Defensive Formation: The Onion
Entry posted by Mayple
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Defensive Formation:
"THE ONION"
Named after the multiple layers it uses.
When to use:
When you know you're going to be hit hard by an aggressive army, preferably one that wants to punch you in the face, since shooting armies have ways to circumvent your outer layers entirely. Notable examples: Ironjawz, Beastclaw Raiders, Bloodbound, and armies with similar playstyles. Mind that it is potentially dangerous to do this versus an Ironjawz army, as their Megaboss on Mawcrusha can chain-charge through your outer layers. In such a matchup, ensure that your outer layers are not weak enough to be wiped out entirely by the mortal wound output of a Mawcrusha charge.
What you need:
- Several smaller, low-value units (2-3, depending on how many layers, or how wide you want to go)
- At least one big bubblewrapping unit (This usually means a unit of 40, but there can be exceptions. This is your "wall")
How it works:
By using multiple layers of small, low-value units as seen above, you're able to keep an enemy at bay for several turns. This serves both as a stalling maneuver, and as a highly defensive one. The opponent can only charge during their own turn, which limits them to 5 charges during the entire course of the game. If you can force them to charge something with little to no value to you, you've essentially robbed them of 1/5th of an incredibly valuable resource. It is imperative that you keep the separate units safely outside of 3" of each-other. Should the opponent be able to pile in past a unit onto the next, you lose the advantage.
If, for some reason, a layer of your onion should survive until your next turn, simply retreat it backwards past the layer behind it, and continue the process until you reach your main bubblewrapping unit. Then, bubblewrap your bubblewrap, and use the opponent's charge as an opportunity to pile-in your 40-man unit with little to no damage in return, piling in your layer-bubblewraps first, then removing casualties in such a manner to make room for your 40-man unit to pile in properly afterwards. You can do this with more valuable elite units as well, since they usually lose quite a bit of their edge if they are hit first. By utilising a layer in this manner, you can ensure that the damage done to you is minimal, and the damage you do in return is maximized.
What can an opponent do:
An opponent can work around your onion formation with in a number of ways. Do not expect them to play according to your plans, and always be ready to adapt your formation should the need arise. That being said, should the opponent play into your hands and attack the onion head on, then do not stray from the strategy. Any fight done on your terms is a fight in your favor. Among some of the things that can be done to work around the onion formation is the following:
- Shooting the outer layers: Can work in your favor if the opponent have to focus a lot of his shooting on your outer layers to open them up, but with good shooting, he should be able to open up gaps, if not outright remove some of the layers entirely. Be smart about what models you remove to ensure you can retain a blockade as long as possible. Even a single well-placed model can be a wrench in your opponent's attempts to charge things beyond it.
- Magic: Definitely works in your favor. Any spells used on your outer layers are spells not hurled at your far more valuable units. Otherwise, it serves the same principles as shooting
- Flying, teleporting, double pile-ins, extreme mobility etc: Many of these can be worked around, but are all something you have to consider when you place your outer layers. Flying units will love big gaps between each layer, while units with pile-in tricks, or large number of units hurled at the same unit, will take full advantage of smaller gaps, by potentially piling past a destroyed outer layer onto the next.
- Alpha/Deep Striking: I will cover this in another entry, but if you are in a position to utilize the onion formation to begin with, you should also have the tools to prevent an alpha/deep strike from hitting anything but an outer layer. Simply alter the form of your formation on demand, and deny your opponent the ability to teleport in behind you (have at least one unit within 9" of either corner, as those are the easiest spots to teleport to) - or, alternatively, build your formation in a more circular manner, to deny even a flank or rear charge.
Summary:
If utilized correctly, and your flanks are protected (by more layers, perhaps) - then the onion formation should serve well as a defensive maneuver. While it does work offensively as well, it's best used in situations where you don't want to charge anything, and simply want to stall an enemy unit, or large force, for several turns without throwing big resources at it. A good rule of thumb here is to never, ever, charge first. Always let the opponent come to you, while utilizing the rest of the board in such a manner that you decide the overal flow of the game. Force their hand. Be proactive, not reactive. While you want to be defensive, don't be afraid to move aggressively. For example, walk up and layer up in front of an opponent's force, and dare him to charge you - if you do it correctly, and he takes the bait, you've succesfully wasted his time.
Got any input? Or think I'm horribly horribly wrong? Feel free to let me know! 
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