How to Cyclone?

Well if you have the spare parts you can magnetize it so you still have the option to Cyclone.

As far as how to Cyclone? Don't. That's my conclusion after playing it for a bit. It's fun sometimes, but I can always think of something more effective (for the way I build lists and play).

I've been contemplating a Cyclone under Alain or a Stormblade Captain. 2D3 Rat 8 shots, possibly at P+S 14, followed by a 5" reposition sounds like it might have potential.

I used to have one in my Stryker 2 List, covering fire is a useful utility to have, also with Positive Charge he can become mat 9 P&S 16 with 2 initial attacks (which I usually stacked with Ragman) for P&S 18), also having the option for a double handed throw can be good sometimes

I love the look and concept behind the cyclone and as a result have 3 (2 magnetised and one simply glued) so have tried a number of times to get them to work on the table. I can echo those who say it is a very niche piece and unfortunately there is merit to the argument that chargers are just better for the points. However the cyclone has a place if you want to use it then do so.

Casters I have used the cyclone with and found it useful include the following;

Sloan: probably the best option for running them when you want direct work out of them. They require zero focus most turns and whether you want to place covering fire or gun down infantry she brings the support to make them shine. They can really help against infantry swarms because of covering fire and fire group means that it's being placed 14" away.

Caine3: you'll probably prefer chargers but the cyclone can put down covering fire to provide some safe space on the table and depending on how many shots you roll, it can work out better for assassinations than a charger because on feat turn (potentially with calamity up as well) it's not going to miss and will be doing decent to good damage on just about any caster or warlock.

Sturgis1: he may be viewed as bottom of the barrel by some but covering fire synergises with his feat brilliantly and you can kill a lot of infantry this way. The difference in POW between cyclone covering fire versus stormwall or a trencher chain gun is just on that sweet spot between reliably breaking armour and not.

Nemo2: energiser gives you the same ranged threat and/or safe distance as Sloan but Nemo2 likes the cyclone for other reasons as well. Most turns the cyclone is doing something useful by placing covering fire each turn meaning the focus from power up is unspent leaving it for Nemo to cream off with focus matrix and put it to better use. Similar to the other casters, covering fire can create some safe space from enemy infantry threats and as a cheap heavy it's easy to slot in more jacks so that Nemo's got more focus to play with every turn.

Kraye: reposition 5" is bonkers on a jack and as a shoot and scoot gunline the cyclone makes a fairly decent addition. Two handed throws and the option to slam also make it quite useful against harder targets but I can't deny that usually Kraye prefers some armour cracking so other heavies and a pair of chargers frequently felt better value. Doesn't change the fact that the cyclone works quite well with him though.

That's it for the caster specific stuff, I've tried marshalling it a few times. On a captain for the reposition and with Gun mages for rune shot. Rune shots with Caine2 (for 'Fire for effect') and a focus from Arlan to add to the marshal benefits made it an impressive shooter. Whichever shot type you chose it was good. This was before the CiD and theme changes too, so before Falk as well, which only added to the value of gun mages. 2D3 POW 16 shots is a lovely concept. I just need to put it on the table and see if I can make it work.

I have ended up using a Cyclone quite a but over the last year, especially in a Siege1 list that I dropped into Grymkin and Dark Host lists. Covering Fire is very helpful and it is usually a good target for Explosivo on Feat turn when the low POW blast damage is more effective. It has also been a welcomed addition to Haley1 lists, both pre-nerf, pre-themes and the new Sons of the Tempest marshalled to a Gun Mage UA. I've also marshalled it with Stormblades Captain or Arlan. It is one of the jacks that can benefit from from marshal bonuses because of the probability of getting 3-5 shots at either +2 RAT or POW. It also makes it fairly easy to make it RAT 10 if you need to. Not saying it is powerful, but it is fun.

Good luck

I was deep in the jank tank the other day and gave some thought to marshaling cyclones on the atgm officer or running them on Caine1. You can then use Falk to throw a +2 damage buff on an enemy model, take aim, and shoot the target to death with a bunch of pow 16 shots.

Seems like a lot of work to get pow 16s. But I hadn’t thought of it previously.