Necron monolith becoming a believer

[rocdocta]

for its points and reduced protection i was dead against the monolith. But in my 1500 pt list it is doing very well. i only take one ark so my maneuverabily is limited. Combined with orikan i can wait till T3 and drop it away from melta and suck a unit to contest/cap an objective or save them from impending doom. The other day 15 genestealers ignored a flank as my oppo knew i would just suck the unit away to safety. I was able to nuke 2 pallis with the portal and also make them go around the skimmer mountain which really slowed them down. Even vs melta its not a guarranteed destroyed.

It is still very sturdy as its AV14 and not open topped. which is a big thing for our mech.

I have found that if you pick your battles and use it as a strategic weapon that the oppo has to plan for its DSing and its very handy.

[Weirdboy]

I have proxied a Monolith a few times because I wasn't too sure about it. I have been impressed with it in every game I tried it. It was not only effective every time, but the Hoover portal is just about the most fun I have ever had playing 40k. I know it was an extremely lucky (or unlucky) roll, but I had one eat a Dreadnaught!

[Infidel]

Monolith....

Well, as it stands right now, it's a decent buy. One of the should see their way into just about any Necron list. Have one deepstrike on a flank and swagger up enemy's flank and demand a response.

Generally, I use it to teleport scoring units that I have kept safely hidden away (either through reserve or tucked away in a corner) and grab objectives on turn 5/6. In non-objective missions, it's bulk provides a mobile cover for the rest of your much flimsier vehicles.

If the 6th edition rumours are true, then Monolith becomes more or less a must at that point.

[Alsiaie]

I have a hard time wrapping my head around the monolith. Its primary purpose has not changed much since the last codex other than no longer having a limited range on the gate. Deepstriking such a large target seems near impossible to get it close enough to the enemy without mishap. Metla guns make it disappear relatively quick. I have seen it used as a defensive tool though. Against an assault army, the monolith has no problems staying near/in its deployment zone to help cover supporting units in this case. In the opposite scenario I can see a monolith being used to pull units back into defensive positions late game. Let it hang back away from melta fire and pull aggressive units back after their targets have been eliminated. In either case, playing a monolith agressively always seems to be a recipe for disaster. I suppose a monolith can pull barge lords away from danger after losing their ride allowing it to rejoin a unit.

[blurrymadness]

IMO the reason to use it before was WBB was near impervious if you had a res orb, and the Portal allowed you to re-roll it; meaning you had a 3+/4+ (from cover) and then a rerollable 4++ essentially making even warriors twice as durable as Terminators.

The problem with losing that AND it's own durability is that you're stuck with something that can no longer support the army in any way other than *highly predictable* mobility and firepower. Before you could get units out of combat (at least in 4th when they didn't instantly die), you could charge across the map (you could move and assault if you teleported before moving either unit) so things like wraiths could port 24", then move 12" and assault IIRC, even without the move, the variation on the assault transport idea was a good one. Further, you made it so if the enemy didn't kill entire squads you'd get 75% of your crons back, which is likely meaning the enemy kills about 1-2 models a turn outside of assault.

It was a true support piece. Now it's an expensive and unimaginative piece of tough, short ranged artillery. They really could have done making the monolith's rule slightly clearer, get rid of the whole confusing bit about strength, and make it "All weapons roll a maximum of 1d6 + str; All additional rolls that would assist in penetrating the monolith are ignored or discarded. Models in close combat and ordnance weapons work as usual." Now it'd be simple to understand, slightly less powerful, and tough as a B still. I like parts of the necron book but the whole thing still feels very molested to me.


EDIT:
Resentment aside; the monolith does nothing the army isn't able to do without it other than a convenient large blast. It's probably worth it's points, but it's not the monster it was, nor does it support the army. I'm with the crowd on this one, three tesla destructors on cheap vehicles FTW, let my point be spent elsewhere.

[Nurgling Chieftain]

Let it hang back away from melta fire...

Indeed. Monoliths used to be a very aggressive model, now it's a model that usually belongs at 19"-23" away from the enemy. The increased range of the gauss flux arcs supports this interpretation, IMO.

[Alsiaie]

Indeed. Monoliths used to be a very aggressive model, now it's a model that usually belongs at 19"-23" away from the enemy. The increased range of the gauss flux arcs supports this interpretation, IMO.

Unfortunately for me the majority of melta in my area are storm ravens, more storm ravens, BA happy dreads attached to storm ravens and the occasional vendetta/veteran spam. Outside this, the rest has evolved to missile spam. This changes the monolith's save zone to 36-48". I think the monolith is a good utility on paper. I am not sold that it's worth the point cost. I am sold it is meta dependent. Then again saying necrons are heavily meta dependent is like beating a dead horse.

[Nurgling Chieftain]

But... Stormravens are like 500+ points loaded and armor 12. They shouldn't see turn 2.

[Alsiaie]

But... Stormravens are like 500+ points loaded and armor 12. They shouldn't see turn 2.

Stormraven's Multimelta has an effective 48" range and 36" range for 2d6 armor pen. I often find them reserved. Even coming off the board edge, they can get in half range 3/4 up the table. If necrons go second, you can probably kiss one vehicle goodbye on turn 1 for each MM storm raven on the table. The only stormravens I have ever seen in my area were BA, each armed with shield of sanguinus. The power gets annoying on top of flat out movement and machine spirit. Whether crons go first or second, stormravens are not a good sight in the right hands.

Just because mathhammer says a lance court will kill an AV12 model every round doesn't mean it will happen. I had a 7 turn game against IG and I failed to fully kill two vendettas. Best I could do was weapon/immobilized even with chrono re-rolls. This was in addition to rounds from annihilation barges. I've had similar stories against BA. The difference is that storm ravens and their contents are more threatening than vendettas. You only get 1-2 turns to fully stop them before the can of pain is opened.

[Nurgling Chieftain]

So basically what you're saying is that their 200+ point armor 12 vehicle has a reasonable chance of killing your 200+ point armor 14 vehicle if you screw up or luck swings against you. I'm not impressed. If you can't kill an armor 12 vehicle or two in reasonably short order you're going to be having problems with a lot of things in the current meta.

Put another way, the chance of a lance court destroying a flat-out stormraven is better than the chance of said flat-out stormraven destroying a monolith at point-blank range.

[Alsiaie]

So if a stormraven is overrated in the sense that it can be killed in one turn and cost 200+ points, doesn't that mean a single monolith that costs 200 points which can die in a single turn can be seen as the same? I am simply pointing out a single example where a monolith can be disappointing for the cost. You're probably not going to face stormravens in every game but melta either way is going to hurt. The point I am getting at is in my opinion, monoliths shine best at short to medium range. This also puts it in high danger of being blasted by melta guns from any source. It doesn't have the added bonus of assault ramps which in comparison to landraiders makes it good high point investment. It's not an effective assault transport and it needs to be somewhat mobile to transport units onto objectives. It is so-so as a fire base due to it's range. Melta is one of a few major banes to necrons. Sure ghost arks and the like will die just as easily as a monolith to melta, but I find a hard time finding an efficient way justify its high cost. It doesn't mean the monolith is bad for everyone or any list.

Any army that struggles to kill AV12 vehicles that have a constant 4+ save in a game doesn't indicate the player is doing something wrong or the list is bad. We have all experienced games where dice destroy mathhammer and it's out of your control. I simply used a stormraven as a good example or scenario against a monolith due to its abilities and resilience. Necrons also tend to struggle bouncing back from bad dice unlike the MEQ norm. It isn't automatically game over but I feel necrons rely on statistics more than their MEQ counterparts. Mathhammer only disappoints when it becomes the sole contributing factor in players' list choices and decisions.

[Kelanen]

It isn't automatically game over but I feel necrons rely on statistics more than their MEQ counterparts.

I've no idea what you mean, but what you've said is utterly impossible!

Mathhammer only disappoints when it becomes the sole contributing factor in players' list choices and decisions.

Only if you are doing it wrong. Used right it should direct most of your choices, and inform all of them.

[SideshowLucifer]

I'm a firm believe in monoliths. I normally run them in pairs. It is rare when melta spam gets to destroy my monoliths before they do their damage (if they destroy them at all). People are way to caught up on what they can't do now that they used to do, that they haven't learned how to use what the can do. In an army with few transports, the monolith fills that niche pretty damn effectively. Mine are usually used for mobility with firepower being an afterthought. With a special character, reactive deepstriking is great, not to mention being able to yank things out of reserves with the monolith is priceless.

[rocdocta]

I'm a firm believe in monoliths. I normally run them in pairs. It is rare when melta spam gets to destroy my monoliths before they do their damage (if they destroy them at all). People are way to caught up on what they can't do now that they used to do, that they haven't learned how to use what the can do. In an army with few transports, the monolith fills that niche pretty damn effectively. Mine are usually used for mobility with firepower being an afterthought. With a special character, reactive deepstriking is great, not to mention being able to yank things out of reserves with the monolith is priceless.

This and teleporting a MSS Olord or Dets Lord and 3 spyders or 6 wraiths or even just solo 10 scarabs after the Monolith DS in the enemy deployment is a massive spanner. Hi IG parking lot!

[Spring heeled Jack]

Ive only just gotten into Necron about two months ago. I commonly fight Dark Eldar, Orks, Tau and Space marine of multiple variety. Most marine players i know take melta in each squad and each vehicle that can, if Lascannon isnt a option. While Tau Players have Loads of Very High Strength shots from broadsides and crisis suits, Ork have Tankhunters and lootas and rokets, Finally Dark Eldar are swarmed with Dark Lances.

I take at least one Monlith in every game above 1000 pts. It has served me well including the Portal to nowhere, deepstriking and teleporting in units to grab points or blast away an annoying enemy unit. I have (and maybe this is luck) had no problems with Melta, or lance or any thing. I usually deep strike near area terrain and chance the dangerous test as opposed to deep strike mishap too near enemy units. Finally my enemy is so Worried about the 200 pt monlith that they obligate more than 200 points of their forces to TRY to destroy the towering behemoth.

At this point its psychological. The enemy has diverted units that could destroy more useful things in my army but they are worried about the "big" tank. Now I dont care if the Monolith survives or not because my other tanks are free to roam. When shot by a melta gun its only S8 ap1 unless the unit is 6" away In which case they get that one shot, if they fail to destroy me I portal em away! The most disconcerting unit i faced against my monolith was a set of two Exorcists that devoted each turn to take out my monolith. But that did let my Night Scythe and Others to go unmolested.

Finally, Do all the math you want, A Monolith has a rightful place in most lists. Its powerful with its array of weapons, its Mobile with its Deep strike and teleport despite its "heavy" rule. It provides a very nice target to absorb enemy shots, Which with AV 14 in every direction is Really hard to take out. If it does go down you need not worry about it too much for your stratagem should be flexible enough to deal with loosing only 200 pts.

[Megad00mer]

I take one in every list I make over 1000 points. I think it's fantastic for the points we pay.

One game it deep struck, fired the Particle Whip and annihilated an 8 strong squad of Jump Pack Death Company with Lemartes. Poof. Gone.

Another game it was able to get me the win by teleporting a squad of Warriors onto an objective last turn.

Yes it can now be shredded by meltas and MC's but it's still an armor 14 all sides behemoth with great firepower and loads of tactical depth all for the (relatively) low cost of 200pts.

[Chapters Unwritten]

I thought vehicles couldn't fire on the turn they deep strike, a la the drop pod?

[Bunnahabhain]

I thought vehicles couldn't fire on the turn they deep strike, a la the drop pod?

Nope, they count as moving at cruising speed. Plenty of things can fire at cruising speed....

[Alsiaie]

Nope, they count as moving at cruising speed. Plenty of things can fire at cruising speed....

The monolith always counts as stationary when it fires. However when the monolith deep strikes, it counts as moving at cruising speed. "Count as" and physically moving are two separate things. So when a monolith deep strikes, it can fire as if it were stationary and enemies would need 6's to hit it in HtH the following turn due to its count as moving speed. Good stuff.

[Spring heeled Jack]

The Monolith's Particle whip is Ordnance, When a vehicle fires its ordnance weapon it can fire no other weapons that turn. How does that rule work with the Monoliths Portal to nowhere and its Heavy rule? ~just for clarification purposes~