Cutthroats Vs Nyss Hunters

[stormbringer]

There are a few units I've been eying in the Merc Faction Book ever since I got it from Carnage. Alexia & the Risen, Croe's Cuttthroats, & Cylena Rafyll & Nyss Hunters. With Khador's win at Templecon, I've seen the Nyss Hunters mentioned alot the last few days.

What's everyone think about the Cutthroats & the Nyss Hunters? Both units cost the same points & have Pathfinder.

The Cutthroats are DEF 13 to the Nyss Hunters 15. I think their ARM is irrelevant since they both will die if hit.

The Cutthroats are SPD 6 with Advance Deploy vs the Nyss Hunters SPD 7.

Their MATs the same, but the Cutthroats are RAT 6 to the Hunters RAT 7.

The Cutthroats are RNG 10 to the Hunters range 12. Both are POW 10.

The Cutthroats have poison range and melee weapons (extra die vs living) and The Nyss Hunters are Weapon Masters on melee only.
The Nyss Hunters have Hunter (ignore cover, forest, etc for LOS & making attacks). Nice.

So far, the Nyss Hunters seem to have the advantage.

However, the Cutthroats have stealth (huge advantage), Backstab (extra die on back strike), Bushwhack (shoot & move), and the leader has silencer (can't cast spells for a round). These all seem pretty big advantages.

Is there some trick with the Nyss I'm missing that make them MUCH better?

Jeff

[Sterling Archer]

Hunter. It is an amazing ability. That and weaponmaster is a lot better then poison.

[Sterling Archer]

Also, dont nyss hunters have cra?

[stormbringer]

Do you consider the Nyss Hunters a melee unit, a ranged unit, or both?

I think of both units as ranged units. They can go into melee if they have to, but would be better off roaming a flank and harassing. As a ranged unit, Hunter is nice to shoot through a forest, but stealth, bushwhack & poison are pretty great tradeoffs.

And yes, the Nyss Hunters have CRA.

As a melee unit, the Nyss Hunters would be DEF 18 with Iron Flesh. Not bad with the right caster. Charge in for 4 dice damage and then protect them by putting Iron Flesh on after the charge. 5 dice damage on Butcher's feat turn.

The Cutthroats could get six dice though (charge, poison, backstab, Butcher feat). They would be DEF 15 though with Iron Flesh (if anything was left standing from six dice to the back of the head). It would also be harder to cast on them since they would probably be on the opposite side of the fighting.

I'm starting to think I'm comparing between two different tools.

Jeff

[Sterling Archer]

You are. But crOes are eaiser to kill by far. Your also severally underestimating cra. It is one of the single most powerful ranged abilities. Combined with hunter, these guys can shoot your opponent for a devastating amount of damage with little to no return fire. Then when stuff closes in weapon master is amazing against EVERYTHING. If you ever get a backstab off with croes cutthroats I'd be surprised lol.

[doctorclockwork]

I've been on the receiving end of the Nyss Hunters a few times at TempleCon. They are a really good fast ranged option.

[discordian]

They are both good flanking units that can play the ranged and melee game pretty well.

CRA is a great kill target model ability. With Nyss I think it ends up being a rat 12 pow 15, which will hit and kill most solos in the game. And because of their rules from your opponents’ models perspective they'll see this bush totally kill a guy which I find hilarious. Also said bush can charge most things that can’t get to them first, terrain is a great way to force your opponent to be chargeable if you have pathfinder and they aren’t. But thier potential is really terrian based which might not work in your favor.

Poison will really make its points back if you’re playing in a more hordes environment. Low arm beasts will not like either getting shot or stabbed by the cut throats. And if you do plan to use them as flankers then your opponent will really have to deal with them or have to suffer back strikes. And stealth is usally always great.

Honestly you should just go with which ever unit you’ll have the most fun playing. But competitively you should look and see what your army already brings to the table and see if any of these two units complement it in any way or make up for any deficiencies. Personally I always have trouble with Hordes, but I think that’s because of the army I play.