Blight Drones - how to use 'em?

[SchultzChaos]

Hello, warseer!
I'm a happy owner of the beautiful blight drone-miniature from Forge World, but have no field experience with it what so ever.
So I would like some advices in its uses, if there is some one who fields them.

I have a list of a combined Legions-warband that looks like this:

Nurgle Daemon Prince (Death Guard), Jump Pack

8 Berzerkers (World Eaters), fist, rhino
8 Berzerkers (Word Bearers), fist, rhino
7 Plague Marines (Death Guard), 2 plasmas, rhino
7 Plague Marines (Bionic Iron Warriors), 2 plasmas, rhino

5 Raptors (Night Lords), 2 meltas
5 Raptors (Iron Warrior Assult Marines), 2 meltas

2 Oblits (Dark Mechanicum-servitor slaves + overseers)
2 Oblits (Dark Mechanicum-servitor slaves + overseers)

What I'm left with is points for either a Blight Drone or a Vindicator. If I'll go with a vindicator I'll use it as a shock-unit together with the berzerker-rush. But the Blight Drone I need help with. I love the miniature and would really love some help where to fit it.

// Schultz

[Bonzai]

The thing with Vindicators, is that you always want them possessed, and you always want multiples. One Vindicator wont do much. Ive never played with, or against blight drones, but I imagine they are the same.

To me, what makes blight drones so awesome, is that they are essentially the fire power of a defiler, but in the fast attack slot. Usually, the fast attack slot is lack luster for chaos. With these you can technically field more battle cannons than Imperial Guard can.

[SchultzChaos]

Which makes me a sad panda...
Blight Drones ain't cheap, so if I have to field them in groups of 2-3 to make them useful... Well.
And with the price hike on SM vehicles I can't see me buying any vindicator soon. Maybe I should look to other options for the list instead?

[Ozone]

Blight Drones can be pretty good, particularly without the competition for Fast slots. Putting them in squadrons should be a last resort, as they gain absolutely no benefit for it, only the negatives. I have two of these buggers, and they can be alot of fun. I definitely use them more than my lone possessed vindicator.

On tactics, I find them useful for hunting small units, using the template weapons. Great for getting scouts or equivalent out of cover, taking on marine squads who stray too far from the trees into the open, as well as last minute contesting with their potential speed.

Their secondary weapon i dont use too much, unless i havent moved far, just to get a couple of extra shots in.

They can be great for distractions. The whole 'ohh! shiny! KILL IT!' mentality can be very useful. Also, templates + lash = success, although I realise you don't have that, and i tend not to either against friends.

Hope this helped.

[Kelanen]

So I would like some advices in its uses, if there is some one who fields them.

Indeed - I have 4, although I only use 3 outside Apoc.

The thing with Vindicators, is that you always want them possessed, and you always want multiples. One Vindicator wont do much.

Completely agreed.

Ive never played with, or against blight drones, but I imagine they are the same.

It's preferable, in as much as most things are better played in multiples, but much less so.

The key difference is the pieplate having 36" on a Blight Drone, which massively decreases the firepower it takes. It's also a fast skimmer so you can weave in and out of cover, and move 12" and then fire. To whit, it's more survivable than a Fast/PotMS Vindicator which is the point at which I think they become playable.

To me, what makes blight drones so awesome, is that they are essentially the fire power of a defiler, but in the fast attack slot.

No, they are good but not that good. A Defiler has better BS, better armour, double the range and CC potential. A Blight Drone has better manoeuverability going for it, but that's about it. For a Fast Attack slot however they are pretty good - not quite up their with Baal Preds or Valkyries, but one of the better FA options, especially in a codex where it's all bad, and there aren't that many good units.

Usually, the fast attack slot is lack luster for chaos.

Very much so - you field Blight Drones, Hell Blades or nothing.

Blight Drones can be pretty good, particularly without the competition for Fast slots. Putting them in squadrons should be a last resort, as they gain absolutely no benefit for it, only the negatives. I have two of these buggers, and they can be alot of fun. I definitely use them more than my lone possessed vindicator.

On tactics, I find them useful for hunting small units, using the template weapons. Great for getting scouts or equivalent out of cover, taking on marine squads who stray too far from the trees into the open, as well as last minute contesting with their potential speed.

That all seems pretty on the mark.

Unlike OZone, I do use the Reaper a lot, unless I have to move them further for their own safety. I so use them with double lash princes, and like all powerful blasts, they double in power with Lash.