Ynarri First ImpressionsHey guys... so I was gonna hit you guys with another bat-rep... but because the game was so short... I just want to give you my general first impressions of using the Ynarri Warhost... First up here are the lists:
Autarch- Lance, Fusion Gun, Mask, Jetbike
Farseer
Shadow Seer- ML 2
Jetbikes x3- Scatter Lasers x3
Jetbikes x3- Scatter Lasers x3
Reavers x3- Blaster, Caltrops
Reavers x3- Blaster, Caltrops
Reapers x6- Wave Serpent, Holofields, Bright Lances, Shuriken Cannon
-Aspect Host-
Shining Spears x4- Exarch, Lance
Scorpions x10- Exarch, Claw
Scorpions x10- Exarch, Claw
Company Command Squad- 3x Plasma
Veterans 3x Plasma, Vox
Veterans 3x Plasma, Vox
Veterans 3x Plasma, Vox- Chimera- x2 Heavy Flamers
Sentinels x2- Lascannons
Wyvern
Vanquisher- Multimeltas x2, Lascannon
Primaris Psyker x3
So let me basically sum it up... and offer some thoughts. Here is what the battlefield looked like... and the early first engagements.
I got first turn, and infiltrated my Scorpions super aggressively but firmly out of LOS hugging the flanks. I then proceeded to get seized on and my freshly painted Reavers got a bit pummeled... losing an entire squad and a Scatter Laser Jetbike. However... I used that to Soulburst my surviving lone Reavers up the field... inches away from combat allowing for a Turn 1 assault! Although I lost one of the 2 remaining guys I still won assault and ran down an entire Veteran squad.
I held my Scorpions for a turn... I took very little return fire in the ensuing turn and turn 2 when my Shining Spears + Autarch they pounced as one. My Autarch led the beta-strike charge using his fusion gun to blow up a Chimera full of Veterans... I then used Soulburst to move the nearby Scorpions a second time allowing a multi-charge against the Guardsmen and the Leman Russ. While the Russ survived the Veterans got annihlated... but what was so great about that was not the carnage... but the distance moved. I got a 5" move through ruins, then I got a 6" Soulburst to get into combat with both the Russ and Vets... this was the kind of thing I was hoping to pull off... and I did. Scorpions are fantastic for getting that all important Turn 2 combat so I love the idea of taking two units of them... each on opposite flanks... combo'd with an Autarch + Shining Spears outflanking... so regardless of where the Spears come on... the Scorpions have anti-tank support that can hopefully trigger a Soulburst to get them right where they need to go. Then should they wipe out a unit in combat... they should lend the Spears a Soulburst... which is how that turn of combat ended for the Scorpions. So overall... very impressed by that combo.
Meanwhile I was using my Shadowseer to use Veil of Tears on my Dark Repers... allowing them to go untouched throughout the game... yet they didn't do much because my brother was rolling 5+ cover saves like a damn boss... and we only went 3 turns.
While I didn't rack up TONS of damage... my board control was brutal... my Scorpions were just tearing a swath across the board... and I had lost very little in return.
While the game wasn't very competitive... the thing I wanted to test most proved to be a success. Using Soulbursts to catapult assault units towards choice targets works really well... even in this bad setup where we had Hammer and Anvil. Its very easy to put together a list where you dont feel the sting of losing Battle Focus.
It was huge confirmation of just how effective Ynarri assault can be... however you have to rock threat overload to get it to work. If you are rocking just one unit of assault... because they are to easy to isolate and destroy.
So biggest takeaway... Soulbursts give an immense boost to Eldar assault. It gives them the ability to get just where they need to be. Spears, Reavers, Scorpions with Autarch coordinating Reserves really gives this army a ton of control. I really enjoyed playing this list and plan on doing so again. I want to get another unit of bikes and convert up 8 more Spears...
Also for fans of my brother... He's going to be running FAR more competitive lists from here on out. Both his Imperial Knight and his flyers (Vendetta and Vulture) will be occupying permanent places in his army from now on. Also he wants me to mention he's dedicated to making IG work without allies. Why he wont use his Space Marines is beyond me... but he insists I write this
Anyways guys... this is just a preview of the discussion I'll be having with Brian and Thor on
Splintermind which we'll be recording this weekend. I hope you guys tune in and have a listen when its up. I'll be sure to mention it when it drops.
Anyway I hope you enjoyed the update. I'll have some hobby progress stuff soon... 3 of the Reavers have their basic highlights done... and the Triumvirate of the Imperium is almost finished. Dang what a slog painting those minis has been... but they look cool. Alright guys talk soon... hopefully with my FW order in hand!!!!!!!!