Shadowhorn does what?

[Ebanis]

I'm having problems coming up for a reason to take the Shadowhorn beyond low but still significant cost. Stat-wise it's greatly inferior to even the Gnarlhorn(who's only one point more!), its animus is situational at best(though I run Kromac, and Havoc does most of what its animus does already), and even the obvious thing to put it on - a Gnarlhorn - ALREADY slams for free and has a 2" slam buff. Double your sins sure, but I don't generally need crazy d6 + 4" slams. Three power 13s is kinda cool, and I could see it being really doomy under Primal - but again, it's only a point under the Gnarlhorn, who doesn't need the buff to be effective.

I already own the model and really like it, though, so I'm wondering if I just need to try it with a new caster (Thinkin' Mohsar) or if I'm just missing something. Has anyone else done well with the thing?

[LEJKaya]

It's cheap and its got that leap.

That's basically what you're after, it has 3 attacks, even at low P&S that's alright for the cheapest heavy there is. Its got 2 open fists and a large base so after it moves and leaps a total of 11" and then do a two handed throw.
His animus isn't bad either.

[Bearded Dragon]

I'm rather unimpressed by this goat too. The loss of the +2 mat from virility (along with -1 attack power) really hurt.

I can see taking it to toss something to your other warbeasts for beating on (toss using the animus, not using the chain attack), but in a lower point game, I don't see it being taken often.

I've tried running it with Kruegar and Moshar and it was unimpressive every game.

[Brandubh]

Shadowhorn = counterattack. Unlike the Gnarlhorn, it's not a shock unit - you don't throw it into the enemy lines. In my book, the Shadowhorn breaks down into three basic areas of the game:

1 ) DEF13 + Reversal + Set Defense. Stick him in front of your caster and anyone trying to get close has to first go through him. Most models have a hard time hitting DEF 13 with Set Defense. Reversal makes for a good deterrent.

2 ) Bounding Leap + Chain Attack Pitch + Virility. Without slamming, you can clear a line of enemy infantry and avoid free strikes to try to pop off a chain attack. A free throw is really nice, esp when you are automatically winning the STR test. Goodbye warjacks.

3 ) Virility + Gnarlhorn's Grand Slam & Follow Up. If you don't need the movement from Bounding, then slamming d6+4" with follow up is brutal. Add in Lightning Tendrils and the Gnarlhorn bomb becomes brutal. I've had success slamming a heavy warbeast into enemy lines then following up into the center of the enemy force. Then you buy your extra attacks to auto hit the knocked down model with lots of electro loops.

[LEJKaya]

Also, D6+4" slams actually act like old school knock downs if you don't follow up, with the target so far away, for some (Troll or Khador) jacks/beasts its enough to get around the shake off if you roll enough.

[Bearded Dragon]

I keep hearing about using Virility on the Gnarlhorn. It is sounding like the Shadowhorn isn't that keep to take on its own. Just as a walking animus for its big brother and a transfer target.

[LEJKaya]

I have found the beast useful in and of himself (If you'll excuse the odd reflexive use).

Putting a 2 handed throw where you want it can really help. He has great use with pKaya too, as he did in MkI by getting her penetration into the enemy lines.
And remember he's cheap!

[Spooker]

Very unimpressed. To bad, its a great fig. I love the way mine turned out.
But uninspiring. Imho there was really no reason for the -1 Pow nerf.

Not what we want out of a heavy - Even if he is a cheap heavy.

take care.

[Scyldemort]

He's a solid, useful, cheap heavy warbeast. Mind you, I never take him by himself, but as backup for his big brother, he's fantastic. And with epic kaya, three P+S 15s is quite respectable as far as assassination runs go.

[Brandubh]

I keep hearing about using Virility on the Gnarlhorn. It is sounding like the Shadowhorn isn't that keep to take on its own. Just as a walking animus for its big brother and a transfer target.

Not really. He's got chain attack: pitch which is useful with Virility. But if you look at targets for Virility the Gnarlhorn is a prime (perhaps the prime) target. Woldwardens are a good target. Warpwolves double handed throwing is another great target (getting up to STR15 with Evolution & Warping) as he can get a 9" throw off.

In other words, the Shadowhorn is decent on his own...but he's a 7 point heavy, so you can't expect him to be a Feral or Gnarlhorn. He dumps his exceptional animus on one of several good options but he also benefits from it himself.

[UnderWood]

I always take one with Ekaya forced evo + set defence + reversal = hilarity

Seriously hes DEF 17 vs charges I just shove him in front of units and dare my opponent to charge him.

I also rather like him with Ekruegur as give him windblown and he walks 8" leaps 5" past anything in the way reach units infantry screens anything. Then bam with a primal your looking at a MAT 7 PS 15 beast with 3 atacks with 3 fury left for boosts thats easily caster killing territory right there.

He's not a mainstay beast he wont be your first choice but if your taking 2 or more heavys he is well worth consideration as he is increadibly flexible and can get to places your oppoent never ever expects.

I think thats the real fun of him you can't figure out what he''s for by looking at his rules but play a game with him and you will suddenly go "wait I can walk up there leap over that and double handed throw that heavy onto that unit or beat that caster to death.

[Devilry]

Nice bodyguard for Pkaya, counterslam + his defence is actually a fair deterrent to people trying to sneak the odd figure towards Kaya.

Because she has to operate close to the front line she is always going to want looking after and the goat just means people have to think that little bit harder about how to approach her, hopefully while your other beasts are tearing their faces off.

I also try to run a list with a lot of flexibility in shifting the opposition around.

Gnarlhorn for the big slams, durids for the 'push me pull me', LoTF for clearing infantry screens. The shadowgoats throw can just be another tool in that arsenal and with pretty darned good mobility too. With Kaya's +2 boost to hit rolls you can almost gaurantee getting a good throw on anything you really need to.

Well worth it for the points in my mind.

[OminousAfro]

The Shadowhorn is a little lackluster, I agree. I think it's just his MAT that makes him feel so subpar. 1 fury to leap, and 3 to boost all of his attacks just so his chain attack goes off. I'm not sure if that was the intent of PP or not, but I feel like I don't really get a use out of his animus just because I can't afford to have him cast it on himself if I want him to accomplish anything.

+1 MAT would go a long way to make me want to field him.

I do, however want to use him with Mohsar and throw things into Pillars of Salt. It would be hilarious.

[calabiyau]

The Shadowhorn is a little lackluster, I agree. I think it's just his MAT that makes him feel so subpar. 1 fury to leap, and 3 to boost all of his attacks just so his chain attack goes off. I'm not sure if that was the intent of PP or not, but I feel like I don't really get a use out of his animus just because I can't afford to have him cast it on himself if I want him to accomplish anything.

+1 MAT would go a long way to make me want to field him.

I do, however want to use him with Mohsar and throw things into Pillars of Salt. It would be hilarious.

The Shadowhorn, like the Gnarlhorn, appears very much intended as a defensive beast. If he's charged, he's rather hard to hit. Give him Forced Evo for fun! If you miss him, you get knocked down and you're out of the fight. Then on his turn, he can get out of the way and let a Feral destroy whatever failed to hit him. Rinse repeat... at least theoretical-machine-ly anyways.

The problem, however, is that defensive abilities are much harder to judge and use than offensive abilities.

[Achiles]

The Shadowhorn is a little lackluster, I agree. I think it's just his MAT that makes him feel so subpar. 1 fury to leap, and 3 to boost all of his attacks just so his chain attack goes off. I'm not sure if that was the intent of PP or not, but I feel like I don't really get a use out of his animus just because I can't afford to have him cast it on himself if I want him to accomplish anything.

+1 MAT would go a long way to make me want to field him.

I do, however want to use him with Mohsar and throw things into Pillars of Salt. It would be hilarious.


I have to agree with pretty much all of this.

I don't mind that he just pillow-fisted and fragile. Bounding Leap, Chain Attack Pitch and Reversal are all compelling reasons to take him. However his low MAT makes it prohibitively expensive in fury to get off the chain attack and means you rarely have the option to boost his damage if you want to hit. Reversal is honestly all he's got that actually works well, on account of Set Defense.

With +1MAT he becomes reliable enough to see some serious table time. As is I only really ever use him with Kaya2 as a good target for Forced Evolution. Even that only makes him great at using Rversal, if your opponent is stupid enough to fall for it, and mediocre at everything else.

We need to be testing him though and submitting feedback. I know it's easy to concentrate on the constructs and wolves because they are our primary heavy beasts. But we don't want to ignore the other satyr just because he is cheap. If we do he could slip into the final version as little more than mediocre heavy that only has his cheapness really going for him.

[bushman101]

I'm finding the Shadowhorn great for assassin lists, especially when fielding Kaya.
Leap is a good option for Kaya's Spirit Door
If your opponent is hiding a beast behind a line of infantry, Leap is good for getting right to it.
Also, consider the Shadowhorn a great late-game beast. Hold it back early and use it for transfers if need be. Then when the lines are thinned down, have it leap and get close to the enemy caster. Even if you can't get into melee for the assassination at this point, your opponent maybe at a loss as to what to do to remedy the situation.

[Mavwick]

Set Defense is just huge for the beast, and it gets even better with the added Reversal. It kind of reminds me of the Centurion and how its shield stops infantry from being able to hurt it. If you don't have MAT8, you probably won't hit him and you'll be knocked down. It's a big deterrent and could let him sit on the front lines if you've read your opponent well. From there, he's in a position to leap and take on key targets.

The beast still badly needs one more MAT and probably an extra POW on the horns. I realize a Dervish can't leap and throw enemies, but it's 4 points and has about the same damage output and access to a similar buff. It's still MAT6 to start.