Hello fellow commanders, since some time has passed since the new fireteam-rules were revealed, I would like to ask the question about the best options for core-teams in Druze, or if there is a reason to take a core-team at all? My general experience and opinion is, that you don't really need a defensive core-team for the moment and that you either go big with a unified team, or go home with either no core-team or a really cheap one. In QK I made good use of a full Janissaire-team, but they have great stats and can do heavy work, but there is no similar option in DBS. I would argue, that there is no sweet spot for an aggressive core-team, since all we can take besides Diggers will die to a chain rilfe in the midfield. So I don't want to expose my troops more than needed to warbands. Risking some troops in a cheap haris is a different thing. So what I can imagine is the traditional defensive team around the Brawler MSV2, containing one or two Diggers, your Lt and hackers or cheerleaders, depending on the plan for the rest of the list. Gromoz or the Clipper are no thing anymore, since I would loose the additional but important BS-buffs for the sniper... But how are your experiences? Best regards Capo
I think one of the things that should be taken advantage of is that they have an easy time making a full unmixed core team. Then with the X-Visor, even better. I think one of the hackers with a pitcher is a must have.
For me it would end up looking something like this, depending on deployment, initiative, board layout etc: Druze Hacker Druze HMG Druze LT/Brawler LT/Arslan Brawler MSV2 MSR Digger/Aida/Taowu/ Whatever doesn't make it into the team will be deployed nearby for redundancy – probably a second Digger. Aida would also start outside the team to make use of her +4 FD, which gives more freedom in deploying her mine. Depending on her Booty roll, she can always replace a member later on. Diggers seem to good not to bring. Shame these weren't designed as a dedicated Druze unit but another generic Merc that is thematically out of place in most circumstances. Druze have a very easy time building a pure link, so I'd probably want to leverage that. Clipper Dronbots don't benefit enough from fireteams and Bounty Hunters are only 2 points cheaper than Diggers anyway. Valerya can be interesting when you are expecting a TAG, but otherwise I prefer Druze hackers for being veterans. Not sure about Wolfgang, but he looks much more at home in a mobile Haris.
Druze EM LGL, Lt, Hacker, MSR Brawler, Brawler. It's primarily there to support the haris, rems, etc. and help punish other defensive setups. I don't think they are a good aggressive profile, so prefer to use a haris, REM, or TAG to push
What is your deal with the EM LGL? Of course I also had some great moments with it, but in the end, it is memorized as the biggest order-sink in history of Infinity. In N4 the combination of costs, SWC and that most targets are dodging with good PH would let me skip it directly for a Digger and a Peacemaker or Fugazi.
I would hardly ever use the Indirect fire. But as direct fire it's pretty good. Not as much as it used to be but still good. The X-visor helps too up to the 32in range. They also have the versatility of both regular and E/M. 2 Half BTS saves is pretty powerful though.
I like it as a threat. Even if it's not likely it's always on your opponents mind. It's a beautiful piece of utility kit. That profile can do so many things. Additionally, even if the odds are low, if you have a spare order or just want to force your opponent to adjust you can always threaten the Spec Fire. In ARO it's as good as anything else they carry if you run into HI or a TAG, or whatever else you may want to hit. With all the normal Druze gear, the EM/LGL, and the LGL it can threaten a lot of things.
TBH, my current love is QK, and I am now trying to figure out how to run Druze effectively in that. I feel that Djan are almost a requirement, at least a Haris. Love my DBS as a project army. But it leaves a lot to be desired I as far as options.
I tend to run a lot of druze in my DBS, not the most popular option for meta chasers. That said, a team that shows up in every one of my lists is a defensive haris that runs a clipper, valera and a engineer. Brawler or Monstrucker depending on if you want the pts/regular order. That said on any map with a good position to stick the clipper, prone the engineer next to it (assume there's a ledge to hide behind) and when the bot goes down, you can attempt to repair it next turn. Since most people don't waste the orders to try and put down the bot for good and having STR gives it resistance to being instantly dead even when critted. Remember, defensive links aren't always about filling body bags, sometimes just locking down an objective, opposing link, or wasting time is just as game winning. If you're forcing tons of cautious moves turn 1, you're in a good spot. The little bot can be one hell of a speed bump and pop back up to do it again next turn unless your opponent wastes even more orders. With a monstrucker it's only 49 pts, and it can devour an entire turn 1 push's worth of orders. Valera is just there to be tucked in safe and sound to hack away once your repeater network is up assuming you have Hanzakuts or other repeater options. If the bot dies, then she can do her own thing. Same with the engineer, if the bot dies then you have an emergency button pusher.
Im surprised to be the odd man out but I'm often running the cheapest pure I can get: Brawler msv Brawler lt Brawler hacker Druze KHD Digger chain 101 / 2 swc Occasionally if I'm feeling flush I might switch out the brawler hacker for a druze SMR.
Just a heads up it has to be a Brawler to be a legal Haris as you can't create the team without a Druze or Brawler.
Admittedly I haven't played Druze in a long time. i've been making lists for them though and I keep making these same two. One is a defensive long range core and the other is one that needs to move up to get jobs done. Something I've loved on the Druze for years is the X-Visor. I think this makes them one of the best shooting cores. Sure they are only BS12 but when things are out of range they are not nearly at a disadvantage as their opponent is. When you add in the +1 Damage it's even better. I think some of the best weapons they have to take advantage of the XV and +1dmg is the Panzerfaust, Shock Marksman Rifle, LGL, and Pitcher. Fire Away! ────────────────────────────────────────────────── 5 DRUZE Heavy Machine Gun, Chain-colt / Viral Pistol, CC Weapon. (1.5 | 31) DRUZE Combi Rifle, Chain-colt, Panzerfaust / Viral Pistol, CC Weapon. (0 | 25) DRUZE Shock Marksman Rifle, Chain-colt / Viral Pistol, CC Weapon. (0 | 27) DRUZE (Hacker, Hacking Device) Combi Rifle, Pitcher, D-Charges ( ) / Viral Pistol, CC Weapon. (0.5 | 30) BRAWLER (Multispectral Visor L2) MULTI Sniper Rifle ( ) / Pistol, CC Weapon. (1.5 | 27) 3.5 SWC | 140 Points Open in Infinity Army Get it done! ────────────────────────────────────────────────── 5 1 DRUZE Combi Rifle, Chain-colt, Grenade Launcher, E/M Grenade Launcher / Viral Pistol, CC Weapon. (1 | 28) DRUZE (Hacker, Hacking Device) Combi Rifle, Pitcher, D-Charges ( ) / Viral Pistol, CC Weapon. (0.5 | 30) DRUZE Shock Marksman Rifle, Chain-colt / Viral Pistol, CC Weapon. (0 | 27) DIGGER Rifle, Light Shotgun / Pistol, AP CC Weapon(+1B). (0 | 18) BRAWLER (Doctor) Rifle, Light Shotgun ( | MediKit) / Pistol, CC Weapon. (0 | 19) 1.5 SWC | 122 Points Open in Infinity Army
Oh crap you're right! I usually ran it with a brawler but I thought I was being clever by the rewrite. I was just about to bring it to my FLGS tonight too. Thanks for catching that!
Shame too cuz that would be a legit wee haris. Not that it would help here but it also occurred to me that it's really weird that valerya doesn't have a druze tag given she features in so much of their artwork as a regular within their teams. But somehow Aida and taowu do get the Tag... Sigh. While I'm on it, libertos, beast hunters, krakot/kendrat or wardrivers could all join the sectorial I think..
When I build Druze I find basically EVERYTHING I add is either a rem or counts as Druze. I would typically start with the full core indicated below, supported with a Haris consisting of my LT (brawler), the brawler sniper, and a piece of filler, commonly either Aida, Druze SMR, or Valerya ────────────────────────────────────────────────── 5 1 DRUZE Heavy Machine Gun, Chain-colt / Viral Pistol, CC Weapon. (1.5 | 31) DRUZE (Hacker, Killer Hacking Device) Combi Rifle, Pitcher, D-Charges ( ) / Viral Pistol, CC Weapon. (0 | 28) BRAWLER (Doctor) Rifle, Light Shotgun ( | MediKit) / Pistol, CC Weapon. (0 | 19) BOUNTY HUNTER Submachine Gun, Akrylat-Kanone / Breaker Pistol, PARA CC Weapon(-6). (0 | 12) DIGGER Chain Rifle(+1B), Grenades / Pistol, AP CC Weapon(+1B). (0 | 14) 1.5 SWC | 104 Points Open in Infinity Army
Sadly bounty hunters don't count as druze. So you need to switch out to a digger or Brawler for those sweet core bonus.
Hello everyone, firt time posting here, so I thought I'll start with my favorite faction ever My best performing core links so far were variations over the basic brawler MSV2+Druze KHD+Druze Grenadier if you need points, you can close it with two diggers, or a digger and a brawler doctor if you have surplus of points, a brawler doctor and a druze HMG close it as a pretty punchy team I will experiment it soon in a tournament with the double holomask ruse: on one side of the table, MSV2, Aida, Druze KHD, and Taowu holomasked as Cordelia turner (so the oppo must think I am reserving scarface on that side of the table) on the other side of the table, Druze HMG, my Lt, 2 diggers, and a bashi bazouk holo'ed as the Druze grenade launcher in reserve, the druze granade launcher, that can drop on either side to complete a core link Given my experience with deployment, it's very likely most opponents will deploy their Lt on the opposite side of where my fake LGL is, so I'm hoping for a meme game of "this game is decapitation until I say otherwise" Jokes aside, MSV2, Grenadier and KHD are my go-to, rarely swap them out
