How Good Is The Ghostkeel REALLY!?!? | 10th Edition | T'au Empire Tactics

[@michaelsmith8028]

"It...will keel".

[@CommanderNearsight]

lol

[@Giby86]

This thing is a nightmare for your opponents. It just does not die.

[@EditedJoker24]

The first box I purchased for myself was the Tau Combat patrol with that Ghostkeel. It actually is strong enough to carry many small games and does feel kind of overloaded with it's stealth mechanics and firepower. It was quite possibly the strongest unit I had for a very long time. However, the Broadsides and Hammerheads caught my eye a little more which downplayed the power of the Ghostkeel in my mind. I tend to build lists excluding the Ghostkeel and focus more on any other battlesuits. You reminded me how important this guy really is when it comes to overall strength.

[@CommanderNearsight]

That's awesome! I hope you'll throw him back in again. No model should be perpetually regulated to the shelf

[@elitetrooper119]

You mean you bought the ghost keel on the side or did it come with the combat patrol?!

[@chalkdemon8019]

@@elitetrooper119it came with the previous combat patrol. The old one had the Cadre Fireblade, an Ethereal, then a unit of Fire Warriors, a unit of Stealth Suits, and the GhostKeel. I hunted two of them down on EBay mainly for the two stealth suit teams and the Ghost Keels.

[@CommanderAsharro]

yeah, the ghostkeel is I think one of the most battlesuits in the empire

[@iansahleen1173]

Truly the unit of all time

[@RageDuck0]

I absolutely love the tau from a painting perspective and especially the ghost due to it actually looking like a suit instead of a box lol. And now that im getting into actually playing the game outside of my first army admech im absolutely loving them and the broadside

[@CommanderNearsight]

Those two units are iconic and very good units for the current game. Hope they serve you well on the tabletop!

[@Butsy1998]

Love the content dude! Finally a dedicated Tau channel! Keep it up!!

[@CommanderNearsight]

Thanks! Will do!

[@Tito_Silva]

So glad they're useful, since I just bought one

[@elitetrooper119]

Same. Mine arrived today

[@tylerhuckaba3031]

I have one that I made where it’s smushing a tyranid under one of its feet. I love looking at it

[@CommanderNearsight]

That's awesome! You should totally share it in the discord!

[@noahwiebe7425]

I very much agree with your assessment of the ghostkeel, I had my first game of 40k recently and the ghostkeel took out maybe 1/3 of my opponents list while only taking damage from two failed hazardous checks

[@CommanderNearsight]

Dang! That's very impressive!

[@Vinterloft]

You just described my army lol. Shadowsun, max Ghostkeels, max Stealth Suits, max Vespid, (in reserve) 6 Piranhas divided in 3 units of 2, and two units of Breachers in Devilfish waiting behind cover to zoom to where the opponent decides to focus. I am undefeated in 10th and only the Necron player in my group has come close to beating it. I also use the Fusion weapon on 2 of the Ghostkeels because my overall anti-tank is low as I otherwise would rely mostly on the 16 seeker missiles. I also play extremely aggressively, and often even charge with Stealth Suits if it means the Ghostkeel gets another turn uncontested on an objective. The Vespid will drop down next turn to clear up anyway

[@CommanderNearsight]

That is awesome. I'm happy to hear you've found so much success with it. Sounds like a fun mobile army

[@Vinterloft]

@@CommanderNearsight I've always played mobile Tau since 3rd edition, though back then I got there with Devilfish and Hammerheads (and a few Crisis Suits) I also have 80 Kroot which now is 20 too many and GW is trying to sell me more of them so they better add battleline to Kroot hah

[@CommanderNearsight]

DANG! 80!? I envy you. I like the speedy play style. And I'm sure they'll give you the Kroot battle line in at least their own Detachment

[@Vinterloft]

@@CommanderNearsight It's just that the 3rd edition battleforce had Kroot and I bought... a *few* of them x)

[@tormunnvii3317]

That sounds like a glorious army list.

[@alexandrudorries3307]

I’d love to hear your 3 ghostkeel and 18 stealth suits route… just for research

[@CommanderNearsight]

I’d love to tell you. I just need 2 more ghostkeels and 12 more stealth suits. I’ll do a battle report once I get them to show off the stealthy fun

[@Createdbyphilipp]

Its just looks awesome and due to rule of cool, i put it in every list xD ...and because i only have the combatpatrol and some pathfinders

[@CommanderNearsight]

Honestly the rule of cool is the best way to go with this guy. He is a good asset for starting out your T'au Army

[@verathorn1556]

I actually got one of these because I expected it would pair well with the theme and play style of the kroot. I even kit based it to look like the Kroot had scavenged a damaged one.

[@CommanderNearsight]

That's awesome

[@MTGPhlogisten]

I’ve been running 2 and it’s been great. I did just get a third though…

[@CommanderNearsight]

Dang. That'll be quite the list!

[@SirAHarris]

the smoke keyword is also useless on the ghostkeel, it will most likely always have cover, and all smokescreen does is give the unit stealth and the benefit of cover, it doesnt stack with the current stealth

[@alexjacobs1403]

you actually described my actual list except I grabbed some broadsides for extra anti tank

[@CommanderNearsight]

That is awesome! Does it play well? I've only ever theorized it

[@alexjacobs1403]

​@@CommanderNearsightI like it I usually place my pathfinders and stealth suits on objectives to hold them while my ghosts are off doing secondaries than I usually use my broadsides missile drones to deal with heavy infantry and the Broadsides rail guns for the extra anti tank. Stealth suits in cover are surprisingly durable even against melee units, not perfect I don't to well against horde armies but other than that no complaints

[@CommanderNearsight]

Sounds pretty gang effective

[@foxhoundms9051]

🤔 it's like you're reading my army list and know what I'm thinking of adding next lol

[@CommanderNearsight]

It's all through the spirit of the Greater Good

[@foxhoundms9051]

@@CommanderNearsight I hadn't considered running 3 ghostkeels, I definitely have the points to spare (only at 835 rn) but I agree that 3 seems awfully stifling in a casual setting 😅 my playgroup would not like it too much

[@CommanderNearsight]

Yeah... gotta be wary of that

[@matheusmoreiradeoliveira7395]

Having a great time with this guy's, ghostkeel finally are great but spamming theses tend to make the game a pain for your opponent so normally i run only 1.

[@michelecastellotti9172]

Oh, imma drop 3 of these with 18 stealtg suits, with the new rules imma have some HILARIOUS moments... for me

[@CommanderNearsight]

Can't wait to hear about it!

[@tormunnvii3317]

It has always been my favourite looking Suit unit. Hands down. Second place probably goes to the XV9 Hazard Suits.

[@CommanderNearsight]

Shame the hazards are legends now

[@Dkatlima]

I run 3 😂 plonk them down on the objectives. Pisses my friends off haha

[@drianfrost2712]

I normally run 2, as an infiltrator "package" to hold a flanc main obj for basically the whole game 1 is kitted anti tank The other is kitter long range They play as a stand alone squad, contesting a side obj and shoothing mid board. -Range ghostkeel -anti tank ghostkeel - 2x stealth suits for screening - shadowsun. This create a massive issue normally securing one main obj for the whole game

[@CommanderNearsight]

Dang. I don't thing a crisis bomb could take it from you without taking heavy casualties themselves. I love the stealth vibe I'm getting from the list

[@drianfrost2712]

@@CommanderNearsight I've posted the list of your community discord ;)

[@CommanderNearsight]

I saw. I am quite impressed

[@bee5440]

This fucking thing - i play against it a lot in combat patrol and it is way too good. Especially with the strat to move 6 after firing? Terrifyingly effective

[@Drivestort]

The all stealth/infiltrators list sounds hilariously mean, yeah I'd run that. Maybe paint them in some Battletech style, call it Ghost Bear Sept or something.

[@CommanderNearsight]

lol

[@rathstar]

You made a good case for the Ghostkeel, but its main weakness is the meh firepower for its cost. It good for holding objectives slightly away from the main fight using its lone operative, but couldn't Aun'Va do that for 95 points less, you could have Aun'Va and a Broadside for less points that a Ghostkeel which does more damage unless the Ghostkeel gets within 9" and it has the possibility of hitting on 2+. Firepower is its weakness, a great example being 2 broadsides for 20 points more, or the Riptide at only 5 points more. Also after the points drop the Riptide is probably on par with the Ghostkeel for toughness due to having a 4+ inv save, higher toughness & 2 more wounds while also doing more damage with an extra ap and damage compared to the Ghostkeel's cyclic ion raker at twice the range. I think an all,or majority, stealth army would have issues with a poor amount of firepower. The enemy would just meet the stealth army over the mid field objectives and wreak the stealth/ghostkeel units there easily. I think Stealths and Ghostkeel are units to compliment the main Tau firepower not be the focus of the army, but in that complimentary role they are very good. Great video, loving these unit explorations. Breachers (with a cade fireblase) in a devilfish or Solo Commanders (particularly compared to other cheap 80/90 points units or other deepstrike options) would be other good options for a video

[@CommanderNearsight]

Thank you very much! And I have been itching for some more infantry talk so I'll be getting right on the breacher video! And later I'll absolutely talk Solo Commander spam

[@austinseneca2661]

When do you declare the use of the stealth drones?

[@CommanderNearsight]

After you've failed saves but before the damage has been allocated/rolled for if it's D6 damage or something like that

[@TauPathfinder334]

Thanks for the great video I use the ghostkeel all the time but I do have a question if 3 crisis suits fired plasma rifles on me would the stealth drone blank the whole units fire or just 1 suits fire

[@fendelphi]

It would reduce 1 attack's damage(after it goes through your saves) to 0. So if a unit of 3 crisis fired a total of 9 Plasma Rifles(3 from each), you could make 2 of those deal 0 damage and still potentially take damage from the other 7.

[@CommanderNearsight]

Yeah it would make two of the plasma shots that go through be reduced to 0. It is just in general and not pertaining to any individual suit

[@TauPathfinder334]

Thank you

[@randomdude4505]

I own three and at least two go in every list unless I am intentionally handicapping myself.

[@sarico7827]

Sooo I only have one I got in a funny trade with someone that's another time though. So yes I find them to be very good like support or flank holders. I remember it was I think late 9th edition early 10? I saw some one at a tournament bring almost that list you talked about they didn't have 3 only 2. The other things that where different was a riptide and a Kroot squad then everything else you said.

[@CommanderNearsight]

Cool. How did they fair?

[@sarico7827]

@@CommanderNearsight pretty good 4/1 lost to elder and just inched out a win against death guard. He charged a ghostkeel into melee at the last turn that what saved him.

[@fendelphi]

In early 10th, the opportunity cost was too high to be worth it for me. It had good durability vs ranged attacks, but low firepower for the points and only 3 OC. You can fire the uncharged Cyclic Ion Raker for 5 turns against a 10 model unit of Space Marines, and you still might not kill the entire unit. If you overcharge, you get a better chance to wound and a bit more pen, but you risk Hazardous rolls and you still only kill 1-2 models per turn. You would have to make the unit guided constantly to have a good chance of removing one unit of Space Marines after 5 turns of constant shooting. The Fusion Collider setup had similar but different issues. Unless guided, it was not likely to do good damage in a single activation. And it needed to be much closer for maximizing the potential damage, meaning more risk of having enemies within 12" to shoot at it or getting charged. An opponent could ignore the firepower and just move up and either engage it in melee or make it retreat away from the objective. It worked great as a distraction against less capable opponents, as they get fixated on it and then you draw them away from objectives or more important units. It is a very tactical piece, but an expensive one. All of the above are still technically true. But now it is only 160 pts for that package. That, combined with other elements of the Tau roster also getting a cost reduction, means more units can be fielded and assist each other. For example: Taking Shadow Sun, a Ghostkeel and a unit of Pathfinders now has enough price reduction(compared to early 10th) that you can get a unit of Tetras(80 pts) on top of that. So now it can have more units supporting it, giving it even more tactical options, and you have more units to make up for the lack of firepower. I will still say that taking 3 is not beneficial. Too many points on something that deals low damage(nearly 25% of your total points) and too much redundancy for the same roles and positioning. One thing I want to mention is that the Ghostkeel is very, VERY vulnerable to most Melta weaponry. Most weapons that get within Melta range is usually 6-9" away, so Lone Operative no longer helps. Strength 9 and above also means that it wounds on a 3+. The high AP make you save on a 6+(5+ in cover). And finally, the Melta damage is an additive bonus, meaning it is one of the last things in the Order of Operations for damage calculations. So even with the special stealth drones(setting damage characteristic to 0), the Melta bonus damage will go through(0+melta bonus).

[@CommanderNearsight]

All valid points as always

[@h-grid3137]

I just finished game against orks. I had one ghostkeel. - It shot down bunch of grot tanks. - Then killed warbikers harrasing a devilfish, and tankshocked last of grot tanks. - after that it mowed down three deffkoptas. - And finally massacered gretchin on home objective, allowing me to score no prisoners and storm hostile objective! All that without loosing a wound. I love my Ghostkeel! (But I think that my fusion blaster did nothing whole game 😞)

[@CommanderNearsight]

Impressive showing!

[@Blackberry0Pie]

I've always liked Ghostkeel since before people thought they were good.

[@MirageMancer]

It's great I just wish they had cool synergy with other stealth units

[@CommanderNearsight]

Agreed

[@revuelarvida6244]

2 Ghostkeels at bare minimum.

[@misterbuu6333]

yeah I love him he's a cheesy shirt

[@Thevagrant79]

Taking one ina 2k list again Magnus and TSons. We'll see how it goes

[@CommanderNearsight]

Can't wait to hear!

[@Thevagrant79]

@@CommanderNearsight The battle as a whole did not go well. The dice were not my friends that day, but the Ghostkeel punched way above its weightclass, by killing a Mutalith and Morty

[@ryanhall78]

The sheild drones are just the funniest things ever. Get hit by a knights harpoon and just go "I ignore that damage" . Once is powerful twice a game is just silly

[@YontheSwordofChaos]

I tried it today and BOY did it tanked beyond my expectations, even after a massive charge on turn 4 it was still up with 6 wounds left

[@CommanderNearsight]

Impressive!

[@littlefoot4417]

They’re dumb good

[@iansahleen1173]

We better use them fast before space marine fans complain and make GW nerf it like they always do

[@CommanderNearsight]

If that isn't the truth

[@Vince_86]

Meh, they're meta RN and i don't care I just really don't care to use them...like ever. Lore-wise on the other hand, they are awesome, I will just never field them personally.