Shoota's + Flamers = Success!

[Tumbler]

I was curious about something the other night and decided to play against the AI a few times on hard and harder. Harder was a bit of a challenge but as orks I wanted to try putting flamers into my shoota squads and see how it helped the slugga's in h2h combat.

I came out with 3 slugga squads, one with big mek attached, and 1 shoota squad with 3 flamers. I charged into H2H and found 2 full chaos marine squads and their leader there to great me. In no time at all, the chaos boys were broken, I then put the flamers on their leader and he broke in almost no time. At that point another shoota squad arrive with 3 more flamers. The computer retreats when his squads break so he broke off the engagement but overall I was pretty impressed with the results.

The major downside is when you come up against structures. Taking down turrets/LP's is pretty pathetic with flamers at range.

Flamers work really well if you are just facing troops. Haven't tested them against vehicles but I'd expect them to fair pretty poorly. I'd say for an ork player, the first shoota squad you make, give it flamers and have it backup your 2 or 3 slugga's in that first engagement. If your opponenent isn't paying close attention he'll lose almost everyone in the squad(s) almost instantly after they are broken.

Big Shoota's are still a must but for those first few engagements flamers will give you a huge edge!

BTW don't bother giving the slugga's flamers, I see lots of people talk about doing this and I've found it's just a waste. They barely get a chance to shoot before they are in h2h and I haven't seen them do any good there. Later in the game once armor starts showing up give em rokkit's! And most importantly Nobz, gotta have nobz.

[Optimus Prime]

I must know more about this. I use Flamers on slugga boyz. Does it break moral in H2H like when armed in a ranged stance?

I just found out that burnaz count as power weapons in CC

[Chobo-Elite]

Morale damage only comes into effect in the ranged mode. CC mode for the burna is for cutting tanks so it isn't as effective vs. infantry in CC than say a dread or something. Kind of a bummer, in the TT burnas were power weapons too! probably the best special weapon in the game having all those abilities for just 6+ points.

[Tumbler]

The first test I did with flamers was versus CPU.
Which is good for some things but doesn't mean it's a good tactic against players.

So I started using it in my early game tactics. After I have 3 slugga's running around and that big mek is built I make a shoota squad and drop a pile o gunz. Once that pile of gunz is done I upgrade all the shoota guys to flamers.

And it does make a huge difference. Typically you'll run into a leader with squad, or 2 squads, 1 with the leader. The flamers break even the space marines with no trouble, and broken marines die real fast.

Not to mention the fact that if you run into a seer council early breaking their morale is your only hope, this way you can!.

As for equipping flamers to slugga's, I dont' recommend it. They won't use them much unless you get them into combat with a vehicle. The money is better spent elsewhere.

After the second squad of shoota's is out you can make them flamers too but you really only need that one imo, since when you win those big battles in the middle you need to push forward and take out his Strategic points, which will involve structures, and shoota's with flamers against that are no help.

[Crackpot]

Very good tips Tumbler!
I only tested sluggas with burnas, and that didnt' worked out! Absolutley NOT recommended! :(
In the early game with a skilled opponent you than could knock off his first rush attempts... I will test it today! :)

[Optimus Prime]

Yeah thanks I thought the burnas in CC worked to break moral but I was wrong. No wonder those dam pesky seer council didnt break!

[Devon]

I just used ur tactic and it worked gret thanks Tumbler