Are scything talons worth putting on Genestealers?

[TheHiveKing]

the title says it all.

[tylertt]

Makes them too expensive for what they do. They just die too easily when compared to what it is costing you in the end.

Now if your playing lighter/thematic games, then the talons would indeed make them a fair amount better.

[tripwire]

i generally model WYSIWYG, but I put them on the stealers just because I thought they looked cooler. Not like I ever play with them, so whatevs, ya know?

-trip

[Hive Bahamut]

If your taking Genestealers I think you have already hit the problem. Dumping more points in talons is just pouring salt on the wound.

Being competitive? No genes at all.
Friendly? Do whatever you want.

[creatureboi]

Passing over the whole "are genestealers competitive" question, if you ARE taking stealers it's better value to take more models per brood than spend points giving gear to the ones you already have. It doesn't make them any more survivable and for each upgraded stealer you lose, the brood gets significantly weaker as compared to losing a basic stealer. The only time it's really worth giving scytals is either if you're adding a broodlord or using the formation where you can't add additional stealer models

[angelwing]

You're generally better off buying more genestealers than paying for upgrades. I think someone did the maths in another thread showing its better with more models as you get the same amount of extra attacks, but more wounds for your points.
I do run a brood with talons in my fixed 'army in a box' list, but in honesty, I'm tight on wysiwyg and tradition (Its a single carry case fixed army list with minor alterations to keep it rules legal and on points, running since 3rd ed) with this particular army list.

[Jabberwocky]

Assuming zero casualties, ST are worth it.

As soon as you take any sort of casualties, the more bodies are superior. With a 5+ armour making flames and even overwatched bolsters dangerous, definitely go with bodies.

[Kark]

Scything talons are waste of points.

Second thing is: don't look at genestealers as CC unit, cuase they suck in in this role, 6" of movement only, no flesh hooks, no inv save, very vulnerable to enemy fire.

Genestealers are objective secured troops that can outflank/infiltrate. They can go to ground for 2+ save in ruins, so they can do mealstroms, guard/capture objectives. 5 man squads with no upgrades are perfect for that.

However, the problem with genestealers is their pts cost. Brood of stealers cost 70pts, while for 45pts You can take rippers that are also objective secured troops with deepstrike ability (deepstrike is overall better than outflank).

[Jabberwocky]

There is something to be said for infiltrate, in missions where building up maelstrom momentum turn 1 is important though. Especially against a castling opponent or on a board with plenty of LoS blocking.

[gigasnail]

if you could reliably get them into CC, it'd be great because they're nine miles of bad highway.

but if you could reliably get them into CC, everyone would take them becasue they'd be great.

that's not generally the case.

[No One]

I think the one important thing no-one has mentioned: you can buy scy-tals for individual models. You're still better of going with bodies over bullets, but as Jabberwocky said: assuming zero casualties, scy tals are worth it. If you give scy-tals to one or two models and make sure they die last (not always possible against more mobile enemies/barrage), your squad becomes more dangerous point-for-point. If you actually plan on getting them into combat (and think they could make it) and aren't just running min-squads, 1 or 2 guys with scy tals is probably worth it, so when you assault you actually have a bit more hitting power.

[cyaneye]

Since my genestealers never hit the table anymore, I made sure they looked as cool as possible before setting them on the shelf. The scytals and feeder tendrils make them look like miniature lictors.

[mattblowers]

No. If they bring back rerolls of ones or make them cheaper, then yes.

The broodlord is always a yes though. He needs the extra attack.