Got around to trying a proxy build of Darnati with my Latari playing Church and his locust horde. I built a fairly safe list without doing anything too daring, Church tried something weird, focusing heavily on zerker damage output.
Here's the lists:
199/200
Maegan Cyndewin [36] 1x1
Reaping Blade [4]
Martial Magic [3]
Total Unit Cost: 43
Darnati Warriors [43] 3x2
Avenger of Latariana [5]
Shield Wall [5]
Herald of the Twisting Gale [4]
Moment of Inspiration [5]
Total Unit Cost: 62
Deepwood Archers [30] 2x2
Dispatch Runner [7]
Wind Rune [6]
Rallying Starling [4]
Simultaneous Orders [2]
Total Unit Cost: 49
Aymhelin Scions [42] 2x2
Tempered Steel [3]
Total Unit Cost: 45
Church will have to post his list, I thought I could find it in the latest lists, but he didn't build it with TA, curse you Church for keeping your list secret!
My list focused on seeing what a well supported Darnati 3×2 can do. Running a derpwood utility battery nearby would likely bring success with all the tech on the Darnati.
I only got 3 pics of the battle, here we go,
Church reforms and rallies on turn 1, lining up for the long charge, I almost successfully unpack to match his angle but get Meagan stuck behind the darnati. Both forces come in close on turn 2, and on turn 3 church's leading zerkers play the initiative game with my Darnati, will they charge at 3 or deny me a melee by charging at 4.
Fortunately, I don't have to choose, due to avenger of latariana, and I dial a charge. Church dials a charge and hits me for 8 damage which I shield wall to 4. The Darnati hit back with 10 damage thanks to MoI.
The derpwoods moved with wind rune after dropping the zerkers to one tray, but I made an error here, I used rallying starling to pull a stun off the Darnati instead of readying shield wall, it cost me my back rank when the next zerkers hit them.
An interesting part of this attack by the zerkers is that they wiffed the shot, but using abilities and upgrades church got 8 damage out of a blanked out attack, impressive!
The zerkers went down fast, my dice were also very hot. We called the game after the scions flank charged the rippers, followed by the Darnati, derpwoods, and dispatched Darnati again.
Thoughts, deepwood utility batteries are really good when supporting a teched out Darnatistar. If you can keep them out of the frontlines they will feed deadly combos very easily.
Darnati are really something else, and I've only scratched the surface. There's so much technical play to look into and so many positions in army building they can fill. I want to try a full 3x3 next time and really throw them in the fight. I didn't get a chance today to try it, but turning shift charges are going to be awesome. Darnati definitely are a solid brawling unit.
I have no pictures but church obliterated me in a second game with a more practical list, however the Darnati still performed well. I look forward to seeing Ravos faced down by a solid block of Darnati.
Thanks for reading, not sure if pics work, trying to learn imgur on android...
Edited by Jukey