Canoptek Doomstalkers

[Captain Idaho]

Trying to get a feel for the new Codex and the Doomstalker sits funny with me. There are plenty units out there I quite like the look of straight away but the Doomstalker just doesn't feel like it's effective even for 140pts.

 

BS4+ is poor, really. Especially on a weapon that is so swingy in how many shots it fires. Sure, firing 6 shots at a vehicle is great, but if you roll just a 1 or 2 for number of shots you'll have terrible consistency. It can be easily pushed to 5+ by a number of abilities and it feels like you need to pay 90pts for a Technomancer to make a Doomstalker work.

 

Having more than 1 obviously makes things much more efficient of course, but then we're moving into territory of nichè lists, with 2 Doomstalkers and a Technomancer costing 370pts.

 

I'm struggling to fit one of these into a list without a Technomancer just because of the 4+ ballistic skill, if I'm honest. It's very much an all in or out sort of model. Although 140pts isn't terrible for a punt.

 

Happy to be wrong on this as I like the Cosmic Horror vibe I get from the model, even likely to buy one anyway, but who here feels the same?

[Marshal Loss]

Their BS isn't great but it also doesn't degrade, they are very durable, and we have the excellent "Revenge" stratagem floating around as well. They're also priced very competitively if you contrast them point-per-point with DDA's. You might be right that they're an "all or nothing" sort of model, but I definitely think they're one of the better additions to the Necron roster.

[01RTB01]

Also handy for overwatch too as they're tau for it.

 

One inclusion of 140 points isn't going to break the list. My only heavy support currently will be one of these and 3 heavy Destroyers...

[Ahzek451]

Much better compared to the primaris gladiator at least. Space marines are paying for big guns on 200-250+ points. The 4++ and lack of degrading BS is very good. And while you may factor in the technomancer as an extra cost, I geuss it depends on your point of view. I wanted to take one anyway just to have an extra source of repair for my lychguard and warriors. I think 2 strikes a healthy balance as my third option will be 3 heavy destroyers. 

[toaae]

I'm getting 3 of them.

At 510points (because the technomancer is basically required when you take 3), this is an investment, but I think it'll form a fire-base that will dictate the flow of games. Now that pictures are coming out that show the Doomstalker is noticeably taller than the Reanimator, I'm not too worried about LoS being an issue, though I do think it will force opponents to hide their stuff more, maybe restricting their options. With three, the variability on the number of shots is decreased, which is a major weakness of the Doom Blaster (and Cannon). Finally, I love, LOVE, that the model loses basically 0 efficacy as it takes wounds. I genuinely laughed when I saw the thing lost Weapon Skill and Attacks.

Now, at 140 points, I do think taking one is worthwhile, using it like a distraction carnifex. It's got a gun that can threaten anything, but the 4++ and lack of meaningful diminishing profile makes it well suited for the task. Sure, BS4+ isn't great, but 140 points in our current paradigm is really cheap for what it has.

[Nusquam]

The technomancer is also a character for command protocols.

[Bonzi]

I play Astra Militarum as well so I don't flinch at a BS 4+. Honestly for what the unit brings to the table at 140 points I think they are worth it even without the node support. Point in fact, I think that's the boat a lot of the canoptek units are in. They may not have stellar stats, but the durability, output,

and board presence you can buy is something a Guard player can appreciate more than a person with a Space Marine mindset.

[Tyriks]

I preordered two but my FLGS mixed it up and gave me one with an extra Lokhust instead. I will get two more as soon as I can, because I do think it'll be good but also because it's going to look :cuss amazing having a few in the backfield firing over swarms of warriors

[MithrilForge]

I preordered two but my FLGS mixed it up and gave me one with an extra Lokhust instead. I will get two more as soon as I can, because I do think it'll be good but also because it's going to look amazing having a few in the backfield firing over swarms of warriors

 

This Conjurs up a quasi war of the worlds picture in my mind    i'll def get one of these for sure and a technomancer…. and another big winner from the new dex etc is The Tomb spyders!! what a boost they got (it helps that I love spyders and scarab swarms)

 

Mithril

[Captain Idaho]

Thanks for the feedback. I'll definitely get 1 as the model is delicious. Even if a transportation nightmare!

 

I'm a long term Ultramarines player who played Necrons back in 3rd edition (and again in 6th I believe it was) so am not used to 4+ to hit. (I remember Spyders have always had 4+ but I never utilised them)

[Mandragola]

I think these might be fun. The overwatch ability is non-trivial. You could potentially have three of these things fire ovewatch if someone charged one of your warrior blocks. This is actually fairly likely to happen, since they'll be hanging out near the same Cryptek for +1 to hit.

 

I like these guys a lot with the relentlessly expansionist circumstance of awakening. It'll let you put them where they can see stuff, or else where the enemy can't easily see them. 

[Get Thokt]

Three of them played with a Technomancer to give 3+ BS is paying the same price for 3 Doomsday Arks back in 8th edition. These could somewhat see play if 9th drives to a vehicle heavy meta.

 

However I do prefer the Triarch Stalkers with the Twin Heavy Gauss Cannon. You pay 10 points more but you don't need a HQ to babysit them and they give re-roll 1s to the rest of the army that target the same unit.

Edited October 14, 2020 by Get Thokt

[Nusquam]

I've also been theory crafting formations with them; the one game I played i was afraid to move them but I think that was a mistake on my part. Sure it drops to S8 Dd3 but it still kills marines easily and I had no vehicles to shoot. They move 10" and can be skittering around blasting apart units if/when there are no more heavy targets. Have them run around mith a 20 warrior blob and a warden. The risk being they exode on a 5+.