Topic: Shrikes vs. Warriors

[Hive Fleet Bahamut]

Now even though our swords and whips came late, I am glad to see them.  A tricky conversion that is a useful upgrade.  My question is this.  What are the benefits of each of these two, as I have used warriors many times to find they are just too slow to make use of those super killy swords.  They end up being shooty and my gaunts do devourers better.  Although they lose status as troops, cost more and drop to bolter bait save, are the Shrikes worthy of a look?  I use Genestealer heavy lists with the typical support.  Any suggestions or comparisons anyone has?

I might.just proxy them, I could see a combo gene strike with Fnp Shrikes being nasty.  Lashwhips make that lack of grenades on genes not an issue.  Also, wings and fleet keep them close right?

Anyone help me out here?

[Fealhach]

I was going to suggest drop podding them in, but then remembered the rules for deep striking and reserves would make it pointless for a specialised cc unit. 

I've tried to put Shrikes into a list but the cost of them seemed prohibitively expensive and gargoyles can do the same job. More or less.

[Master Bio-Titan BT]

I was going to suggest drop podding them in, but then remembered the rules for deep striking and reserves would make it pointless for a specialised cc unit. 

.........and/or the fact that models with wings can deepstrike anyway...........


Yes, they are expensive and it is imperative that you use a cheap screening unit of Gargoyles to grant them a better save.  I am pretty sure I wrote a tutorial/tactics on Gargoyles which includes a little ditty on Shrikes, maybe I did Shrikes as well, can't remember.

A few uses:

Synapse coverage:  Small unit, no upgrades, and simply providing an expanded Synapse range or for our Gargoyles and faster moving units.

Mobile Dakka:  Basic weaponry, providing synapse and shooting.  Should only use against GEq armies, not MEq.

CC goodiness:  CC biomorphs only, no shooting weaponry.  What weapons and biomorphs you use should be based on if fighting MEq or GEq.  Try to avoid putting too much into these guys as they quickly add up and quickly drop.  You should/must screen them with Gargoyles!!!!

Or, as fealhach mentioned, take a crap load of Gargoyles and get the same effect and also add the intimidation factor of having 3 units of 20 strong Gargoyles rushing the field!

Shrikes are just too damn expensive and fragile.

[GaleRazorwind]

Well, I really like Shrikes with LW/BS, ST, and TS. Yes, they are expensive, and fragile, but they tend to obliterate anything they touch short of TH/SS Termies. Here is my Flying Wing list for reference:

HQ1: Hive Tyrant with Old Adversary, two Twin-Linked Devourers, Adrenal Glands, Paroxysm, Leech Essence and Wings (295 Points)

Elites1: 2 Zoanthropes in a Mycetic Spore (120+40=160 Points)

Elites2: 2 Hive Guard (100 Points)
 
Elites3: 2 Hive Guard (100 Points)

Troops 1: 10 Termagants (50 Points)

Troops 2: 10 Termagants (50 Points)

Troops3: Tervigon with Scything Talons, Cluster Spines, Toxin Sacs, Adrenal Glands, and Catalyst (200 Points)

Fast Attack1: 14 Gargoyles with Toxin Sacs and Adrenal Glands (112 Points)

Fast Attack2: 6 Shrikes with Lash Whip/Bonesword, Scything Talons and Toxin Sacs (330 Points)

Fast Attack3: 9 Raveners with Rending Claws (315 Points)

Heavy Support1: 3 Biovores (135 Points)
 
Total: 1847 Points

Reserve the Termagants for late game objective holding, and make a Tyranid cover phalanx with Gargs in the front, then Shrikes with two Hive Guard on their flanks, then the Raveners, then the Tervigon and the Flyrant. If the enemy wants to stay away from you, fly forward as fast as you can and charge. If they want to come to you, castle up, wait for them to get close, then pounce on them.

[Autarch Fingolfin]

I LOVED shrikes when I ran them, and I always did.  I screened them with gargoyles and they always got to their prey, and they always wiped them out.  The multi-wounds are incredibly useful for survival as not too much in CC will insta-kill them.  Usually an opponent would be outright killed or left down to one model as I hoped they would be for surviving the coming ranged onslaught.  I would field them with BS/LW with toxin sacks and sometimes adrenal glands if I knew I was facing Necrons.  That way we would at least go at the same time against wraiths and get re-rolls against lychguard.

[Hive Fleet Bahamut]

I have a feeling the general idea seems to be GARGOYLES are essential for screening flying units, as Gaunts are for foot infantry.  This does well for me as I have recently acquired a box.  Now I must double that amount and try proxying my warriors.  I have a Winged Tyrant that has been sitting for a while because he is all alone.  I was thinking the Shrikes would be the better of the Mid Sized creatures for my army as it acted as a 2nd Synapse for the Gargs and anything in the area.  Thanks everyone.