Lictor Tactics

[Ragged Warrior]

Hey Hive,

I'm still new to the game, and trying to figure out how different units work in-game. Just picked up three lictors and am pretty nervous about their low wound count and +5 cover save. For as amazing as the Lictors promise to be, I'm predicting that they'll go down pretty fast. I'm really looking forward to using their reserve and deep strike bonuses, but am unsure about how to keep them alive long enough to utilize their perks.

By the way, does the Hit-and-Run special rule only work during assault, or can I run after I use the flesh hooks?

Looking forward to hearing about how you all use Lictors.

[fleetofclaw]

Hit and run is spelled out in the rule book. Sadly lichtors are too overcosted for what they do. You pay a premium for special rules that execute poorly in game. If they could assault out of deep strike I could see them having a pretty great role to fill, but they're just too fragile, they aren't nearly deadly enough, and their pheromone trail rarely pays off. They're fun for friendly games or for using one as Deathleaper, but you won't see them in competitive lists.

Mine spends most of its time pretending to be a broodlord.

Sent from my Nexus S 4G using proboards

[Deleted]

Lictors are currently one of the units we have that got really screwed over by our newest Codex, sadly. There's not really anything they do that isn't done better by other units, like Hive Commander being far more useful than Pheromone Trail. Use them if you think they're cool by all means, but don't put your hopes too high. Definitely use one to proxy Deathleaper though, he can be very useful!

[gigasnail]

nice that they don't scatter when they come in, but too expensive. might be marginally better for smoking out dug in backline weapons teams after the cover nerf in 6th (unless they're in ruins, in which case you're back in the same boat as 5th edition). other than that, basically only good for killing av10 rear armor when they pop up. it's one of those units you really WANT to work, but sadly doesn't always perform. talonis has a nice guide in his sig block where he was working with them in 5th; tactics are still largely valid.

[Deleted]

I went to find Talonis' guide but his link stopped working so he removed it and he, nor I, could dig it up

[gigasnail]

ah, fail ~

[yoritomo]

Talonis' lictor thread was deleted along with all the other 5th edition stuff a few months back.

While the lictors are one unit that didn't change much from 5th edition to 6th edition we did not want to keep anything from 5th edition around.

[Jabberwocky]

Deathleaper actually saw some fairly big changes with being able to precision/challenge powerfists, taking a 2+ cover against most shooting and also having more uses for his -LD, with Pyskers gaining a lot more power.

Lictors....

[liquid405]

All lictors need is the ability to start on the board infiltrated.

[Ragged Warrior]

Well, since it seems that my lictors are useless, does anyone have any advice on the Deathleaper?

[N.I.B.]

I actually think the old Nightfighting rules were much better for Deathleaper. Now every S8 gun that can draw LOS to him can kill him.

[Jabberwocky]

Yes but with a 2+ cover most of the time, he is fairly survivable.

General tactics....

Target a pivotal psyker for the LD penalty.

Remember his rules! He has loads, including making the enemy use 1 less dice moving through cover.

Use him as a deepstrike anchor for late arrivals or Gate. No scatter means no models lost to doubles or mishaps.

Hit and run often.

Play him up as much as possible to the opponent. Encourage him to commit an assault unit toward him then leave the board and appear next turn near something else.

Remember to precision hit powerfists and challenge where you can.

[Talonis]

Yeah maybe some day I will get back around to rewriting a Lictor thread for 6th Ed.

They are great units when used in the correct manner. Generally they do not work as well by themselves and really need to be utilized as supporting close combat units.
Before you can do this you need to begin with correc placement. I always say just because you can appear within 1", doesn't mean you should. You need to place them in cover or out of sight the turn they arrive and in position to threaten a unit.

They can be useful when arriving to attempt to remove a flamed from a squad before a friendly unit tries to charge, buy placing them closest to the flamed and using flesh hooks.

Once in combat, use hit and run on the opponents the to leave the damaged (hopefully) unit and move into position against another unit which would have had no idea the lictors can move that fast. Bt and run is essential to move the lictors speedily around the board once in combat. Follow up charges with gaunts to hit the damaged units.

Deathleaper is excellent at character hunting, as more than likely challenging a character will kill them outright before they are able to attack back. Be careful attacking most IC's though. Power weapons or fists will be situational.

These are just a few points I have noticed for 6th Ed with lictors. I love them and they do really take a few games to start to get the hang of what they can really accomplish.

[Ragged Warrior]

Thanks Talonis! That makes a lot of sense. I can't wait to play them!