Zoanthropes?

[hv911apophus]

So I am fairly new to the hive mind and have noticed that zoanthropes don't see a lot t of play outside narrative or open play. Now I realize that there are units in our codex that are almost auto includes like genestealers, exocrines, and flyrants... But are zoanthropes so far down the list as to be pointless in matched play?

I would figure with their added synapse and their smiting abilities they would post a question of validity since a unit of 6 can deal 6 mortal wounds on a successful smite... Though I don't know if they have access to the super smite thing from rolling above 10 on the psychic test.

[wormlord666]

Zooans can be useful. It is not that they are bad, it is just that when you campare with other stuff they tend to be left out. It all depends on what you are facing. If you face custodes or expensive space marines for example the'd do al lot of use since mortal wounds are bad for them. If a successful smite, on the other hand just kills 5 guardsmen or cultist well then maybe you'd rather have used those points on stealers och even termagants. Since many of us face a lot of big hordelists a lot, we tend to build lists that handle that. But try it out and se for yourself!

[killercroc]

It's a combination of things. Zoanthropes are rather expensive for a unit of psykers, at 40 points each means a squad is 120-240 points so while they can cast a long range smite they're really expensive compared to any other psyker in the game. Outside of the psychic phase they're mostly useless, no shooting and bad in melee their price seems more unreasonable because of it, the only thing they have going for them is their 3++. Smite is also easily blocked by screens so you can find yourself smiting things you don't want to. 6 mortal wounds doesn't mean much if you're hitting Grots or Conscripts.

Also they're fairly expensive to get, a full squad being $140 is quite a bit.

We have other units that can cast smite and still be useful elsewhere, Tyrant can smite, shoot and do melee. Heck even the Neuro with the price increase isn't bad because it has character protection and heals itself with smite. Honestly anything Zoanthropes can do other units that cost less can do better.

[Jbizzy]

My favorite model in our range but sadly over-costed because of the synapse tax. Honestly if they were 30pts a model and you had Neurothrope HQ nearby they'd be decent but still limited.

[mattblowers]

There have been a few players that have played a large unit to some success. A list in the last ETC main event did really well with a bunch of them. If you like them, you can find a place for them in your list.

[hivefleetkerrigan]

They got hit hard with the smite nerf from the first big FAQ and with neurothropes going up in points.

They're useful as a good staying power as 3++ units are surprisingly durable. They also have 24" smite and can select which model can cast it. This allows you to use some careful movement and positioning to smite higher value targets.

If you run them, I'd recommend adding in at least one neurothrope for rerolls of 1s when casting and for the neurothropes healing potential.

[hv911apophus]

Thanks for all the feed back. Based on your responses I get the feeling they are a build your list around then unit. They can be useful but are limited and limiting because of points, however when psychic is the focus of the list they can be a powerful addition.

[kazetanade]

Feb 19, 2019 17:29:49 GMT hv911apophus said:

Thanks for all the feed back. Based on your responses I get the feeling they are a build your list around then unit. They can be useful but are limited and limiting because of points, however when psychic is the focus of the list they can be a powerful addition.

It's just about having a role for them. They're durable, they soak damage like mad. With a inbuilt supersmite, they're a threat to any elite unit. Even Knights will have some issues with killing them. You dont need to build your list around them. You just need other credible threats at the same time. 

[hv911apophus]

Feb 19, 2019 17:44:33 GMT kazetanade said:

Feb 19, 2019 17:29:49 GMT hv911apophus said:

Thanks for all the feed back. Based on your responses I get the feeling they are a build your list around then unit. They can be useful but are limited and limiting because of points, however when psychic is the focus of the list they can be a powerful addition.

It's just about having a role for them. They're durable, they soak damage like mad. With a inbuilt supersmite, they're a threat to any elite unit. Even Knights will have some issues with killing them. You dont need to build your list around them. You just need other credible threats at the same time. 

I am so glad my local meta isn't knight heavy. I rarely see any super heavies on the table.

[hiveoverall]

Who thinks Imperial lists will now feature a culexus every time they see a psychic heavy list (for 1 cp and 85 reserve points), such as one with zoes in it ? smite going off on 7+ is ok, but the scaling of the smite is a real issue. Then again the 18 bubble of the culexus means exposing him (some lists will expose him , and we have quite a few ways to kill him. Still... I'll hold off for now on the zoes and see if imperial soupers use this irritating option they now have)

[hv911apophus]

Feb 20, 2019 11:56:11 GMT hiveoverall said:

Who thinks Imperial lists will now feature a culexus every time they see a psychic heavy list (for 1 cp and 85 reserve points), such as one with zoes in it ? smite going off on 7+ is ok, but the scaling of the smite is a real issue. Then again the 18 bubble of the culexus means exposing him (some lists will expose him , and we have quite a few ways to kill him. Still... I'll hold off for now on the zoes and see if imperial soupers use this irritating option they now have)

If cukexus becomes an issue lictors and deathleaper are the counter in my mind as they are designed for assassination.

[No One]

They're also designed poorly.

[1b2a]

The only thing that might make them worth their points is how tanky they are. It takes over 150 1d shots with Catalyst to take down a squad. There's value there that takes something to get that value with your army.

[hiveoverall]

Feb 20, 2019 14:22:20 GMT hv911apophus said:

Feb 20, 2019 11:56:11 GMT hiveoverall said:

Who thinks Imperial lists will now feature a culexus every time they see a psychic heavy list (for 1 cp and 85 reserve points), such as one with zoes in it ? smite going off on 7+ is ok, but the scaling of the smite is a real issue. Then again the 18 bubble of the culexus means exposing him (some lists will expose him , and we have quite a few ways to kill him. Still... I'll hold off for now on the zoes and see if imperial soupers use this irritating option they now have)

If cukexus becomes an issue lictors and deathleaper are the counter in my mind as they are designed for assassination.

Was that ironic ? I fear to calculate how many lictors (and the deathleaper) you would need to kill one culexus... Rule of three prevents you to bring enough I d presume  

[hv911apophus]

Feb 20, 2019 18:34:21 GMT hiveoverall said:

Feb 20, 2019 14:22:20 GMT hv911apophus said:

If cukexus becomes an issue lictors and deathleaper are the counter in my mind as they are designed for assassination.

Was that ironic ? I fear to calculate how many lictors (and the deathleaper) you would need to kill one culexus... Rule of three prevents you to bring enough I d presume  

Not irony, ignorance. I have no idea who or what this culexus is.