Optimal Grot Bodyguard

Morning guys!

I have a quick question for folks here. I was curious over thoughts for the best configuration of a raider-riding grotesque bodyguard to accompany my soultrap/huskblade archon.

A.) 3 Grotesques w/Aberation w/scissorhand + 1 haemunculous w/ venom blade

B.) 4 Grotesques w/ Liquifier & Aberation w/ scissorhand.

Which of these would you prefer? I'm torn. The second pain token for guaranteed furious charge seems to be a potent force multiplier, especially considering the huskblade archon. They don't loose a ton of attacking power, consider the haemy w/venomblade puts out comparable damage against everything but vehicles. But on the other hand, the 4th grotesque seems to make them far more reliable. Also, liquifier.

Thanks in advance for the help!

Greetings, Ive tried many configurations with what is my favorite unit but by far the one im most pleased with and that IMO offers the most bang for the buck is this:

4 grots, aberration- vb, raider- eas- 220

Cheap and cheerful and damn resilient, especially if buffed by a farseer. Of course in a pts vacuum more upgrades make them better but I havent found the extra expenditure to be as worthwhile.

Edit- sorry I forgot to say of the two choices you list I would go for the non haemie.. Another option if you want a total deathstar is combine the two and reduce the upgrades, i.e. 4 grots, haemie, archon.

Brom wrote:

Greetings, Ive tried many configurations with what is my favorite unit but by far the one im most pleased with and that IMO offers the most bang for the buck is this:

4 grots, aberration- vb, raider- eas- 220

This is my go-to configuration that I use in nearly all of my games. The scissorhand just doesn't do it for me. The extra points could be used to by Night Shields or a Flickerfield.

I always used this:

4 Grotesques, Raider, Flickerfield.
Urien Rakarth with uber grotesque upgrades

BUT with an Archon.. I do the same:

4 Grotesques, Raider, Flickerfield.
Archon, Venom Blade, Clone Field.

I dig the clone field config man, wish I had the gumption to try it in place of the SF. Whats your experience been with it?

Brom wrote:

I dig the clone field config man, wish I had the gumption to try it in place of the SF. Whats your experience been with it?

I've used it alot more with a 5 man Incubus Retinue.

I find that its very affective against armies like, Space Marines, Necrons and Gurad because there Characters dont really have many attacks. I like it more then the SF themeatically, which is why i took it in the first place. Its really good and pays off, you just have to forget about the fear factor of not having an Invul and youre' golden. Its specifically great with Combat drugs or a blast pistol in my opinion, but I always take a Venom blade on my Archon. I feel the wieght of wounds is better against Terminator armor then most of our expesive gear and the look on your opponets face when you say he cant even attack is prieceless haha.

I personally run my bodyguard 4 grots with just a liquifier, aberration and w/e upgrades you want is expensive. I'd rather put the points towards a haemie to run with them with a power axe and another liquifier  

If I did have the extra points I'd go for the venom blade just in case you need to punch something really big.

Alright, some good stuff here. Thanks guys!

I'm starting to see though that folks aren't fans of the scissorhands. In any case besides the aberation, I'd agree, but with it he gets 7 attacks on the charge and gets re-rolls to wound on almost everything. Wraithguard/blades are the only thing I can think of currently that is T6 in any significant numbers. If he's got furious charge going (another reason I was starting to lean towards option A) he re-rolls wounds on MEQ at a +2, which is all the VB does, plus an extra attack.

I guess its just the drool-worthy number of attacks that I enjoy.

As for the clonefield VS shadowfield, I'm more of a traditionalist. Seems like a lot of things your archon will be challenging are at str6 or above. It only takes a single wound getting through, which seems like it would mathmatically happen more often with a clonefield.

Anyone care to work out the mathhammer on that? ^_^

Flint13 wrote:

I guess its just the drool-worthy number of attacks that I enjoy.

If you love a crapload of attacks take an Archon with a Djin blade.

I love that thing.

I have tried the djin-blade in that narrow window of time where the huskblade and klaives were AP3. Didn't sit too well with me, as I like to challenge out characters. I kept bouncing off space marines.

Flint13 wrote:

I'm starting to see though that folks aren't fans of the scissorhands. In any case besides the aberation, I'd agree, but with it he gets 7 attacks on the charge and gets re-rolls to wound on almost everything. Wraithguard/blades are the only thing I can think of currently that is T6 in any significant numbers. If he's got furious charge going (another reason I was starting to lean towards option A) he re-rolls wounds on MEQ at a +2, which is all the VB does, plus an extra attack.

I prefer the VB blade because if gives you the reroll without needing the extra buff from furious charge. I've always gotten more out of the extra shots that a Flickerfield/way that Night Shields make your opponent move to intercept if out of range. Although the SH mathematically might look more appealing, I'm all about how the unit affects the game and forces your opponent to react. Grots are much better at forcing your opponent to react. Anything that they kill (and they do kill a lot    ) really is just icing on the cake.