Darius is OP

[John of Arc]

Honestly - with 9pts to swap out the Defender I would use what I know works = Storm Strider.

A. It has two Defender shots
B. It has x2 d3 Leaps
C. It doesn't need Focus
D. Darius can crane it and help with its shooting plus move it out front to block LOS to him
E. It covers an area that generally Darius is weak at = Infantry removal in bulk

* On the jack with Devil Dogs, if I owned the Buccaneer I would use it and may eventually buy it as I like it. Precursor Knights are my favorite infantry right now.

Craning a Strider is stupid in a good way.

[Calibre]

I have been play testing a merc unit with Darius as a self dependent Control point holder = Min Devil Dogs + Mule + Murdoch

It needs a lot more testing and I need to iron out what is better as a Jack with them and if going max unit makes it better etc.

They were better than I expected with Murdoch as his ability to give them one turn of Dig in was helpful with survival on an objective and more importantly, his Assault ability with a unit all equipped with POW 14 Slug guns turned out great!

Killed Horthol and some Stone Bearer grunts with Murdoch getting a charge assassination on Janissa. Sam's Stall gun is also nice on an Assault when the unit is charging a jack.

The Mule was so so. As always with it, if you Crit Devastate it usually does enough to earn its 8pts, but if not its really not as good.

I've been experimenting with a similar force and I would Highly recommend the freebooter. Normally I'll let the Devil Dogs assault in so everyone can het their shot and 2-3 get a chance to knockdown it with their nets, then the Freebooter charges in. I normally go for the 4d6 thrash on the target followed up by double handed throw away from his caster so he cant shake the effect.

[PG_TheEmu]

Agreed. 6 Focus has never been Darius's problem... Darius's problem is that he has no threat range extension - he relies on striking back hard in a game of excessively powerful first strikes... The Stormwall goes along way to fixing Darius's problem, because he now has a jack that can survive the first strike...

6 Focus is more than enough to get the job done...

No threat range extension? Something like 17-18" charge doesn't get an alpha strike in your meta?

Okay...

[TerTer]

No threat range extension? Something like 17-18" charge doesn't get an alpha strike in your meta?

Okay...

From where do you get 17-18" threat with Darius?

[Bladestorm]

No threat range extension? Something like 17-18" charge doesn't get an alpha strike in your meta?

Okay...

Out of interest, where are you getting the extra 10" of movement from ?

[Centa]

@TheEmu
How do you achieve a charge range of 17-18" with Darius? His spell is Full Throttle not Full Tilt.
3" for Crane, 5" Spd of Stormclad, 3" for charge, 2" for reach, ending up with 13" in total. Even if you add Lanyssa you can increase that range only by 2" up to a total of 15".

Back to topic:
I think the Stormwall brings Darius back to TopTier. Having a jack your opponent will struggle to one round most of the time, means that his feat becomes awesome again. And in addition the huge base of the Stormwall makes it easier to use Jackhammer.
A Stormwall can run 10" with a focus from Strangeways and make then can make up to 7 Jackhammer attacks with reach. Thats a thread of 12" against a lot of targets, reach with a huge base covers a lot of space.

At 35pts i would field:
Darius
Stormwall
Ol'Rowdy/Avenger
Squire

Strangeways
Junior
eEiryss
2x Stormsmits or Stormsmith + Reinholdt

- Squire because sometimes, i need the extra focus for an additional Jackhammer attack, and as allrdy pointed out, the huge base of Stormwall makes it pretty easy to cast Jackhammer on it.
- eEiryss to get rid of upkeeps like Crippling Grasp on Stormwall, or buffs like ArcaneShield/DefendersWard on enemymodels.
- Strangeways for the free run on Stormwall
- Stormsmiths for the Pods to deal with infantry
- Reinholdt if you want a second AOE attack from Darius, or just for more accuracy/dmg with one shot or Arcantric Bolt
- I prefer Ol'Rowdy, because he has a lot of base ARM, can hit high def models, offers KD, can run/charge for free and sometimes CounterCharge can be helpfull too
- The Avenger i have to test a little bit more. But having a second AOE 4 helps against infantry. And can make Jackhammer attacks autohitting if you can directly hit your target.

Another thought is, to switch the second jack with an Ironclad to safe 2pts. Removing the SS/Reinholdt and add in the B13.
But with Darius i want jacks with a lot of ARM so i have a decent chance to use Darius feat. ARM 18 is just to low, even with AS its likely that a jack with ARM 21 is getting killed in one round/activation.
With Ol'Rowdy instead, i can cast AS on SW and Fortify on Ol'Rowdy for two ARM 22 jacks, that cant be moved/pushed, and are immun against KD.

At 50pts i would drop Ol'Rowdy for a second Stormwall, add in B13 and another SS.

The only thing from what you have to fear is your wallet. After two $tormwalls your wallet will be very angry, and maybe your wife too

[fossilu]

@TheEmu
How do you achieve a charge range of 17-18" with Darius? His spell is Full Throttle not Full Tilt.
3" for Crane, 5" Spd of Stormclad, 3" for charge, 2" for reach, ending up with 13" in total. Even if you add Lanyssa you can increase that range only by 2" up to a total of 15".

I'm pretty sure Colossals can't be placed so I don't think Darius's crane would work on it. right?

[Nuriochi_sol]

PKs are the canonical Darius troops due to his tiers lists and the number of Reach jacks he usually has. I like Stormblades to give his Stormclads more oomph, but any self-sufficient troops should be fine. I'm thinking of running some Storm Lances with him sometime, for a fast flanking that doesn't need anything from Darius himself, but I bet Boomhowlers & Co. or OAC would be useful as a well.

I used to a Storm Lances + Ironclads list with Darius at low point games. It's a lot of fun! Basically, full Lances, two Ironclads, Jr, Squire for 25pts. Haven't tried them with him at higher points though.

[Ikras]

I'm pretty sure Colossals can't be placed so I don't think Darius's crane would work on it. right?

Thats true for the StormWall but he's referring to a StormClad in that post.

[Rolling_Thunder]

You can Crane for 3, and run, then get jackhammered. that's only 15 though. shrug. Kraye is 17.

I think Darius is a very solid caster (has been for a while, actually) Few people play him however. I am 100% unwilling to own the model . only model, in any mini's game I have played that I just won't own purely for looks. He's in a goddamn toilet bowl. If he was actually OP....i'm still not sure I could do it

[PG_Agamemnon]

I ran Darius with 2x Stormwalls and a min unit of Mechanics at 35 points. I have to agree jackhammer is an amazing spell. With Darius unless your opponent takes them 100% completely out of the game they basically are running without problems since halfjacks can repair a box... Darius has the feat and a repair. Tossing in the mechanics gave me charge lane blockers and repairs if needed.

[Da-Rock]

With Darius I will now always look at his build starting with the Darius Trifecta:

Stormwall

Hammersmith
Hammersmith

That will be my Core every time. It has its Pros and Cons. Its 30pts with Darius and makes a neat and compact 35pt list if you add a Squire and Jr.

After the Trifecta it comes down to my support vs big guns -

x2 Striders etc

I do like that Darius can use Fortify to give the Stotrmwall protection without Jr, but I love have AS on Darius or a Strider/Stormwall.

[Da-Rock]

I am 100% unwilling to own the model . only model, in any mini's game I have played that I just won't own purely for looks. He's in a goddamn toilet bowl. If he was actually OP....i'm still not sure I could do it

Honestly, if you buy key pieces online at the PP store you can convert a MoW Mechanik into Darius very easily:

[PG_prkl]

From where do you get 17-18" threat with Darius?

I know that it surprises people, but wouldn't have guessed it surprises the Cygnarites themselves.. Hmph.

I lost Kromac to this after 1 round, so do yourselves a favor before facing him and think it through.

[Defenstrator]

Don't worry, PP put out an alt Darius. It pretends to be a Khador Man O' War mechanic, but nobody uses it for that. As a new Darius on the other hand, it's quite popular.

[Defenstrator]

I know that it surprises people, but wouldn't have guessed it surprises the Cygnarites themselves.. Hmph.

I lost Kromac to this after 1 round, so do yourselves a favor before facing him and think it through.

Maybe you should describe it. It might be rather than us not seeing it there's a mistake on your end. The max I can see is 15" for Crane + SPD + Charge + Reach + 2" extra from the Nyss minion solo.

[Rolling_Thunder]

Honestly, if you buy key pieces online at the PP store you can convert a MoW Mechanik into Darius very easily:

ok, this I could play

[Dan from Chicago]

You can Crane for 3, and run, then get jackhammered. that's only 15 though. shrug. Kraye is 17.

Uh ... how? Crane and Jackhammer are both on Darius's activation.

[Da-Rock]

I think most people misunderstand how difficult it is to work Jackhammer. I have read several statements of people who state -

"Just run your Jack out and then Jackhammer 6 times!"

As said above, you cannot Crane and cast Jackhammer unless your Jack's target is 3" away etc. The 2nd and MOST important part is =

Jackhammer is a 6" spell, how you are reaching a model that just ran that far? The next thought someone will come up with is = "Well just run a Lancer up first."

Ok, so I allocate a Focus to my Stormclad and my Lancer leaving me with 4, (3 if upkeeping anything). Then I activate my Stormclad and it runs 10". I then activate and run my Lancer, (assuming position requires it). After I run two Jacks into position, I activate Darius and cast Jackhammer through the Arc Node 3 times = uhm, no thanks people.

[Rolling_Thunder]

I know that it surprises people, but wouldn't have guessed it surprises the Cygnarites themselves.. Hmph.

I lost Kromac to this after 1 round, so do yourselves a favor before facing him and think it through.

It's literally not possible with stormwall. Stormclad it's more possible

with Crane, Corbaeu, Push, charge, reach; So 17 charging or 19 charging with hunters mark.

If you let someone use crane on stormwall, well they cheated because it can't be placed, and can't move outside of it's normal movement at all.

using crane prevents you from using jackhammer, but that's not terrible since you have full throttle

[Da-Rock]

If I need to get 17" and it requires that many models and activation sequence I would not select Darius for the job. If you want a Jack Bullet then you go to Kraye or Epic Haley.

[Rolling_Thunder]

If I need to get 17" and it requires that many models and activation sequence I would not select Darius for the job. If you want a Jack Bullet then you go to Kraye or Epic Haley.

You have just perfectly stated why people don't play darius.

[PG_Agamemnon]

I dont play Darius for a jack bullet... I play him for a jack wall.

[Da-Rock]

I dont play Darius for a jack bullet... I play him for a jack wall.

Zaaaatcly!!

Same reason why you don't play Darius, Kraye or Nemos for Caster on Caster assassination. They aren't built for that! Darius is a poor man's Karchev.

Play Big or Go Home!

[Dan from Chicago]

with Crane, Corbaeu, Push, charge, reach; So 17 charging or 19 charging with hunters mark.

Isn't Corbeau warrior model only? If not I'm going to have to fit her into more lists.

[PG_Tommeh]

Pretty sure Madelyn is warrior model, yes.

[Rolling_Thunder]

Oh yeah, now that you mention it, true. So 16"s is about the best bullet you can pull off.

Just to be clear, Playing Darius as a bullet isn't playing him right, and I'm not arguing that it is; It is however the reason that most people don't play darius. Well that and his toiletbowl dwelling.

[Dan from Chicago]

I'd agree that there are better Jack Bullets available, however, if you're going to play Darius, it'd be foolish not to keep it in mind.

[lastspartacus]

Darius got an enormous boost with Stormwall. He is in no way at the bottom of the pile anymore. I tried him with a Stormwall, cent, and avenger+support at 50 vs pvayl. I don't play cygnar and I played loosely with the overconfidence that collossals tend to evoke. It didn't matter. I didn't even need to feat it was so one sided. Darius getting better is the only high point of the borken that is stormwall

[Stephan Garmark]

The toilet look can easily be converted. My friend cut of Darius' head and closed the lid, that actually looks quite nice.

[PG_TheEmu]

Darius' Stormclad has a threat range of about 18,5" (about because of crane is not exactly 3") and his Centurion has a threat range of 17,5". I'm sure about this. This is how I caught prkl but I thought at least we all cygnarites knew it.

If you don't get it, re-read Darius' card and your rulebook again and again untill you get it. I'll come spoil it here later if you really don't get it

[PG_Tommeh]

Throw it for 5" (possibly some deviation), Darius walks up, uses crane to put the jack on its feet, then also moves it with the crane. The jack charges for 7 or 8, add reach ( crane, spd , reach and charge is around 9-10",depending which jack it is).

[PG_TheEmu]

Throw it ...

And we have a winner!

[Da-Rock]

Have you guys actually played him that way? I wouldn't waste my time trying so damn hard to have a Jack throw another jack, move Darius up and away from his defensive postion to stand up with Crane and move 3" so it can charge 8" - I''ll stick with shooting my opponent so many times with the Stormwall and x2 Storm Striders that he comes to me so my Stormwall and x2 Hammersmith's beat him into the ground under Full Throttle.

Darius is a Big Ol Brick sitting in the middle of the table. His armor and repair keep him in battle condition and then he stomps. He is not an assassin nor does his battle group stalk the opponent -

SIT
WAIT
POUNCE!!!!!!!

[phreaker187]

You can Crane for 3, and run, then get jackhammered. that's only 15 though. shrug. Kraye is 17.

I think Darius is a very solid caster (has been for a while, actually) Few people play him however. I am 100% unwilling to own the model . only model, in any mini's game I have played that I just won't own purely for looks. He's in a goddamn toilet bowl. If he was actually OP....i'm still not sure I could do it

I look at Karchev, then I look at Darius, then I wonder what the Cygnar designer was thinking. He lives in a toilet and he's holding a wrench. At least make it a macho wrench like Strangewayes for God sake.

[Da-Rock]

I look at Karchev, then I look at Darius, then I wonder what the Cygnar designer was thinking. He lives in a toilet and he's holding a wrench. At least make it a macho wrench like Strangewayes for God sake.

I agree. Personally I want to punch the MKII designer for Darius, apparently he was so broken in MKI that they had to throw him in the toilet...bada bum!

[Sanguinary Dan]

Sure the model stinks, but other than lack of a magical weapon and being trapped in a toilet he's not that bad. As long as he's running his jacks he's okay. Not that I plan on using him till he's resculpted, but that for tournaments. I've used him with a modified AdMech model as a stand in and found him really effective against other Cygnar and Cryx.

[MathPasta]

Darius is a poor man's Karchev.

And even then I find Kharchev hard to use. I find using Kharchev....Clunky. He has an amazing spell, but even then I find it more as a huge accuracy boost then a great damage buff. He also needs to be within 10 inches of the action if he wants to get any use from it. Also not good. And Tow is nice, but it causes clutter and your targets are spread out is not that much help at all. Also: never use the turning around trick. Its not worth it. The back-strikes BURN.

All his spells rely on being cluttered and near Kharchev, and even with his high arm and lots of damage boxes he is not too survivable because everything can hit him.

Point is even with a focus multiplier, it still does not compare to just buying more attacks at a weapon of Pow 17+.
Because in a Jack VS Beast fight I find the beasts always winning.

[PG_Agamemnon]

Well... it still takes two beasts to ensure the kill on one stormwall.

[sleet01]

Nobody really thought of the throw maneuver because we've all considered it and rejected it as too unreliable. Since you can miss on the attack (even with Full Throttle), fail the throw strength check (unless using a Storm Wall to throw), seriously damage the thrown model (especially if using a Storm Wall), and Deviate too far to Crane or too close for much benefit, it's less of a "technique" than a "hail Mary play". Not to mention that Full Throttle doesn't provide free Throws, so you're paying an extra focus for the privilege of this crapshoot. I don't need any more unpredictability than my reliably unreliable dice rolls already provide, thanks.