Unit of the Week: Maulerfiend

[Xenith]

++Thousand Sons Unit of the Week++

++Maulerfiend++

New codex, new discussions about units! As we already have in other faction sections, this is the Thousand Sons Unit of the Week series, where each week we select and dissect a datasheet found in the book, and discuss how we use the unit in-game, favoured loadouts and combos, essentially how to use these units best. What have you found that works, and what doesnt? Please try to stick to the idea of making the unit in question work, as opposed to pointing out other units that might do a better job - we'll get to those in time!

This week, we will be discussing the Maulerfiend. With better WS and BS than last edition, have you been using them in games, and how have you used them? Th Mauler fists in particular have great damage potential at D3+3, and with a move of 10", the fiend is capable of getting into combat.

What are you thoughts, and how best would you use the unit?

• To compliment a list, or to build a list around?
  
• Will you be running multiples?
  
• What <GREAT CULT>, loadouts, spell relic and Stratagem support do you prefer and how much does it depend on the above choices?
  
• Are you buffing this unit, and if so, how?
  
• Are you building as a damage dealer or buff-provider?
  
• Uses in Matched, Narrative and Open Play
  
• How have they fared for you in-game?
  

Over to you.

++Thousand Sons Unit of the Week Index Link++

[Montoya]

Oh how I do love the maulerfiend.   

 

Not sure it's the most competitive thing overall, but I just love the look of it.

 

When I do use it, the key is not to think of it as a battering ram leading your charge, but rather as a battering ram leading the COUNTER charge.   that does depend on my opponent, but if you are facing an army with some good melee units, you likely want to be the counter charge.

 

I do find it's a menacing enough threat in your backfield as well.

[Xenith]

Yea, I'd like to to be good, but it's just not had the chance in games - I've only used it vs Guard who have just shot it off the table T1. 

 

I think a concern is that it's a large target, and likely one of the only VEHICLES in a TS army, so will have every anti tank gun pointed at it. 

 

I still think lasher tendrils are the better choice over the magma cutters, even though they got nerfed and cost a bit more. 

[Relentless]

While I havent played with it yet, I plan on running one alongside 2 forgefiends.  My thinking is it'll either be a great distraction carnifex taking fire away from my termies and fiends, or it makes it unscathed into my opponent's line and causes a bunch of problems.

[WarriorFish]

I love my Maulershrimp in my CSM, he's a nice threat (albeit needing Daemonforge to be decent, an issue the superior Sons one doesn't need to worry about as much). As noted this can mean short lifespans without suitable similar profiles and threats. Otherwise it can be a bit extreme in results without middle ground depending on the game and opponent. As a counter attack unit it'd do great, but I'd be concerned about getting enough use from it as it does tend to be a high priority target. One thing you can say for sure is that sending it straight for your opponent is a guarantee to get some form of attention :P

 

In a Sons list with some additional targets for AT weapons I think a Maulerfiend will do well :)

[Xenith]

I used my Maulerfiend in a game last night v custodes - Every game I've used it in, it's really underperformed - I think the lack of ranged attack really hampers it. Being a huge target also means it's not likely to make it to melee without some damage, then having 6A, or 6+6 with the tendrils, doesn't give it a high kill capacity. In about 5 games, I think mines killed one leman russ - I'd rather have a hellbrute and something else I think. 

Edited March 8, 2022 by Xenith

[WarriorFish]

It's something that does best with a friend, otherwise as a pure combat unit it'll be a big target. This can be useful too, but as it has good damage potential especially against armour etc you'd rather get the most from it. A second or another unit in a similar role would really help I think, but that's harder in a Sons army that is geared more towards shooting.