Medusae in a venom rocks

So after reading the "why I give up" thread a few weeks ago, I decided to try out Medusae in a venom thanks to a post by Acolyte. I modified it a tad but basically, you use an Archon with wwp as your hq. Then you have 3 Medusae in a venom, and some blasterborn in a raider with dl. Then, depending on your biggest threat, you wwp in either your Medusae for precision template deaths, or your Trueborn for 6 dark light precision shots. I only have enough models for 1250 pt games right now but Acolyte mentions using 2 Archons with wwp, 2 Venoms with Medusea, and 2 units of blasterborn.

My army uses Allies, simply to get an Autarch. That reserve manipulation is essential for this style of army to work because you need that turn two coordinated attack to work. The other thing he mentions is sometimes deploying and empty venom turn one (leaving the Medusae out) so you can get an additional 12 shots turn one, which works great.

I recently played a Tyranid guy who started the game with one Flyrant on the table and a few gaunts in the corner. Well, we all know that you need to kill that thing turn one before it akes off. So I kept my archon with blasterborn in reserve, but most everything else, I started on the board. I deployed the Medusae out of the venom in some cover near an objective, and positioned their venom to take more shots athe Flyrant. Those 12 shots put the final wound him and took out the Flyrant turn one.

Another example is when I played my buddies imperial fists (the tactic with the good devastators) He had 6 positioned behind some cover, along with a few scouts. Turn 2, I webway portaled in and I put 18 hits, 9 wounds (no armour or cover saves) killed all 6. The Venom then killed 3 scouts. So awesome.

Just thought I would share. I'm really enjoying this style of DE play so far

Sounds like you figured out your Medusae. Having this option of what your archon will deep strike with is an idea I was playing around with as well. I don't fully remember, but I think in last editions codex trueborn where allowed to take shardcarbines. 9 of those inside a splinter rack raider could take care of a lot of dangerous things.

I haven't played with them yet because, besides not owning the model, I usually have enough splinter shots to confidently wipe off two tac squads a turn, saves included. Also I very much dislike bringing a unit where each model looks the exact same.

I looove DSing medusae. I take 2x2 in transports as HQ and when they arrive, they always kill something much more important than themselves and present a serious threat for 50 pts that needs to be addressed. I dont need wwp as I can disembark 6'' and template is 8'' so scatter is not an issue. I just grin when I place those 4 models and dark reapers go poof and warp spiders follow or bikers or devs or... you know... its fuuuuun!

EDIT: oh and the eyeburst is assault soooo... you can engage any appropriate leftovers to prevent the last lascannon standing from shooting or eat overwatch and combocharge... with PFP and LD9 its fun.

As for counterassault - I sincerely hope that a MEQ assault them in return of their eyeburst love. ;-)

Yeah, that disembark 6 is nice. The wwp comes in handy though. The example I gave earlier with the dev squad, they were all in a line right near tables edge. Scatter could have put me off the board or in a position to only hit a couple of them.

With s4 ap3 template there is almost always a viable target. 5 devs near edge is better hosed by some poison. Not mentioning that I usually put them in venom or dissie raider so they can flame the bejezus out of something while their transports shoot those edge-huggers.

Medusae and Lhamaean combos work pretty damn good for me... I usually run a unit of 12 mixed in a Tantalus with the Archon...or without..... and run a small sacrificial 5 man warrior unit in a venom.. if things go right, everyone piles close,everyone shoots or templates, warriors assault 1st,take overwatch pain and then the Lhamies and medusae run in... lhamies do their 21-30 attacks poison 2 hope for ID 6's and go from there... ....opponent goes ..

mean while Tantalus is doing 12 dissie shots at other things....

Thats A LOT of points for rather squishy unit! O.O

As mentioned, The medusae don't actually need a WWP, in most cases you have enough move with the disembark and 8" template to get enough wounds to wipe them out. However, having a WWP archon simply gives you more options! So by taking a WWP archon, venom and medusae you can effectively plan your alpha strike accordingly.

So Combos are?
1) WWP medusae without venom to Pinpoint flame a unit while the venom lads elsewhere (if the venom has a better target the other board side say)
2) Medusae DS in venom, disembark and flame. While WWP is used to pinpoint some firedragons or another AT unit.
3) Venom starts on board, WWP medusae

In that regard, what is the "best" unit to use as the second use of the WWP? As the reason the WWP is so brutal with the medusae is because you can line up your template. So the pinpoint of the WWP would then best serve something that needs it, like heat lances.

If you're using Eldar allies anyway for the Autach, it seems like you already have better options.

Fire Dragons in particular are superior to Blasterborn in just about every way (especially when a WWP is involved).

Not to mention the possibility of D-scythe Wraithguard instead of Medusae (though the latter are at least cheaper).

To me, it seems more of a tactic for a pure-DE list.

I know it has been said before but that 6" disembark is some solid gold. I just got back from a tourney where I brought 2x 3 medusae in venoms and I didn't know units could disembark after deep strinking. Great stuff!

They still did some good work - ap3 flamers are super sweet!