Unit of the Week: Overlord

[NTaW]

 

Welcome to the Necron Unit of the Week Series!

Each week a different unit will be highlighted for discussion until we have amalgamated a full list of our available options and their relevant tactics as 8th edition evolves. We already have a few previous entries but things change as FAQs and Chapter Approved books get released and we playtest new ideas so please feel free

to reopen a topic when new options become relevant for discussion.

 

Please keep in mind this isn't to lament the status of featured units or compare them to others but to try and find their potential for all types of gameplay.

 

This week’s unit is:

 

 

As a loose guide, here are some questions we could answer to help out any who happen upon our metallic little corner of the B&C:

 

• What Code do you prefer?

• What synergies have you found with other units?

• Are there any stratagems that specifically buff this unit?

• Do you build your list around this unit or use it to fill some points?

• What are some of the strengths and weaknesses of this unit?

Now over to you!

 

Note this is only to cover the Overlord unit and not the Catacomb Command Barge, which will have its own UotW entry.

[Mr4Minutes]

Just Overlord not CCB correct?

 

I’ve been doing a bare bones load out with my Overlord. Staff of Light, the Veil of Darkness and Mephrit dynasty. He hangs out with 10 immortals with Tesla carbines and jumps them into a good firing lane. Sometimes that’s turn 1, but they can wait if necessary.

 

Lore wise our Overlords are supposed to be some of the greatest close combat specialists, but in game I find them mediocre. 3 attacks base has just not been enough to do much. Especially against a unit/model with an invuln.

[Claws and Effect]

Inclined to agree on the Overlord and close combat.

 

It will smash some things, but a dedicated close combat unit will wreck him pretty easily.

[MithrilForge]

Most times it's the cookie-cron - staff/veil , he's really good at moving units to area's that need firepower poured on them..up close   or to drop a unit as objective grabbers

i don't play him as a powerhouse...more of a support unit that can sorta defend himself if he has too 

i used to run Nihilakh but i'm heading towards Mephrit nowadays ...

I think that the veil lord really takes advantage of this Dynasty...he's able to move units to within half range to get more AP when you really want to wipe something out quick.

And if you want to make him more shooty then give him the "Voltaic Staff" which if i recall is a Mephrit only artefact  .

In summary i always think of the Overlord as a "Support Lord"   

Cheers, Mithril

[NTaW]

I'm now finding out I'm in the minority using mine as a beatstick with the Novokh Code, Crimson Haze trait, voidscythe, and Veil of Darkness relic. It's a brutal combo that my enemies have learned to take seriously even with only 5 Lychguard in tow. With the Novokh trait offsetting the -1 of the voidscythe, not to mention the Overlord can use MWBD on itself, and the Crimson Haze trait popping up the occasional extra attacks I have gotten things done in my games.

 

 

The 3+/4++ combo is pretty average for protection and hasn't been much of a detriment in my games. Has anyone played their OL with the Sempiternal Weave, Nightmare Shroud, or Timesplinter Cloak relics? I find I just want to add more Lychguard for increased protection and damage potential given my loadout. Guardian Protocols is a boon to survival. I also find myself trying to save a CP to use on the Resurrection Protocols stratagem.

[Tyriks]

For Gauss troops, Overlords can be helpful. Especially if you're up against Alaitoc or Alpha Legion type armies. Without penalties to hit, it's a nice boost but nothing crazy.

 

Overlords make Tesla amazing. Tesla Immortals without MWBD can be good against certain targets but fall short of Gauss most of the time. With MWBD, Tesla is about equal to Gauss against MEQ and better against anything with less armor than that.

 

I like to run one or two with big units of Tesla Immortals to buff. One will Veil, the other is usually on foot. I like to keep them cheap to start with and then upgrade weapons if I have leftovers at the end, so lots of Hyperphase Swords to start. Even with a Staff of Light I find mine out of range to shoot for a lot of the game so I don't upgrade them unless I don't have anything better to put the points into.

 

Edit: NTaW, I guess I don't use Overlords as beststicks because they're so much better on a Command Barge. Quantum Shielding, Lightning Field, Voidscythe on a barge is a monster. I do bring an Overlord to Veil Lychguard sometimes but if I do that I'm building the whole list for it.

[NTaW]

I am very excited to assemble/paint the 10 tesla Immortals I have, though I think I'll run two Overlords (one as described and one in my Mephrit Detachment) when I get them built. Their benefit there is undeniable and given my common opponents of Daemons, Orks, and Tyranids I could really use it. Does anyone ever get to the coveted 4+ tesla activation?

 

Full disclosure of my Overlord use, in the interest of unit synergy and capitalizing on the Crimson Haze trait:

 

I maneuver a unit of 6 Wraiths up field, occasionally gunning for a T1 charge with Adaptive Subroutines but typically looking to counter-attack an over extended enemy unit. I use MWBD on the Lychguard, occasionally Phaeron's Will for the OL as well if things are critical, I have accompanying and Veil in to support the Wraiths. With some measured spacing on models even if the OL can't make the charge I can still get all my attacks in and buff the Lychguard and Wraiths giving them extra attacks on 6s. Bonus marks if some of my Scarab screens are still alive and able to come in support of my OL since they are played as Novokh as well.