Proper care and feeding of: Drago!

[StarmanTTLB]

So, as I stated in other threads I'm not getting much performance out of Drago. His best kills all come from when he 'splodes, but he almost never makes back his points or makes me glad I brought him over a Jugg or Kodiak or whatnot.

So, how do you use him? WITHOUT Vlad, that is.

[Jiub]

Without Vlad, you don't use him.

[Cuagau]

Agreed. Without Vlad, you are better off taking a regular Berzerker (If you are Karchev or pButcher) and saving yourself 2 points.
Otherwise, take a Jugg or a Kodiak, or Beast 09 if you really want a character 'jack.

[rvrchamp]

i hate to say it... but i think they above comments are pretty spot on.

Drago is phenomenal with Vlad, and absolute garbage with everyone else. IMO He just isn't worth the points, and is too risky to use with any other caster.

[tedwin183]

I think he's alright with Karchev. You pretty much don't have to give him any focus, all game long. Free runs/charges and unearthly rage = pretty good. He's actually quite nice with Karchev, because then Karchev can camp most of his focus. Drago, zerks and kodiaks are the optimal jacks for karchev.

[OldOneEye]

If you're going to use Drago without Vlad, you need someone that can boost it without giving it focus. That's either form of the Butcher (though Butcher1 is more stable since he can boost without killing an enemy model), Irusk1, and Karchev.

The problem I see is that those buffs work just as well on other 'jacks. In every one of those cases, I'd rather take a Kodiak for the same cost. It hits just as hard (ignoring critical effects, which I believe you can readily do when talking about Critical Amputation), is more survivable, has a much better Chain Attack, and also has the added utility of two open fists. That's ignoring all the other things a Kodiak can do. An extra point of MAT and DEF isn't enough for me to want to take Drago over a Kodiak, especially when you add in the risk of Drago blowing up.

[Cuagau]

I think he's alright with Karchev. You pretty much don't have to give him any focus, all game long. Free runs/charges and unearthly rage = pretty good. He's actually quite nice with Karchev, because then Karchev can camp most of his focus. Drago, zerks and kodiaks are the optimal jacks for karchev.

As oldoneeye has pointed out, Drago was well with Karchev, in the absence of Vlad, followed by pButcher, but it's still more effective taking a Kodiak. Vent Steam for blocking LoS to a Karchev with his back turned after slingshotting is very valuable.
Unfortunately, Karchev wont be camping his focus, because he will be casting Unearthly Rage most combat (and thats 50% of his focus gone, assuming he's using the Turbine for +1 Foc), Upkeeping Tow (Admittedly, not totally necessary in Mangled Metal, but has good tactical options), Leaving him one focus for smashing face, or boosting Fissure to hit. Let's not forget Unearthly Rage affects Big K himself, so one focus for an extra boosted to hit and damage P+S 19 attack is gravy.

[General Nemo]

He makes for a good independent troops shredder with Epic Butcher and Ravager, coupled with his Run Riot imprint. It's situational, but pretty helpful for punching a hole to the caster on feat turn. Plus, the Conferred Rage he gets is pretty sick.

[Kommissar Golovko]

It's not like Karchev can't bring both Drago and a Kodiak. Hell he can even bring Beast as well and he'd still be nasty with all 3 jacks. I have a fun list of Karchev, Beast, Drago, Kodiak, 2xBerserker and Wardog. All models can just run towards the opponents in the early going with Kodiak, Beast and Wardog protecting Karchev.

[Aries37]

Drago suffers from having not 1 but 2 strong affinities with Vlad. It's impossible to balance something like that with other casters.

That said he's also passable with Karchev, and pIrusk although both casters have better options.

[jack frost]

Drago suffers from having not 1 but 2 strong affinities with Vlad. It's impossible to balance something like that with other casters.

That said he's also passable with Karchev, and pIrusk although both casters have better options.

yeah... all they had to do was make unstable "roll under" and then he'd be taken by more than just vlad and "some" karchev players.

[StarmanTTLB]

Hrm. That's disappointing news, but not entirely unexpected.

I've used him with Karchev and Butcher1 in the past, but he stops dead when he runs out of initial attacks, as I can't give him that FOC to keep going.

Butcher2's Rampager isn't a bad idea, actually - may be one of the better targets for that particular spell. But still... I like long-range indy jacks with Butcher2 - Spriggan, Beast, Kodiak - and my Juggs!

[Typhael]

Drago suffers from having not 1 but 2 strong affinities with Vlad. It's impossible to balance something like that with other casters.

That said he's also passable with Karchev, and pIrusk although both casters have better options.

This is the point with the character 'jacks. :) Great with their particular caster, but not really used that often with other casters.

At least, I wish it were that way. :( Yes, even with Nightmare.

[vytzka]

This is the point with the character 'jacks. :) Great with their particular caster, but not really used that often with other casters.
Yep, they should be geared mostly exclusively for use with that character. That's why I think Drago is rather well developed and Beast 09 is too good in general.

[Hangedman]

I have used him with the Butcher quite well. FT gives him boosted attacks. And when I need him to I can give him 3 focus and watch him blow a hole to open a charge lane. Nothing is more satisfing than charging him at a caster with three focus doing a bunch of damage and then blowing up for the win. If he does not blow up the caster is looking at one mean death machine in his face. He also gets decent help from Irusk with Superiority on him. +2 mat, def, and speed is not bad.

I think its funny that people see him blowing up as a negative. I have used him to punch holes in a unit to get another jack into place for a caster kill. I think for 1 point more than a juggy I would rather take him.

[Avecrien]

Blowing up is great. Not blowing up is great. Sometimes blowing up or maybe not, seemingly doing the opposite of what the player was hoping for, turns people off.
I think if people could use focus to force a berserker/drago to explode, or voluntarily fail the roll, they'd be more popular across the board.
But with Drago in particular, a squishy 8pt jack without his affinities active won't turn everyone's head.

[StarmanTTLB]

Yep, they should be geared mostly exclusively for use with that character. That's why I think Drago is rather well developed and Beast 09 is too good in general.Tell me about it. Beast is in probably 2/3's of my lists, and should probably be in 100% of 'em... And his affinity with Sorscha? I honestly don't even remember what it is, as I don't use either of her incarnations much at all.


I think its funny that people see him blowing up as a negative. I have used him to punch holes in a unit to get another jack into place for a caster kill. I think for 1 point more than a juggy I would rather take him.It isn't a negative in and of itself - the huge AOE of the blast is wonderful, like a superstrong RoD in its awesomeness. My issue is that I can't control WHEN it happens, and for the cost that's not too nice. Its like my entire Trollblood army: you can't count on Tough, and it has the ability to screw over both the enemy's AND your plans due to its unpredictability.