn't terrible, but again, might not be enough.

I feel the Throne is a waste in this list mostly because she can't upkeep on it for free and you need more fury on the board. Her 12" control range is rather uninspiring also, so Sheps can help extend forcing range in a pinch. Also, the lack of magic attacks can be an issue.

I'd do my list like this if I were including the AA:

Abby +5
AA 20
Scythean 9
Naga 5
Shredder 2
x2 Shepherds 2
Deathstalker 2

This gives you enough range to put some pressure on their lines, puts the AA up to DEF 14/ARM 19 with a Scythean to threaten what comes in. The naga ups the dmg output for your beasts and provides magic attacks. Shredder is tenaciy battery and transfer target.

Shepherds heal/condition and extend forcing range. One camps close to AA, other by the Naga or Shredder depending on where you want to remove fury.

Deathstalker is a problem solver. Hunts down annoying elements like Choir and removed infintry applying further ranged pressure.

I thought pThagrosh was to be errata'd to specify you can't reanimate a dead Gargantuan... Are we confident this trick is there to stay?

Hmm, very interesting Hivemind66. I like this balanced approach with more range. For a Melee backup to the Archangel, why did you pick the Scythean? Would a Carnivean not better serve the purpose? Or is it that a Scythean does enough and affords 2 more points to buy a Deathstalker?

Thanks for the input!

They reversed their previous ruling, for now.

The Carni and the Scythean are very comparable in Damage output and has the Takedown Animus which helps RFP pesky tough models and helps prevent soul/corpse collection and feats like eGaspy, which with the AA's consume synergizes well. The Carni is really there for Spiny Growth, which is good on the AA, but I feel DEF 14/ARM 19 will serve you better. Also the Scythean with Carnivore and its inherent reach is a long reaching very accurate wrecking ball. Playing God can make the Carni very nice and a viable choice, if you want to drop the DS for it.

I still feel Tenacity and Forced EVo is better used on an Angel (No KD DEF 17!), but that doesn't mix well with the AA because you don't have the pts to run AA, Carni, Angel, Shredder at 35.

*EDIT* GAH! I keep adding crap. If the Naga feels out of place, you could swap that out for the Black Frost Shard to get an offensive debuff/dmg buff. A 4 DEF swing with +2 dmg is a big deal, especially in the Gargossal meta. Unfortunately, it will prove difficult keeping them well hidden on the approach which is why I feel the Naga is a better choice most of the time, but feel free to try it out and see what you like.

The Scythean also has its psuedo-thresher to consider. On a reach model thats quite powerful.

Thank you guys, very interesting. How would this Angelius variant compare to the first?

First list (per hivemind66)
Absylonia
Archangel
Scythean
Shredder
Naga
2x Shepherd
Deathstalker

vs

Absylonia
Archangel
Scythean
Angelius
Shredder

I feel the first list might provide more tactical options...

Alternatively, if I were to use pThagrosh for his feat , what could an AA list look like at 35?

pThagrosh
Archangel
...?

The first list is better because of the Sheperds.

pThagrosh +5
Archangel 20
Carnivean 11

Max Legos 6
Spawning Vessel 3

OR The Throne 9

Thags can handle the fury of those two beasties. Legos + Vessel is a great attrition piece screen that can also spawn lessers. I'd recommend dropping a shredder first for backup tenacity in case Carni goes down.

Since he can cast an animus once for free, he can put SG on both heavies and himself, and if the Carni wants it can put it on one for him depending on if you need the fury. Thats ARM 22 with a Huge base to block LOS Its good times. You could also swap the Legos+Pot out for the Throne which isn't too shabby either. Beefier than the Legos but doesn't spawn lessers.

Both the Aby and PThag seem interesting. Which of the 2 lists would be a better all-comer list?

Absylonia
Archangel
Scythean
Shredder
Naga
2x Shepherd
Deathstalker

or

pThagrosh +5
Archangel 20
Carnivean 11
Throne of Ev. 9

Thanks again for your input!

They both suffer from Purification casters, which are very common. pThags attritions better, and has higher ARM which can skew lists at that level especially with his feat. Abby's feat is easier to ignore by removing the model in one turn. She does not protect the AA as well as pThags does, and pThags can now bring it back with the feat...

I would go for pThags as he's a better caster overall, and the STR debuff still works and isn't a problem against purification. His dmg buff can be cycled so thats really good, and he's a baller who can handle it in melee late game. The Throne is very Tilting at ARM 23 @ lower point levels.