I'm pretty sure CB knew we were never going to make 5-man core teams of Shang Ji. I've tried both IA and WB. I always end up subbing out a basic Shang Ji for a Zuyong or Zhanshi/Jujak. Once you have about 3 of them you'll almost never be able to have a haris. Well you can but it hurts the rest of the force. It's actually a little easier in WB due to having a few cheaper troops like a Guilang instead of a Zhencha. This is what I've come up with for a generic list for this weekend. But as usual, there's holes in it. ────────────────────────────────────────────────── GROUP 1 10 2 SHÀNG JÍ (Tactical Awareness) AP Heavy Machine Gun, Chain-colt ( | TinBot: Firewall [-6]) / Pistol, Shock CC Weapon. (1.5 | 49) SHÀNG JÍ (Tactical Awareness) Heavy Rocket Launcher, Light Shotgun / Pistol, Shock CC Weapon. (1.5 | 38) SHÀNG JÍ MULTI Rifle, Chain-colt / Pistol, Shock CC Weapon. (0 | 36) ZHANSHI (Hacker, Hacking Device) Combi Rifle ( ) / Pistol, CC Weapon. (0.5 | 16) ZHANSHI (Paramedic) Combi Rifle ( | MediKit) / Pistol, CC Weapon. (0 | 13) GŬILÁNG (Hacker, Hacking Device) Combi Rifle, Shock Mines ( ) / Pistol, CC Weapon. (0.5 | 30) GŬILÁNG (Minelayer) Boarding Shotgun, Shock Mines ( | Deployable Repeater) / Pistol, CC Weapon. (0.5 | 27) Zhanshi YĪSHĒNG Combi Rifle / Pistol, CC Weapon. (0 | 15) YÁOZĂO PARA CC Weapon(-3). (0 | 3) JUJAK (Lieutenant) Combi Rifle, Heavy Flamethrower / Pistol, CC Weapon. (0 | 26) YĚ MĀO (Hacker, Killer Hacking Device) MULTI Rifle, Chain-colt ( ) / Pistol, CC Weapon. (0 | 29) GROUP 2 3 3 SHAOLIN Chain Rifle, Smoke Grenades / Pistol, DA CC Weapon. (0 | 6) SHAOLIN Chain Rifle, Smoke Grenades / Pistol, DA CC Weapon. (0 | 6) SHAOLIN Chain Rifle, Smoke Grenades / Pistol, DA CC Weapon. (0 | 6) 4.5 SWC | 300 Points Open in Infinity Army
So between IA and WB, is there a sweet spot to the number of Shang Ji running in lists and specific profiles being more useful please? I picked up all the skirmishers I think I will need ready for both armies and just waiting on more Monks, but I felt that I couldn't really justify buying more Shang Ji or Jujak except perhaps the Shang Ji HMG model with tinbot (though I realise having the Hac Tao HMG might mean one of these was a bad purchase).
AP HMG is a given. He's the lodestone of pretty much every major fireteam you're going to see in IA and WB (we'll not talk about whether this is conceptually a good or bad thing here). No matter where you put him or what you do with him, he will be doing a lot of heavy lifting. After that, the HRL/LSG Shang Ji is a solid addition to a haris or core. It's the cheapest Shang Ji model you should ever consider taking, and comes with a surprisingly well rounded kit for a supportive role in a fireteam. The HRL makes for a potent ARO weapon, but can also be used with passable competency in the active turn when fireteam bonuses are attached to it. Use it to punish enemy fireteams and force them to make difficult decisions. As a primary weapon, it's far less reliable than the higher burst and armour penetration of the AP HMG, so it should be taken supplementary to your HMG. Also of note, the LSG helps to make him efficient and threatening at close ranges as well. The model for this guy is also dope as hell. The last role you would consider for Shang Ji in a team would be the FO or paramedic. In either case, they add a sturdy and competent specialist to your team that can fight decently in a pinch. The FO gives a Tactical Awareness order for increased efficiency, while the paramedic is probably more useful as a specialist, giving access to healing that YJ tends to be lacking in. The HRL and specialist profiles aren't going to find themselves into every list comp, but provide situational benefits that compliment our metallic messiah well. Anything beyond that, and you're probably dipping into meme territory. An argument could be made for the hacker, but it doesn't really jump out to me.
Just a side note: I couldn´t resist to put all Shang into one list and played a custom mission vs Kosmoflot. HRL & HMG in core with Zhanshis, FO lead the Ye Mao Haris. I think I actualy won the game, because my Zhanshi paramedic could revieve both Ye Mao. Je-sus died vs the Unknown Ranger, but FO taked all the fame, killing a lot of enemys at more or less close range and tanked some chains in the process. The Hacker was only faked by a Tian Guo KHD. 11 base orders, 3 irregulars and three TA gives you a lot of options.
