Skip to main content

Let's Talk About: House Shyeel Arcanists

I wanted to do a series of short posts on some specific units/models in the faction to see how, when, and why other players were using them.  I thought I would start with a unit I want to love but never really manage to get on the table: House Shyeel Arcanists.

Quick Breakdown

spd 6 str 6 Mat 5 Rat 5 Def 13 Arm 12 Cmd 6 - 7 points for 3 models

MA 5 - Empower, Force Strike (rng 8 pow 12 crit: Knock Down)
Force Barrier
Repair (d3+1)


With that out of the way one of the biggest problems I have with them is they just aren't available.  Only being available in Forges really cuts into their play as does the cost of additional support.  They don't really replace the arcanist solo as they lack concentrated power so you are immediately looking at 9-11 points minimum on support pieces if you include them.


The other issue I have with them is the low quality of their attack.  Rng 8 pow 12 attacks on a support unit are decent enough but MA 5 makes it pretty iffy to ever actually use.  I think they compare somewhat poorly to the other recently mechanic units.  Both Trencher mechaniks and Iron Mongers are cheaper and have a 6 on their primary attack ability.  Trencher mechaniks are probably not as valuable as the arcanists as they lack much of anything beyond repair.  Iron mongers however are mat 6 ps 12 with weaponmaster against constructs, have an excellent passive in curse, and 5 boxes each...for 6 points.

If they were available in Defenders or Legions I think I could build some more lists with them.  They would be interesting in a legions list that is looking to take advantage of the Jack Marshal benefit as getting focus onto those jacks is pretty powerful.  Trying to actually use the bonus is probably a trap if you are intending to play at the high end of competitive level but those lists are at least fun and interesting.  They would count toward a free slot in Defenders and I've been running a lot of Helios lists that would benefit from repair and the focus without being super concerned about concentrated power.

Right now they just don't see table for me - mostly because I don't play much Forges, but I can't help but think that even in other themes they would be a very niche choice just based on high cost for what is primarily a support piece that is mostly an add-on rather than a replacement for the solo mechaniks. 

Is anyone else getting them on the table in a list they like? 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

So in the post ATC discussions about Ret a lot of interesting points were brought up so I decided to sit down and attempt to do a write up of my thoughts regarding the current state Ret in a competitive sense. I should note that this might get a little long and my goal isn’t to stir up a big salt storm or anything. For some background I enjoy playing Ret even though I think it suffers from some substantial issues. There are a lot of elements of the faction that I enjoy and I am not shelving the faction or anything like that. I’m also going to try to focus my thoughts on the idea that a “competitive sense” means bringing Ret to a major event (team or solo) with a focus on making it to the second day with a serious idea of winning the overall event. I don’t intend to play down local events or anything but I think there is such a variance in local metas and individual skill levels that it makes sense to focus this discussion on being successful in the latter parts of bigger events wh...
Post a Comment
Read more

Destors in depth

Destors are a big enough block of rules to deserve a more detailed look.  As a unit they are probably too obtuse and rules dense but once played the interactions aren't actually that complicated. Lets start by just going through the models base stats.  Destors actually have a very solid basic stat line.  Most of their stats fall along the middle line of cavalry models with good speed, defense, armor, decent numbers in both attack stats, and 5 boxes.  Being cavalry they also benefit from having the option of making impact attacks and getting boosted charge attack rolls. Impact attacks are going to lead us directly into our first rules interaction.  Destors have quick work allowing them to make a basic ranged attack when they destroy an enemy model during their combat action.   The underlined part is important as impact attacks do not occur during their combat action and thus do not  trigger quick work. That leaves us two options for actu...
Post a Comment
Read more

I'm Back?

 So it's been a couple of years since I've played but like many other players the broad scale update has me interested. The handful of games I've gotten in have definitely been enough to whet my appetite for more. I'm hoping to use this space to continue spotlighting specific models and combos as well as the occasional battle report.  It will probably take some time for a broad tournament meta to sort out with this level of changes and it will likely be shaken up again when the Orgoth faction is released so these might need updates relatively soon. I also just finished a local steamroller with the new and, in my opinion, dramatically improved Kaelyssa so I'll almost certainly be starting with some thoughts on her changes.
Post a Comment
Read more