Razorwing Tactica

So since I've been browsing this forum, a constant factor people mention in putting your Razorwing into reserve. I've allways started it off with the rest of the army to add its two DLs to the mix but is that such a good idea or is that just practically suicide for such an expensive unit (well for our heavy support at least...). This is the place where people should voice how the optimal way to field the Razorwing. Oh and thanks in advance, this will probably save my razorwing a bit.

If I get the first turn and there is little threat to my razorwing on the board, I'll field it straight off the bat.

If they have juicy targets in reserve, are getting the first turn, or have some serious long ranged fire power, I generally put my razorwing in reserve and don't rely on it coming in (it's just nice if it does).

I field mine with NS and FF so that it is harder to hit, then chuck it somewhere far away to take advantage of distance. The first chance I get, I take out whatever is the biggest threat to my infantry, and let my lances speak for enemy armour.

I run it with disintegrators, splinter cannon and Monoscythe missiles.

If I have 1st move then yes, it goes into reserve. I usually play wwp and want everything coming into the game delayed.

If I have 2nd move and deployment can assure no long range threats then it has started on the board or entering on turn 1 in DoW games.

Mostly though, it does start in reserve. The portal deployers are like bait and when ravagers and the RW come in it is usually a target rich environment.

Side note:

I have played the Void Raven twice now and in both games it has survived both games - I usually do not get that with the Razorwing, it usually dies in the first 3 turns. Probably nothing special here, just noticing. Hard to believe that 1 higher on armor value and not being open topped can make that difference...still testing.

Grumpy Kwi wrote:

Hard to believe that 1 higher on armor value and not being open topped can make that difference...still testing.

Que?

I usually have it come from the reseve, and fire its missiles at some juicy targets like big units sitting on an objective (I usually fire 2 missiles the turn it comes in and 2 the next turn, but sometimes I've fired everything in oen turn to ensure that whatever I'm shooting ends up dead), then shoot things with lances.

Nomic wrote:

I usually have it come from the reseve, and fire its missiles at some juicy targets like big units sitting on an objective (I usually fire 2 missiles the turn it comes in and 2 the next turn, but sometimes I've fired everything in oen turn to ensure that whatever I'm shooting ends up dead), then shoot things with lances.

Same here.

For some reason the Razorwings perceived threat far exceeds the reality. Unless you play someone who has a good knowledge of the army of course. But most times it's an easy and obvious target that is difficult to hide and gets blown out the air.

The benefits of reserve out weigh those of deploying in my opinion. People tend to be more aware of bunching their troops during deployment than in the flow of battle. In short they forget you have 4 fast moving pie plates in reserve.

You should accept that most times the razorwing will not survive the game, so pick its target and obliterate it. Either fire all 4 missiles or least 2, because you'll get maybe 2 turns before its taken out, even with night shields.

Choose your missiles wisely. I favor the toxin for its bonus pinning qualities.

My method is always easy; Point and click.

What I see as an optimum target I fire all the missiles away and shoot whatever weapon that is in range as well to cokplement my missiles. If it still survives after my 'display of fireworks' then it will be hunting tanks and other nonsense.

If it is a heavily mech force my gameplan will kot change too much but it will be the last unit I will ise as it will target any expoaed unit from wrecked and destroyed vehicles.

Yup, I rather hold 'm in reserver too. I use the Razorwing more as anti-infantry because of it's 4 missiles. Therefor I like to deep strike 'm in turn 2 or 3 after I cracked open some tins and enough mushy stuff spilled over the table.

The two DL's are nice to harass my opponent if it survives. But the initial payload (4 pieplates) is most important to me.

IMHO the Razorwing is most effective this way.

I've been running it from reserve, but now I face so many mech/power armoured lists that I really am struggling to justify taking. Razorback and Chimera spam carry so little infantry that even when they are de-meched it's hardly worth the effort.

Great model though

Reserve.
Comes on, wipes out a horde or dents a MEQ squad using Monoscythe.
Then goes tank hunting with its Dark Lances
or (more than likely)
Dies.

Sky Serpent wrote:

Reserve.
Comes on, wipes out a horde or dents a MEQ squad using Monoscythe.
Then goes tank hunting with its Dark Lances
or (more than likely)
Dies.

Same here. Though I will run dissies and make it an anti termy/FNP beatstick

Sky Serpent wrote:

Reserve.
Comes on, wipes out a horde or dents a MEQ squad using Monoscythe.
Then goes tank hunting with its Dark Lances
or (more than likely)
Dies.

Using this approach I am averaging 20-30 wounds the turn it shows up!

The funny thing is that after I have done that much damage people often get the mindset that it MUST die, but in reality it has already done what it came for and I don't care too much if it gets killed. So the more shots it can draw from the rest of my army the better.

Seems to be the general consensus, arrive from reserve unload everything and maul the enemy then fly around drawing fire from other more valuable units on your force firing off the odd pot shot as it goes

Nose splinter cannon or not?

I have the last 3 tourneys and enjoyed the extra shots but am not sure it's with it overall as anything other than points filler

I would be saying no SC. It costs 10 points and if you use the monoscythe and DL setup then the only time you use it would be on the first one or two shots. And what 4 pie plates can't kill, I don't think a SC upgrade is going to help much.

Thanks for all the opinions, it has helped a lot and I will be trying it in my next few games.

I keep mine in reserve. I find that arriving turn 3 or 4 is an optimal time for the razorwing to come in. By that point there should be a few juicy targets de meched and most of the threats to the razorwing should be dealt with allowing it to participate in subsequent turns.

I deck mineout with dissies. An AI platform.

I keep it in reserve while my army gets units out of their rides.

When it comes on, I pick a unit and obliterate it with a volley.

My fav kills have been:

2 units of 20 kroot that I cought in the open.
10 purifiers in one volley.
25 out of a platoon blob of 50. In cover.