Deathrattle....talk to me!

[Dracothjay]

So, as of christmas i plan on starting my death project. I've chosen death as it's something out of the blue and a complete change to my stormcast eternals, although i LOVE my Storm bro's.

I have my eye on Deathrattle. I love the theme, look and synergy capabilities of this sub faction. I'm wondering if they are any good as a stand alone army? I do want my VLoZD to be my center piece with maybe a wight king or 2 thrown in. If i wanted to pursue this route, where's best to start and what synergies should i want within  the deathrattle?

[Undead4Life]

I recommend a core block of 40 spear/shield skeletons. Synergised correctly their damage potential is great! I'd then go with 2x10 sword/shield skeletons to fill out battleline. These can be objective holders and chaff.

If you have the option and inclination, Settra the Imperishable is nigh-on borken. He buffs so much of your army and is particularly beneficial to Deathrattle units. Hard models to find, unfortunately.

What models catch your eye the most? I don't have experience with Black Knights but consensus seems to be that they are a mobile tarpit with middling damage output. In contrast, Nexropolis Knights are hard-hitting but I'd be wary of only having three in a unit; seems just a little too fragile.

[Razorfate]

A good tactica for the necropolis knights: 

http://www.thatsnomoon.info/blog/tactica-necropolis-knights

You can also use necromancer and lich priest to buff them.

[Dracothjay]

2 hours ago, Undead4Life said:

What models catch your eye the most

The VLoZD, Wight King and grave guard. Ofcourse, GG are expensive so it's probable better to go with 40 normal skellies, but i would love to field a nice block of GG.

I love how killy the VLoZD is, but i think maybe the wight king might be better as general? I'd probable just unleash the VLoZD as a stand alone hunter and support smaller units.

[Dracothjay]

A list i wrote looks like this:

 

Wight King with baleful tomb blade -  General

Wight King with Black Axe

Necromancer - for the pile in twice on my 40 skellies - OR - VLoZD

 

10 Skeletons - Sword and Shield

10 Skeletons - Sword and Shield

40 Skeletons - Spear and Shield

5 Black Knights

15 Grave Guard - Great Wight Blades

10 Grave Guard - Great Wight Blades

5 Blood Knights

1 Terrorgheist (remove this if i wanted to field my VLoZD)

Legion of Death

With this synergy as it stands, the 40 block of skeletons are on 4 attacks each and have their 2'' reach, which means that's a whole load of attacks pouring out each combat phase, buffed by the Wight King with baleful tomb blade and the +2 attacks for being over 30 models.

the other small units of normal skeletons can capture and hold objectives.

Grave Guard to march close to the big block of skeletons and add support and defend the flanks.

2nd Wight King is there to add some killing potential and a bodyguard for the Wight King general.

my VLoZD or terrorgheist cowboy solo's the board and takes out threatening units.

Black Knights to chaff units.

Blood Knights to either support other units or crush weaker, smaller units. 

The legion battallion allows me to get closer to the enemy or objectives quicker due to its benefits, which is sooooo helpful as i mainly have a infantry based army.

So, this list has 2 possibilities for removal. I could remove the Necromancer and Terrorgheist to fit my VLoZD in, which would put me at 2000 points exactly. However, i do like the fact the necromancer can allow a unit to pile in twice and attack twice in one combat round. That's insane. But, my VLoZD adds so much killing potential it's unreal. 

I'm not interested in the summoning side of things, i prefer to manage what i have on the board.

I don't know what artefacts and traits to take yet. Must delve into the generals handbook.

 

Any views here?

[Bosmer Nightblade]

She says Terry what's that noise, I say that's my death rattle love, she says she's never seen one so big.

Thank you, much love, and goodnight.

[Malakithe]

I made up a similar Legion list. Went a little different thou since I had Arkhan and the VL/w flying. 10 BK to escort Arkhan. Minimum skellies, and a block of 25 GG to be the main hitter. GG would get buffed from the King and Necro. After that Arkhan would be summoning stuff to fill in the gaps

[Dracothjay]

I was thinking of minimal BATTLELINE skeletons and going big on the grave guard. Although skeletons are cheaper, is this viable with graveguard?

[CoffeeGrunt]

Grave Guard are quite squishy, and ultimately you're going to need something to Hold The Line. Grave Guard want to be chopping stuff up, and a single unit of 10 Skeletons does not a safe objective make. Personal preference here, but Skeleton Warriors are a decent Battleline if properly supported.

[WillofNagash]

25GG = 50 skeletons in points

In my opinion...

40 skeletons > 25 GG

Even 30 Skel > 25 GG is better if the skeletons attack first...

The only thing that sucks is moving them around to board

[Dracothjay]

What would be a sensible sized unit of grave guard if your BATTLELINE is all skellies?

also, is it wise to have all 3 BATTLELINE units skeletons? If so, would all 3 units consist of 40 skeletons? I'd like one unit of 40 and 2 units of 10. Allowing me to save points for other units.

[TerrorPenguin]

13 minutes ago, Dracothjay said:

What would be a sensible sized unit of grave guard if your BATTLELINE is all skellies?

also, is it wise to have all 3 BATTLELINE units skeletons? If so, would all 3 units consist of 40 skeletons? I'd like one unit of 40 and 2 units of 10. Allowing me to save points for other units.

Yeah, one block of 40 and two of ten is a good way to do it. I don't have any experience with grave guard. 

Just be careful how you use the skellies depending on the scenario. The wight king with infernal standard and tomb blade can make them incredibly survivable (their save roll, plus the standards save roll, plus the  deathless minions save, then regenerating d6 per hero phase.

But they can only cap one objective (or none depending on the scenario) your opponent could sometimes viably just ignore them. Like the black knights they are a war of attrition and you hope that you've bogged down enough for enough turns that you can claim objectives around them. Unlike the black knights they move so slowly that if they are out of position it's difficult to make them threatening again.

I like master of the black arts on a liche king to give him mystic shield to put on the skeletons for a bit more survivability.

[sal4m4nd3r]

19 hours ago, WillofNagash said:

 

The only thing that sucks is moving them around to board

Thats why you dont rely on moving infantry around the board and proper placement during deployment is critical to having success in game. You cant just drop units and expect to be able to "move across or around the board" and expect to have success. if your slow moving units dont have a goal and arent deployed in full advantage to accomplishing that goal then they are a waste of points. Thats what fast moving, specialist units are for. And summoning. 

[Malakithe]

Death has plenty of good moving and flying units. 3×10 skellies is good enough. Send them to the objectives or as a screen. Heavy skelly combat is too reliant on squishy heroes. 

Range can come from summoning. Harbingers have crazy potential range when summoned.

[AlexanderHemedinger]

For funzies!

Leaders
Settra The Imperishable (360)
- General
Liche Priest (120)
Wight King with Baleful Tomb Blade (120)
- Artefact: Ring of Immortality
Necromancer (120)
- Artefact: Ring of Immortality

Units
Skeleton Warriors x 40 (320)
- Ancient Blades
Skeleton Warriors x 40 (320)
- Ancient Blades
Skeleton Warriors x 40 (320)
- Ancient Blades
Grave Guard x 5 (80)
- Wight Blades & Crypt Shields
Black Knights x 5 (120)

Behemoths

War Machines

Batallions
Deathrattle Horde (80)

Total: 1960/2000

 

It's sensitive with the heroes, and certainly can remove unit sizes to save points and make it more diverse.

[CoffeeGrunt]

Three suggestions:

- The Wight King doesn't really add much to the list as it is, but a Tomb King would give you an extra Command Ability due to Settra's rule, and also save you 20pts, giving you 60pts spare to work with for something,

- I'd give the 40-man squads spears. You'll get far more in combat that way, and with their innate +1 to Hit, additional +1 from Settra and a potential 3rd +1 from a Tomb King, they'd still Hit on 2s,

- I'd go to at least 10 Grave Guard, possibly 15 if you cut two Skeleton Warrior squads down by 10 each. 15 can slice and dice most things pretty tastily. 5 are just a minor annoyance,

[Razorfate]

The list above definetly needs some fast moving hard hitting objective grabbers. 3 x 40 skeletons is very cumbersome and slow. I'd add more black knights for this reason.
As coffeeGrunt explained, tomb king is a must and spears are more benefical in a 40 man strong skeleton unit.

[Hans]

I have a standard list that I play: cannot be said a deathrattle faction, but it's as follow:

wight King(infernal banner, ring of immortality, ruler of the night)

necromancer(Ring of immortality/curse book)

3x10 skele - sword n shield

1x5 black knight

1x20 grave guard (great wightblade)

legion of death

980 pts.

wight King buff attack and necromancer spell for 2x pile in on GG, as your main hitter.

formation allow better movement.

blackknight as chaff/obj stealer.

can be played friendly or as hard to crush.

3 layer save for necro, chance to not be slain by banner or revive by ring.

3 layer save for GG, main hitter block.

[WillofNagash]

On 14/11/2016 at 7:52 PM, sal4m4nd3r said:

Thats why you dont rely on moving infantry around the board and proper placement during deployment is critical to having success in game. You cant just drop units and expect to be able to "move across or around the board" and expect to have success. if your slow moving units dont have a goal and arent deployed in full advantage to accomplishing that goal then they are a waste of points. Thats what fast moving, specialist units are for. And summoning. 

I meant it sucks moving so many models. Takes a long time unless you play it sloppy and end up just pushing them in piles on the board when it's at a mates house.

[Hans]

Use tray for movement, unless your setup are in weird formation...

[sal4m4nd3r]

I play horde armies almost exclusively. The best way to do it is measure and move 3 or 4 dudes then put the tape measure down and start moving two at a time. I always move cautiously as to not move more then I should be even shorting myself a quarter inch on the "measured moves" just in case.