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Post by Ajax on Nov 15, 2017 0:02:21 GMT
I haven't really seen any discussion on Stryker 2 recently, which is a shame because he's the Cygnar caster that really pushed me into buying in. I haven't really had a chance to play my Cygnar yet, so I'd really appreciate a lot of your guys' insight.
How's Stryker 2 doing these days? What themes make him shine (or vice versa)? What kind of questions/answers does he provide, and who's a great caster pair for him (Kraye?)?
Thanks!
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Post by sludgeogre on Nov 15, 2017 1:43:11 GMT
I've not had a lot of luck with him, and I rarely see him in tournament lists. He's still an assassination machine and it's fun to kill a Sea King or something like that with him once in a while, but his toolkit isn't a lot of help in most games for me.
Every time I see him in a tournament pair he's in Heavy Metal with a fair number of heavies and a unit of sword knights since Positive Charge is one of the only ways to make those guys actually shine. He's probably the best at running that unit, but I'm still not a huge fan of them and have yet to buy them.
My main problem with him now is that I think Siege2 is a better caster in most ways. Same sort of feat, but you can use Siege2's in defensive or offensive ways, instead of being totally tied to playing balls out, like Stryker2 is.
He's still one of the coolest sculpts in the faction, though, and I really like his design. Again, Overload can be totally bonkers and a ton of fun.
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Post by 36cygnar24guy36 on Nov 15, 2017 3:50:27 GMT
I used to play him a ton, but then realised I could not help myself screaming 'YOLO' and blowing up some heavies then dying next turn, so I gave up on him so I am not tempted
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Post by octaviusmaximus on Nov 15, 2017 6:08:14 GMT
I like Stryker 2, I hate building lists with him.
He wants to deliver armoured models with his feat and positive charge and that screams Storm Lances. Storm Lances were nerfed and the Meta doesn't seem too kind to them right now.
We wants to play Storm Division which means he *needs* Rhupert and thus can't run Gibbs.
I can get everything I want in a list which makes the lists with him in them annoying to build and run, imo.
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Post by 36cygnar24guy36 on Nov 15, 2017 6:30:58 GMT
I like Stryker 2, I hate building lists with him. He wants to deliver armoured models with his feat and positive charge and that screams Storm Lances. Storm Lances were nerfed and the Meta doesn't seem too kind to them right now. We wants to play Storm Division which means he *needs* Rhupert and thus can't run Gibbs. I can get everything I want in a list which makes the lists with him in them annoying to build and run, imo. Yeah he wants pathfinder to make his personal threat relevant, just the threat of it can bully other casters. You could take Runewood and Gibbs in Heavy Metal I guess? But no Storm Lances then. Storm Lances with Haley 3 are still fantastic
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Post by shroomvolcano on Nov 15, 2017 14:28:46 GMT
I've been playing him with triple Stormclads, they have tons of attacks and they're only job is to get Stryker to the enemy caster. I've also ran Stryker several times in Sons of the Tempest, where he doesn't have much of a feat, but the Gunmages can use the Thunderbolt shots to move enemy models around to open up lanes for him. I haven't tried it since the update, but the Gunmages are much better now with the boosted Gunfighter attacks so I'd def give it another shot.
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gmonkey
Junior Strategist
I, for one, welcome our Infernal Overlords.
Posts: 313
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Post by gmonkey on Nov 15, 2017 15:53:59 GMT
I've always wondered why Stryker2 seems to be considered stronger in Heavy Metal with sword knights than in storm division with stormblades and lances. The sword knights get up to 13/19 vs shooting with decel and arcane shield, but the stormblades in the same spot get up to 12/20, or 12/23 with minifeat, which to me just seems better, especially when you consider that they hit so much harder. Plus they have ranged attacks, albeit inaccurate ones. But if you bring a Storm Strider it helps.
My favorite Stryker2 list is called "stormswarm", and consists of Stryker2 with free squire, Rowdy, lancer, 2 units of stormblades/CA/gunners, and a max unit of lances. The rest varies. The toughest decision is in Rhupert vs Gibbs.
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xadmar
Junior Strategist
Posts: 173
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Post by xadmar on Nov 15, 2017 17:13:47 GMT
My buddy runs S2 as his primary list and has for about a year. He runs him in Storm Division and he has done well in tournaments. Rhupert and Deceleration makes Storm Lances decent into shooting. S2's personal threat bubble really helps control the board. If their caster gets within it then its pretty much game over. Positive Charge and Rebuke both bring a lot to the table. Does their cav out threaten yours? Rebuke it through an arc node. Need that extra chance to hit and damage? Toss on Positive Charge which also sticks around for feat movement and attack. I think the only spell on his card I have never seen cast is Lightning Storm.
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gmonkey
Junior Strategist
I, for one, welcome our Infernal Overlords.
Posts: 313
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Post by gmonkey on Nov 15, 2017 18:06:09 GMT
I've used lightning storm as a kind of covering fire.
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Post by sludgeogre on Nov 15, 2017 18:18:09 GMT
I usually run Stryker2 with Lances, Stormblades, a Strider, and a couple Stormclads. My problem with it is that Lances aren't that great in the meta anymore, they have been well adapted to. You can still get some pretty serious work done with them, but after that they nearly always evaporate. Stormblades either burn the world to the ground or just get wiped off the table for me, it's never anything in between. If your opponent lets them charge, they will tear stuff up. The biggest problem I have with them is that they are just so easy to play around in many circumstances, and once they evaporate after your mini feat, you lose significant scenario presence. Stormclads are great backup powerhouses, but they suffer the same problem, once you get them out there and take something out, they will die the next turn most likely. You have to make sure you get your point value out of them, and it's pretty rare that the whole package accomplishes that.
What I really hate is that I feel like Stryker1 runs the same exact list 1000 times better. You get to time walk your opponent on feat turn, and usually get two turns of great work out of the Lances. Tons more scenario pressure.
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Post by Ajax on Nov 15, 2017 19:43:05 GMT
Has anyone had a chance to try him in Gravediggers at all? Seems like clouds + cover + decel would mitigate a lot of the problems he'd have with shooting lists, with Stryker's battlegroup handling armor?
That gives him access to gibbs, and he can take rhupert as well. Just a thought, like I said I've played very little of my cygnar, but it seems like it could be a possibility? Maybe something like this:
Cygnar Army - 75 / 75 points
[Theme] Gravediggers
(Stryker 2) Lord Commander Stryker [+28]
- Ol' Rowdy [18]
- Stormclad [18]
Captain Maxwell Finn [0(6)]
Major Harrison Gibbs [4]
Patrol Dog [2]
Rhupert Carvolo, Piper of Ord [4]
Trench Buster [0(5)]
Trencher Express Team [0(5)]
Trencher Infantry (min) [10]
- Trencher Infantry Officer & Sniper [5]
- Trencher Infantry Rifle Grenadier (3) [6]
Trencher Long Gunners (max) [18]
- Trencher Long Gunner Officer [4]
Trencher Blockhouse [14]
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Post by bloodsplatterartist on Nov 15, 2017 22:06:23 GMT
I've always wondered why Stryker2 seems to be considered stronger in Heavy Metal with sword knights than in storm division with stormblades and lances. The sword knights get up to 13/19 vs shooting with decel and arcane shield, but the stormblades in the same spot get up to 12/20, or 12/23 with minifeat, which to me just seems better, especially when you consider that they hit so much harder. Plus they have ranged attacks, albeit inaccurate ones. But if you bring a Storm Strider it helps. My favorite Stryker2 list is called "stormswarm", and consists of Stryker2 with free squire, Rowdy, lancer, 2 units of stormblades/CA/gunners, and a max unit of lances. The rest varies. The toughest decision is in Rhupert vs Gibbs. I run pretty much the same list as your storm swarm and love it. I also bring a junior to arcane shield rowdy or the Lance's. Junior gets a Firefly to butt assault shots or unjam things with electro leap.
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Post by bluebarren on Nov 16, 2017 2:46:35 GMT
Hows that stormswarm work with possibly no pathfinder? The terrain is so dense in sr2017, i could almost literally never take that to a tournament in my meta and not get ridiculously bogged down.
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Post by bloodsplatterartist on Nov 16, 2017 3:21:55 GMT
I bring ruhpert as my Merc solo and my objective is usually the Pathfinder one as well. Giving up Gibs means you can't use stryker to personally swing attrition but he is still always a constant assassination threat. Also in storm division you're bringing along 22 weapon masters and a unit of heavy cavalry with access to positive charge. You won't often need stryker to personally crack armor.
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Post by snarlyyow on Nov 16, 2017 16:15:07 GMT
I think everyone brings up some good points about S2 and the difficulties of bringing him in theme. I do think there's some trencher shenanigans you can do, adding Rhupert or Ragman to the Gibbs package is good. Aiyanna or Dorfs as the merc slot seems solid. I wouldn't be surprised to see Siege handle what Stryker2 used to.
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