Unit of the Week: Lord Kaldor Draigo

[Skywrath]

Welcome to the Grey Knight unit of the Week, where we analyse the Grey Knights units strength's and weaknesses. The unit for this week is none other than the crusader of the Warp: Kaldor Draigo. Each week a different unit will appear, with the idea being that we discuss how best to use that model on the battlefield.

 

Questions:

 

1. General first thoughts and impressions of the unit?

 

2. How would you use said unit, to compliment a list, or to build a list around? 

 

3. What other units/strategems synergize with it to give it that extra shine?

 

4. Miscellaneous use/Tips and Tricks?

 

 

BONUS: Creative ways to use units that wouldn't be obvious at first. 

[Reskin]

*grumble, grumble*

 

You guys know my thoughts currently on Draigo, I’ll let someone else have a turn. Just leave me Voldus and Librarians

[Cryminysakes]

So I dont have much to contribute here except the obvious - Draigo seems an insane elite/character/vehicle killer.  In conjunction with aura support to a team of Terms or Paladins would make a nice little bomb.  I say all this just looking at numbers and having watched a fair few batreps, not out of actual table experience as I havent played in near 20 years.

 

Proabably wasted on killing troop? Overkill perhaps

 

Also didnt the Storm Shield get some sort of nerf? 

Edited December 22, 2020 by Cryminysakes

[Reskin]

It's a side grade, its not inherently bad, or considered a nerf, its just it increased other HQ option's stock and decreased his value.

[librisrouge]

Draigo is good. His reroll aura is solid. He hits as hard as any GK character can expect to. His saves are the best we can get. You take him to add a beat stick character to your army and he does that job admirably.

 

And then you look at his price tag and wonder if two other characters might not do that job better.

[The Woodsman]

I do personally think Draigo is still quite good, though perhaps not an auto include like he was before. What does it for me is the two powers/casts. Aside from Voldus, no other characters mix his combat potential, resilience and psychic ability. I think what hurt him the most is Voldus' resurgence post-RotD. I still use him from time to time, he's a great force multiplier and can take on pretty much anything bar a primarch in combat and come out on top, and I daresay he could maybe take on Guilliman.

I like running him with Vortex and Purge, just as a mortal wound bomb you can deep strike, or just as an ace up your sleeve to hold back until needed. He fits pretty well in any list, there's nothing that won't benefit from his re-rolls.

 

The only drawback is really his points, but to be fair 190pts for what he does is a fair price for him, it's just everything else is so pricey that it's hard to fit him in. Plus he takes up a HQ slot, so depending on what you're running you might have to sacrifice some utility to get him in.

 

Definitely a good choice for mid-level FLGS pick-ups, and I could see him having a spot in some higher end lists as well.

[Reskin]

I do personally think Draigo is still quite good, though perhaps not an auto include like he was before. What does it for me is the two powers/casts. Aside from Voldus, no other characters mix his combat potential, resilience and psychic ability. I think what hurt him the most is Voldus' resurgence post-RotD. I still use him from time to time, he's a great force multiplier and can take on pretty much anything bar a primarch in combat and come out on top, and I daresay he could maybe take on Guilliman.

I like running him with Vortex and Purge, just as a mortal wound bomb you can deep strike, or just as an ace up your sleeve to hold back until needed. He fits pretty well in any list, there's nothing that won't benefit from his re-rolls.

 

The only drawback is really his points, but to be fair 190pts for what he does is a fair price for him, it's just everything else is so pricey that it's hard to fit him in. Plus he takes up a HQ slot, so depending on what you're running you might have to sacrifice some utility to get him in.

 

Definitely a good choice for mid-level FLGS pick-ups, and I could see him having a spot in some higher end lists as well.

 

Draigo is good. His reroll aura is solid. He hits as hard as any GK character can expect to. His saves are the best we can get. You take him to add a beat stick character to your army and he does that job admirably.

 

And then you look at his price tag and wonder if two other characters might not do that job better.

 

Good, but not great, which by that logic is super disappointing for our chapter master. 190pts for his stat line is pathetically overpriced. His stat line is just like any of our other HQ's. Hitting on 2's where it counts, and rerolling. His storm shield is a side grade and here's why.

 

The armour save, is 1+ save. with tide of shadows it goes to a 0+ save, and when combined with cover, he negates any shooting weapon of -3AP. Heavy cover also negates any weapon of -3AP in combination with shadows. When not in shadows he's saving anything on a 2+ until he faces -3AP weaponry, plasma, lascannons, nasty CCW's.

Without tide of shadows, and if he's not in any form of cover, he's taking invul saves of 4+ on any of the above weapons.

 

Which is the same as any of our other important HQ's, e.g Voldus, a Brother-Captain, a GMNDK.

Each of these above HQ's get +1 to their armour armour save while in tide of shadows, meaning -2Ap weaponry their taking a 3up save. And against -3AP their taking invuls.

 

So I say all that to showcase that Draigo isn't anymore resilient than our other TDA characters that we would most likely take. Sure 1 extra wound means he can't be killed by a D6 weapon, but if he being attacked its already too late, its probably flat 3D weaponry or multiple high D guns. If he was toughness 5, it would be another story, means high str guns wound him on 3's instead of 2's. But overheated plasma, meltas, lascannons and hammer are all wounding on 2's... yuck.

 

Voldus for essentially the same stat line, casts a whopping 3 psychic powers - can know up to 4 for utility. Also gives an aura. And lets face it, neither of the characters are giving this aura to everyone, so the trade off for full rerolls, to rerolling 1's is minimal at best when we already hit on 3's. It's so small of an impact when its usually affecting 1 extra unit and themselves, plus maybe another character which is already hitting on 2's. 

Voldus, and any character like a GM, BC or Librarian can equip a hammer for roughly the same damage and still come in a lot cheaper.

 

The TLDR version is Draigo is a luxury for a "win more" scenario or for a fluffy game with a friend. He's time has simply come to an end when looking for bang for your buck in competitive lists where points vs efficiency is crucial. Especially for an elite army like GK's when we are trying to for more bodies in.

[The Woodsman]

That's pretty much how I see it... The tradeoff compared to Voldus just makes him a little of a "fun" option.

 

To be fair, he's better protected in combat than other footslogger characters, Tide of Shadows only works against ranged attacks - it grants the benefit of cover, not a +1 to your armor save.

 

The full re-rolls isn't huge compared to a basic re-roll 1s, but if you're getting a lot of units into combat, that are hitting on 3s, those 2s can add up. But it's not huge like Chapter Master re-rolls were in 8th.

 

I agree he's not an entirely points efficient choice, especially when compared to say Marneus Calgar who for like 20 (?) points more grants Ultramarines 2 CP and has an arguably better Stateline - though you could argue he's got no psychic. He might even be the same cost though, it's changed quite a bit in the last year, I'm unsure where it stands now.

 

That being said, I remember a time (4th-5th Editions) when named characters were designed as a cool, fluffy Codex entry for rule of cool, narrative games, not super competitive choices. I always feel happier playing with my own converted/kitbashed HQs that I've got a narrative for than spamming special characters. Take my mate who fields either GMan and Tigirius or Calgar and Tigirius... Sure it's efficient as anything but to me it lacks personal flavor.

 

I wholeheartedly agree it would be awesome for our Chapter Master to live up to his name on the tabletop... This guy runs around the Warp slapping Greater Daemons and flipping off the Chaos Gods themselves... This should be represented somehow in the rules.

[Reskin]

That's pretty much how I see it... The tradeoff compared to Voldus just makes him a little of a "fun" option.

 

To be fair, he's better protected in combat than other footslogger characters, Tide of Shadows only works against ranged attacks - it grants the benefit of cover, not a +1 to your armor save.

 

The full re-rolls isn't huge compared to a basic re-roll 1s, but if you're getting a lot of units into combat, that are hitting on 3s, those 2s can add up. But it's not huge like Chapter Master re-rolls were in 8th.

 

I agree he's not an entirely points efficient choice, especially when compared to say Marneus Calgar who for like 20 (?) points more grants Ultramarines 2 CP and has an arguably better Stateline - though you could argue he's got no psychic. He might even be the same cost though, it's changed quite a bit in the last year, I'm unsure where it stands now.

 

That being said, I remember a time (4th-5th Editions) when named characters were designed as a cool, fluffy Codex entry for rule of cool, narrative games, not super competitive choices. I always feel happier playing with my own converted/kitbashed HQs that I've got a narrative for than spamming special characters. Take my mate who fields either GMan and Tigirius or Calgar and Tigirius... Sure it's efficient as anything but to me it lacks personal flavor.

 

I wholeheartedly agree it would be awesome for our Chapter Master to live up to his name on the tabletop... This guy runs around the Warp slapping Greater Daemons and flipping off the Chaos Gods themselves... This should be represented somehow in the rules.

theres also heavy cover

[Gnomeo]

Most of the key points I feel have been mentioned.

 

Like most things I 40k in the right list stuff that seems sub optimal can shine and this I believe is true with draigo. In a regular gk list with terminators and paladins I feel he is overpriced and doesn't do enough. However in power armour list with or without vehicles he shines. Due to the points not being as big a hit and his rerolls are more effective.

 

Unfortunately terminator points make him to pricy to take and the fact the can take fury of the 1st so reroll ones is that they need.

[The Woodsman]

 

theres also heavy cover

 

 

True! Hadn't thought of that. I've played with the +1 to hit/Overwatch rules but not the -1 in melee as it stands, so didn't think about it. 

 

@Gnomeo You don't think he'd be worth it in a Terminator MSU list?

[Reskin]

 

 

theres also heavy cover

 

 

True! Hadn't thought of that. I've played with the +1 to hit/Overwatch rules but not the -1 in melee as it stands, so didn't think about it. 

 

@Gnomeo You don't think he'd be worth it in a Terminator MSU list?

 

Well a defence line for example as an obstacle piece of terrain is defensible, +1 to hit rolls and also heavy cover +1 to cover saves made in melee combat. Super strong and can catch someone off gaurd, head on over to my latest battle report to find out how!

[The Woodsman]

 

 

 

theres also heavy cover

 

 

True! Hadn't thought of that. I've played with the +1 to hit/Overwatch rules but not the -1 in melee as it stands, so didn't think about it. 

 

@Gnomeo You don't think he'd be worth it in a Terminator MSU list?

 

Well a defence line for example as an obstacle piece of terrain is defensible, +1 to hit rolls and also heavy cover +1 to cover saves made in melee combat. Super strong and can catch someone off gaurd, head on over to my latest battle report to find out how!

 

 

Will do! And I'll keep that in mind in my next games.

[Gnomeo]

 

 

 

theres also heavy cover

 

True! Hadn't thought of that. I've played with the +1 to hit/Overwatch rules but not the -1 in melee as it stands, so didn't think about it.

 

@Gnomeo You don't think he'd be worth it in a Terminator MSU list?

Maybe if you were taking a special weapon in each squad but otherwise its mostly storm bolters your rerolling unless you are in combat. So combat focused msu of terminators would probably be good synergy. However not the biggest fan of combat grey knights as no real reliable way in to combat. Personally I would prefer a brother captain so I have the option of long range smites. I mean rerolls are great but what are you rerolling.

 

Though you have given me an idea for a list which may work. Draigo, ancient fttf and 3-4 term units as an agressive strike with a back line of land raiders/dreads/purgation. Maybe some interceptors if they are about.

[The Woodsman]

 

 

 

theres also heavy cover

True! Hadn't thought of that. I've played with the +1 to hit/Overwatch rules but not the -1 in melee as it stands, so didn't think about it.

 

@Gnomeo You don't think he'd be worth it in a Terminator MSU list?

Maybe if you were taking a special weapon in each squad but otherwise its mostly storm bolters your rerolling unless you are in combat. So combat focused msu of terminators would probably be good synergy. However not the biggest fan of combat grey knights as no real reliable way in to combat. Personally I would prefer a brother captain so I have the option of long range smites. I mean rerolls are great but what are you rerolling.

 

Though you have given me an idea for a list which may work. Draigo, ancient fttf and 3-4 term units as an agressive strike with a back line of land raiders/dreads/purgation. Maybe some interceptors if they are about.

 

 

Yeah I was thinking more of a combat oriented list. I used (back in 8th before RotD) to run Draigo with a 5-man Paladin unit, Bro-Cap and Ancient with Banner of Refining Flame. The idea was to Deep Strike them in, with FttF on the Bro-Cap, get a combination of Refining Flame, Vortex and Purge Soul for maxed mortals and then hope to make the charge with the full re-folls on arguably our best combat unit. I'm sure something similar could still work.

[Reskin]

To sum up Draigo I'd use him as an escort for a unit of termies/paladins. I'd give him gate+hammerhand and throw him at high toughness stuff like Knights or Tanks which, in reality are his weakness.

 

If you wanted to get creative and protect him and the unit, put him in a land raider and go up the guts to deliver him. And he needs mobility, for the price of 5 termies anyway, once his bodyguard die, you don't want him foot slogging it all over a 2000pt sized board. So he definitely needs gate on hand at any moment. That's why you guys see my give Voldus the traditional sanctic powers, high mobility in the form of gate and high damage in the form of Vortex and smite for his 3 powers cast per turn, or get defensive with a sanctuary and hammerhand for that added punch through T8 knights, primarchs, and tanks.

 

Draigo is the same, he needs gate and hammerhand/sanc/vortex

If he was T5, He'd be auto include, means str 9 and 8 weapons wound him on 3's as opposed to nasty 2's. Which is infinitely better.

Heed the prognosticars if sanc is going somewhere else, and take a librarian for empyrean domination.

 

He's no more survivable then any other greyknight in 9th edition if you are playing the right way. Using cover both light and heavy, and tide of shadows where sees fit.

 

That's my two cents on this matter, take it with a grain of salt. What works for me, may not work for you.

[Skywrath]

Let me preface this by saying that I love Draigo, his model, and the fluff behind him (the parts that actually make sense). Every chance I get to fit him in over a BC, I'll take it. There is something so satisfying seeing the opponent's face when he realises Draigo is in the list.

 

As for Draigo, and his abilities on the table-top. Knowing two spells, and denying two spells is invaluable - more Grey Knights should have that ability other than him, Voldus and a Librarian. Also having a S8, -4AP, 3 flat damage sword is amazing with 6 attacks on the charge. Put that badboy next to a threat of say Terminators, and watch him shrug wounds off like no-one's business (with that 3+ invuln strategem) while tearing those terminators a new one. My recent ideas with Draigo is to be a backup to a Librarian by either knowing Warp Shaping (so if the librarian dies, there is another caster than can change the tide), as well as another trait such as Armoured Resilience. The other two ideas is for him to know inner fire, but with 6w and a potential 3d6 roll (strategem), that might not turn out so well. The other idea is for him to know Vortex and Purge Soul. Because Draigo is LD10 that is a pretty sure-fire way to run him as a "cheap" MW bomb. But I never deploy Draigo alone, so that's why he always knows either Armoured Resilience/Edict Imperator with Warp Shaping. 

 

Draigo is not an defensive character, but he can be played defensively, as outlined above. If you have Draigo in your list, you'd want offensive units such as the Interceptor trick outlined before, with perhaps Purifers in a Land Raider. Give Draigo Armored Resilience/Edict and you are absolutely laughing. WIth the nerfs to SS being a native 4+ invuln with an effective 1/3+ save in terminator armor, Voldus is probably more likely to be taken over him. However, Voldus doesn't have presence over Draigo, and that is why I will always take him over Voldus. 

 

Reskin is probably going to kill me for saying that last sentence..

[Reskin]

Lol, just different opinions I guess, but if you are looking for competitive tactical play, not sure that this is the best place. I guess these threads are for people beginning the game.

 

Tactical expertise can only be learnt by experience. Give two people that same list, they will play two different styles.

 

Those who lean towards competitive play will be generally play testing and running the numbers vs efficiency.

 

Good write up though.

[Skywrath]

Lol, just different opinions I guess, but if you are looking for competitive tactical play, not sure that this is the best place. I guess these threads are for people beginning the game.

 

Tactical expertise can only be learnt by experience. Give two people that same list, they will play two different styles.

 

Those who lean towards competitive play will be generally play testing and running the numbers vs efficiency.

 

Good write up though.

 

I'm sorry, what?

 

First off all, I structured these threads so input, both competitive/casual can be included for all players, of all skill levels. Following that logic, if you were so tactically inclined where you learn from experience, frankly, you wouldn't be posting on said threads as your mindset is practical > theoretical. All these threads are speculative, and designed to be that way, so that the knowledge they learnt can be applied to their game.

 

Which brings me to the last point. Knowledge is a catalyst in this game, we are saving time for people to learn the mechanics that would have taken them days/ weeks/months to pick up on otherwise, depending on quantity of games in a time. Competitive players fall into the above camp, that is true, but in the heat of the competition there is more than one way of achieving said goal - creative ideas is another path, and it's that creative ideas/path that these threads are trying to generate.

Edited December 25, 2020 by Skywrath

[Reskin]

 

Lol, just different opinions I guess, but if you are looking for competitive tactical play, not sure that this is the best place. I guess these threads are for people beginning the game.

 

Tactical expertise can only be learnt by experience. Give two people that same list, they will play two different styles.

 

Those who lean towards competitive play will be generally play testing and running the numbers vs efficiency.

 

Good write up though.

 

I'm sorry, what?

 

First off all, I structured these threads so input, both competitive/casual can be included for all players, of all skill levels. Following that logic, if you were so tactically inclined where you learn from experience, frankly, you wouldn't be posting on said threads as your mindset is practical > theoretical. All these threads are speculative, and designed to be that way, so that the knowledge they learnt can be applied to their game.

 

Which brings me to the last point. Knowledge is a catalyst in this game, we are saving time for people to learn the mechanics that would have taken them days/ weeks/months to pick up on otherwise, depending on quantity of games in a time. Competitive players fall into the above camp, that is true, but in the heat of the competition there is more than one way of achieving said goal - creative ideas is another path, and it's that creative ideas/path that these threads are trying to generate.

 

 

yeah, good points.

 

Mine was just a general comment, like I made at the end of my previous post, take these opinions with a grain of salt, even my own.