What's the best 'pound for pound' model in the game

[Barnaberible]

Hi guys n gals

Thought it would be fun to get a poll going to decide the best value for soulstone model in the game.

Is it the mighty von schill, the swift moving coryphee or the lowly canine remains?

Put your nominations below with the soulstone cost (or combined cost if they work in a pair) and a brief description of why you nominating them and we'll get a poll going to decide the best of the best

[PierceSternum]

Tough one for me. I find it difficult to narrow more than a top 5 and all for different reasons:
1. The 14-point model known as Lelu-Lilitu (Straight up value on all fronts)
2. Convict Gunslinger (So much hurt, so little cost)
3. Rotten Belle (So much utility for the points even when facing all Immune to Influence models)
4. Grave Spirit (1 point, Brings a crow to casting, pretty durable (Except to blasts))
5. Watcher (3 Point significant, immune to influence flying awesomeness and worth THRICE his points if you happen to face aSeamus)

Those are my "bangs for the bucks"

Honorable Mention for Canine Remains when they run in large packs...

[ukrocky]

Any master, they come for free ;)

Ignoring free models (Electircal creation ftw)

My mentions have to go to;

- Marionettes
- Waldegeists
- Kaeris with a Student
- Jackalope
- Desperate Mercs

[Dorian]

Ill also submit my top 5, single best is hard to pin.

Stitched together, yes even after the change
The twins
Von schill
Grave spirit
Desperate mercs

[yes but no]

Of the models I own I have found the witchling stalkers to be quite nice. They hit very hard for a 4 point model and they give casters a fit (see most models).

Of the models I have played against the stitched togethers have frustrated me too much for a 4 point model.

[ukrocky]

Of the models I own I have found the witchling stalkers to be quite nice. They hit very hard for a 4 point model and they give casters a fit (see most models).

Of the models I have played against the stitched togethers have frustrated me too much for a 4 point model.

Maybe because they're 5 point models? ;)

[fritz the cat]

Like many others I'd say best bet is probably rotten belle. It does a little bit of everything, and a few of those things it does superbly well. And its only 4ss.

I think its probably best to break it down by faction tho.

rotten belle for ressers

austringer for guild

convict gunslinger for outcast

...well, those are the only factions I really know all that well

[Korrosion]

Voodoo doll - Unlimited range ignores los casting AND gives poison 2
The twins - as stated above
Night terrors - Fast movement and 3 ss significant
The watcher - Makes terror/anethema go away and 3 ss significant
Puking snake - only 2 ss, adds a card to your hand and has a 5 cast with 2(!?!) suits build in

[TMOTHWTP]

I'd say the Duet hands down. Sure it's 14 points but that 14 points has won me a lot of games.

[Rombo]

So far for me the best is Rami, killing huge monsters with one shot from across the table and dying gloriously while crippling your enemies mob is great!

[TedPro]

Jack Daw. At 9 Soulstoness, he comes with his own Scheme, is very difficult to harm, packs an offensive punch, prevents opponents from cheating or soulstoning nearby, and doesn't afraid of anything. Well, 10 if you're out of faction, but still...

I see you ridin' 'round town with the girl I love, and I'm like, "JACK DAW!"

[Twisted Metal]

1)Stitched (5SS) Good utility, Good Damage output, difficult to get rid without devoting unusually high resources and yet cheap enough that you can spam them which keeps them expendable.

2) Grave Spirit (1SS) There is never a reason to not hire this guy in a Nicodem crew. At the cost of one SS, if his armor bonus is used once in a game on a master he has paid for himself by not having to use an equivalent prevention flip. Prevent 4 damage and he’s doubled the investment. No need to even mention the decent cast with a crow and an extra activation.

3) Avatar Ramos (2SS) Take your slow, low damage, defensive Master and strap a jet pack, lawn mower blade and assembly line to him. POOF!!! You have Avatar Ramos. All for the low cost of 2SS

4) Twins (14SS) I know they aren’t one model but face it, saying they aren’t one model is the same as saying Dreamer and LCB are separate. They bring crazy high damage output, crazy board control, have almost every special rule between them and have the potential to bring themselves back if you kill one.

5) VonSchill (9 - 10SS) At times it feel like Resser players choose their crews as such... Choose Faction, Determine Strategy. Hire VonSchill, Choose Master, Choose Crew... I also think Resser players would still hire him even if he had Elite Mercenary and cost 11SS. That should say something about how much of a value this guy is.

6) Crookedmen (4SS) I know everyone is head over heels for the Belles but I seriously think these guys are MONEY. The ability to paralyze an enemy model at the cost of 4SS is fantastic. Add in a shooting ability with blasts and an area denial spell and you have an excellent utility piece.

[vagen]

Nino, I have head shot to death so many more expensive models and ruined so many plans with Nino it actually stopped being funny and then started again.

[dunce002917]

Nino

Austringers

Steamborg Executioner - annoying and Lady Justice's favorite target.. LOL

[Shadai]

I guess it depends on your definition of "pound for pound".

There are a lot of really good suggestions here, but I would like to propose we narrow the field a bit.

Initially, it would be easy to point out a model and say "this one right here" but oftentimes when we do so, we take some things into consideration that we really shouldn't. Like I'll use the Duet for an example. Now I'm a HUGE fan of the Duet. For me, pound for pound there simply isn't a better model in the game. Can hit hard several different ways, can move like it's ass is on fire, can capture objectives all in an attractive 14 point package.

But should we consider it as one of the best models in the game?

I would actually hesitate here. The Duet is nice and powerful, yes, but part of that power stems from working in a Colette crew. If we roll the Duet in another crew, cross-faction or not, do we get the same "pound for pound" value? Obviously not. This is because the Duet works so in sync with a Colette crew that running the Duet with anyone else will obviously lower it's power level. That's not to say it isn't still a potent piece... quite the contrary. But to crown it the best overall is foolhardy when you consider you need to roll a specific crew to get the most out of it.

Additionally, I feel we should not include Masters or Henchmen in this discussion, as they are not as universal in their ability to play with any master or faction (save VonBadass, but he's the Malifaux version of Boba Fett).

My list (in no particular order) is considerably shorter, and includes some diamond in the rough models you might not have thought about. But their value is often over and above what you pay for them, and while they might not be an auto-include, their value puts them on the short list of stuff you ARE considering.

1. Gunsmith

Pound for pound, nothing is as good as the gunsmith for Arcanist players. Offensively, it sports the ability to do a solid damage profile at range, a profile that gets even better with experimental ammo. Combined with it's gunfighter ability, just dropping something into base contact isn't enough to make these pesky models go away. When you include the fact they can change their ammo type to tailor their attacks to be the most effective, their damage profile is even more impressive. And to top all this offensive power off - paired pistols to help make the attacks stick. Defensively they are just as solid. While they aren't designed to stand toe-to-toe to anything, they have a wide array of defensive options with Concealed Pistol, Intimidating, and Duty. Even smoldering heart is a nice addition, allowing the gunsmith to easily convert defense to offence with The Hard Way. This makes for a pretty impressive model, but when you combine all of those abilities for a mere 6 points its a goddamn steal.

2. Ronin

Ah, Ronin. My love affair with you continues. A very balanced model with a very small 5 SS cost. The ability to move and strike is an impressive yet often overlooked ability. What is even more impressive is the 2" melee range, a weapon that overlooks armor and gets a :+fate to damage and oh yeah, a free push. Are you kidding? What could be better? Well how about more attacks? (+1) Melee Expert? Hell yes. A solid damage profile, a ranged weapon for when you just can't close means this 5 point model is an effective offensive powerhouse. When you consider that defensively you have a (1) action to increase your defense, harmless, and hard to kill it is even better. And let's not forget how mobile this model is. 4 walk/6 charge, ignores severe and climb penalties when walking and charging, and did I mention a free 4" push? Even better, if you have one on your crew, and you suddenly find yourself outmanned, you can hire another one in the middle of the fight with it's Always for Hire ability. If they disappoint you, you can force them to commit ritualistic suicide and get 2 SS in change. Not bad! And did I mention they were Mercenaries? That's right, you don't have to be playing outcast to enjoy this model, which makes it impressive across all factions that need a bit more mobility.

3. Miss Demeanor / Convict Gunslinger

Someone mentioned this one before. A solid merc model that is a great ranged artillery battery for anyone not playing Arcanists (cause they have the Gunsmiths above). Great range, gunfighter, paired pistols, and you'll not do more damage with a model for this few SS then you will with the Gunslinger if you have a handful of :masks to burn. Even the Gunslinger's spell is pretty good if you have the ability to make it stick. A solid 5 SS model that is worth it's weight in the dead corpse tokens your opponent leaves when its done activating.

4. Rotten Belle

Board control is a huge advantage for anyone who wins this game. Ask any Colette player. And for those of you Rezzers out there, it doesn't get more effective or cheaper then the lowly Rotten Belle. Hard to wound, slow to die, and an impressive range of control oriented effects helps you control the flow of the game by directly disrupting your opponent. Need to get that central evidence token but can't cause your opponent has parked something nasty on top of it? Lure it out of the way. Need to damage the cart but can't cause he's got that one guy in melee? Lure him away. Combined with a ranged slow and an ability to drop defenses, unless you are Kirai you'll wonder why you ever left dem Zombie teats on the sidelines before.

Bonus Pick - Lawyer

What? Lawyer? Are you kidding me? No man. I'm not. Go ahead and laugh. I'm not about to give all the tricks away, but if you even play a guy who knows how to get the most out of this model, its going to be a very, very frustrating day for you. And if you are a Colette or Gremlin player, you learn you have to kill this guy fast. While I don't actually include him in the best "pound for pound" picks (he's a bit expensive and slow of foot) he's got enough potential that if you learn how to use him right, he can actually win you games. Or at the very least, disrupt your opponent enough to allow you to win.

(the first post disappeared into the aether, so I hope I'm not double posting)

[dunce002917]

Bonus Pick - Lawyer

What? Lawyer? Are you kidding me? No man. I'm not. Go ahead and laugh. I'm not about to give all the tricks away, but if you even play a guy who knows how to get the most out of this model, its going to be a very, very frustrating day for you. And if you are a Colette or Gremlin player, you learn you have to kill this guy fast. While I don't actually include him in the best "pound for pound" picks (he's a bit expensive and slow of foot) he's got enough potential that if you learn how to use him right, he can actually win you games. Or at the very least, disrupt your opponent enough to allow you to win.

(the first post disappeared into the aether, so I hope I'm not double posting)

dude, now I'm curious... how about a short write up on how he's a great minion?

[Barnaberible]

Thanks guys, good suggestions all round so far.

I'll leave this thred running and I think on Monday I will open a poll so people can vole for their fave. I wll be picking the most nominated 2 models from each faction (from this post and pms) or if someone has put a great case for their choice I may include that.

Masters and Totems will not be included but henchman will (as the can, generally, be hired throughout the faction)

May the best man/woman/monster/robot win

[Twisted Metal]

Why wont Totems be included?

[Barnaberible]

Why wont Totems be included?

Simply because they require a master to operate so I dont think they should be considered stand alone models. Sure the grave spirit is arguable the best value model in the game at 1 ss but it isnt a stand alone piece.

[HaggisMcMutton]

1)Stitched (5SS) Good utility, Good Damage output, difficult to get rid without devoting unusually high resources and yet cheap enough that you can spam them which keeps them expendable.

2) Grave Spirit (1SS) There is never a reason to not hire this guy in a Nicodem crew. At the cost of one SS, if his armor bonus is used once in a game on a master he has paid for himself by not having to use an equivalent prevention flip. Prevent 4 damage and he’s doubled the investment. No need to even mention the decent cast with a crow and an extra activation.

3) Avatar Ramos (2SS) Take your slow, low damage, defensive Master and strap a jet pack, lawn mower blade and assembly line to him. POOF!!! You have Avatar Ramos. All for the low cost of 2SS

4) Twins (14SS) I know they aren’t one model but face it, saying they aren’t one model is the same as saying Dreamer and LCB are separate. They bring crazy high damage output, crazy board control, have almost every special rule between them and have the potential to bring themselves back if you kill one.

5) VonSchill (9 - 10SS) At times it feel like Resser players choose their crews as such... Choose Faction, Determine Strategy. Hire VonSchill, Choose Master, Choose Crew... I also think Resser players would still hire him even if he had Elite Mercenary and cost 11SS. That should say something about how much of a value this guy is.

6) Crookedmen (4SS) I know everyone is head over heels for the Belles but I seriously think these guys are MONEY. The ability to paralyze an enemy model at the cost of 4SS is fantastic. Add in a shooting ability with blasts and an area denial spell and you have an excellent utility piece.


This, plus the Watcher. ( 3 SS). A significant model, that can fly 6 inches is very valuable for the guild that is in general quite slow. A 3 SS model that can fly around grabbing objectives for the Guild, can shoot at a target and remove cover or terrifying, or deck manipulation in the form of the forewarned action (which is my favorite part of the model)

[Twisted Metal]

Simply because they require a master to operate so I dont think they should be considered stand alone models. Sure the grave spirit is arguable the best value model in the game at 1 ss but it isnt a stand alone piece.
By that logic all models require a master to be hired so are technically not stand alone either. Also you never said anything about the model being stand alone. As a matter of fact you stated in the OP that you could include more that one model if they were designed to work together which certainly isnt stand alone. But hey, whatever you want to do. Its your poll.

[Barnaberible]

I may relent and put in non master specific totems due to popular demand...

[DarcXON]

1) Collodi = Best mobility / Objective Grabber in the game

2) Grave Spirit = Armor for the best Undead model you have AND the ability to cast the connected Master / Henchmen's spells for 1 measly SS

3) Coppelius = Paralyze by CB vs DF is enormous when you take into account how many people can actually stop it. Add to this the ability to summon models, create Morale Duels AND when/if he dies the culprit takes 4 wounds (the average wounds per model is 6)

4) Von Schill = point for point the most survivable model in the game. What other model has Armor, Magic Resist, Immunity to Blast and Damage Auras, Slow to die + Use Soulstone, the ability to leave Combat AND Flight? The only thing that would give him more survivability is making him a Spirit ( I'm looking at you Ressers)

5) Niño Ortega = The BEST Sniper in the game. When not even the ability to SEE through solid objects can beat you at the range game, you know you are doing something right.

[Shut Up]

1) marionettes, anyone who has played with or agains collodi (or attended the team GT :P ) can tell you ho amazingthese guys are for 2SS, 5 paired attacks with a slow trigger is rediculous

2)Twins nuff said

3)Grave spirit, dont us him myself as i use McMourning and kirai, but for can be amzing on some models (dead rider anyone?) the crow on the cast at 1SS is incredably usefull in a rezzer crew

4) Sebastian, in my opinion the most underrated model in the game, 6SS for a HTW1 (wd model with a nice damage arc, handing out healing flips (in a rezzer crew as well) and has brutal magical pulse damage makes an all round awesome model

5) (my 'surprise' pick) Francisco Ortega, I am the first to admit he is squishy as all hell but his damage in combat is awesome, consider companion obey and flurry you have a model wich can get where he needs to be and lay on 3 cb7 attacks with reflips and baked in critical strike. he is hard to use well but if you can get him to work he will lay the smackdown on your opponent.

[FoeRender]

Witchling and watcher get my vote ,

[NeuroFire]

Tough call. I think I have to second the Ronin as wildly good. Even at out-of-faction cost, I have never been disappointed I took a Ronin.

I mainly play Guild, and there are some great models in that faction (Santiago, Watcher, and Witchlings are definitely up there) but I have to say I think the best Guild model for the cost is the Brutal Effigy. Melee Expert, Object, Magical weapon, potential to give Slow, and a Healing flip? Yes, please. It's a good thing they're Unique, or I would probably just fill a crew with them.

Now for Ressers, I think I'd have to say, again, that the Rotten Belles are pretty fantastic. However, if you decide to include totems, it has to be the Grave Spirit. I would never take a different totem with any Resser crew. It's ridiculously good, and I still find it hard to believe it only costs 1 SS. Punk Zombies also scare me, because if they can get to anything I have, they're probably going to mess it up badly.

I'm not terribly familiar with Neverborn, but I have to say the Stitched Together have given me some real headaches.

Arcanists are tricky, because a lot of the minions are so specific to the master leading them. However, I think I'd have to pick the Arachnid Swarm. It's a Melee Master that has no trouble with terrain, sits on a large base able to block movement or LoS, and it can break apart for activation control if necessary. Obviously best with Ramos, but I think it could be a pretty good threat with most masters.

[digitald3vil]

I feel the Witchling Stalkers are probably the best for me. I tend to at least throw 1 in every crew for guild. And I would seriously consider tossing them in anyone Else's crew if I could. Killjoy is another just phenomenal guy/thing/whatever. He rarely if ever fails to make his presence known. The sheer amount of havoc he can cause is phenomenal.
I have to give a special shout out though to Teddy. He's probably not by far the best or even close to the best in the game but, I just love him. He's one of the main reason I love this game. Creepy teddy bears full of huge teeth. Oh and cuddles.

[Hunter-thom]

Terror Tots... For a 3ss model that can move a long long way with the right card and dmg output with flay is pretty big.
BUT... the ability to halfway through the game without to much trouble to turn into a 10ss damage monster has to go down as the cheapest, most highest potential model in the whole game. even without grow you take them. i even take them in a kirai crew with hamlin just to grow them and turn them into a spirit.... love them.

[Hallowed1]

for me stitched togethers, I have taken out an absurd amount of higher priced models with them.

[sssk]

I can't help thinking my opponents must be playing the twins wrong. I tend to see them (particularly Lelu) as a juicy kill protogee target. I'm sure sooner or later someone will prove me wrong and mulch my entire crew with 2 models, but until then, I'm afraid they don't make my cut. Also bear in mind I don't have experience with/against a lot of stuff, so this is a list from what I've played (and please read this like the rundown on top of the pops).

5. In at number 5 we have the Resurectionists with "flesh construct". This gribbly golem hits like a ton of bricks, and when he dies, he leaves enough corpse counters to make himself new again.

4. At number 4 it's a new entry from the Resurectionists with "Von Schill" (yep, I went there). Fast, shooty, hitty, and resilient. What more do you want?

3. Brand new, and straight to number 3, it's the Arcanists with "steampunk arachnid swarm". Super agile, melee master, self healing, paralyze on a trigger, great damage, and sacrifice themselves to cause an explosion if they are suffering in a game of slaughter (and great for Mei Feng railwalking). All round useful model.

2. Up one place at number 2 this week, from only one experience against them, we have the Arcanists, with "Coryphee duet". It's just an objective grabbing, point denying, (0) action spending, blender.

1. And this week's number 1, it's a non-mover, for the 4th book running, It's the Outcasts, with "Ronin". 5SS for a model which moves like a breeze, hits like a person with a big sword, defends like an adamantium ball, and generally ruins lives wherever it goes. Even for 6SS out of faction, Ronin are well worth the points.

So there you go, that's my run down. As I say, it's only models I have experience against, but even I am quite surprised to not see any Neverborn in there. Disclaimer: I haven't played with/against Guild yet, hence their absence.

[Mordeqai]

I'm really surprised I haven't seen Izamu in this thread. He's ended up being the cornerstone of almost every game I've been in with his as a minion. Sure, he's 10SS, which is incredibly expensive, but I can't think of any composition of models adding to 10 that I'd rather take (2 Belles and a Canine, Dead Rider, etc). He can't be targeted by most spells, is arguably the scariest model to be in melee with (Riposte and Wicked), and with a Grave Spirit, can have one of the most effective damage mitigations in the game. With self healing on Severe, negating triggers, and making the opponent scared to miss him, he's almost an auto-include for me.

Of course, take this from someone who has had minimal experience outside hiring Rezzers. I just really, really love me some Izamu

[edonil]

Izamu is significantly younger than this thread, lol.

[NeuroFire]

Izamu is significantly younger than this thread, lol.

Indeed, but a pretty good nomination. I just played against it for the first time this weekend. Thing has basically no weakness. I got it down to half wounds almost exclusively with Immolating Demise. Then it healed when it got a severe flip against Sonnia. Just... yeah. Easily worth the ten stones.

[Kalkris]

Can we just say that the Hungering Darkness is a wonderful "pound-for-pound" *Master*? He's terribly resilient (he keeps coming back!) and terribly offensive (his attacks are quite scary, i mean); he comes with 2 soulstones (although that's for all Masters, so...) and even comes with another Master attached to it!

All silliness aside, because technically HD isn't a master and comes for 0 stones, I suggest that HD wins, hands down, even considering the hiring restrictions (that is, only one Master can hire it).

~Lil Kalki

[Sybarite]

Indeed, but a pretty good nomination. I just played against it for the first time this weekend. Thing has basically no weakness. I got it down to half wounds almost exclusively with Immolating Demise. Then it healed when it got a severe flip against Sonnia. Just... yeah. Easily worth the ten stones.

Yeah it seems really scary :/ and hard to take down... i'm tempted to disappearing act it and let it unbury far from the action... preferably in a building ... preferably completely without any doors. Yeah, that'd be fun. Then i woud feel safe!

[edonil]

I have to say, it does my heart good as a Resser/Ten Thunders player to hear that Izamu is so feared...not that I expect it to last long, we have some very inventive players who will find ways. But after a couple years of hearing all the complaints about 'How do I take out (insert Neverborn of choice)' it's quite nice to see the Neverborn players wondering how to take out a Resser model... *grin*

[Evilbleachman]

There are still beckoners... D:

[Sybarite]

i hate beckoners >.<

[Mr. Bigglesworth]

You just ignore izamu. With an effective 11" threat and minimum amount of delivery systems he is easy to ignore. Great option very scary and extremely hard to kill. Mitigated by the fact he is slow. Executioner is far better for cheaper.

My list per faction is:
Guild hound dogs cheap effective vp earners. They are also decent in combat at cb 5. 5 as for a model I can almost always count on betting 2 vp yes please.
Belles just great models in every way.
Metal gamin hard to kill fast and great at keep other models alive.
Stitched just too good.
Student of conflict add an ap to almost ANY model amazing. Makes those slow powerful beat sticks scary... Imagine the sexecutioner with 3ap & Melee expert, threat range went from 8" to 14".
Kang/yin both amazing models.

[Fetid Strumpet]

Izamu's speed really depends on the Master he is with.

He's frighteningly quick with Yan Lo and the Soul Porter.

(I would like to point out however he is not immune to most spells, just ones that cause him to use Wp as a defender. And he doesn't have Wicked.)

[Mehter]

You just ignore izamu. With an effective 11" threat and minimum amount of delivery systems he is easy to ignore. Great option very scary and extremely hard to kill. Mitigated by the fact he is slow.

Have you not played against/with him with Yan Lo, Kirai or Nicodem? He's not slow, nor does he have a minimum amount of delivery systems.

[Mr. Bigglesworth]

I am not saying he is bad nor am I saying he mediocre. I think he is a great model.

You can get support models that can get him in quicker:
Soul porter best and probably most reliable
Dead rider decent choice
Mortimer not always easy to cast with mask requirement
Kirai uber fast if you can get 1 of 4 cards to flip or in hand not very reliable

All of these deliver systems offer no ability to simultaneous activate. This to me is a big deal I can drop you but I can't follow it up with the kill, without giving an opportunity to your opponent to strike (i know ressers can usually up the activation count high enough to preven this). This is what I mean by minimal systems. 11" without support is about average.

Again great model just a bit one sided. He kills like the best of them and is very hard to put down. I need a crew that scores me vp and does just Killy. Rail golem a comparable model can do a lot more to get vp than izamu.

[NeuroFire]

I would argue that a durable tank of a beatstick isn't about getting victory points, it's about denying them to your opponent. Or, if points are kill-based rather than objective based, totally about both. (I would not want to face Izamu on a Slaughter field, and I might rank him second to the Arachnid Swarm on the list of models that make Kill Protege pointless.)

[Mehter]

You're correct that Izamu might not get a lot of VPs.

But when we can just make other models that will collect VP as the game goes on, I don't see that as much of a downside.

[Mr. Bigglesworth]

The armor is 10ss it should be badass, no one can argue its not. I just think he is a bit overhyped. Again great model I will run him in my resser crews. I see your point that you can bring cheap or summon cheap objective grabbers. Those cheap need to last a round to have slow fall off. Only two masters can summon with any kind of effectiveness, though he fits well with both. To me he is best utilized in a Nico crew linked with grave spirit. Keep in bolster range and this guy will take essentially ten hits to kill, trying to overcome def 7.

Correct he is probably resser's best kill protege denial. Great you are denying one scheme. Second though his 3" range allows him to be very flexible at engaging multiple models to deny objective based strategies.

Compared to dead rider at same cost. I will take rider more often because he is bit more flexible at earning vp the key to winning.

Again he is to me a great model tied for best new resser with yin, but belle takes the cake for best pound for pound resser model ;)

[Gruesome]

The armor is 10ss it should be badass, no one can argue its not. I just think he is a bit overhyped.

...

To me he is best utilized in a Nico crew linked with grave spirit. Keep in bolster range and this guy will take essentially ten hits to kill, trying to overcome def 7.


I have only used him in 5 games so far, but as of those 5 games, I cannot call him over-hyped.
I can understand the allure of Nicodem(My sole master for over a year), but Yan Lo and Soul Porter have been absolute money with him. SP because of the crazy movement Spam-Zamu gets and Yan Lo... well... because with Yan Lo that's when I call him Spam-Zamu.
You really don't care if he gets killed. Its an ENORMOUS amount of attention that the rest of your crew did not get and Yan Lo just brings him right back.

I understand the thought that Bolster and Grave Spirit will make him into something that is more difficult to take out, but recognize that with Yan Lo, he is still pretty hard to take out AND you know he is coming back immediately. And whats worse(better) is that if he has been doing what he does best, the field is littered with Corpses and:
1. Yan Lo is becoming beastly
2. Spam-Zamu is coming back at or near full wounds and your opponent has to start all over.
3. If its the right time in the game, Soul Porter can also Soul Cage Chiaki and you just helped hand Yan Lo his personal scheme.
Until first hand experience teaches me different, Izamu has moved into contender status in my head... And for a 10SS model, that is pretty fantastic.

[McDoogle]

I too would agree that masters and Henchmen fall outside this category. If we are talking Henchmen Von Schill is simply the best 'minion' when used with many masters and Collodi is just...Blitzkrieg/awesome, allowing you to achieve SO MANY schemes and strategies.

I would also split unique and non-unique minions.

Unique:
Izamu- he is expensive but an absolute beast. Very good with Yan and Kirai.
Brutal Effigy- Has never let me or my regular guild opponent down. Such a flexible model for a 4ss investment. A staple in any NB list I take which isnt using non-doll special forces.
Grave Spirit- Why wouldn't you ever take this model?
Primordial Magic- A superb pick with most NB masters, lethal with Collodi (Disassemble anyone?!)
Widow Weaver- My 'wildcard pick'. Some will disagree, which is fair enough. Take Zoraida, Avatar, Brutal Effigy and Sue in 25ss. Summon 8 wicked dolls and a teddy. Smash stuff. Now disagree again, if you like.......

Base/non-unique minions
Stitched- One of the best models in the game offensively, even after the nerf. Synergise with all their faction masters.
Witchlings- Possibly the most rounded base infantry in the game, especially considering the are book 1 models.
Punk Zombies- One of the best base melee units in the game.

My 2 cents...

[IDislexiaHave]

1. Von Schill (9-10ss) not only is he amazingly fast, adds ranged threat to a lot of melee heavy lists, but he can disengage for free and is super resilient. But the main reason he is my number one pick is the fact he can be hired in almost every single crew!

2. Ronin (5-6ss) thier defensive and offensiive capabilities are outstanding for a 5 point model and thus they receive the second spot on my list not to mention sebaku to gain two ss can be huge in some situations. They also can be hired in almost any crew as well and they are still good at 6ss.

3. The grave spirit (1ss) he brings so much to the table at 1pt it's almost an auto include in most resser lists.

4. The twins (14ss) the twins are amazing don't get me wrong but there are the rare occasions that I bring them to the game and think to myself ... What a waste of soulstones. But that is very rare that it happens earning them the 4th slot on my top 5.

5. I'm going to have to go with mechanical doves (2ss - 1ss in game) these things are quintessential to colleges crew along with the duet, but these puppies are awesome being able to cast magicians duel as well as discharging soulstone. Not only that they can also be used as a positive soulstone flip for any showgirl that it's near?! These little buggers are amazing!

[Trevelyan]

I'd like to give Ashes & Dust an honourable mention. You need to play Levi to get full value, and the 13ss cost is initially daunting, but for that price you get a minion who is fast, nearly indestructible, highly mobile (with SPAs), can heal in burst 3 for a 0 action, has good melee range and damage, churns out SPAs and can give you three activations per turn.

[PokiePrawn]

1. Stiched - as said before, they can do everything well and are cheap. They combo with Neverborn masters with devistating effect.
2. Twins - as said before, are melee monsters, come back with ease, heal, can do it all well and are a steal a 7 points (keep in mind Hans is 8!).
3. Night Terrors - objective mission winners that have some many other little abilities that make them great.
4. Marrionettes - another minion that can do it all and are great melee monsters. If they get the jump they can get objectives with ease and take out almost any model (s) in the game easily.

Clearly models that are cheap, are able to do it all, have at least solid attacks, and able to get objectives and have board control are important. These models do it all and then have great synergy with thier masters as well.

[iamthefly]

I'd like to give Ashes & Dust an honourable mention. You need to play Levi to get full value, and the 13ss cost is initially daunting, but for that price you get a minion who is fast, nearly indestructible, highly mobile (with SPAs), can heal in burst 3 for a 0 action, has good melee range and damage, churns out SPAs and can give you three activations per turn.

Not got my book with me, but I'm pretty sure A&D can give you 5 activations per turn if you start him split, unite him them kill him again.

Ashen core
dust storm
Ashes and dust
Ashen Core
Dust storm

Repeat
Every turn after the first.

[Trevelyan]

Not got my book with me, but I'm pretty sure A&D can give you 5 activations per turn if you start him split, unite him them kill him again.
That is true, but A&D activates immediately after you recombine his parts, so it is more like 4 separate activations, one of which is companioned.

It can be a bit risky, though, depending on timing and proximity of opposing minions, and I find that the alternative (0) action to sacrifice Levi is far too useful in most situations. And when A&D is killed by the enemy then it usually pays to recombine him ASAP, since both of the consitituent parts are fairly vulnerable - activating the Core first then allowing the model which killed A&D last turn to attack back before the Dust Storm comes in can leave the Storm without a Core to connect with by the time it arrives. For that reason, if A&D is split at the start of the turn I tend to activate Dust first, recombine and immediately activate A&D (effectively one activation) then potentially have the two activate separately again later.

But there is definitely an option for more activations if you have no immediate pressure and want to out-activate the opposition. A&D is all about versatility.