How to use mournfang

[Auere]

It may seem odd that perhaps our most powerful unit on paper is the one I am finding the hardest to use to good effect.

If I place them on the flanks in units of 2-3 (even with gleaming pennant) they usually fail a critical lds test to redirect or something similar and promptly run into perfect range for a flank charge by some ranked infantry unit, which ALWAYS proceeds to win by 1-2 and run them down afterwards.

If I place them in the middle in strong units of 4 with dragonhide, I find it really akward to even complete a charge. They always find themselves jammed, blocked, charged (by something like flagellants or swordmasters) and shot to pieces.


How do you get those mournfang to actually do their job?


May I add, that loosing my mournfang never seems to prevent me from winning the battle due to other factors, such as the awesomeness of all the other ogre troops, who just wipe anything they get close to with either a facefull of lead or a big club.

[Gongoro]

In my last game, I think I had a glimpse of the (admittedly bleak) future for my Mournfangs as the High Elves poured four rounds of ranged fire into them from 3 archer blocks and 3 bolt throwers.  I lost 3 of the 4, leaving only my Crusher.

I won in a Massacre.

While it's a hard life, the Inter Nets have made all and sundry aware of just how horrible it is to get charged by Mournfang Riders, so we can expect them to take most of the shooting/magic/redirecting nonsense until they're off the board.  What I tried to do in that game is protect them from things that would have A) moved them out of position, or B) removed them from the table entirely.  They're tough enough to force a shooting army to use most, if not all of its shooting for several rounds to get close.  Rounds in which the rest of your army will get to explain why it hates to be ignored.

My recommendation is to keep sending them up the gut with 4 and a banner.  The effort to kill them will, hopefully, consume so many opposition resources that many of your other units will cross the table virtually unmolested.  If your opponents catch wise and try to adjust their strategy, then they attack the Mournfangs less...with predictable results on that, as well.

Keeping them near your general/BSB will make them last even in the face of concentrated firepower.

[Big Papa Maugo]

I've yet to have anyone focus on my mournfangs but then, I run my BSB and Slaughtermaster with a six maneater bodyguard, which generally attracts a lot of fire as well.

I always run them in 4 and within range of my BSB. It's important to remember that they move faster than normal ogres, so it's entirely possibly to deploy in front of one target, then go after another, weaker target if the mournfangs take casualties. 

[Jihan]

I tend to deploy my unit of four off in BFE somewhere with the movement banner.  The enemy generally has to focus fire on all the Bulls and the Stonehorn breathing down their neck, and doesn't realize how fast the bear riders are going to get across into the flank.  Leadbelchers, cats, and the occasional fireball clear the chaff out of the way for a clean run.  Granted, this ploy will only work on the same opponent for so long...

My other tactic is baiting the foe into attempting a long charge at the mournfangs.  No one wants to be charged by them, so a lot of times they'll chance a long shot.  Either they fail, and all is well, or they make it and the 2+ 6+ save gives me a reasonable shot at holding and smacking them in the side with something of my own.

And, as other posters have noted, even if they go down in a withering hail of fire, at least your other units are getting off scott free.  It's really hard for them to not accomplish something in a game.

[Nihmwit]

I have 4 mournfangs that have hit the table a grand total of twice, and have never even come close to making up their points, so my opinion of them is a little bleak.

Adding to that, last night I played a mirror match and got an enfilanding shot with an ironblaster at my opponent's mournfangs first turn and wiped the unit.

I love the model, and I love the 2+ armor, but I'm still just not sure about them.

[Offswitch]

I'm having a big unit of four and another unit of two. I'm hoping the smaller unit can hit a unit with the survivors of the bigger unit. Haven't tried it yet so I have no idea how it'll do.

 

[Hitsugaya_Toushiro]

i always use 2 units....one of 4 with dragonhide and one of 3 (4 and 4 with ETC rules)........they always hit hard and are a real pain for opponent expecially those who have an hard day doing wounds on AS 2+ guys

[Adasi]

I found it difficult to make my points back originally, using 4 tooled up with the dragonhide.

Then i stopped tryimng to use them to ta eon the opponents most elite stuff and realised they're amazing at chewing through the big hordes of chaff! EMpire horde of swordsmen - gone. Block of saurus - gone.

I'll let my Leaddies weaken the temple guard and flaggies for a bit first!

[Gralph Boarbiter]

How to use Mournfang:

1:  Charge them into something not absolutely-elite.

2:  ???

3:  Profit.

It really is that simple. 

[Greywulf The Scarred]

I tend to use them in units of 3 with the dragonhide banner or in a small unit of 2 with gleaming pendant, deployed on one side, possibly with the support of a 3 leadies squad. They always repay themselves pretty good.

[grey templar]

Remember its not about making a unit's points back. Its about killing more points of your enemy then he does of you.

So what if your mournfangs spent the whole game killing a couple cheap 200 point units. If they are still alive they didn't give your opponent any points and gave you a 400 point profit.

If you focus on denying points to your enemy, Mournfangs become very good. Against certain targets they are practically invincible, which means you are generating free Victory Points.

Mournfangs also arn't so expensive that losing the unit means you have lost the game. You can still fit plenty of nasty stuff in your list elsewhere.