Lokhust Heavies vs Doomstalker

[sennohki]

I'm not sure which way to go here. 

 

I like both sculpts, and I'm worried about the flimsiness/power of the Lokhusts.

 

That said, the DS only gets to fire on high power if it stays still, which seems much harder to make use of.

 

What is everyone's choice for the Heavy slot at the moment (and at what size battles?)

 

I feel like 2 Lokhusts is preferable to 1 DS, but running a Lokhust Heavy with 3 normal destroyers is a bit pricey points wise.

 

What experiences have you had with either?

[Ahzek451]

I've run both. I usually hide my squad of destroyers behind something and let the DS take the 1st hits. My 1st shooting phase the destroyers pop out of hiding and take shots at whatever. Letting the DS move or sit still as needed. I also run the kings' legion and so eye-rolling a wound roll for the destroyers is gold.

[Seahawk]

I've used my destroyers as 1st turn objective capture/flag planters or other action as needed. They rarely see return fire immediately because long range and low profile keep them safe; there's no hiding a Doomstalker except behind obscuring terrain. 

[sennohki]

I'm wondering if taking 3 heavy destroyers in a squad is better than 3 single units.

I think you'd be able to better single out your targets, but in individual units there's the ability to cross-fire

[Get Thokt]

Heavy Destroyers benefit hugely against targets with no invuln save. Though finding a worthy target without one is hard to come by in the new codices

[Captain Idaho]

I'm wondering if taking 3 heavy destroyers in a squad is better than 3 single units.

I think you'd be able to better single out your targets, but in individual units there's the ability to cross-fire

There's also the use of Extermination Protocols which can only affect a single unit at a time.

[Frostglaive]

I find a unit of 3 to be better than 3 units of 1. Harder to hide behind cover, yeah. But makes better use of Extermination Protocols, and has a slight chance at surviving a bit better with Reanimation Protocols (don't count on it though)

 

That, and compared to a Doomstalker, I'll take Heavy Destroyers any day. Literally every game I've brought my Doomstalker, it's done next to nothing. Either low number of shots or I just don't seem to hit anything... granted, I haven't put a Technomancer near him for that +1 to Hit bonus, but still.

Edited December 9, 2020 by Frostglaive

[Captain Idaho]

Yeah I'm not sold on the Doomstalker. The random elements plus the fact just to get any real benefit from it you need a Technomancer (extra cost) makes it difficult to use for 140pts.

[Frostglaive]

Yeah I'm not sold on the Doomstalker. The random elements plus the fact just to get any real benefit from it you need a Technomancer (extra cost) makes it difficult to use for 140pts.

 

 

The pay-off could be worth it. But as you said, the random element makes things much more difficult. Plus to actually make it more viable, you'll probably have at least 2 or 3 Doomstalkers instead, which means a lot more points being sunk into this.

 

3 Heavy Destroyers for the cost of 1 Doomstalker and a Technomancer (plus a Destroyer Lord if you feel like adding more) has more consistency in hitting, rerolls, benefits from Extermination Protocols, and minimum damage is higher. The AP difference between the 2 units is almost irrelevant since your target will either have an invul (making it worthless), or most likely no better than a 3+ save that's being ignored now. 

[Captain Idaho]

3D3 damage is fairly consistent too, with a minimum of 3 but an average of 6 to put the hurt on targets.

[Ahzek451]

I've had some fairly good success with the DS. Admittedly swingy in results, but the ability to tank some decent damage and psyche the enemy out on what it could potentially do with a relatively cheap point is worth it to me. I don't even run mine with control nodes. It balances out in the end, soaking all that damage but still firing at the same BS. Plus the revenge thing is just too fun when it does happen.

 

The combination of these guys plus destroyers makes the destroyers last longer, usually, as the DS tend to attract the most attention. Some people scoff at the king's dynasty traits as not being one of the stronger one's but...at least in my experience, the ability to re-roll that single wound rule is fantastic for units like these in particular. Whether I run destroyers in singles or in 3's it usually doesn't matter. I always tend to find one stray failed wound role and with weapons that pack so much damage...picking up those lost wound rolls make a huge difference. 

[Captain Idaho]

I certainly think the best option is to take both. I think you're on to something there.

 

The swingy results are terrible if you're targeting a single model, as like you said most folk don't want to be engaged with that weapon in case you get 3 wounding hits through.

 

And it certainly will soak the attention of opponents.

[01RTB01]

I have (when they arrive

[Get Thokt]

A mix certainly looks to be a good idea. Or pairing Heavy Destroyers with Triarch Stalkers.

 

A factor to consider in the current meta is Dreadnoughts (Redemptor seems to be the case) have the -1 damage which does hurt the Doomstalker