The biggest problem I have with the Twins is that none of the themes really fit what I want to do with them, and I feel like their points are really strained outside of a theme because of what they need to survive:
Zuriel – spells and a (somewhat pillowfisted) heavy presence
Seraph – Slipstream (I consider this absolutely necessary with them)
Protector – Very important to keeping them alive, and for Rhyas to do her thing
Naga – Sure, you could play without it, but some matchups are going to be a nightmare
That means the only themes available are Ravens and Oracles.
For how I've played them in MK3, Wrongeye & Snapjaw were a huge part of their strength on the table. I could see Blightbringer maybe bringing a similar degree of strength (at more than twice the cost), but that's only available in Oracles, and I don't feel that the solos and units in Oracles are diverse enough to build a strong Twins list. Ravens being able to take neither kills that theme for me (plus I really don't want to run a lot of units with the Twins).
This is the list that I ran with great success into almost anything except dedicated high-value shooting:
Saeryn & Rhyas, Talons of Everblight - WB: +24
- Saeryn & Rhyas, Talons of Everblight (Cont.)
- Seraph - PC: 14 (Battlegroup Points Used: 14)
- Zuriel - PC: 18 (Battlegroup Points Used: 10)
- Nephilim Protector - PC: 10
- Naga Nightlurker - PC: 8
- Raek - PC: 8
Wrong Eye - Wrong Eye & Snapjaw: 17
- Snapjaw
Blighted Nyss Sorceress & Hellion - PC: 6
Annyssa Ryvaal - PC: 8
Strider Deathstalker - PC: 4
Strider Deathstalker - PC: 4
Blighted Nyss Shepherd - PC: 1
Spell Martyr - PC: 1
I favor a Sorceress & Hellion + a Raek over two Grot Assassins and Totem Hunter. I've loved the Sorceress & Hellion throughout MK2 and MK3, and lists with Stealth make it way better. I think having it there solves some of the shooting issues that come up against the list, and it also adds more cognitive load to the opponent to solve the puzzle before them (something I love in terms of list strategy). It can also put down its puncture aura to help kill high ARM troopers via things like Blood Rain and Annyssa.
I added the Raek to put out a little more fury, make use of its crazy control range, but more importantly to facilitate knockdown assassinations and provide the countercharge animus. It can hang out near the S&H to protect it from charges, and it also allows Rhyas to put that animus on herself (which is terrifying – trust me).
They're both also high DEF at 14 and 15, so it still fits the DEF skew.
Pairing something with the list is what proved most challenging, and even more so now that people are prepping for Fyanna2 Oracles.
Playing Twins in Oracles, it would look something like this:
[Theme] Oracles of Annihilation
(Saeryn 2 & Rhyas 2) Saeryn & Rhyas, Talons of Everblight [+24]
- Blightbringer [38]
- Naga Nightlurker [8]
- Nephilim Protector [10]
- Seraph [14]
- Zuriel [18]
Blighted Nyss Shepherd [1]
Blighted Nyss Sorceress & Hellion [0(6)]
Spell Martyr [1]
The Forsaken [0(4)] (or a second S&H)
Blighted Nyss Hex Hunters (min) [9] (or BFS)
- Bayal, Hound of Everblight [0(6)]
It feels really tight on points because the Blightbringer is such a fat ass, and the solos don't feel like they're really filling what I want assistance with (infantry removal), which is why I ended up going with Hex Hunters (plus they benefit from the BB auras). Overall, I'm not happy with Twins in the Oracles theme, and I feel like playing out of theme at this point is disadvantageous in a competitive environment, and there are other casters out there right now who can put out a better theme list. Maybe once we get a few more themes and releases (and maybe mercs in our themes?), they'll look a bit better, but with the nerfs they received and no themes that fit them particularly well, they're relegated to warming the bench.