Tell me about Venator Slingers.

[Matthaeus]

Hello there,

I was looking at the ranged options available to the Skorne, and stumbled on the Slingers. I hear very little about them, and this sparked my curiosity !

At first glance, they seem very interesting to me.
They seem able to deal some hefty damage ; the only thing I could see them having problems with is multi-wounds living models. Even then, if we're talking heavy infantry, Corrosion will take its toll. At the same time, they're dirt cheap, I can see them being used as a completely expendable jamming unit. They look like Skorne Zealots.

As seasoned tyrants, what are your thoughts about them ?

[PG_petegrrrr]

I love them. I think they are amazing against single wound infantry, and even pretty decent against jacks. And if you are facing high def models, well, those models tend to lack reach, so you can march a couple of your own guys just outside of melee, then shoot them in the back for corrosion aoe hillarity on the high def models.

[Ranhothep]

Yes, they are a great unit for their points cost. As I said elsewhere, they are my first choice when I need to fill 6 points It's surprising how they fit in so well, despite being a "surprise unit" no one expected nor felt was missing. They are also a good reinforcement choice and I used them in a Rasheth tier army to great effect, since a jack who gets blood marked will be in serious trouble once these guys join a Cannoneer.

[tzeentchling9]

Reasons why I love slingers:

1.They are cheap.
2.Pretty decent damage against light jacks/Helljacks.
3.They are cheap.
4.Constructs tend to have more armor, where the extra die is very helpful.
5.They are cheap.
6.They clear infantry very well with a few well placed hits.
7.Did I mention that they are cheap?

Basically, they do well enough on their own, but then you see that they are only 6 points for 10 of them and love them for their cost.

[lifelesspoet]

I only fielded them twice vs a Jack heavy cygnar force and venethrax. They did well for the points, I can see how they would be a bit annoying to certain armies. I wouldn't expect miracles. If you aren't expecting cryx infantry or a few Jacks/constructs I would suggest going with the venators reivers instead.

[PG_strangedane]

I've tried them once - they killed Megalith by themselves!

[whats82]

Their damage output is surprisingly good.

12/18 (Cygnar, some Cryx, Ret) and 10/18~19 (Wold, Merc) heavies are fantastic target for these guys to soften up the target. Due to the damage output, your opponent actually can't ignore them.

They make shieldwall and defensive line worthless because opponent will avoid clumping up. If they do clump up, 1 hit can kil 2~3 guys from the slingers.

Against heavier targets, think of corrosion as a weaker version of snipe, they're still doing 1 damage.

Other than those, they are cheap and a great source of souls as you can run them as front line speedbump and not care.

[Matthaeus]

Gentlemen, thank you for the input.

I like what I hear ! So these guys do hold their own in battle. Would they couple well with something ?

[PG_petegrrrr]

I never have decent luck with revers, and at 11 points for the whole unit, I just don't feel that they are twice as good as the slingers at all.

[Ranhothep]

The reivers are a completely different unit, but also very potent in some lists, but obviously not universal as the slingers due to their high cost.

The slingers have a few synergies with other models, but one of their selling points is that they don't need any support because even in the worst matchup a cheap jamming unit is often welcome.

Some combos for them:

Blackspot - makes everything better, including slingers
Tycom - press forward extends the range
Mordikaar - good Hollow target, ok to revive into good, back arc spots, where an aiming slinger can hit very reliably
Rasheth - with Blood Mark up they could even total a lower def jack

[whats82]

Even without blood mark I've had a unit wreck a spider jack on their own (above average dice), my opponent was floored with a 6pt unit doing that at range with no buff. (granted MHSF can do similar but they're a 10pt unit with UA)

Agree on black spot, tycom and mordikaar, used them to great effects on those. Mordikaar especially. Opponent almost 'must' deal with them, and then feeds him souls while tough.

[PG_carnage4u]

Reasons why I love slingers:

1.They are cheap.
2.Pretty decent damage against light jacks/Helljacks.
3.They are cheap.
4.Constructs tend to have more armor, where the extra die is very helpful.
5.They are cheap.
6.They clear infantry very well with a few well placed hits.
7.Did I mention that they are cheap?

.

Its actually suprising how good they are for 6pts. I do play zaal, so I do love a at least 1 cheap infantry unit as well, but ranged 10, with arcing fire is great. sure their Rat is terrible, but I still find I hit enough with them, and I love arcing fire with them as well. I often have a tyrant commander iwth them, so i'll walk them 8 inches and through 10 inches at some support model. If i make 5 to 6 attacks against a sherpard, its going to hit at least once.. Honestly removing support pieces is nice, and every so often I am able to get some good hit/aoe spots as well.

Plus 6 points! They make most of my lists atm.

[viperidae99]

This is interesting to read. I remember when they came out, the RAT 5 and no CRA fuelled doom and gloom on the forums. Many claimed they were useless without Black Spot. Glad to see they're getting some use and people are enjoying them.

[PG_petegrrrr]

With a Tryant commander hanging around, the will decimate no reach infantry by suicide bombing unlucky members of their own unit who have walked up to be just out of melee with models like kayazy. Sacrificing 3 or 4 models that cost less than a point each to put corrosion on 7-8 more expensive models? Totally worth it.

[x3tsniper]

Do you generally find yourself hitting your own models in the back over targeting enemy infantry for the AoE?

[PG_petegrrrr]

def 12 can be a blessing in disquise.

But really, this is only for dealing with high def, non reach infantry or stealth (so bane knights, kayazy, bloodtrackers, wintergaurd deaths star, etc). It's not for use against non stealth, lower def troops.

But with a tyrant commander letting them walk 8 inches into position, it can be very handy in those situations listed above.

[pops101]

the fact that they are only aoe 3 if they hit with rat 5 throws me off a bit...... dunno if i should buy em

[lifelesspoet]

the fact that they are only aoe 3 if they hit with rat 5 throws me off a bit...... dunno if i should buy em

They are well balanced unit. If rat 5, aoe 3 on hit is not the game you want to play they aren't for you. I think they play their role very well, to soften up Jacks and put hurt on cryx infantry swarms. This is about as good as it gets for our ranged support options and I think they fit a niche we were missing.

[Mod_Gemini]

the fact that they are only aoe 3 if they hit with rat 5 throws me off a bit...... dunno if i should buy em

This is actually great in timed tournament games, saves you a bunch of time to not have to roll deviations.

[whats82]

This is one of those units that looks terrible on paper but performs quite well on the board.

[Sygerrik]

This is one of those units that looks terrible on paper but performs quite well on the board.

I honestly don't know anyone who thought they were terrible. When I first read these guys I had to pick my jaw up off the floor. They are legit in the best possible way.

[Hasten]

I'm curious, how are folks finding them working against Hordes? Against WM opponents, I can definitely see the utility. Do those of you who've used them find they pull their weight against the other side of the game?

-H

[Lord Tyrant peers]

I think vs hordes the will be great against legion minions and trolls but not so much circle. most hordes armies don't or can't do the crazy hi def spam stuff that warmachine factions can

[Hasten]

I think vs hordes the will be great against legion minions and trolls but not so much circle. most hordes armies don't or can't do the crazy hi def spam stuff that warmachine factions can

Heh, that's funny, I was thinking that Legion would be their worst application, as they'll do very little to the typical beast-heavy loadout. The higher DEF values will also be a challenge. Against constructs in Circle they'll have a similar application as against WM.

But that's just my theorymachine, I'm curious if anyone has had some first-hand experience.

-H

[whats82]

When I looked at them I thought they are the worst inclusion in the Dominion book. My opinion of them have changed a lot since then.

[Lord Tyrant peers]

Heh, that's funny, I was thinking that Legion would be their worst application, as they'll do very little to the typical beast-heavy loadout. The higher DEF values will also be a challenge. Against constructs in Circle they'll have a similar application as against WM.

But that's just my theorymachine, I'm curious if anyone has had some first-hand experience.

-H

I meant outside of constructs(which have low def no stealth) circle have a lot of stealth and stuff, or circle players i come across have lots of stealth.
Legion has(outside of legionaires good def non reach infantry slingers would be great against.
Or maybe its just dragon factions tend to be my achilles heel

[PG_petegrrrr]

Against Circle: Construct armies are the new rage, and these guys will pound them for very few points
Against Trollbloods: Crappy def means we get a lot of corrosion to ignore that armor. Very nice.
Against Skorne: generally, same as trollbloods, plus they will wreck some zaal and mordikaar lists.
Against Legion: Good for taking out support models hiding behind heavies, but other than that, not really a great match up
Against Minions: Undead gators? You will do some serious damage. Pigs? Low def = corrosion party

[Hasten]

Against Circle: Construct armies are the new rage, and these guys will pound them for very few points
Against Trollbloods: Crappy def means we get a lot of corrosion to ignore that armor. Very nice.
Against Skorne: generally, same as trollbloods, plus they will wreck some zaal and mordikaar lists.
Against Legion: Good for taking out support models hiding behind heavies, but other than that, not really a great match up
Against Minions: Undead gators? You will do some serious damage. Pigs? Low def = corrosion party

Yeah, that's approximately what I was thinking as well. Good deal.

-H