VLoZD - Lance vs Sword

[Liquidsteel]

As per the title, I thought I would raise the age old question - Lance vs Sword on a VLoZD.

In LoN, it was generally considered better to run the Sword for consistent damage, with Lance only if you needed extra punch on the charge.

Whilst the non-charging profiles are the same as before, the Lance has received a hefty buff on the charge, gaining an additional point of rend as well as 2 additional damage, up from 1.

 

Sword - 4 Attacks / 3+ / 3+ / -1 / D3

Lance (Regular) - 3 Attacks / 3+ / 3+ / -1 / 2 

Lance (Charge) - 3 Attacks / 3+ / 3+ / -2 / 4

Vhordrai (Charge) - 3 Attacks / 3+ / 3+ / -3 / 4

 

Vhordrai added for fun, however it seems to me that the extra punch on the Lance makes it a no brainer now. The small amount you give up on non-buffed combats is more than made up for on those occasions that you charge.

Things to consider are running a VLoZD alongside Vhordrai, where you fight in the Hero phase and thus Sword could be better, as well as the D3 extra attacks on the charge artefact in Vyrkos, "Sangysron", which obviously favours a Lance.

What are your thoughts on this? What will you be running?

Edited May 17, 2021 by Liquidsteel

[Neil Arthur Hotep]

I'll probably run lance. Here are some stats:

Save	Sword	Lance on charge	Lance
2+	1.19	2.67	0.89
3+	1.78	3.56	1.33
4+	2.37	4.44	1.78
5+	2.96	5.33	2.22
6+	3.56	5.33	2.67
-	3.56	5.33	2.67

 

Lance on charge is a bigger damage gain than lance normally is a damage loss. Plus, frontloaded damage is more valuable than sustained damage.

Here are the stats over two rounds, assuming one charge and one normal for lance:

Save	Sword two rounds	Lance two rounds
2+	2.37	3.56
3+	3.56	4.89
4+	4.74	6.22
5+	5.93	7.56
6+	7.11	8
-	7.11	8

 

The lance barely wins out. To me, it's the overall better choice.

[RocketPropelledGrenade]

I'll probably be running a sword, but mostly for modeling reasons. I think the lance is the better option mechanically.

[Televiper11]

Both!

[Raptor_Jesues]

lance is def the best option damage whise, try not to get stuck in combat for too long. 

[Neil Arthur Hotep]

48 minutes ago, Raptor_Jesues said:

lance is def the best option damage whise, try not to get stuck in combat for too long. 

Just remember ABC: Always be charging.

That's why the VloZD lost his Chalice of Blood. You don't get blood. Blood is for chargers.

[Raptor_Jesues]

12 minutes ago, Neil Arthur Hotep said:

Just remember ABC: Always be charging.

That's why the VloZD lost his Chalice of Blood. You don't get blood. Blood is for chargers.

Prince V: "you will get your blood chalice back when you learn to charge properly"

[KK9T]

I only have one Vlozd model right now and I’m wondering if I should run it as Vordrai or vlozd as general alongside Neferata. Any thoughts? 

[Raptor_Jesues]

1 hour ago, KK9T said:

I only have one Vlozd model right now and I’m wondering if I should run it as Vordrai or vlozd as general alongside Neferata. Any thoughts? 

in LoB a VLoZD with soulbound garnment and either aura of dark majesty or sanguine blur along with neferata is kinda of a must have

Edited May 28, 2021 by Raptor_Jesues

[KK9T]

On 5/28/2021 at 1:04 PM, Raptor_Jesues said:

in LoB a VLoZD with soulbound garnment and either aura of dark majesty or sanguine blur along with neferata is kinda of a must have

That sounds good because then you get both as General. What if I wanted to run Kastelai?

[Raptor_Jesues]

12 hours ago, KK9T said:

That sounds good because then you get both as General. What if I wanted to run Kastelai?

then vhordrai is pretty much always better

 

[RocketPropelledGrenade]

Just finished construction on my VloZD last night. Considered several conversion options for a more attractive slance, but ultimately went with the sword  for two reasons:

--It looks really good. I would regret not having it on the model every time I looked at it.

--There's no guarantee the lance will stay as far ahead of the sword, or even ahead at all, the next time rules roll around. Second potential point of regret. And if the lance pulls even further ahead instead? I still have the super cool looking sword instead of that goofy lance.

 

As a side note, one of the things I considered was a halberd from the relevant Chaos Warrior Upgrade Pack on the GW webstore, which I think would have been pretty cool, if anyone else wants ideas.

[Liquidsteel]

Can always model it so the lance is stuck in an enemy on the ground. And you pick which is best for the game.

[Neil Arthur Hotep]

1 hour ago, Liquidsteel said:

Can always model it so the lance is stuck in an enemy on the ground. And you pick which is best for the game.

Or give the guy a Rageblade or Sangsyron and say that you modelled the artefact, but want to use the lance profile.

[Raptor_Jesues]

2 hours ago, RocketPropelledGrenade said:

Just finished construction on my VloZD last night. Considered several conversion options for a more attractive slance, but ultimately went with the sword  for two reasons:

--It looks really good. I would regret not having it on the model every time I looked at it.

--There's no guarantee the lance will stay as far ahead of the sword, or even ahead at all, the next time rules roll around. Second potential point of regret. And if the lance pulls even further ahead instead? I still have the super cool looking sword instead of that goofy lance.

 

As a side note, one of the things I considered was a halberd from the relevant Chaos Warrior Upgrade Pack on the GW webstore, which I think would have been pretty cool, if anyone else wants ideas.

just proxy the weapon, who cares. Just be sure to tell your loadout to the opponent beforehand

[TechnoVampire]

What do people think about Lance vs sword if using flaming weapon generic spell lore on VLOZD… I’m also thinking of running him alongside Vhordrai so will be using Vhordrias CA to allow VLOZD to pile in and attack twice during the hero phase? (A bit more niche and situational but what do people think in this scenario?) 

Edited July 28, 2021 by TechnoVampire

[JackStreicher]

On 5/18/2021 at 3:19 AM, RocketPropelledGrenade said:

I'll probably be running a sword, but mostly for modeling reasons. I think the lance is the better option mechanically.

I always build the Lance. The sword is such a magnificent failure in terms of molding that all of my Zombie Dragon boxes arrived with the sword, still on the sprue, already having white bend-marks and even first hair thin cracks. They usually break the first time when clipping them out of the sprue... the Second Time when you look at it too hard. And the third time when you try to assemble the model. 🥲