I had a 150-point game playing my O-12 on the weekend and it made me realize O-12 has some great troops for a cheap cost. So, I started thinking (it happens sometimes) what are the “best” troop for under 20pts.? This is what I think are the best troops, for O-12 and Yu Jing, for 20pts. and under. I’ve kept it to the Top 10 for each faction but some factions have more to chose from than others. I’ll put that number text to the faction’s name. I’m doing this as if it’s Vanilla but many of the same troops apply to the sectorals as well. Please add what you think is the best for your faction for under 20pts. Criteria Are they have a specialist and how good is that specialist (speed, camo, etc)? Are they a good killer? BS or CC for the points. Are they a good support troop? This could be as a specialist or just being a cheap roadblock or troublemaker. Also, what is good for one faction isn’t necessarily good for another. For some factions, that troop might be the ONLY one they have that can what they do. I’m starting with Yu Jing just because I want to, and they are my first love. Yu Jing Yu Jing has the least number of “good” troops for under 20pts. to choose. I find it a bit disappointing that some of their best cheap troops are mercenaries. I like them but wish they had some unique YJ troops that were good for the points. My “GoTo” cheap troops are the Beasthunter, Long Ya, Shaolin. Before Beasthunter it was the Liberto in Vanilla. I don’t think much needs to be said about Shaolin. What can be said about Liberto that hasn’t been said? They are great for YJ but mainly because they are the only troop of their type in YJ. They will show up in other factions as well. Monstrucker is our best ENG for the points. Able to get anywhere it needs to be with good weapons. Yeah, it’s irregular but throw down a drop bear and it’s worth it. Diggers are just good all around. MBH gave YJ some needed speed for a cheap price. I love the Red Fury for its cheap cost both pts and SWC. Weibing will always be a good toolbox. The Long Ya were a great addition to Yu Jing. They added much needed cheap order along with good ARO, attack and flank guards. The minelayer of course is fantastic. The Beasthunter is one of my favorites. Great attackers and not bad for just laying down a bunch of mines to then go attack. The Celestial Guard Hacker is great for the points. Much better than the Zhanshi. SHAOLIN Chain Rifle, Smoke Grenades / Pistol, DA CC Weapon. (0 | 6) LIBERTO Submachine Gun, Chain-colt / Pistol, CC Weapon. (0 | 8) LIBERTO (Minelayer) Light Shotgun, Shock Mines / Pistol, CC Weapon. (1 | 8) MONSTRUCKER Submachine Gun, Chain Rifle, Drop Bears / Pistol, CC Weapon. (0 | 12) DIGGER Chain Rifle(+1B), Grenades / Pistol, AP CC Weapon(+1B). (0 | 14) MOTORIZED BOUNTY HUNTER Red Fury / Breaker Pistol, PARA CC Weapon(-6). (0.5 | 16) WÈIBĪNG Yaókòng Combi Rifle, Flash Pulse / PARA CC Weapon(-3). (0 | 15) LÓNG YÁ (Minelayer) Panzerfaust(+1B), Flammenspeer(+1B), Submachine Gun, AP Mines / PARA CC Weapon(-3). (0.5 | 17) BEASTHUNTERS (Surprise Attack [-3], Camouflage, Forward Deployment [+8"]) Heavy Flamethrower, Panzerfaust, AP Mines / EXP CC Weapon(+1B), Pistol. (0 | 17) CELESTIAL GUARD (Hacker, Hacking Device) Combi Rifle ( ) / Pistol, CC Weapon. (0.5 | 18) O-12 O-12 is the complete opposite of Yu Jing. It was really hard to cut down to only ten good troops 20pts and under. Some of my farvorites: Moonraker is so cheap for what it does! I'm loving them so far. They cause so much trouble for my opponents. The Digger is here again for the same reasons as YJ. Lawkeeper is a fast specialist and actually packs a punch with +1 dmg. combi. I actually prefer the Red Fury version with roadbot, but the cheap combi one is great for small battles. Varangians are not just great smoke chuckers, they are good all around. I almost always have 1 in a list. KAPPA (Hacker, Hacking Device) Submachine Gun ( ) / Pistol, CC Weapon. (0.5 | 12) RAVENEYE Submachine Gun, E/Marat, Flash Pulse, E/M Mines / Pistol, CC Weapon. (0 | 12) VARANGIAN Submachine Gun, Chain Rifle, Smoke Grenades / Heavy Pistol, AP CC Weapon. (0 | 12) BEASTHUNTERS (Surprise Attack [-3], Camouflage, Forward Deployment [+8"]) Heavy Flamethrower, Panzerfaust, AP Mines / Pistol, DA CC Weapon. (0 | 15) DIGGER Chain Rifle(+1B), Grenades / Pistol, AP CC Weapon(+1B). (0 | 14) MENT Heavy Riotstopper(+2B) / Assault Pistol, PARA CC Weapon(-3). (0 | 15) CYBERGHOSTS (Hacker, Killer Hacking Device) Combi Rifle, Pitcher ( ) / Breaker Pistol, PARA CC Weapon(-3). (0 | 18) OKO Combi Rifle, Flash Pulse / PARA CC Weapon(-3). (0 | 16) LAWKEEPER (Specialist Operative) Combi Rifle, Chain Rifle / MULTI Pistol, PARA CC Weapon(-3). (0 | 20) MOONRAKER (Minelayer) Heavy Shotgun, Adhesive Launcher, Shock Mines / PARA CC Weapon(-3). (0.5 | 16)
Nomads I would leave out the standard REM (FO, EVO, FP, G-ML) because nearly everyone have them. Also Mercs are widespread available. Not consider linkabilitys. 1 Moran - both loadouts - most annoying troop in game, that is also a specialst 17 2 Zero (Minelayer, FO, DepRep) - cheap infiltrating camo roadblock, specialist or networker 19/20/0,5 3 Überallkommando - CC - experts with super dodge for 20,- bucks 4 Jaguar - all versions - cheap smoke, cheap EM CCW, cheap PF ARO 10-11 5 Puppet Master - cheap hacker or minelayer with counterintelligence 14/17 0,5 6 Morlock Gruppe 6 pts imp CC&template smoke delivery 6 7 Clockmaker - high WIP specialst, engineer, B2 Gizmo 18 8 Marsspider - Paramedic - Template wielding specialst that can CC and are mobile 19 9 Securitate - Repeater - wandering fritz box 16 10 Special Jazz & Billie - best hacker you can get for 18 but have to pay a tax of 7 that will give you an extra order, FP, fast repeater and EM Mines Spoiler: CJC CJC Clockmaker - high WIP specialst, engineer, B2 Gizmo 18 Raveneye - low coast DZ protection with EM Mines also cheap spezialist 12 Tomcat - Deployable Repeater (expaning your hacking network on unexpected angels) 19/0,5 Diablos - the better Digger (not the cheaper) with 6-2 move CC expert, template (Digger has bigger) Moran - both loadouts - most annoying troop in game 17 Jaguar - all versions - cheap smoke, cheap EM CCW, cheap PF ARO 10-11 Special Jazz & Billie - best hacker you can get for 18 but have to pay a tax of 7 that will give you an extra order, FP, fast repeater and EM Mines. Spoiler: BJC BJC Marsspider - Paramedic - Template wielding specialst that can CC and are mobile 19 Uhahu - Hacker with NWI, hides well (S1), NWI, WIP 14, TC +2 DMG 19/0,5 Zero (Minelayer, FO, DepRep) - cheap infiltrating camo roadblock, specialist or networker 19/20/0,5 Überallkommando - CC - experts with super dodge for 20,- bucks Morlock Gruppe 6 pts imp CC&template smoke delivery 6 Zellenkrieger - slightly better Morlock 8 Spoiler: TJC TJC ABH - A gun with a surprise - 12 - 20/0,5 MBH - cheap and fast template dilvery system 9-16/0,5 Puppet Master - cheap hacker or minelayer with counterintelligence 14/17 0,5 Securitate - Repeater - wandering fritz box 16 Cheerkiller - cheap super jumping AP shooter 14-19
Some MUST include the standard remotes because they what they have. For example, for Yu Jing, the Weibing is good because it’s fast. They have no Forward Deploying specialist troops under 20pts. like the Zeros and Morans. They also don’t have specialist bikers like the Aragoto or Lawkeeper.
PanO Auxilia: The auxbot does all the dirty jobs my expensive elites are too afraid to do. Take them in pairs and make one the lieutenant, or take the FO version with a repeater to be even more of a nuisance. Helot (LRL): For 9 points, the LRL/SMG Helot has a chance to punch well above its weight. Mine rarely go down without taking something out first. Acon Regular (Hacker): They carry the only Fast Panda in PanO and sport a WIP of 13, making them a surprisingly good hacker in PanO. The grenade launcher is a welcome piece of kit when in a core. Beasthunter: The camo-less minelayer option makes for an affordable defensive piece, but the 15 point camo version gives PanO a decent warband option which they generally lack. While most factions can take one, it fills a niche in PanO. Teutonic Knight w/TinBot: PanO's version of a warband. They're fast, fighty, and durable. It can take a surprising number of orders kill them thanks to their dodge bonuses. Acon Regular (Sensor, Triangulated Fire, & Minelayer): A handy defensive toolbox that can help guard your DZ. Honourable Mention Raveneye (MO only): Another handy defensive toolbox. I pretty much always take one when I play MO.
With the caveat that I have yet to start Aleph (I’ve got figures and started making lists before being side-tracked by O-12) I’m going to try to come up with what I think are the best troops for 20pts. or less. They don’t have a lot but more than others (Yu Jing). I think the Proxies Mk1 hacker is a no-brianer. It’s very good for the price. Of course, you need to take at least 1 more Proxy but luckily the rest of them are pretty good too. It’s just too bad you can’t take two Mk1s. The Monstrucker again is here because he’s so cheap for a good specialist. I think players don’t give the Ekodromoi enough credit. Combat Jump/Para with Stealth and Super Jump is awesome. Able to get almost anywhere fast. Then Heavy Pistol and +1 B Chain Rifle is not bad. Then also able to get into combat with CC22 and MA3 with DA CCW. Watch out enemy hackers that are not supported! Yes, the Digger yet again. It’s just too good for the points. I haven’t seen the Dawon in action yet but on paper it seems excellent. With or without smoke, it’s able to get to where it needs to be with its speed. Of course its’ sucks it’s hackable but hopefully fast enough to move around hackers and repeaters. The Riksha, like Dawon, I have yet to see, but it’s a fast specialist. Runner up is the Dactyl. Great is SP but beat out in vanilla by the Proxy. LIBERTO (Minelayer) Light Shotgun, Shock Mines / Pistol, CC Weapon. (1 | 8) MONSTRUCKER Submachine Gun, Chain Rifle, Drop Bears / Pistol, CC Weapon. (0 | 12) PROXY Mk.1 (Hacker, Hacking Device) Combi Rifle, Nanopulser ( ) / Pistol, CC Weapon. (0.5 | 14) PROXY Mk.1 (Engineer, Deactivator) Combi Rifle, Nanopulser, D-Charges ( | GizmoKit) / Pistol, CC Weapon. (0 | 13) EKDROMOS Chain Rifle(+1B) / Heavy Pistol, DA CC Weapon. (0 | 20) DIGGER Chain Rifle(+1B), Grenades / Pistol, AP CC Weapon(+1B). (0 | 14) DAWON Chain Rifle(+1B), Flammenspeer / MULTI Pistol(+1B), E/M CC Weapon. (0 | 19) RIKSHA (Forward Observer) Combi Rifle, Flash Pulse / PARA CC Weapon(-6). (0 | 20) MYRMIDON Chain Rifle, Nanopulser, Smoke Grenades / Pistol, DA CC Weapon. (0 | 16) GARUDA (Forward Observer) Combi Rifle, Flash Pulse / PARA CC Weapon(-3). (0 | 20)
StarCoStarCo has an eclectic mix of troop choices of which the most used ones happen to be just one or two points too expensive for this List. One thing straight off the bat: despite being a formidable Engineer in a general sense I didn't include the Clockmaker because until recently there just weren't essential enough STR Troopers around which would justify the 10 points more than the Irmadinho costs. Best under 20 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ALGUACIL (Paramedic) Combi Rifle ( | MediKit) / Pistol, CC Weapon. (0 | 12) it's the cheapest healer and also one of the two base units to form a StarCo Fireteam. BRAWLER Heavy Rocket Launcher / Assault Pistol, CC Weapon. (1.5 | 16) cheap and solid impact template bearing heavy weapon trooper, also Wildcard and base unit for the PMC Fireteam. CSU Breaker Rifle, Nanopulser(+1B) / Pistol, PARA CC Weapon(-6). (0 | 12) CSU (Specialist Operative) Breaker Combi Rifle, Nanopulser(+1B) / Pistol, PARA CC Weapon(-6). (0 | 15) introduces BTS and BTS/2 saves, can profit from Metachemistry and is the other base unit for the PMC Fireteam. DAKTARI Combi Rifle | MediKit / Pistol, CC Weapon. (0 | 14) Cheapest actual Doctor and although not better than the Algu paramedic in the MediKit game the Daktari is more effective in healing low PH. Also linkable in a StarCo fireteam DIGGER Chain Rifle(+1B), Grenades / Pistol, AP CC Weapon(+1B). (0 | 14) I guess by now it's already known what the Diggers' USPs are :D Oh, they're Wildcards too. HARDCASE FRONTIERSMAN Tactical Bow, Light Shotgun / Pistol, CC Weapon. (0 | 12) one can be quite creative with the Decoy Camo. IRMANDINHO Chain Rifle, D-Charges, Smoke Grenades / Pistol, AP CC Weapon. (0 | 8) that's StarCo's default Engineer. If paired with a ZondBot it's even possible to actually heal the one remote one would like to play or, even more interesting, heal the Zellenkrieger if something is left of it. JAGUAR Chain Rifle, Smoke Grenades / Pistol, DA CC Weapon. (0 | 10) JAGUAR Light Shotgun, Smoke Grenades / Pistol, E/M CC Weapon. (0 | 11) smokers, smashers, corner guards. also the LSG Jaguar brings the E/M CCW and two active templates. STEMPLER ZOND Combi Rifle, Flash Pulse / PARA CC Weapon(-3). (0 | 16) it's the highly mobile FO & Repeater bot so it can help broaden Uhahu's hacker area and do mission related stuff. UHAHU (Hacker) Pitcher, D-Charges / Assault Pistol, CC Weapon. (0.5 | 19) Superb Hacker who brings a Pitcher and White Noise. Wildcard. Her S1 needs to be kept in mind because some scatter terrain can actually block her movement. ZELLENKRIEGER Pulzar, Smoke Grenades / Heavy Pistol(+1B), DA CC Weapon. (0 | 8) Kind of self explanatory: run, smash, done
For CJS I would add the Jaguar with Panzerfaust. For 11pts. include a bunch (five? probably not, but two or three...?) and put them on ARO duty. Will they hit? Who knows! Not your opponent. If they die, OH NO! ELEVEN pts. gone... if they hit though... huge morale hit to the enemy. Oh and they're Dogged, which is always a fun surprise (and something I constantly forget). And if they live long enough they can start charging up with their buddies and either DA CC or ADL targets
These are my picks for spiral. In particular the diplo is a steal, the kriigel offers a lot of utility as a lieutenant and the kaurii is a really solid versatile specialist for missions with lots of classifieds
I think Jags are crazy good for the points. They are a bit like my Varangians (Starmada) but a little better. Especially in JJC. Cheaper, E/M, DA standard, Frenzy instead of Imp. Then haris or core. That Panzer one has ruined many of my plans.
I also prefer the LSG - much versatility, but sometimes you need that 1 point ... Its: Jurisdictional Command of Corregidor I was on both ends of this Panzerfaust, so yeah it can be annoying. But its not only 11 pts. You loose an order also. So three of them will let you starve on orders, while youre opponent removes - more or less easy - the AROs. Best is one in a fireteam. Put out two shoots and if nothing happens, try Dodge or ADHL.
According to the catalog: https://store.corvusbelli.com/en/wargames/infinity/all/corregidor-sectorial-starter-pack : Corregidor Jurisdictional Command Sectorial Starter Pack And (esp. in Nomads) money talks I've used two Jag w/ panz to anchor a core link with a lot of success (you can also throw in a baggage bot, if you and EVO's useful anyway). Three may be excessive.
So when I started this, I initially was going to do what I thought was the best for all of the factions but that's way too much for me. But I did start looking. I think the factions that end up having the best troops under 20pts are: Nomads, Haqqislam, Ariadna (has a lot of troops under 20!). Some seem pretty obvious.
Yep. I was going to add Haqqislam, but then I realized it was like over a quarter of the units! The whole army was designed to have very efficient models that are great for trading up. The issue is that unfortunately, the expensive pieces, while good at their role, don't give that same level of satisfaction. Its not their fault, its just that after being used to 12pt Zuleyka killing half an opponent's force, you are always going to be disappointed by the 50pt Bokthar regardless of what they can accomplish.
Nicely put and such a beautifully designed game where essentially very samey units creates very different armies when put together and tweaked.
I'm not so sure about that lol. I think the Asawira does fine for himself. The good cheap troops allow you to "splurge" on some great expensive troops too. I wish I had that in Yu Jing. While they have some good troops under 20pts. None of them are as good as other factions. Nothing comparies to a Barid for example. So that means I need to invest more in expensive troops that once gone, I can be screwed for the rest of the game.
Yujing is the well -rounded Faction, so they don't have the same amount of extremes as others. But I do think your are downplaying Shaolin and Kuang Shi. They are really really good. EDIT: In my mind, models below 20pts are cheap; 20s to 40s range are mid-range; and 40+ are expensive. IMO, Haqqislam is reliant on its cheap pieces to over perform. That is how I see the faction working. Yujing on the other hand, relies on its expensive pieces to win. Some of which are definitely Best in Class. It is just that different playstyles are best for each faction. No playstyle is superior, just different. Like most of my Haqqislam lists don't have cheerleaders, but if I make a PanO one, they do.
I have found them to be ok, not good. The stealth on Shaolin is helpful but I think Morlock is much better. Better weapons and then add meta chem on top of that. I'd love a Regular version of Shaolin like Varangian or Daturazi but then that steps on their toes. They are really just smoke chuckers who occasionally get into CC or deliver Liang Kai. If I had my way they would all be Tactical Aware instead of Impetuous and all have Para CCW -6 and stun pistols (no killing). But then sadly then can't fight Immune Total guys. But I digress. Kuang Shi are not really just Kaung Shi since you must take the Celestial SGL who is only meh. They should almost not even count since you need to take a 13pt, .5swc CG and then at minimum you want two KS. That's 23pts. Taking up 3 slots of your army. Like Shaolin being smoke chuckers, they are just order generators who can cover a corner.
