Warhammer Fantasy
Skaven Tactics

In this section we will look at the Skaven Warhammer Fantasy army and the Skaven tactics.

The Skaven are the rat people of the underworld. What they loose in size, they more that make up in numbers, and formidable warpstone weapons.

General Skaven Tactics

The usual Skaven tactics is to swarm your appoint with numbers. This done not mean that this is the only tactic open to you. The Skaven army has some big weapons available to them too. You will find that most of these weapons are short ranges, like the Screaming Bell.

Skaven Lords

As usual, the Lords section is where you will find the biggest & toughest Skaven to lead your army. And as usual I will warn that you over spending on the Army Generals and Heroes will leave you short of points to spend on the rank and file troops. This is even more true when you are playing an army that relies on the force of numbers.

Named Lords

In this section we will look at the named Skaven available to your army. These named characters have more special rules, but the have a higher points coast too. If you are planning to field one of these characters, be sure that you are familiar with these special rules, or you will be point points for features that you do not use.

As you will need to make full use of these characters, I recommend that those who are still learning how to play the Skaven army wait until they have a basic competency with the army before looking to field named characters.

Lord Skrolk

Lord Skrolk is the most expensive of the Skaven Lords in terms of points. For this you get a level 3 Wizard, with respectable stats, and a number of special rules / equipment.

Monks as Core

If you have Lord Skrolk as your Lord then you can have Plauge Monks as core choices. This basically means that you can field a Plauge Monk Skaven army.

Thanquol & Boneripper

Ikit Claw

Throt the Unclean

Queek Headtaker

Vermin Lord

The Vermin Lord is a Daemon.

Warlord

The Skaven Warlord is the standard choice for the Skaven army General.

Grey Seer

The Grey Seer is the most powerful magic user in the Skaven army. he is a L4 wizard that has access to both books of Skaven magic.

The Screaming Bell

Having a Grey Seer in your army is the only way to have a Screaming Bell. This means that the Screaming bell will cost at least 440 points to filed! This is a lot of points to spend on one model, specially with the warning about not over pending on your Lords and Heroes.

Skaven Heroes

Named Heroes

Deathmaster Snikch

Tretch Craventail

Assassin

Warlock Engineer

Chieftain

Plague Priest

Skaven Core Units

Clanrats

Clanrats are the standard warriors of the Skaven army. They are cheap as a standard model. Armed with a spear and shield, they are 1 point cheaper than a similarly equipped Empire spearman.

> Also Click to Buy: Clanrats

Stormvermin

Stormvermin are armed with Halberds and wear heavy armour. This makes them a surprisingly hard hitting unit. Remember that S4 attacks reduce the enemy's armour save by 1 as well as making it easier to wound.

Stormvermin can take a magic standard. There are 6 different banners available at different points costs. Most of these only affect the Stormvermin, but the most expensive banner at 50 points provides cover from missile attacks for the whole army. If you are facing a missile heavy army like Elves, then this will be well worth the investment.

Skavenslaves

Cheap cannon fodder is a must for swarm armies, and the Skavenslaves are the cheapest units available to you. I recommend keeping these units as cheap as possible, so skip the shield and weapon options. These units are designed to soak up the cannon balls and allow your more expensive units get in to combat.

Games Workshop do not have models for Skaven slaves, so most players use Clanrats painted to portray Skavenslaves

> Also Click to Buy: Skavenslaves (Clanrats)

Night Runners

The Night Runners are the most junior of the assassin Skaven Clan. The inclusion of the army choice in the Core Troop section means that you can field a full Assassin Clan Eshin army!

Skaven Night Runners are very similar to basic Clanrats with a few bonuses. The first is they have one point higher initiative. They also have a pint higher leadership, and they get a couple of additional special rules.

Special Rule Slinking Advance

The Slinking advance gives the Night runners a extra move at the start of the game. You must remember to use it, or the advantage is lost.

This extra move can be very useful to give you a head start to capture an objective or position

Special Rule Dodge

Dodge gives the Night Runners a slim of surviving anything, missiles, close combat, or even magic. It is only a slim chance, but over the course of many saves, the dodge save does add up.

> Also Click to Buy: Skaven Night Runners

Giant Rats

Most armies have hounds or a similar fast cheap squad that can be used to harass the enemy. In the Skaven army to have the option to field Giant Rats. The only issue is that the Skaven slaves are even cheaper per model than the Giant Rats are! This leads me to think that you are better off with the Slaves.

You can not buy Giant Rats on their own, but they come in a box set with some a couple of Rat Ogres, and some Clan Moulder Packmasters.

> Also Click to Buy: Skaven Giant Rats

Skaven Rat Swarm

They are only Strength 2, but they can still take down a dragon with enough 6's

Skaven Special Units

Gutter Runners

Rat Ogres

Loads of smaller troops may be good for most things, but sometimes you need a unit with more stomp! This is where the Rat Ogres come in.

> Also Click to Buy: Skaven Rats Ogres

Plague Monks

Plague Censer Bearers

Warplock Jezzails

Poisoned Wind Globadiers

Skaven Rare Units

Hell Pit Abomination

Doomwheel

Warp Lightning Cannon

Plagueclaw Catapult