Destroyer Lords - Hidden gem

[Captain Idaho]

I see a lot of folk raving about the Command Barge and it's easy to see why - solid defence, mediocre combat offence, decent shooting and My Will Be Done.

 

However, I took a look at the Destroyer Lord and it got my attention. With a Phylactery it is very hard to kill, with the capacity of a Relic increasing his survivability soar. An extra attack means, along with Hardwired Hatred, makes a Warscythe the go to weapon for this model.

 

In a Novokh army the Destroyer Lord can be the Warlord and gain additional attacks on a 6 to hit, more than making up for only hitting on a 3+, especially as the 1st combat sees rerolls to hit anyway. Add the Bloodscythe and there's another D3 attacks to add to the killing potential. Whilst keeping the Phylactery!

 

This is cheaper than a Command Barge too.

 

Add a use of the faction wide Strategum and you can attack again with him!

 

I feel this is a quality choice to add to a Wraith lead charge, since the rerolls in combat means MWBD isn't needed as much.

 

Is anyone else finding the Destroyer Lord an unsung hero? Combat king?

[Indefragable]

When paired with a "Necron Navy" (lots of Destroyers), the Destroyer Lord speaks for himself. Well, mostly just "PURGE ALL LIFE" but he's never been a chatterbox...

 

His mobility and 4A (surprising not many other Necron characters get more) certainly helps.

 

I think you're on to something, but I don't know if it would necessarily be game-changing.

[NTaW]

Playing your DL with Destroyers and having Wraiths screen them is something I could get behind, that way you could really get the use out of the DL's special rules and the Wraith's fall back and charge ability.

[chapter master 454]

With my own return to necrons I was myself looking through the codex and was looking through the limited offerings Necrons have for HQs. Command Barges are pretty good on their own right, with me thinking about making a command barge with mephrit trait and warlord with voltaic staff and have them ether terrorise weak characters or just outright gun down anything from a safe distance with WoC.

 

Then looking at the destroyer lords, I noticed these bad boys don't exactly slack. In my opinion there are two I like the thought of, a third does exist but you mentioned it already (the Novokh Butcher Special!). I personally think one with a voidreaper and phylactery is quite a potent character mincing machine, put it into combat with entropic strike to get past some invulnerables and you have a form that will come down on characters just as hard. The other version is the immortal infantry killer, bloodscarab casket relic to get D3 wounds back for each players turn, give him a voidblade and point him in the general direction of infantry lines to run amok and cause general terror. Heck, you could even go with a warscythe if you want and just have two character butchering destroyer lords run around.

 

Give them a pose of destroyers to help cover their rear while they approach and cause hell both on your way and upon arrival. I could see a third being used with a voltaic staff as well just to have a ranged annoyance!

 

I remember my first game with a destroyer lord using 3rd edition codex in 4th. Butchered half an army before he died. Still looks like they are fully able to do so!

[Captain Idaho]

I actually don't intend for my Destroyer Lord to be with the Destroyers much. With Destruction Protocols it just isn't needed.

 

***

 

I do like the Undying Terminator approach - D3 wounds yours and opponents turn is just ace from an attritional point of view.

 

The Butcher variant isn't something I can move away from though. It's just too killy as the force multiplication with Wraiths (Novokh Warlord Trait) just makes it too effective for me to ignore.

[Perry]

I used my Novokh Wraith Wing list for the first time today, 3 units of 6 Wraiths, 3 large scarab units, 2 large Destroyer units and a Cryptek and Destroyer Lord

 

I gave the Novokh Destroyer Lord the reroll charge warlord trait to help get that important charge off for the Wraiths and save CP on rerolls and a Blood Scythe

 

I won't be taking the Blood Scythe again, the D3 attacks were OK, but I think the Nanoscarab casket for its double regen ability and resurrection power would be better for a CC Warlord

[MithrilForge]

Don't have main book with me, ...is it possible to make an Outrider detachment and get a Novokh warlord with 3x 3 scarab units?...

 

Cheers,Mithril

[Mr4Minutes]

Don't have main book with me, ...is it possible to make an Outrider detachment and get a Novokh warlord with 3x 3 scarab units?...

 

Cheers,Mithril

Yes

[Captain Idaho]

I used my Novokh Wraith Wing list for the first time today, 3 units of 6 Wraiths, 3 large scarab units, 2 large Destroyer units and a Cryptek and Destroyer Lord

I gave the Novokh Destroyer Lord the reroll charge warlord trait to help get that important charge off for the Wraiths and save CP on rerolls and a Blood Scythe

I won't be taking the Blood Scythe again, the D3 attacks were OK, but I think the Nanoscarab casket for its double regen ability and resurrection power would be better for a CC Warlord

Interesting.

 

What were you up against that put such hurt on a Destroyer Lord in that list of invulnerable saves?

 

It's definitely true that multi wound weapons are going to take their toll.

[Perry]

He was kept pretty safe till late in the game, the wraiths were busy getting stuck in, he ended up in combat with a Lord and Overlord and held his own.

 

With the casket you could be more aggressive early game, contributing more to the army

[Captain Idaho]

Hmm. I think you were perhaps a little too cautious with him. Get stuck in and trust a D3 wounds regeneration each of your turns and T6 with 4+ invulnerable save, alongside Wraiths as escort etc, will see him through.