25pts Goreshade list - First Look At Cryx [Archive]

Silopolis

02-25-2010, 06:45 PM

My gut thoughts:

Goreshade doesn't need two arc nodes. Defilers are neat for their spray, though. 1 arc node might be nice, for Hex Blast. Shadowmancer should keep the node safe enough that you don't need a replacement. 1 of the Defilers could turn into a Helldiver and a Siren, or for one more point, 2 Helldivers (easily better than just one). Or upgrade your Slayer to a Seether and have a couple of points left over.
Skarlocks are best for casting defensive spells or buffs on your own army--spells that Goreshade doesn't have. The Skarlock can cast Hex Blast or Bleed, but chances are good that if he does, he'll be dead the next round. I might suggest trading him for a Warwitch Siren. Stealth + Venom + a free focus point for a jack = a fantastic solo, even discounting all the other things she can bring to the table. It's like having a mini-Deneghra in your Goreshade list.
You have two minimum units of Bane Thralls listed, but don't forget that you get a free minimum unit of Bane Thralls as part of Goreshade's feat. This means that for this list, you'll need to buy and assemble 3 minimum units of Bane Thralls. If you love Banes, I'd suggest getting two units, using one as part of the list, and spawning the second with the feat. You'll want to get extras, though, because of #4:
Bane Lord Tartarus. If you want to use Banes, you'll love this guy. :)

So, here's my not-all-that-experienced suggestion for a Goreshade list:

Goreshade the Bastard (+6)
--Defiler (5)
--Seether (9)
Mechanithralls (max, 5)
--Brute Thrall (1)
Bane Thralls (min, 5)
Bane Lord Tartarus (4)
Warwitch Siren (2)

The goal is to deliver Goreshade into range with the enemy caster and drop a bunch of heretofore-nonexistant Bane Thralls on his head. The Mechanithralls exist only to die and to get all the shooting attention, considering that they're the only thing in the list thats not Stealthed (if you're using Shadowmancer). They will die; everyone I play against takes great flaming pains to kill them, Brute Thrall first.

While they die the Banes move in. Tartarus Curses a unit, charges in, and Threshers himself a handful of new Banes, who then join the existing Bane unit in tearing apart whatever happens to be in front of them. Remember that Tartarus' Curse and Death Toll abilities work for the Bane Thralls summoned by Goreshade's feat, too!

The Siren and Defiler are there to deal with any infantry that BLT can't handle (ha!). For heavy armor, you have Shadowmancer + charging-for-free-generates-its-own-focus-and-free-power-attacks Seether, hitting at MAT 8 and P+S 16 (effectively 18 with Shadowmancer on) before tossing whatever's left of the enemy jack aside to be dealt with by the Banes. Remember that Shadowmancer works on Goreshade, too, meaning that the Bastard is swinging an effective POW 16 sword that turns dead infantry into hot zombie goth chicks.

If you're really worried about heavy jacks (or light ones for that matter) trade out the Mechanithralls for the Withershadow Combine (same point cost, though you'll gain a point for not bringing the Brute Thrall). Park a Bane Thrall next to a jack and charge it with the Combine (who also have Stealth), whacking a jack with three POW 13 attacks, effectively POW 15 (with the Bane's Dark Shroud) and 4d6 damage (charge + Dismantle against warjacks). When they inevitably scrap the jack, you get a free warjack of your own from the wreckage... so you might want to bring that Slayer, or buy a second Seether, after all.

Sorry, that got long. I'm kinda inspired by your list. I want to try out a hard-pipe-hitting Goreshade Stealth list now!