Warhammer Fantasy Battle Reporter Forum

Figured I would start this off by asking all of you Dreadlords out there. Who is your Nemesis? What one army is out there that just gives you hell every time you play against? When you look across the table and know you are going to have a hard fight.

Once we have enough responses we can talk about strategies on how to best defeat these foes for the glory of Malekith and all of Naggaroth.

For me its the Daemons have alot of fast fear and terror causing units, powerful magic, decent shooting, and lots of staying power.

So who is your Nemesis?

demons and vampires)

Mostly Lizardmen these days but the High pansies are tough sometimes too!

Lizardmen: mostly have such high toughness and the cold blooded is so frustrating the never run off.... and the new book didn't help at all... with those stegs running around
Atleast we're rid of those army choices they had, some of those where just nasty (forgot the name of those ).

Highelves.... that ASF gets me.... and when they play Teclis.

Dwarfs are annoying, but luckily my friend loves playing strange listswhen it comes to these buggers, which makes/keeps it fun.

My 2 cents

I think the hardest army I ever played against are the Daemons.
They are inmune to psicology, so fear and panic helps no more, and I like to use them. Special Save 5+... strength loses power and just helps on scoring wounds. great shooters, great magic... I have seen 40 horros on 1500 army list. that's a 4lvl sorcerer with 3 rows and high unit potence. inmune to psicology and 5+ Special save. Don't know how to beat it in a compensed list at 1500. counting that they not come alone.

The other armies I've seen are more or less difficult depending on the list each side comes with. and of course the how they play

Okay from the list I am seeing High Elves, Daemons, Vampires, and Lizardmen are the main problems. When I get a bit more time I will try and write down unit combo's, equipment and tactics to help deal with these problems.

against lizardmen (1500pts):
I use few magic, just one lvl 1 sorceress with one or two scrolls.
two bolt throwers to shoot against the stegadon.
a big unit of black guard with an assassin with manbane and Hag Graef. Champion with the Str6 weapon.
one unit of shades with an assassin with manbane+stars
light cavalry to find the skins and maybe a charriot or high AS against salamanders... If I can left them aside is better because they shoot very hard.
I think the lance that ignores scale armor and gives +3 to Str on charge is a very good item.

It gives a good result for me.

I also find a very mobile army is the best way to fight against Lizardmen. Dark Riders with Repeater Crossbows, Shades with an Assassin. Usually have him with Rune of Khaine, additional hand weapon, Black Lotus, and the Cloak of Twilight. I have him run down lone characters. A Sorceress on a Dark Pegasus. I usually give her The Pendent of Khaeleth. And take Lore of Fire or Lore of Death. Getting the -3 Leadership spell is just brutal.

I keep one character back with Lifetaker and have him kick off Chameleon Skinks, and any other skirmishers til I feel they are weak enough for a charge by my AssassinI find Bolt throwers are also a solid unit to take as well as the Blackguard like Ebon does. I also takes harpies as they are good for march blocking.

Only other unit combo I like taking against Lizardmen is Master on a Coldone with the Ring of Darkness, in a unit of Cold One Knights. give the Dreadknight the Ring of Hotek. When the enemy finds that his shooting is ineffective, they usually try to pound the Cold One Knights with spells.

As for my Blackguard all I give them is a Null Talisman. The point for them is to get locked into combat then my other units flank kill them with combat resolution. The War banner usually is good enough, along with the flanking to make the Lizardmen running back into there ponds.

If anyone else has any suggestions against Lizardmen, then lets hear them! After a few days we will move on to talk about how to kill our favorite enemy the High Elves.

My Nemesis? Absolutely Bretonnians. Granted, that's largely because of my friend who plays them's lucky rolls and always somehow getting into combat. Then again, I haven't played against him with the revision (or even gotten the current revision yet), so it might be a bit easier.

Only thing I can really think of for against lizardmen is that the Hydra could be pretty good against temple guard if coming from the front and they are flanked with a couple large n cheap blocks of warriors w/ spear. Obvious problems abound here, of course.

Dragon might be useful, b/c of high T n S. maybe fliers could come from the back of temple guard and nail the Slann? would that work? I'm not too sure.

I don't actually play Dark Elves but my nemesis from within a Dark Elf army is that wretched Crone Hellebron, what a witch ! (with a capital "B")

Yeah the Crone is a real Witch.... She really needs to be rebalanced.

I will add Brets to the list of armies to be covered. I know I have a rough time against them. Exspecially against the RAF.

Okay when fighting against High Elves. The old addage of knowing your opponent comes to mind.

In my area there are a number of High Elf players so I have alot of practice against them. The biggest thing to keep in mind is to minimize there strengths while maximizing yours.

I always bring an Assassin, with the Mark of Khaine, Black Lotus, Cloak of Twilight, and additional hand weapon. He is my headhunter against lone mages, or Bolt Thrower crew, or the lone Eagle. The Eagle and Mages being on the top of my list. After all of that if he is still alive I send him against vulnerable units.

I use Shades, and a character with Lifetaker to go after skirmishers. Nothing better than watching Shadow Warriors die wondering my hard cover, skirmish, and long range isn't saving them. Lifetaker I feel is a mandatory choice against a High Elf army.

Another great choice is a Master equipped with the Ring of Darkness in with the Cold One Knights. Then the reliable shooting of the High Elves isn't so solid. So they will have to pound you with magic. Equip your Dread Knight with the Ring of Hotek. One miscast, and he is going to have to divert his main hand to hand units to deal with this threat. But don't forget even if you get the charge and he still goes first. His Weapon Skill will be halved because of the Ring of Darkness, and his melee will be less effective. While you will be hitting on a 3+, along with Eternal Hatred will make short work of most units.

Don't take Lore of Fire. Just not worth it against High Elves. Dark Magic and Death are your best bet. High Elves are great shots and have good leadership. If you are lucky with the right spells you can lessen these strengths using these two lists.

For troops I take 2 blocks of 10 crossbowmen, and 1 block of 20 Corsairs. My Crossbowmen units are sacrifice units. I expect the enemy to launch all his bow shots at them to make them run. If he doesn't I will move up and shoot. My Corsairs I arm with Handbows, and the Banner of Murder. That combo seems to work great for me against other Elven units.

I always take a Master on a Dark Pegasus against High Elves armoured up and with Caledors Bane. Not so much if my opponent takes a Dragon. More for Chariot hunting. Remember a wound from a Str 7 attack that isn't saved with a chariot loses all remaining wounds.

Blackguard with full command, Standard of Hag Graef, Tower Master armed with Crimson Death is also a good choice against High Elves. With init of 6. You will beat if not match most of there units, and with Eternal Hatred they are going to pay.

For a Rare Choice, I would take at least 1 Hydra. They are great value for the points, and if the High Elf player wants to stop it, he needs to throw considerable resources that way.

As for Sorceress's. Pearl of Infiniate Blackness, and Sacrificial Dagger, and drop her into a unit of Crossbowmen. Nothing better than a unit that won't run from all that high elf shooting.

Hope my suggestions help, and add any you think will be of use. And remember if its wasn't for slaves the Cold Ones would have nothing to eat.

Figure I would start with the next Nemesis update Vampire Counts. Now if I know I am going against them. I build my army a bit differently.

Blackguard with Full Command and the Standard of Hag Graef is a must.

Assassin armed with the Venom Sword. He is my challenge/monster hunter machine. Vargulf, Black Coach, Corpse Cart, Zombie Dragon, Bat Swarms, Carin Wraiths, Spirit Host. Anything with multiple wounds. Its his job to run with down. Believe me Vampire players hate this guy. Put him a unit of Shades to protect him til he is close. Them let him rip. Use him first to knock out the incorporeal units. They are usually the shooting screen for most armies.

Ring of Hotek on a Master riding a Dark Pegasus. Why? Most of his casting will be to build up or heal his units not against you. Use this to his advantage. Vampires need there magic. Make the war of attrition work against him.

The Crystal of Midnight on a Sorceress, target a Vampire Hero or Necromancer. With LD of 7 odds are good your stealing away one of there spells on 3d6.

Take a huge block of Witch Elves, upgrade with a hag. Give them Witchbrew. Load up with the War Banner, Death Hag as a Battle Standard Bearer. Its one of the few times I take the Banner of Nararythe. I also give her Black Lotus and Rune of Khaine. Refuse challenges with your hag. Use the Death Hag and the other girls to shred through there units to build up combat resolution.

For Troops, 2 10 man units of Crossbowmen to take out Dire Wolves, or any other on magical screeners. A Block of Corsairs to support the Witch Elves with full command and the Sea Serpent Banner.

Take a War Hydra or 2 depending on the size of the game. Have them lock a flank or get around and breathe on the large blocks of the enemy.

Final choice is another Sorceress sitting with a couple of dispel scrolls.

Feel free to add in what unit/items work well for you against them. Vampires are a tough nut to crack but it can be done.

D*** Lizards!!!!!! So overpowered, my friend runs like 4 stegs and just tramples me! I usually win just by shooting his characters and running over his core units, while my bolt throwers and hyrda kill the stegs.

Been busy with work. So haven't had the opportunity to update this in awhile.

Next army to tackle is Daemons. They are the toughest kids on the block.
The best way to defeat them is to use there strengths against them. Know thy enemy really applies when dealing with them.

They are strong with magic, so take the Ring of Hotek. There Troops are vulnerable to missle fire. Use it. Focus your Lifetaker on there Flamers.

Be more manueverable than them. Sorceress on a Dark Pegasus Shades, Dark Riders. Equip your Sorceress with a Black Dragon Egg. When they charge, run. Even if its off the board. They will still have a failed charge and need to waste time to reposition. While he does that take the opportunity to move, and counter charge. Its always better to run off the board than let him maul a unit and overrun into the next.

Spread your force out, and no matter where you are have ranged attacks. Make him commit to where we wants to press the attack, and punish him for it. Focus on his weak units, run from the strong. You decide who you want sacrifice. March block where you can, and dance around his force.

As for units Witch Elves are awesome against Daemons. Death Hag as your battle Standard Bearer with the Standard of Hag Graef. Don't forget she can take Gifts of Khaine. Witchs Brew and Rune of Khaine. Add in a Hag with Rune of Khaine as well.

Tailor your army for which units you want to stand firm, and which ones will break. Set up against Daemons is the most important. Take Repeater Bolt Throwers. There are to many flaming attacks in the Daemon army to make your Hydra last very long.

If you are wanting to monster hunt. Take an Assassin and hide it in a vulnerable unit with the Venom Sword.

Thanks) I will try that with khorne player)