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Which unit out of the 2 are more value for their points? I'm leaning towards scarbrand cause he doesn't degrade the same as a thirster. But if you choose a thirster what kind is the most competitive?

ballzonya wrote:
Which unit out of the 2 are more value for their points? I'm leaning towards scarbrand cause he doesn't degrade the same as a thirster. But if you choose a thirster what kind is the most competitive?

I am not a very experienced player, so others will be able to give a far more accurate opinion, but i have watched a lot of games and I've never once seen a bloodthirster do anything other than fail miserably. The degrading stats are just so punitive, more so than most things with degrading stats. Pretty sad for something that's supposed to be one of the most deadly close combat beasts in the entire 40k universe.
I'd suggest Scarbrand.

It depends on how your running your list.

The bloodthirster with the 6+++ warlord trait from the codex and 4++ relic armor is pretty nasty, but will also draw a lot of fire.

Skarbrand costs more, hits harder, but is a little slower. However he makes eveyone around him ignore moral, that could be huge. Especially if your playing with units that would normally run away quickly (commisar skarbrand says dont you think of running away cultist skum!).

Myself when i run one i run the bloodthirster. But again the list matters as well.

As mentioned already you can make a semi resilient thirst with the trait and relic, I like the big axe version as he does massive damage but can thwack horse when needed as well. If you haven't already got him in your list the khorne prince with relic axe is amazing

Competitively, Skarbrand, but only if you deep strike him.

Skarbrand and 2-3 units of 20-30 bloodletters in reserve is a nasty nasty bomb that can really wreck a lot of enemies. Pure khorne detachment to maximise the chance that Skarbrand will hit combat (and banners for the BLoodletters).

Thirsters are just too comparatively fragile. Think about it: most competitive armies are geared up to be able to kill a knight, thats T8 24W 4++, in one turn. A 4++ bloodthirster takes about half that effort - and it doesn't even need to be wiped out as, as you point out, the degrading profile is so horrendous that it may as well be out of the game.

yeah Skarbrand seems to be the go to, then fill out with daemon princes

Why don't they make Blood Thirsters 9 wounds and all damage they receive is halved?

 Elfric wrote:
Why don't they make Blood Thirsters 9 wounds and all damage they receive is halved?

Because then they'd be too good.

It'd also be quite silly to have something that size not be able to be targeted-hell, Daemon Princes and Guilliman are already a little silly!

I think GW could amend the frail nature of greater daemons and simultaneously buffing buff mono-god armies by giving mono-detachments an ability similar to Unquestioning Loyalty.

It could be even more fluffy if they made it 7+ but gave it +1 bonus for 10 <god> models within 10’’ up to 4+. Similar to ork weirdboyz bonus to cast.
So you’d wrap GD with 30+ lesser daemons and give GD another layer of protection.

Could be nice special detachments...