Elf Monks are Best Monks

By Wraithist, in Runewars Miniatures Game

This thread is about why the Darnati are way better core infantry than any others. Any posts to the contrary are welcomed but you should be ashamed for writing something that deep in your heart you know to be wrong.

Firstly,

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Secondly, need I say more?

Okay, I will. Move 3 @ Initiative 6 combined with a shift in whatever direction is best at the time, combined with yet another shift from

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and we have some shifty elves that are regularly as fast as the Uthuk Berzerkers but in a much more tactical way. Also that white reform modifier is SO choice.

How will you be running... cough, sorry, how will you be *Winning your Darnati compositions?

Depends upon the list and the goals.

I am most looking forward to trying several upgrades from the Elves Infantry Command pack that were just waiting for the Darnati.

Here are an assortment of thoughts.

The 2x1 has an important role to play, and can be done cheaply. It is probably the best candidate with Maegan for Storm Sorceress, which really wants to be spammed.

Lay of the Land sometimes, but Moment of Inspiration at others.

Warsong herald in a 3x2, with defensive upgrades, plus the usual ranged accouterments elsewhere in the army.

Corruption rune, especially in some of the smaller set-ups (2x1).

Pathwalker's amulet has been a difficult to use upgrade so far. I'd rather have damage on archers. I was about 50/50 on Scions, though I saw it save some key damage there.

Shield Wall on larger stacks.

Avenger of Latriana and Firstblade of Aenoth could experiment well.

I think there's a lot of versatility in how you design and how you play, and the fact that someone could put a 3x3 (can we call it a Darnstar?) on the table rather than doing the typical elfy ranged things forces the opposing builds to be a bit more honest in how they approach the elves.

There are a lot of options here.

Right now i’m Thinking the 3x2 is going to be best, trying to keep it light in my current build, warsong herald and lay of the land, 50pts.

think I may try wind rune as well sometime, and even firstblade if I want to get REALLY cute, but I think that’ll be just too much wishful thinking and not worth the points.

Plan on backing this unit with a 3x2 meagan archers, 2x single trees, and a 2x2 LoL Leonx and Ambush Aliana. I’m excited for the new punch I think this force will provide the elves. Rather than having to rely so heavily on delaying and hit and run tactics, I think the elves can now actually consider engaging on their terms, and staying for the fight.

Lay of the land may be going on the deepwood archers so hunter's guile or MOI can go on the Darnati. Just some ideas, but I know one thing: its going to be fun to experiment.

2 hours ago, Vergilius said:

The 2x1 has an important role to play, and can be done cheaply. It is probably the best candidate with Maegan for Storm Sorceress, which really wants to be spammed.

Lay of the Land sometimes, but Moment of Inspiration at others.

This is how I have some lists built right now! The small unit of Darnati can still dish out a lot of damage reliably and can be so maneuverable. I have like 4 2x1s half with Lay of the Land to disrupt/position for flanks and half with Moment of Inspiration to deal out some damage if they have to charge in the front.

I've been theory crafting builds with 3x2 darnati (seems to be the sweet spot). I'm a big fan of avenger of latariani as you can always dial in long late charges but still attack when you get charged. Couples nicely with herald of the twisting gale and shield wall. This is certainly a potent defensive build.

Something else I'm looking at now is raven taberds gives these guys a speed 2 bank charge at I3 which may be the most aggressively mobile unit in the game now. Could probably pull off some nasty tactics with firstblade in this combo, pulling units into the threat range of an I2 charge.

Another option is to stick a fire rune on them and put Meagan in with CQT and watch the splash damage go nuts on the melee attacks.

I think running them as a 3 x 2 with LotL and Warsong Herald should be enough. You have decent damage output, flexible mobility and should be able to tarpit a unit. The combination of the Danarti as above plus Derpwood Archers with Tempered Steel and Blackthorn should see a unit fall fast enough.

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This is pretty crazy. Probably overdoing it on the shiftyness, but check it out. If they dial in a Green (3 - March), modified with a (1- Shift) and with the marching starling you can throw a turn on that (3- move) and then (1 - Shift) 3 separate times...

I look forward to piling Darnati corpses high with Kethra.

But in all honesty, Darnati seem to off some weirdly mobile infantry options. Jukey’s Avenger of the Twisting Gale Darnati seems particularly good.

The Latari infantry command should see more use.

Edited by Church14
59 minutes ago, Church14 said:

I look forward to piling Darnati corpses high with Kethra.

Not to derail the thread (I am a Latari player first, so I feel like I'm contributing on topic, but I also have Uthuk), I'm really looking forward to Kethra adding some very different options to an Uthuk list. I wasn't going to pick her up initially, but I'm definitely going to after thinking about my Uthuk lists in the past week.

On ‎8‎/‎1‎/‎2018 at 12:27 AM, Jukey said:

Another option is to stick a fire rune on them and put Meagan in with CQT and watch the splash damage go nuts on the melee attacks.

Correct me if I'm wrong, I don't fire rune often, but isn't it a ranged only attack? Wouldn't be able to be used in Melee situations.

On ‎8‎/‎1‎/‎2018 at 3:45 PM, Church14 said:

I look forward to piling Darnati corpses high with Kethra.

The elves are no match for those of the Ynfernael

41 minutes ago, Curlycross said:

Correct  me if I'm  wrong, I don't fire rune often, but isn't it a ranged only attack?  Wouldn't be able to be used in Melee situations.

You are correct, which is why for the build I suggested you have to put CQT (close quarters targeting) on them.

Honestly though, most turns you'll get more damage output with a dialed in melee hit mod than with fire rune.

Edited by Jukey