The best beasts in the game

[Gwarrio]

After reading all of what the different factions got I think we made out like a bandit. We have the best beasts in the game. The problem I have is I want to run them all.
I mean all the elemental beasts have their place, the winter giving out stationary like it is candy on Halloween is incredible.
The Bouncer is just fantastic. His Mat sucks but bump? Wow, models will only get one shot on anyone who has bump on them... I mean wow. To make it better he has shield guard.
The blitzer is awesome because he can now boost his range attacks. That lets him become a pretty solid range beast. The old combo of slamming or knocking down a model then shooting them is better than before.
The Dire troll mauler is just fantastic. Smash and grab? yes please.
The Earthborn is probably the best assassination beast in the game. Remember that almost all caster weapons are pow 7. So that means you are looking at pow 19 on a caster easy. Elemental communion also lets our casters get up to +4 armor with the bubble.
Mulg is a weird best though. I really wish they would clean him up. Why does he have Are you going to eat that instead of snacking? You can still kill your own models to give mulg a 4+4+2(rush)+3(charge)+2(reach)=15 inch threat range. His animus sucks but you pow 18 base mat 7 5 fury beast with an easy to pull of 15 inch threat range is not a bad thing. I do think he should be reworked though.

Over all I am psyched to play my trolls. Calandra might become my lock because of soothing song.

[PhoenixBlaze]

What about a 6pt beast that can easily charge 12" and break face at the end of it? Or even get stuck in and Thresher with reach. Of course, I speak of the Axer.

I'm killing to get some games in, but I just don't have the time! Argh!!! All these new rules and I can't use them. I'm glad the Bouncer is now more of a bodyguard, being able to take the hit, although DEF 20 Grim was fun.

[i_like_tool]

ummmm......


No we really don't. A few of our lights are good, and are heavies are decent. We are not rocking the best beast in the game by a long shot

Earthborn being the best assassination beast in the game? What?!?!? Compared to what? A Charger from Cygnar?

Go look at Circle beast. Go look at Skorne. Than take a stroll over to Legion.
All of us have a some winners and some looser beast.
I would trade damn near anything to get the Gnarlhorn Satyr that thing is a monster and makes it way into most of my Circle list.

[Sevwall]

I'm overall very impressed by our beasts.

[Mr.B]

I really can't complain. Are stuff is so much more balanced now. I'm totally calling BROKEN on Circle though... OMG.

[Gwarrio]

ummmm......


No we really don't. A few of our lights are good, and are heavies are decent. We are not rocking the best beast in the game by a long shot

Earthborn being the best assassination beast in the game? What?!?!? Compared to what? A Charger from Cygnar?

Go look at Circle beast. Go look at Skorne. Than take a stroll over to Legion.
All of us have a some winners and some looser beast.
I would trade damn near anything to get the Gnarlhorn Satyr that thing is a monster and makes it way into most of my Circle list.

LOL Skorne beasts. Compare the Mauler to the Gladiator. It is not even close. For 1 point we buy
1 more speed
1 more mat
more survivability (not only do we provide an armor buff readily available, but would you rather have snacking and regen or the extra 1 armor?)
a MUCH better animus.
1 more fury

We lose a pow 14 mat 5 attack and grand slam.

I would take the mauler any day over the gladiator. Grand slam is not that awesome. It is a melee heavy, why am I slamming my target away from me? The animus is also a HUGE buff. subdue is just plain terrible. For the same cost I would get +3 str that can go onto ANY faction friendly model. Then we have the speed and mat buff. The mat buff puts it over the top. When you want to trigger smash and grab you buff your attacks. You need three attacks in a row to hit. Assuming a charge the glad has no more fury to boost a two hand throw, nor does he have one to spare while beating on the target. If you still don't believe we do that math on mat 5 vs 6 boosting to hit 12 13 14 3 times in a row. It is a huge difference.

Man I love our beasts.

I should have talked about how sweet the axer is.. oh, its like Christmas came early. How did the impaler not take a nerf... better question who cares?!!!! :-)

[ChronoCrusher]

Does anyone really think that elemental communion is a good thing?

I thought Metamorphoses was better, both as the animus and ability of the Earthborn.

[Sevwall]

Metamorphose was incredibly easy for a smart opponent to counter. Elemental communion often is +2 ARM, and occassionally +2" of movement.

If you have water, +2 defense is just crazy good.

Its a nice animus, and it doesn't require high ARM models in B2B or the Krielstone or a dumb opponent.

[The Happy Anarchist]

Oh yeah, I love Elemental Communion. So great. Insist on more walls for terrain. They are very interesting, especially as linear obstacles can be ran over, provide cover, but CANNOT be charged over like other rough terrain, without pathfinder. Elemental Communion is icing on the cake. Works well with buildings & huts and the like, or large stone pillars and the like.

I think all of our beasts are pretty good with the exception of the Elemental lights. I think they are either overcosted, or need a Rat and/or range boost. The Winter needs both.
Honestly, the Winter is my least favorite thing in the troll list. It was one thing when Rime=auto stationary after first attack. Only getting one attack against them is good. Getting all of your attacks and maybe going stationary if the troll doesn't die, which I still end up having to spend resources to kill is just not good. Give me Flame or Vitriol any day of the week. Combine that with low Mat, Rat 4 spray and a terrible animus and I am just no sold on it for 6 points. I wouldn't even take it at 5 points as it stands now, because I can get so much better with other beasts.

Personally, I wouldn't mind if Pyres went down to 4 points and had to force for flame. We don't really have a dirt cheap beast option that the other factions have. If 5 points they just need either Rng 10 or Rat 5 to make them fit a bit better. Slag definitely needs something to be 6 points, or to lose something and go to 5 points.

Overall though, it is not nearly as bad as I at first thought.

And yes, the Earthborn is a great assassination beast. Natural Pow 19 attacks against most casters is great, it can be buffed beyond that and naturally gets a 10" charge if rough terrain is involved. Or 10" trample to continue to drop some bombs. I have killed many a caster. Maybe not the best, but I can't think of anything that Skorne has mkII that is better. Their best is Molik, which has higher Mat but maxes out at Pow 17s, which can be trouble against warcasters.

[Creaux]

Reading Rhime, I'm not sure if you aren't guaranteed frozen after the first hit, even though you may destroy the beast later. The rule would have to supercede itself each time you hit, or else a single hit that doesn't destroy the enemy will still apply and stationary you.

The same effects don't stack, but this is a weird way of looking at that.