Vultures vs Wyverns

[Spear of Achilles]

Run A Tempestus and Elysian style of army, but have tried wyverns as vulture replacements in the over all AM list. Can't make up my mind over which works better:

 

4 Wyverns with Heavy bolters

 

or

 

two Vultures with Punishers/Heavy bolters.

 

 

Overall, the Vultures dish more wounds with 80 str 5 punisher and 6 heavy bolters (4's usually if I move, 3+ if I sit still vs non-keyword <Fly> units. So 27.39 wounds at BS 4+ (37.4 sitting still)

 

The Wyverns will average 56 shots (22.44 wounds vs T4 counting the reroll to wound then adding average Hvy bolter hits).  So the two vultures lay down more wounds as long as they have line of sight. The Wyvern don't need LOS for most of their shooting, and have more wounds by a large margin, and will degrade less in BS compared to the vultures.

 

Most of my other units are advancing Gatling/ac taurox and deep striking plasma tempestus.

 

Advice?

[Truesight]

Why not both?  1 Vulture and 2 Wyverns.  They have slightly different roles.

 

Vultures are nastier though, and if you are Elysian fluffy as well.

Edited July 25, 2017 by Truesight

[Withershadow]

If the goal is Dakka, you have better sources of it in the heavy support slot, I think. I like Thudd guns more than Wyverns, because you also get a bunch of lasguns in the bargain when things get squirely. Mortar heavy weapon teams are another really cheap source of indirect anti-infantry fire. The Vulture I think beats them all in pure volume of hate it puts out, but the artillery has the advantage of not needing LOS, and counting towards a unit on the board for sudden death. You can also get a bunch of Dakka Dakka from Punisher Tank Commanders. Still, the Vulture is definitely a big power piece for us given how cheap it is.

[Galron]

If you are going for a themed tempestus and elysian list then the Vulture is your only option. Wyverns will look weird in an airborne army unless you do some massive converting to make it look like a really light chassis with some mortar, nerbelwerfer style tubes on it. Something that could be air dropped. I would just go with the Vultures. Mine haven't failed me and even if they get knocked out by stupid tau death missiles before your first turn at least they used them on them and saved the rest of your army. Ie. Don't base your army or strategy off them.

[NatBrannigan]

Vultures.

 

You're already "handicapping" yourself by using Elysians so denying yourself access to a lot of the Guard list. That's the good kind of handicap by the way, I think Elysian armies are great! That gives you a great excuse to use a pair of arguably the best Guard unit in the game.

 

I would be interested to see your take on a drop Wyvern though! Maybe 4 Bullgryns carrying big Mortars on a single Wyvern sized base? Or even an idea that's actually good!

[Spear of Achilles]

Vultures.

 

You're already "handicapping" yourself by using Elysians so denying yourself access to a lot of the Guard list. That's the good kind of handicap by the way, I think Elysian armies are great! That gives you a great excuse to use a pair of arguably the best Guard unit in the game.

 

I would be interested to see your take on a drop Wyvern though! Maybe 4 Bullgryns carrying big Mortars on a single Wyvern sized base? Or even an idea that's actually good!

that IS a good idea

[Spear of Achilles]

I've noted that with no longer ignoring cover, the wyverns have had difficulty shifting Marines with their 2+ saves for the volume they put out. A vulture sitting still for the extra hits does quite a bit better.

[duz_]

Vultures are tougher and more durable too

And as Achilles pointed out Wyvrens do struggle now with MEQ's in cover

 

Points would be the other factor you would need to consider

 

Truesight's suggest seems a good compromise  

[Spear of Achilles]

Current List