Raveners with useless SR and armybuilding in gen.

[ghostnids]

I love the ravener models, and I want to include them in my army, even though I know that many consider them expensive. I usually play 1500-2000 point games, mostly vs GK and occasionally vs DE and CSM. In what situations and numbers do you find them to be the most effective?

Also. Why does raveners have acute senses when they cannot outflank? It makes no sense to me. Can someone explain?

I would also love some input on what you think would be good additions to my army (besides raveners). I find myself winning three games for every loss, so fun is more important than cost efficient atm.

This is my current army:

Swarm lord

6 Hive guards
1 Zoanthrope

tervigon
tervigon with CC
36 genestealers
2 brood lords
44 termagants
20 hormagaunts
3 warriors (magnetized)

Mawloc
Trygon Prime
Tyrannofex

thanks!

[WestRider]

Acute Senses did something different in 5th Ed, when the Codex was written. It was still kind of useless for them, but not completely.

I run 5-6 Raveners with Rending Claws, no guns. Never Deep Strike, just run across the board, hugging Cover as best you can. Ideally, stay behind LoS blockers for the most part.

GK and DE both tend to feature a lot of S8 Firepower, which is pretty much the bane of Raveners. Avoid that as best you can, and they'll do OK.

You want to hit one of three kinds of target:
- Units in the Open, so you don't have to Charge through Cover and strike at I1.
- Units that you've already Engaged with some Gaunts or something, for the same reason.
- Small or weak Units that aren't going to be able to do enough damage in the first round to make you regret striking at I1.

In all cases, avoid things with Power Fists or other S8+ Attacks.

[stinckpickle]

^same thing but in small games like 1000pts I split them into 2 groups of 3. Other then that I run 5-6 with rending claws(most of the time)

[retnab]

I only have 4 but in 1500 point games even 4 does a fair bit. I'll run them if it's a tanky army, but against stuff like Tau where they'll have squishy guys in the back I actually like the Deep Strike them over. If you do DS them you'll want guns of course so they're not just standing there that turn.

[rampagingfex]

Someone once pointed out to me that if you take a Tyranid Prime or PoM as your warlord and roll the outflank ability, you can attach them to the raveners and then use acute senses. I'm assuming that still works? But yeah... it's basically worthless.

I have 5 raveners and haven't played them recently. I keep trying to fit them into the list, but they never seem to make the cut. I think the best chance for me to get them back on the table is when the 'Best Painted" award cycles to the 'Fast Attack' choice and then they'll be next up on the table. I'd probably try and keep them cheap and drop in with deep strike along with a bunch of spore pods and Trygons, hopefully to avoid getting shot and then they'll provide a nice long threat range on the next turn.

-RF

[Illithid]

I find 5-6 is the sweet spot, not to many for absolute overfill, but enough to suck up some fire and still be effective in combat if they lose 1-2.

[Anggul]

I too generally take 5 of them with Rending Claws. They're a beautiful and killy unit. I usually start them behind my Trygon if there aren't any ruins or whatever in my deployment zone, then rush them into terrain in support of Hormagaunts and Trygon. They then proceed to pounce on unsuspecting prey. Seriously, no-one seems to expect just how fast they can rush out and rip something apart. Don't just send them in alone though, obviously. Distract the enemy with some shinies first, then allow them to realise a couple of their squads have just been torn to shreds.

[milkybarnid]

Don't forget raveners move 12" in the movement phase and are not slowed by difficult terrain, i find i am in the same position as rampagingfex, i like to bring raveners but them surviving is another matter. Cover bring reduced to 5+ has hit them but not knocked the wind from their sails. Rending claws are a must against MEQ but against guardsmen and weaken mob of orks (Not Nobs) will do them nicely. I rarely give mine guns, but when i do, i give them spinefists as our BS is terrible. Dev are likely to make our target unit run away, leaving the raveners in the open and DS is just way too expensive. My raveners are often equipped with rending claws and in a brood of 6, as 5+ cover and armour save can only go so far.

Maybe worth adding a single tyrant guard to the swarmlord so he can get extra wounds but when he has iron arm can use his increased toughness. apart from that, its a solid base for a nid army.

In 5th Edition acute senses used to affect the distance you could see in night fighting, now its just stealth and shrouded.

[rpricew]

Like any of our CC units, Raveners need cover and buffs in order to survive. Line them up behind some gargoyle screens, add a little Catalyst/Endurance love, grant them Preferred Enemy from a nearby Swarmlord while enfeebling your opponent and voila... a whole big bag of destruction in your opponent's face turn 2!