Mage Hunter Strike Force?

[Killionare]

So I'm nearing the next round of the grow league that got me into warmachine and I was thinking of adding a mage hunter strike force + UA but I'm really torn. On paper they look like they can do some cool stuff but I'm so new to warmachine that I don't really know what makes a good unit.

So what does everyone think about this unit?

[FranzGrenstein]

I love them, so much so I have to pace myself using them, so that I can learn other infantry.

[werecat]

Agreed. They are really solid against Hordes, and phenomenal against Warmachine. I love them. They're just gross with Ravyn.

[barrel]

I have only played them a few times. Right now I like them as a min with the UA. Great for getting to the support that is hiding behind stuff. Things like choir, vassels, squire, mechanics, and the list goes on.

Werecat: Why do you like them so much against Hordes? I do not care for them too much against Beasts and I am not sure how much I like them against Locks. I am not saying they are bad but I think there might be other choices I like more.

On the subject of RoS units are stuff is so solid across the board for the most I find myself being like Franz. I started playing with Invictors and Sentinels because they were our first troops and i have to force myself to leave them out sometimes so I can play the other stuff.

[masleth]

I've been quite pleased with them. Well worth the investment of both points and cash.

[werecat]

Werecat: Why do you like them so much against Hordes? I do not care for them too much against Beasts and I am not sure how much I like them against Locks. I am not saying they are bad but I think there might be other choices I like more.



Good question. When going against warmachine, target #1 and #2 are jacks and casters. But target #3 is infantry and support units. The ability to hit those backfield squishies, no matter what your opponent does to try and stop you is so nice. So basically, when going against hordes, they just focus on option #3, and still end up being worth their points 9 times out of 10.

[Dizzy]

I see units of 6+UA for 7pts paying off in my games but the full 11 are too hard to maneuver and not loose while still putting out damage without Ravyn's snipe. Even then I prefer to take the extra guys for 3pts which I could use paying for my eEiryss or half a unit of Halberdiers/Mages to screen said squishy scalpel from their usual kryptonite.

The full 10 pay off against a horde of ARM18 Jacks but I don't see that enough to want the full unit in most lists.

That said 7pts for 7 shots that go through anything is a good deal.

[necromancer120]

personally i love them. I even bought a second unit (thinking of running a minimum unit and UA plus the a full).

While im not the most experienced WM player, they have been my best unit game in and game out.

[ar2]

When I first started playing them I was fielding a full unit with the u/a but lately I prefer running only a minimum unit with the u/a. A minimum unit is a lot more maneuverable and dies less easily to aoe's. The minimum unit makes for an amazing support unit and with stealth and phantom seeker ranged strikes they can hunt down soft solos and other support units that tend to hide in the back ranks.

[Jack Spratt]

They rock. I got two full units and the ua and are considering another unit to run Ravyns tierlist.

[karn987]

Im honestly not the least bit impressed by this unit. They can hit sorta hard, but I've been using Bane Knights for the last several years and they are 1 P&S higher, let me tell you that unless they charge and get lucky, they dont do jack to a jack with arm 18+.

Because they only have combined melee they wont be able to get the punch they need at range to kill a heavy so that leaves them hunting lights. Pathfinder and Stealth are nice, they are a decent flanking unit but I'd rather have Narn and some buddies on the flank then these guys. Arcane Assassin is a nice little counter to annoying buffs like Iron Skin and Wind Wall, but they lack the power to be a real threat to a caster.

They do have a good range and with their UA they have no LOS shots which is very cool. They are very good at picking on light - medium troops and sniping out key components of the enemy line. But a Ghost Sniper does this better except for the requirement of LOS. Their best use seems to be taking out support units, Id love to lose Jack hunter and go down 2 pnts in cost, Id probably use them every time in that case.

Basically, they are not really jack hunters, they dont have the power to make a heavy jack worry. Sure with lucky rolls you can hurt it, but I'd be much more afraid of Eyriss and she is 7 pnts less then this unit and ua. I'd use them as a skirmishing force and harrass the enemy flank/back line but even then, 10 pnts is a lot for that. I'd rather have Housegaurd or Dawnguard of any kind over these guys every time. Call me crazy, but I like reliability and the ability to not evaporate at the weakest of blast attacks.

[Killionare]

Thanks for all the replies, Heres a more specific question, I have 8 points left to spend in my list, it consists of:
Kaelyssa
Hydra
Arcanist
Dawnguard Sentinels+ UA
House Shyeel Battle Mages
Narn
eEiryss

With the 8 points I was either going to do a min MHSF with UA and a soulless escort for the dawnguard or a min unit of invictors with UA.

[barrel]

karn: I do not think it is fair to compare MHSF to BKs. Your comparing them to a unit with a different function and was/is considered one of the best units in the game (BKs that is).

They are more likely damage a 18+ ARM jack than Invictors unless the Invictors are getting flank. They (MHSF) are rolling 4 dice against a jack on a charge. They are not built to take down heavy jacks as a main focus.

Most people seem to agree if you are going to run them then run them as a min with UA so that is 7 pts. They just get in the way among other things when you go full units. Most also agree their main or one of their main function is to get to that support unit/model.

Against casters it depends on the base ARM value. Low ARM casters do need to worry about them. High ARM casters not as much but they can get a few plinks to help out. Lock have less to worry to a degree because they can still transfer. MHSF are not going to do an assassination run on their own but they do offer you option that can help pull it off. As far as I know they are not going to help against Wind Wall but against Wind Rush they will since they will ignore that Def bonus.

Killionare: I would go MHSF +UA and soulles for the Sentinels and I love Invictors.

[Redphantasm]

Thanks for all the replies, Heres a more specific question, I have 8 points left to spend in my list, it consists of:
Kaelyssa
Hydra
Arcanist
Dawnguard Sentinels+ UA
House Shyeel Battle Mages
Narn
eEiryss

With the 8 points I was either going to do a min MHSF with UA and a soulless escort for the dawnguard or a min unit of invictors with UA.

MHSF for sure. you can put some hosing anti magic with this army. Whiplash for sure on the MHSF. Remember, magic attacks from farther then 5" vs stealth automatically miss. Happy.

[barrel]

Unless that magic attack is a spray (spray will ignore the stealth). Unless you are playing someone with an magic AOE they are not even going to mess with targeting the MHSA unless they are under 5 in. Banishing Ward on them makes them tough to get to.