Is it even possible...

[Tiamat]

...to field a competitive all unique heroes army? I'm not talking about in an all heroes format, I'm talking about bringing an all unique heroes army to a standard format tournament. I've only been around for a year, but I don't think I've seen or heard of anyone trying it. Does it happen? Has anyone had any documented success? If it hasn't, do you think one of the known 'upper-level' players could pull it off or would they even be toast going up against a standard mixed build?


(Apologies if this question has been posted before. I used the Search function and didn't see anything later than 2008.)

[superfrog]

I think your best bet is an Elf Wizard pod (especially if you allow C3V and can add Haduc).

But in ClassicScape, that's not a top-tier army. It's just okay.

[Aldin]

Originally Posted by Tiamat

...to field a competitive all unique heroes army? I'm not talking about in an all heroes format, I'm talking about bringing an all unique heroes army to a standard format tournament. I've only been around for a year, but I don't think I've seen or heard of anyone trying it. Does it happen? Has anyone had any documented success? If it hasn't, do you think one of the known 'upper-level' players could pull it off or would they even be toast going up against a standard mixed build?


(Apologies if this question has been posted before. I used the Search function and didn't see anything later than 2008.)

Heroes have several problems which common squads don't face. They are subject to multiple wounds from a single attack, making them more fragile than they at first appear. Often, they cannot compete with the number of attacks a squad can make in a single turn. Frequently, they are "too powerful" against squads, rolling enough dice to almost certainly kill one, but in reality "wasting" a bunch of extra skulls.

Having said that, an army core of Q9/Raelin (RotV) at 260 points is very powerful and has the ability to usefully engage both heroes and squads. Add a couple of Fen Hydras to hit 500 even and I'd expect to be able to compete with most armies... but you did say unique heroes, so Fen Hydras is kinda cheating.

Agent Skahen and Kaemon Awa maybe? That gives you one hero who is particularly good against range and another that is particularly good against melee. Raelin/Q9/KaemonAwa/Skahen... not top tier, but probably competitive on any map that lets you use some choke points and range advantage without too many glyphs.

Elf Wizard pods are also fun to play at 500 or 600, though as superfrog notes they are a bit less competitive.

~Aldin, speculatively

[Tornado]

They do not call it Squad'Scape for nothing.

[lefton4ya]

Clayton (Chill) came in 10th (3-2) at Gencon last year with:
Ulginesh, Arkmer, Johrdawn, Chardris, Raelin

[BiggaBullfrog]

If you play C3V/SoV, running Kantono Daishi, some ninjas, and a big ranged figure like Q9/Q10 is pretty viable as a mid-tier army.

If you allow Marvel, you can always just run the Hulk....

[IAmBatman]

If you allow C3G, you can forget squads even exist half the time.

[Lazy Orang]

In Classic?

Major Q9
Raelin the Kyrie Warrior (RotV)
Cyprien Esenwein
Sonya Esenwein
Guilty McCreech
Isamu
495 Points

Everything will die....

[Tornado]

Deadeye Dan.

[Neo]

I think vydar ranged builds without squads have won tournaments before.

I've seen

Braxas
Raelin RotV
Eltahale
Marro Warriors

win a tournament with about 20 attendees.

[BiggaBullfrog]

Actually, I don't know why I didn't think of this before, but @The Dewk schooled the Utah scene at our latest January Monthly with an all hero army (though it should be noted that 4/5 of the heroes was C3V/SoV):

The Varja
Asterios
Kaemon Awa
Rygarn
Bol

I think in the long run it's very possible to do well and even win a tournament with an all Unique Hero army, but it's going to require some incredible play. The Dewk, for example, is a great player and definitely has the skill level required to pilot such an army to success.

[Cleon]

I don't see how Raelin+Q9+Hydrax2 is even close to a bad army. I'd take that any day over an Elf Wizard build despite its lameness lol

Pretty much any army with Raelin+big multi attack hero is going to do at least fairly well.

Zelrig+Nilfheim+Raelin+Brave Arrow isn't bad.

Iron Golemx4+Syvarris if you want your SA-friend to not be friends with you anymore.

That new C3V fig Talingul looks decent. Maybe Talingul+IGx3+Syvarris instead.

Also Ornak+Hydras is a thing.