The most fun to be had with them would be to order them with move move move so the go 9", shoot and then move 9". I've never managed to get into a position when that would help so haven't tried but it would be awesome 😎 And as you said, enemies tend to either ignore them or be afraid of them. I do like that their sniper rifles are consistent and better than in 9th but I miss the mortal wounds.
One underappreciated thing about ratlings is that their move-shoot-move isn't just a way to keep them hidden, but it's extra movement in general. Need to push that last 3" to get some OC to contest an objective? Ratlings will get there. It also lets them play keep away from melee armies, because you're getting their normal movement, you can shoot a target and then scamper even further away, making charges more difficult or even strategically putting your ratlings closer to a corner or board edge, where even if an enemy unit DOES catch them in melee, that unit is now further out of position and might take an extra turn to get into a threatening position again.
With Move Move Move! you can get them moving 18" a turn and still shooting after the first 9", or even up to 24" with assault. These little buggers can end up faster than a damn Valk and noone expects it at all.
There’s always the tactic of cramming 15 ratlings into a stormlord and using their ability to effectively shoot twice per battle round. Disembark in the movement phase, shoot in the shooting phase, and then use their movement to embark. Then the stormlord shoots, allowing the ratlings to shoot via firing deck. I wouldn’t call it competitive, but it is a bit of silly fun.
I'm painting my metal ratlings right now and they have a certain charm since this are from the 5th edition era. There is a trick in using this unit because they're weak stat wyse but also have usefull rules that makes them an interesting tool in the guard toolbox. As a great person once said "it's all about location. LOCATION, LOCATION LOCATION"
They are pretty good… I have used them (3d printed models). They are very fast and infiltrators. I have ran with 64 horses before (30 rough riders, 30 Death Riders, 3 Death Rider Squadron leaders and Lord Solar)
Ratling are a _perfect_ candidate for a Kill Team update! Having a 10 man squad with some special weapons, tools and/or rules would make them a cool themed unit in any Guard army. I find it somewhat boring and lazy that they are - at the moment - so barebones. The one thing I really like about 10th is the way the model and weapon profiles are handled. As such it's underwhelming that they have "just" basic sniper rifles. Why not _ratling rifles_ with some interesting twist to them based on the lore? Oh and a 6+ save is an insult to a Guard unit! Give the poor runts some flak armor!
Just found your channel and a guard army so perfect timing, I have the combat patrol and 2 rogal dorns. Was thinking of running one of the dorns as a tank command, or should I just run them both as dorns?
I think because the models are so different it would be best to run a Rogan Dorn as a Rogal Dorn and not a Leman Russ Tank Commander. That could be both confusing for your opponents and an advantage to have a wider range for your orders.
The most fun to be had with them would be to order them with move move move so the go 9", shoot and then move 9". I've never managed to get into a position when that would help so haven't tried but it would be awesome 😎
And as you said, enemies tend to either ignore them or be afraid of them.
I do like that their sniper rifles are consistent and better than in 9th but I miss the mortal wounds.
These guys are still cool I run a mix of metal and plastic from the 80s and 90s.
The trouble is that if your opponent has any indirect, the are just instantly dead. Heavy makes very little difference as they need to MSM every turn.
One underappreciated thing about ratlings is that their move-shoot-move isn't just a way to keep them hidden, but it's extra movement in general. Need to push that last 3" to get some OC to contest an objective? Ratlings will get there.
It also lets them play keep away from melee armies, because you're getting their normal movement, you can shoot a target and then scamper even further away, making charges more difficult or even strategically putting your ratlings closer to a corner or board edge, where even if an enemy unit DOES catch them in melee, that unit is now further out of position and might take an extra turn to get into a threatening position again.
With Move Move Move! you can get them moving 18" a turn and still shooting after the first 9", or even up to 24" with assault. These little buggers can end up faster than a damn Valk and noone expects it at all.
There’s always the tactic of cramming 15 ratlings into a stormlord and using their ability to effectively shoot twice per battle round.
Disembark in the movement phase, shoot in the shooting phase, and then use their movement to embark. Then the stormlord shoots, allowing the ratlings to shoot via firing deck. I wouldn’t call it competitive, but it is a bit of silly fun.
This was removed in the Pariah Nexus updates. Firing Deck doesn't let you do this anymore
I'm painting my metal ratlings right now and they have a certain charm since this are from the 5th edition era. There is a trick in using this unit because they're weak stat wyse but also have usefull rules that makes them an interesting tool in the guard toolbox. As a great person once said "it's all about location. LOCATION, LOCATION LOCATION"
Not our only unit that can infiltrate and screen. Death riders with death rider commander, gaunts ghosts, sly marbo who also has shoot and scoot..
I think they are fun and I have 3 groups of them… I have ran them but not in a competitive game.
you should do a review of death riders and their squadron commander
I wish I had the models. Maybe with the DKK refresh? 🤔
They are pretty good… I have used them (3d printed models). They are very fast and infiltrators. I have ran with 64 horses before (30 rough riders, 30 Death Riders, 3 Death Rider Squadron leaders and Lord Solar)
Very underrated unit. Pretty much our only infiltration speed bump
How dare you disrespect Sly Marbo like that!
Lol touche
Ratling are a _perfect_ candidate for a Kill Team update! Having a 10 man squad with some special weapons, tools and/or rules would make them a cool themed unit in any Guard army.
I find it somewhat boring and lazy that they are - at the moment - so barebones.
The one thing I really like about 10th is the way the model and weapon profiles are handled. As such it's underwhelming that they have "just" basic sniper rifles. Why not _ratling rifles_ with some interesting twist to them based on the lore?
Oh and a 6+ save is an insult to a Guard unit! Give the poor runts some flak armor!
Just found your channel and a guard army so perfect timing, I have the combat patrol and 2 rogal dorns. Was thinking of running one of the dorns as a tank command, or should I just run them both as dorns?
I think because the models are so different it would be best to run a Rogan Dorn as a Rogal Dorn and not a Leman Russ Tank Commander. That could be both confusing for your opponents and an advantage to have a wider range for your orders.
The warlock killers👍
Their main drawback is ugly.
That's why I don't play Blood Angels 🤣
I have the old metal models and Rein and Raus, they look rather good with normal noses..