Why use Morat, Shasvastii, Sygmaa Units in Onyx?

The TAGs are fun every once in awhile. Running super jump duo with a super jumping Samaritan is pretty awesome.

The Overdrons are a hoot to bring when you KNOW you’ll be playing vs a stellar MSV unit; Intruders, Atalanta, Aguila Guards, etc..

It’s pretty satisfying to reserve hold an HRMC Overdron and see your opponent trying to sniper nest an MSV Ranged.

Malignos are pretty fun TO troops that people often forget have that Automedkit.

On more than a few occasion, I’ve taken an objective with a Maligno in round 3 after my opponent walks away from it.

 

Oh yeah, and don't forget. You can always take monofil mines on Malignos to really mess with people.

 

People hate dealing with Malignos, the automedikit and Shasvastii rule really irritate people.

Shame about the aids models.

 

Eh, if you're just playing onyx you can pretty much pick and choose the best shasvastii models you want to use as proxies, and it's not likely to cause confusion when you're capped at a maximum of 4. My primary malignos is a caliban, and if im using either as a sniper i've got the haiduk.

 

I use my Tohaa Clipsos, because building that starter box model fucked me off so much I'm gonna get use out of her.

plus when someone asks about the proxy I can quickly waffle some "Sygmaa....." BS at them.

 

Cliosos is axtyactu oetfper Shrouded. That's my plan, too.

Shrouded model so ugly.

 

Lol, WTH happened here?!

 

Auto correct. Somehow.

Clipsos is totally the perfect Shrouded.

 

You don't have smoke. That means it's difficult to pass through contested firelanes without winning gunfights. You also don't have a heavy infantry link. That means if you lose a gunfight you're generally SOL because your best gunfighters only have one wound. That means that Onyx is very easily locked down with an unlucky roll or two.

That's why you need Shasvastii or Fractaa. Shasvastii, with camo, can go into marker state to pass through firelanes. Fractaa can drop behind enemy lines or walk on table edges to avoid firelanes. Between the possible versions, the Malignos is one of the least efficient TO camo shasvastii. The Fractaa is one of the most efficient drop troops in the game. And the Noctifer is one of the most efficient TO camo units in the game (though people often use it as ARO piece instead, using up all its AVA).

You have access to the Morat rule. That, alone, is enough to make you want to take Morats, considering all the Mutts running around these days. I would never play a Onyx tournament without taking at least one list with a 4 Morats so I can hunt down Mutts. Otherwise, a good Mutt player will completely lock down the objectives with jammers.

Those are, as I see it, the reason to take Morats, Fractaa and Shasvastii in Onyx.

 

I agree with most of what you said, but don't forget that your Unidrons (if you took them) have Dogged, so are a little more surviveable in ARO if you need them to be (at the expense of a guaranteed loss of them next turn).

 

I love Rodoks. I use them predominantly as active turn killers and board control. Comparing them in both sectorials, the Onyx group is much stronger because they can link with Umbras or a Nexus.

However, when looking at each sectorial individually, I find things more complicated. Even though they are stronger in Onyx, they compete with Unidrons and that's a tough battle to win. Being able to reform to full strength when members die helps offset their fragile 1 wound nature. I've taken two HMGs and rambo'd them knowing if i take a wound I can reform and keep on going. Once they're up the table B4 light or B3 boarding shotguns are fun. Forward deployed Umbras work well to replace a downed Rodok but careful placement of a Nexus works. The Nexus can reinforce the Unidrons or Rodoks making it a great cheerleader.

Rodoks may not be more fragile in MAF, but their fireteam is. Their 5AVA with nothing else capable of joining really hurts. They also compete with another great fireteam here too, the Hungries. Rodoks do provide an option to move specialists in MAF which is harder to come by than in Onyx.

I often play MAF or Onyx with two 5 man fireteams which gives me plenty of table coverage and options. I always do this to fit Rodoks into my lists. I use my command tokens to swap between them and the other fireteams mentioned. Having them unlinked makes them well suited for coordinate orders. Whether it's mines or BS attacks. Doing so does put a strain on my command tokens but i find this style of play fun. One weakness however is that none of these fireteams really offer suppression fire. The combi Rodok is too expensive, K1 Unidrons need SWC, and Hungries speak for themselves.

I think Rodoks are a wonderful unit. They may not be first choice in many situations but their versatility really gives me a change in playstyle from more popular Onyx lists. And really... who doesn't love a sexy Morat blasting away with his double shotguns?

 

My opponents...

 

Two five man fireteams?

I thought you could only have one and a Haris.

I'm a tohTo player, I don't know how things work. =P

 

You can have to two core teams, just not at the same time. If you bring 5 Unidrons and 5 Rodoks (or Nexus, etc.) you can form a fireteam from either one as the situation calls for.

 

A reminder that this is a remark on list composition in Onyx rather that some rule

In terms of rules, yes, you can have only one Core, but you can form a fireteam out of whatever can form it during the game as long as you don't exceed cap on number of fireteams of that type. This is not something you need to pre-determine during list building or anything.

 

Except you cannot reform the hungries fireteam after deployment

 

Especially in Onyx.