How to play the Flyrant?

[Sezar]

Today I'm most probably going to have my first 6th ed game, and I can't wait to finally field my Flyrant, but now I wonder: how should I use it?

I' going to field a TL-Dev + BS/LW, OA one, and it's almost 300pts (1/5 of the Army) so I'm not sure if I would be conservative or aggresive with him.

Also, Hovering or Zooming?

How does Vector Strike works?

Psy options?


Thanks in advance!

[paxmiles]

Flying MCs can't hover. It's flyer or normal MC that moves like jump infantry. You can switch per turn.

Flyer mode (called swoop), makes you unable to assault or be assaulted. Also makes 6s required to hit you with ranged attacks.

Vector strike allows auto hits, 2+d3, against a target of your choice that you passed over in the movement phase. If vehicle, strikes side armor. Drawback is that you can't use any modifiers to strength for this attack. I'm unclear if other modifiers (like melee weapon special rules) apply to this. Considering firing one weapon, can't do twice in one turn.

Weak point to flying MCs is if they if they are hit with anything, not wounded, just hit, they take grounding tests (3+ and if failed, model switches to jump MC mode and takes S9 hit with no armor or cover allowed).
-Pax

[fleetofclaw]

I know a lot of people are swooping their flying MCs all over the place, vector striking, taking pot shots. Honestly I use swoop mostly to get him in the mix faster. I like the TL dev + BS/LW loadout, but I'm considering dropping the devs (15pts is 15 pts). What I love is turn 1 24" swoop, then rip their face off in CC turn 2. I'm not interested in letting my opponent force a bunch of grounding tests on me.

For powers it's hard to not pass up on Biomancy, so many useful powers; I just wish the primaris power was better. But enfeeble is amazing, you're doubling out T4 models; Iron Arm gives us that badly needed eternal warrior versus GKs, Endurance is fantastic, Warp Speed is tasty, and Life Leech is what Leech Essence should have been. The only meh power is Hemorage, and that's when you wish Biomancy's primaris was better. Doesn't matter since if I roll it I usually just spam the other power I snag anyway.

[virusfound]

Are two sets of scything talons a good idea?

What is the overall best loadout for weapon biomorphs? I see many people taking two sets of devours. The devs seem very useful, but are there any alternatives that break even?

Thanks.

[Jabberwocky]

1 set of Devs can be enough and you could go with ST rather than OA if trying to go cheap.

You can then vectorstrike or use a witchfire, along with your Devs.

Personally I go double Devs and OA and try to spam Iron Arm or Endurance.

[virusfound]

Oh cool, I didn't even consider OA into the equation, duh.

[webebuggin]

Can you vector strike fire a set of devourers AND use witch fire? If so awesome but vector counts as shooting so I was unsure if we could 'fire' 3 things. So far I have gone: ALWAYS go 2nd let them move closer, go into swoop vector strike over assault type troops, and blast them with brainleech and sometimes that -1 leadership forces them to fall back. Next turn go to normal jump mode, jump close to those long range gunners ( long fangs! ) blast away and assault! worked quite well to rid board of long fangs

[paxmiles]

As above, vector strike counts as firing one weapon. devourers would be a second weapon. MCs and flying MCs can only attempt to fire two weapons per turn.

Only Tzeentch Daemons have Flying MCs that can fire 3 weapons per turn...
-Pax

[webebuggin]

Yup just checked for sure only two shootings. I mean against infantry a good method is: fly 24, fire devourers and subtract one from their leadership when one or more dies, THEN use like psychic shriek! Awesome use of ability.

[paxmiles]

Jul 17, 2012 18:30:52 GMT webebuggin said:

Yup just checked for sure only two shootings. I mean against infantry a good method is: fly 24, fire devourers and subtract one from their leadership when one or more dies, THEN use like psychic shriek! Awesome use of ability.

Are you suggesting that devourers reduce leadership? They don't. They just affect morale checks (unless new FAQ changed this).

Also shooting attacks are done at the same time when firing with the same model, so even if you reduce leadership with a weapon, the same model can't utilize that effect.

I will have you remember that a tyrant is a character, so his hit rolls of 6 are precision shots, so you could lower leadership by killing a character within the unit.
-Pax

[coredump]

OA is great, it not only helps the flyrant, but with the high movement, you can often get the flyrant where that 6" aura will do the most good.

Vector strike is nice, but I find it too limiting. 2-4 S6 hits, compared to 6 S6 TL attacks... Vector Strike can only be used when Swooping, which means it also limits where you can land. (Have to fly over target, straight line only.)

Also, in case you decide to go after flyers... VS hits side armor, Devs can hit rear armor. (Plus, if you VS, you may not be able to land behind the flyer, so none of theDev shots will get rear arc)
And finally, VS hits are randomized. Otherwise I can swoop where I want, and try and 'snipe' out any specific models my opponent left near the edge of their unit.

[paxmiles]

Agree with core dump, would suggest devs over vector strike. I think if going AA with a flyrant, double devs is the way to go. That said, all the flyers seem to be armed with the same AV on all sides... I think the vector strike on side armor is mentioned in regards to punching regular vehicles or walkers.

I do think vector strike has potential in SOME situations. I'd take double devs for AA, but if striking ground vehicles, could go with vector strike and psychic powers, or one of those and a single dev set.

That said, I'm not real impressed with using nid flyers for AA roles.

[warischoy]

i don't mean to hijack this thread but the flying MC needs to have an unsaved wound before taking a grounding test.

because the key word is to resolve the hit and to resolve means to roll to wound and saves. I know it is confusing but there isn't any other way to word it in a short sentence.

'after each hit is resolved' basically means that the shot hits, then needs to be resolved meaning that you need to know what happens to the shot and therefore wound needs to be rolled and saves need to be rolled.

[paxmiles]

Jul 17, 2012 20:19:45 GMT warischoy said:

i don't mean to hijack this thread but the flying MC needs to have an unsaved wound before taking a grounding test.

because the key word is to resolve the hit and to resolve means to roll to wound and saves. I know it is confusing but there isn't any other way to word it in a short sentence.

'after each hit is resolved' basically means that the shot hits, then needs to be resolved meaning that you need to know what happens to the shot and therefore wound needs to be rolled and saves need to be rolled.

As far as I'm able to understand it, armor, cover and invulnerable saves negate wounds, not hits in regards to flying MCs. If you can find a page reference that makes this crystal clear, I'd be very happy. I love the idea. Thanks.
-Pax

[warischoy]

i will try to find it but i need to go to bed. its 5 in the morning here in HK but when i first read it and played against my opponent it just looked like common sense that that was how it worked.

i think there was a page on resolving hits or something like that. i will find it tonight.