eSkarre and how to get around her feat

[Kurgash]

I was once the victim of this monstrosity and for many months been thinking of how to get around the 'can't touch this!' dance my opponent does. It says can't target, can't charge so the only options I have so far come up with are scattered aoe's and just waiting it out. Has anyone thought of what else in our equipment can be used to get around it?

I think flashing blade? Is it a direct targeting or more or less a thresher that just cleaves all around it with no specific target?

[syanide]

theres few ways you could run some models base to base and target them with sprays or aoes or anyone behind her
trample is anotherway as it does not target other wise pull back hope this helps you

[IAvian]

Skorne don't have a lot of options to damage Skarre on her feat turn. Generally the best thing to do is to kill what you can, and reposition to minimize retaliation the next turn.

[Rynth]

I was once the victim of this monstrosity and for many months been thinking of how to get around the 'can't touch this!' dance my opponent does. It says can't target, can't charge so the only options I have so far come up with are scattered aoe's and just waiting it out. Has anyone thought of what else in our equipment can be used to get around it?

IMO, be thankful that your opponent is primarily choosing his own models rather than neutering your models.
However, you asked for a list.

Slam models over them. Combo Smite, currently any beast other than the Razorworm or Archidon, *Attack Smite
Throws, one and two handed. While the models she feats on cannot be targeted you can throw models at them. With one handed throws a degree of luck and positioning will be required to get the throwee onto the feated model. Two handed throws technically are melee attack rolls, so throwing something at a feated model is 100% allowed.
AOEs. Obliteration, Hex Blast, Mordikaar's Gun, Cannoneer's Gun, Breath of Corruption, Ashes to Ashes, Eruption of Ash, Acid Bath
Trample. Tramples don't require a target, and make attack rolls rather than attacks.
Sprays need a target, but you get to attack everything under the template. Essence Blast, Drake's Gun


Some things to keep in mind:
1) Since she just feated she will be down ~5 health making her an 11(or so) health caster. Some of the above options aren't high power or are unboostable, but they might not need to be if you can get them in on her.
2) You'll likely have to target your own models to get these off. Make sure what you lose to do it is worth the sacrifice.

I think flashing blade? Is it a direct targeting or more or less a thresher that just cleaves all around it with no specific target?

No. Flashing Blades makes attacks, and attacks need a target.

[John Q.]

Skorne don't have a lot of options to damage Skarre on her feat turn. Generally the best thing to do is to kill what you can, and reposition to minimize retaliation the next turn.

I learned how to Skorne against eSkarre playing IAvian.

It's not easy, but it can be done.

His advice about repositioning comes from the fact that this is what I learned to do against her.

With Skorne you have to mitigate the power of her feat, which is, essetially, the ability to deny you the alpha strike. She can get all up in your grill and make it so that you can't hurt her, taking away much of Skorne's real advantage over Cryx; awesome hitting power. Typically, eSkarre will run a bunch of hard hitting heavies that she can feat and protect, and some utility pieces (pistol wraiths and arc nodes) that she can safely position to hurt you bad next turn.

The trick, I found, is to fake her out. Pull one way, draw her across the table, and then when she comes after you, you swing back the other way, repositioning and readjusting for the fight to come. You're gonna have to trade some pieces for this to work, usually a unit of Praetorians or Nihilators will work for this (be careful of leaving trample lanes to your beasts though) but so long as you keep your own heavies safe, then you should be fine.

Also, as he says, don't focus on what you can't kill. Kill as much of the stuff that you can kill as possible. Since you will be trading pieces against her, and this tactic essentially forces the game to become a long, tough slog, everything you kill is important. Once her is feat is gone you can out attrition her if you kill everything you can when you can.

An Agoniser is also good at this stage. If you push him down their throat, and make it so they can't allocate to the Jacks, you can stall them while you reposition.

The other trick to beating Skarre (either of them actually) is to try and kill the necrosurgeon early. Between all of her 'cut-for' abilities and her feat, if you kill the necrosurgeon early you put her under serious late game pressure as she whittles herself down. This isn't always easy in Skorne, but with access to the Cyclops Shaman, it's very doable, especially since Domination came out.

The casters I have found most effective for this tactic are pMakeda, Xerxis and Mordikaar, and I think the Cyclops Shaman, a cheap unit, and an Agoniser are also key pieces in taking her apart.

Hope that helps, and is readable.

[PG_lord tyrant watt]

PMorghoul is the trump card. Make her feat first, use your feat in retaliation and upkeep admonition on a Sentry or BBTitan.

The use of an agonizer and Orin Midwinter with Morghoul in this situation shuts down a lot of her shenanigans.

[Sanctjud]

First time I tried Mordikaar tier 4, it was up against eSkarre.

Ran Nihilator close to her.
Ran my Bronzeback behind Nihilator.
Essence Blast Bronzeback, targetting the Nihilator, double boosting on eSkarre for the win.

eSkarre feated on herself, my Gladiator, my Bronzeback, Deathjack, and Nightmare.

[Kurgash]

Thanks alot guys, yeah I was thinking of using Mordikaar for anti cryx and his essence blast trump card keeps coming to mind.

[PG_Chris Cuevas]

PMorghoul is the trump card

This is interesting, hadn't thought about it.

I was thinking of using Mordikaar for anti cryx and his essence blast trump card keeps coming to mind.

I've pulled it off on newer eSkarre players only. An experienced eSkarre player will always pick eSkarre first, Mordikaar second. Once that happens Essense Blast is off the table

[x3tsniper]

Why target Mord with eSkarre feat? Oo

[Lord Tyrant peers]

Not if you target a different model. For instance if you have a krea that is able to move within 2" of skarre use its animus and the use a drake to target the krea skarre still gets hit because she wasn't the target. boost to hit and damage an she should be dead

[Rynth]

Why target Mord with eSkarre feat? Oo

So that Mordikaar cannot make any attacks.

[Isante]

I like having a Sentry when facing eSkarre. Clever use of Locker can shut down any of her feated heavies and keep them in place while you can't attack them.

[x3tsniper]

Mord can still cast spells though. You are just saving yourself from a shot from his gun. He can still get off essence blasts. Seems like a wasted target to me. Granted if a Cryx player targeted me with it, I wouldn't complain.

Am I overlooking something? I suddenly feel like I am. >.>

[Ikazuyr]

I may be wrong, but isn't an offensive spell considered an attack? I know her feat wouldn't shut down all casting, but any offensive spells shouldn't be options.

Edited for grammar

[Rynth]

Skarre2's feat can prevent enemies from making attacks. Essence Blast is an offensive spell, so it is a Magic attack and would be prevented by Skarre2's feat.

[x3tsniper]

Consider that overlooked.

[Sanctjud]

Yeh, keep way back.. as a Cryx player, I love catching the enemy caster with eSkarre's feat...but thankfully Mordi can play it back field.

[Ranhothep]

One simple thing that has worked miracles for me is: play at 50 points It might not allways be possible, but if you do have the choice, definitely go for it. At 50 pts, her feat is simply gonna affect far less of the battlefield and you'd be surprised what a difference it makes.

As for concrete tactics, Breath of corruption is a good tool. It is str 12 beneath the entire template so just run a model near her, channel it on the model and boost on Skarre, while feating. Rasheth should be very difficult for her to catch with her feat. Also, Castigate and Agonizers can mess with her game plan a lot.