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War Hydras

2K views 19 replies 10 participants last post by  Shadow Blizade 
#1 ·
the description pretty much say it, but what are your experiences with warhydras, and do you have any tactics involving them?
i'm thinking about buying one for my elves, but i don't have any idea if it is wort the pts. you pay for it...
 
#2 ·
I'm not a big fan of War Hydras. Sure they're great against low leadership guys and combat armies. But if ur fighting a shooty Dwarf/Empire army, it will be dead first turn unless ur opponent has somehow offended the dice gods :p

They also take up a rare slot, which i think can be used better by RBT's. However, in big games like 3k it could be great.
 
#3 ·
My 2000 pt list uses a War Hydra to good effect, and it seems to be worth the points. Now whether or not it is as valuable as 2 RBT which are 20 points less is debatable, but not an issue for me as my army already has 2 RBTs in the list and I sure as heck don't own 4 of them.

It's really just a matter of preference and playstyle. Consider the following:

-If you field a bowman heavy army, or already have a couple of RBTs, then is it worth an extra 2? I would think you'd be better spending that last Rare slot on something that can aid you in Close Combat, as you have enough range support already. Remember, you will NEVER completely annihilate an enemy army with ranged attacks before it reaches you, unless your enemy is totally incompetent.

-My Army is designed around a specific strategy: breaking the enemies psychology. I can win most games by sending most of the enemy fleeing, either running them off the board, running them down, or keeping them busy fleeing while I gang up on the rest of the army. A monster with 5 flame templates and that causes Terror is great for making those enemy units lose their nerve and book it.

It is a large target, but unless your opponent is fielding multiple warmachines (and assuming these machines can reliably hit a designated target) they enemy must whittle down 6 wounds. I'll be perfectly honest, I'd rather have the Hydra die taking the artillary fire then have that same fire layed on my executioners ANYDAY OF THE WEEK EVEN WEDNESDAY!
 
#4 ·
ok... tried it out against one i will be playing very often, who plays Vamps, and it strted very good... wiping out a unit... but... then he raised some zombies right in front of it, and it could do nothing but stand there the rest of the game... man i hate invocation of nehek!! :angry: but anyway in that game i think a RBT would be a better choice... but... i still think i'll buy it... just to have it...
 
#5 ·
Sounds like you might need more dispel dice / scolls.

War hydras are perfectly ok, but remember to use them to support big block units and they will do fine. They're also ok at finishing off small lightly armoured units.
 
#6 ·
I have a war hydra but have never actually used it in a battle. I have not been able to fit it into an tactic that I come up with. I look at the stats and think it should be really hard, but then always seem to find something else to spend the points on. Maybe I will make a new years resolution to use it against someone :D
 
#7 ·
I can see it now "In 2005, I do solemnly resolve to: eat more carrots, stink-palm more people and to use my war-hydra to annihilate as many heathens as possible."

Works for me. (Y)

Seriously though, use it like a giant (for O&G players out there) and you should be fine! Even like a salamander hunting pack for you Lizardmen generals out there.
 
#9 ·
Yeah, they are good units, people tend to think "hey it's a tough monster, lets charge that unit of spearmen on my own!" and then wonder why you lose combat and are run down! Gives a nice fluffy feel to the army as well is you're going Beastmaster theme as well.
 
#10 ·
I have all Calvary. However, the save and stuff of the Hydra doesn't seem too great. . . . i mean, it seems they die too easily.

And Reapers are cheaper. . . . . . and hella effective as well.

However, I'd like to get more opinion on the Hydra.

PS - LOTs of Cold One Knights and Chariots.
 
#11 ·
Originally posted by Infrazael Draennonssraav@Nov 10 2004, 20:32
I have all Calvary. However, the save and stuff of the Hydra doesn't seem too great. . . . i mean, it seems they die too easily.
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You are absolutely right. It is a 200 point bulls eye. Its a cool model but unless you are fighting a Khorne army, it will never see combat. Well, obviously it will sometimes, but don't count on it. When I play my friend's army I always take it because it looks cool but it never does anything. There are much more useful things you can do with those points.
 
#12 ·
Originally posted by Morningstar@Oct 31 2004, 21:43
-A monster with 5 flame templates and that causes Terror is great for making those enemy units lose their nerve and book it.
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I hate to burst your bubble, especially with something that we all wish was true, but the hydra only has 1 flame template. It is stupid, but true. :(
 
#13 ·
In 2,000 points maybe being an advancing threat / pincushion is exactly what you need to position your chargers in a way to break through enemy fire. It would keep enemy fire coming, be hard to wound and keep the rest of your army in tact. Where's the harm in that - if you lose a hydra and the rest of your army destroys your opponent's opposing flank at the same time?

Granted, there are more effective units for the cost, reapers are great, as are CoK's, but a well placed hydra can be just as effective, especially for close combat flanks. If you can hide it behind woods and protect it from enemy LOS spells / fire, then even better. As a terror causing model, it should be something that's considered for taking vs fast moving armies at well, so that they have to test on terror before they get into CC.
 
#14 ·
I think any relativly tough, fairly fast, terror casuing monster with a half decent ranged attack is quite good. If only for the terror it causes its useful. Terror is a powerful force that if used well can really help win a game. Besides if your supporting another charge with it then it can be pretty leathal. So I give the hydra a (Y) :)

PS: I'm back! Curse those addictive online games :glare:
 
#15 ·
Originally posted by Spike_alike@Nov 19 2004, 14:28
I think any relativly tough, fairly fast, terror casuing monster with a half decent ranged attack is quite good. If only for the terror it causes its useful. Terror is a powerful force that if used well can really help win a game. Besides if your supporting another charge with it then it can be pretty leathal. So I give the hydra a (Y) :)

PS: I'm back! Curse those addictive online games :glare:
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Mm terror, and i agree with you, those damned arcade games are annoying >.<
 
#16 ·
If terror is the only thing you are crazy about, just take deathmask. It costs less that a quarter of what the hydra costs, and any hero except the beastmaster can take it. :closedeyes:
 
#17 ·
This is true, but why not also have multiple terror causing units to cause terror on as many flanks as possible? :hmm:
 
#18 ·
If you want MANY terror causing things, play my custom beastmaster armylist. Does 6 things causing terror sound good to you?
 
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