[OLD] Faction Focus: Slaves to Darkness

Part of my Choosing An Army series for new players.
/ heywoah - stop by and chat AoS!
/ heywoah

[@thephilosopherx878]

How could you not like the aesthetics? They're chaos warriors!

[@HeyWoah]

I chuckled when writing that part, but aesthetics audible is part of the convention for the vids - but really, look at these dudes c'mon

[@StormerOfLezbos]

⁹

[@haydenandersen9937]

@Hyacinth Behm leave the internet forever

[@kandomando7576]

@Hyacinth Behm you shouldn’t be dating people if you hack their accounts, that shit is fucked up

[@CrazyPangolinLady]

They’re just dudes in armor

[@dyer4677]

2:38 "A few outposts" Ok so by the end of the current timeline + Azyr was entirely untouched by Chaos + Alarielle was reawakened and started a fresh reconquest of the realm of life + Nagash resurrected, retook Shyish, rocked the entire realms with the black pyramid, and established a beach head in the Shyish Allpoints realmgate + Several country sized cities founded around critical realmgates + The Chaos presence in Ghur, Hysh, and Ulgu are contested at best + Sigmar regained Ghal Maraz + The Allpoints realm gates to Ghyran, Aqshy, and Ghur are either sealed or lost That propaganda is pulling a lotta weight there Archaon Either way love the videos, can't wait for more!

[@HeyWoah]

Yes that's why I call that section propaganda - it definitely is lol

[@Aconspiracyofravens1]

hey, still got the largest slice of the pie

[@ghostmutton]

I'd definitely be interested in seeing some StD lists without Archaon. There are just so many options it becomes overwhelming cobbling together an effective force.

[@HeyWoah]

Interesting that you should mention that...

[@480pthacker]

I play tzeentch with 3/5 of my points being STD and no Archeon. Most of the models I was interested in could take his keywords and adding destiny dice and flamer/horrors makes it a tough matchup

[@elijahherstal776]

Been playing them for a while. I have Archaon... in the box. One day, I'll build him.

[@baku2575]

With the new belakor model it may be possible

[@TylerEmerson]

This deserves 10K likes for the Daemon Prince description alone.

[@briancline7349]

I do really like the look of these guys, if I didn’t have a weird aversion to non order armies I might actually consider them (but with Lumineth recently released I think I know quite well what my first AoS army will be when I finally get around to starting one).

[@trigun630]

The unbiased sarcasm that exists in this vid is why I liked and subscribed

[@acrylicchemist1432]

The Everchosen of the Everwinter has returned, sound the warhorns! Thanks HeyWoah

[@HeyWoah]

Notes: GHB2020 and FAQs came out - marauders didn't get nerfed so it's time to shine!

[@TheMuffinBagare]

I saw a review of the new book, and they seemed to just praise the marauders, and was "eh" about the rest of the models. If I were to choose this as an army, could I create a decent force (as in at least slightly competitively viable) without touching the marauders? In your opinion(s)?

[@HeyWoah]

I think so, yes. While 'big glass cannon unit that stacks buffs well' is of course a good role to have for most competitive lists, you can fill parts of that with, say, Iron Golems to camp with - as they're very efficient points-wise and satisfy the bodies half of that role. After that, focus on finding some more damage in the rest of your units to cover for the lack of the second half. As always, your local meta may vary, but an elite-leaning StD list with strong control elements should be viable.

[@TheMuffinBagare]

@@HeyWoah Cheers, thanks!

[@brickthered5919]

A buddy of mine finally talked me into starting age of sigma. I just bought slaves to darkness starter box the book and a Priest and I can’t wait to get started all thanks to you. you’re no fucks given tone of voice it’s very calming to listen to keep up the good work.

[@brickthered5919]

chaos sorcerer Lord not a priest

[@mommaneganhobbystuff2409]

Age of Sigma, the grindset is real XD

[@scenicplay]

Great video, really helps make some sense of all the seemingly endless options for StD lists.

[@kyle_the_cozy]

Damn it man, stop making me want to buy more armies!

[@damianchenot2667]

This is the first time I've heard you say "Gitz" instead of the more appropriate "geetz"!

[@endlesswaffles6504]

When you realize that they're the STD army...

[@overdriveactive5486]

I came back to Warhammer and with it, AoS, after being away from it for over a decade early 2019. I really liked the StD look and feel but was a bit sad when I found out their rules were bad. I kind of made my piece with being just a hobby guy for a while as I scouted for an army to play while hobbying my StD. Cue the new rules and I'm so excited to get my list done so I can play with them. Thanks for the roundup, definitely sells me even more on what I already knew I loved :D

[@SgtDeath1942]

I was so close to picking STD as my next army. I was stopped by the uncertainty around the nerfs they got as well as the expected Marauder tweak before the virus lockdown slowed everything down. I decided to go Beasts of Chaos but it is so damn tempting to get some chaos warriors and knights.

[@bobshoby]

Cool vid, been slowly working on two of the old battleforce boxes and a bit of the new stuff. Looking forward to playing eventually!

[@thatoneguynobodylikes8553]

Really great video. A little sad we didn't get your take on the campaign book subfactions. Knights of the empty throne seems like a great meme list.

[@mason8241]

Thanks for making this video! I am just now getting into Warhammer and this was so helpful

[@DoomDarkness]

Excellent video

[@nate742]

He has returned!!

[@theDackjanielz]

lol such a good sense of humour. I love how you describe the game itself being named after "almighty him" when frankly he has achieved F all by comparison to us heretics. Oh well i guess heroes always gotta be ice skating up that hill - lets watch them slide off again and remember to bring a daemon infused camera this time.

[@BR4IN1N4J4R]

Slaves is one of those combo armies akin to Cities. Despoilers with Be'lakor can be solid, and I still feel that post plague, Cabalists will be the Meta choice because it doesn't lose any effectiveness in combat while having a solid magic phase. As much as I want HotE and Knights of the Empty Throne to be amazing, you can't contest points very well.

[@HeyWoah]

Despoilers is one the those "clearly the best" kinds of sub factions at first glance, but I agree on Cabalists - when your spell lores are as sick as StD's - giving your casters +d3 to get their spells off supports what might be your backbone (teleport/whispers of chaos on a balewind).

[@BR4IN1N4J4R]

That being said, Ravagers are the only Legion that can remotely make the Warcry warbands remotely usable. They won't be great by any means, but they are usable in the broad strokes there. And absolutely on Cabalists with their bonkers spells. I could also see using Bridge or Bringy Dingy to get units where they need to be and do their usual pillaging. I also want to point out that Sorcerer on Manticore is a solid Hero grab for the lists because their inherent spell just murders hordes in droves

[@MeanStreamFraudCast]

I've just gotten into painting Warhammer again, before this weekend it had been 20 years since I bought any. Now I'm thinking about learning more about the actual game and as soon as I saw Slaves to Darkness at my local shop I had to buy them. Brushing up on my painting skills on some Gutrippaz but I'm excited to move onto the Slaves to Darkness! Glad to see they make a formidable army

[@kosachilles2504]

That intro music is really good

[@happiman9484]

Your intro never ceases to make me feel uncomfortable.

[@dalorasinum386]

Today we cover the StD army. Slaanesh will be pleased.

[@He.who.understands.little]

Sweet let's just talk about one of my favorite factions!

[@joshsykes3670]

I would love it if you'd do Blades of Khorne soon!

[@ghostreporting3769]

They have some fun options with Khorne. Like the chaos manticor lord being with the+3 attacks buff khorne can do. He has 4 profiles so he gets like 12 extra attacks. We lost the ability to take command traits on coalition units but compared to our generals in khorne the beefier std ones are great options.

[@TheSMC1988]

I absolutely love your approach I'm gonna wait to dive into AoS until I see a Fyreslayers and Nighthaunt review

[@shaolinlueb]

you had me at Heroquest

[@John-qg7rq]

Great vid! 👍👍

[@Milenos]

Chaos Sorcerer on Manticore just killed 28 models in one spell today... yeah i understand the point now.

[@sazzxbrothersunion5938]

Manticores are very strong in Warhammer.

[@creatureris]

This was helpful, Thank you!

[@sazzxbrothersunion5938]

Chaos are so awesome.

[@MentoliptusBanko]

Interesting video! Do you plan to make one for each chaos god specific army? I am kind of undecided what to play because I have a lot of demons for a 40k army and want to play it in AoS too. What are your thoughts on the AoS Chaos Ascendant army?

[@HeyWoah]

Yes, I plan on doing a focus on every faction eventually, it's just those vids take awhile to make and GW has a habit of changing something right after I'm done. Chaos Ascendant: It seems really fun actually. Definitely a listbuilder's or johnny style army with maybe too much freedom, and I like the summoning. The battalions require too many units of troops imo, but picking and choosing roles and combos from every demon unit in the game just sounds cool to build lists for all day. A new player will probably drown in endless options, but sweet for people who like tinkering and have large collections.

[@MentoliptusBanko]

Thanks for the review. I first have to figure out how those battalions work, but it seems easier than 40k detachments. I hope to end up with a big STD or chaos ascendant army and smaller armies for each chaos god. But one step at a time. Cheers!

[@KayLovesSUGAR]

yes.

[@MrMephistoMori]

Yup

[@bartoszmieta6310]

great job what will the next army be like?

[@nightsage217]

It's a sorcerer's edition. in case people havent find out. Really need to pay battalion taxes to buff the units though. Tried once on pure marauders & warshrine. Really funny horde list.

[@haowenjason]

Grant me revenge and if you do not listen then ‘dwel wityu 😆

[@3ggh3ad]

With the "wrath of the everchosen " supplement how do you feel that changes this army?

[@HeyWoah]

I talk about this in the Slaves to Darkness Lists vid

[@xalejander]

what does it mean when you said the nurgle one got faqd?

[@bolikde9389]

Having the Eye of Sheeiran helps to when it comes to Tactics.

[@TheDukeofOok]

I play slaves and I love the look. My main issue I am having is what mark is the best? I generally run nurgle.

[@HeyWoah]

Depends on what job the unit getting it has imo. That being said slaanesh ;)

[@TheDukeofOok]

@@HeyWoah exploring hits on charged Lance's has always been good, but my sword and board knights with nurgle has also put out random assloads of damage. Mostly going for a green and purple aesthetic for that. Also I call my army "The sons of Slambo"

[@stylesheetra9411]

0:37 do you know the artist of the third picture? or where did you found it

[@HeyWoah]

As you might have guessed, that's a John Blanche early concept art for stormcast.

[@irakhlin]

Any thoughts on the change to the host of the Everchosen battalion that used to give additional circles to Varanguard and now lets you mix and match. does it have legs in a 2k force? I find it hard to actually fit enough heroes in the army to equip the extra artifact with Archaon and 9 Varanguard. It seems useless since the faq but i'm wondering if I am missing something.

[@HeyWoah]

A truly unnecessary nerf imo, I was looking forward to flying +1 damage on the charge varanguard. As it stands the best circle is clearly 6th, and no mixing or matching is really needed, which makes the battalion only for drops alone. Army composition is going to suffer as you mentioned from so much fat (archaon+9 varanguard+ batt is prohibitively expensive to fit much else in). I feel like you either go battalion + 180pts of stuff and play like a beastclaw style tempo game, or drop the battalion and 1-2 units of varanguard and try to make at least a somewhat balanced list with chaff and heroes. Though Archaon, Be'lakor, 9 varanguard, 1cp 1990 is like... kind of tempting

[@Xenaisthebusiness]

I run 12 varamguard. It was my first army so here we are again. Except it’s good now

[@HeyWoah]

6th circle varanguard are no joke lol

[@aegisvald5093]

@@HeyWoah that's exactly what tempts me.

[@Admiral8100]

Could you bring bloodletters into your army or do you have to summon them?

[@HeyWoah]

You may play them and/or summon.

[@Admiral8100]

@@HeyWoah Thank you!

[@JK-nx1ww]

Old video so I'm not expecting a reply but here goes. I'm absolutely loving your work. I've been wanting to dive into AOS for ages and I've been gradually going off the state of 40k and your enthusiasm and description of AoS play experience and player base has really got me enthused. I'm jumping in with a ravagers slaves to darkness army. I don't want to win all my games but I don't want to be awful either. Part of the reason I like the faction is the aesthetic and model variety. I was wondering, would it be at least semi viable to run a list based around chaos warriors, knights, and marauders, but with a few other fun things thrown in for variety and fun? I'm thinking a unit of furies, a fomoroid crusher or two, and maybe a cockatrice. Maybe two. Would it be possible to play and have fun with this kind of list or would I just be setting myself up for a bad time? Cheers J

[@HeyWoah]

True, old video and a lot has changed (a new edition no less), but chaos knights are probably better than ever. Marauders still basically auto-charge, and chaos warriors are still .. okay (but look sick). Cockatrice is kind of a meme (but the double meme is that cheap 4+ D6mws with a few of them is randomly potentially scary, although fragile). An army like you describe would work out just fine, but don't forget some wizards and a chaos warshrine (its buffs are so good). Edit: in 3rd, I'd include either something that slaps monsters or a monster hero of your own, or both.

[@JK-nx1ww]

@@HeyWoah Hey man. Thanks for the detailed reply. I really appreciate it. If you don't mind me being cheeky and asking a couple more questions. First, I'll probably pick up the start collecting set. Is the l Karkadrak lord a decent monster smasher/damage dealer? What else is particularly good for that role in std? I've still not quite got my head around AOS damage and defense profiles yet and how they actually play out with the insane amount of buffs flying around. Secondly, how many wizards is practical to have I'm std? It seems to me like the faction has a great spell lore and the chaos sorcerer lord is excellent but not cheap, only casts one, and has limited access to casting bonuses. How many wizards do you think is necessary and how would you get the most out of them? I'll shutup now mate. Thanks again J

[@HeyWoah]

@@JK-nx1ww Karkalord is like the archetypal mid-range mount hero man. Good for his points, but not so good that he'll get targeted immediately. The SC is a death metal mural painted on the side of a van from the 80s it's sick. I usually play chaos sorc on foot + belakor for my casting needs. 3 casts feels good for mystic shield + 2 good lore spells. You aren't amazing at resolving them, but they're super impactful. Plus after belakor uses The Trick, opponent is disincentivized from attacking him since he already shot his shot (results may vary lots of people want to kill him anyway for revenge).

[@greenwolf2299]

Great stuff, can you make such a vido also for the Stormcast Eternals en Blades of Khorne? I am in doubt what my 1st army will be, i like slaves, but also Ossiarcg bonereapers, blade of Khorne en stormcast eternals by their looks.

[@HeyWoah]

I'm making one for every army

[@greenwolf2299]

@@HeyWoah awesome!

[@mr.bagofguts7131]

I've honestly been thinking about getting into AOS and starting with with either STD with knights of the empty throne or Bone reapers with Peteifex Elite, honestly I kinda want an army with no issues with leadership, any suggestions?

[@HeyWoah]

Do you never want to even roll the dice or simply have no issues with battleshock?

[@mr.bagofguts7131]

@@HeyWoah I mean, it would be nice to never have to roll but I'd be willing to keep my options open for potentially different armies that have little issue with leadership.

[@HeyWoah]

There are a bunch, so what playstyle stuff do you like to do? Ranged, magic, defense, speed, combos, etc

[@mr.bagofguts7131]

@@HeyWoah I'm looking for an army I don't have to babysit, something leaning on the elite side with solid defense and offense, as for ranged and magic, I can take it or leave it as long as I have at least some way to defend/answer it if I don't have range or magic on my side, sorry if this is a bit strange or I'm not really giving you enough to go off of for a recommendation.

[@HeyWoah]

You've described Ossiarch Bonereapers exactly. Audible options might be Fyreslayers or Hammerhall.

[@mausolus8466]

I was wondering if there could be viable way to build Despoilers army without any Daemon Princes (only monsters and warriors). My reason is due to my fluff side - I love the idea of Chaos monsters, but also, I want my army to march under some lesser (read as "custom") Chaos power, and since all Daemon Princes now has to be devoted to one of the major four gods, it is a problem for me (plus, I really like that Chaos lord riding dinosaur, thats one proper general)

[@rtinc3241]

Bro was that a surrenderdorothy song in the beginning?

[@trzynasty909]

Would it be viable (for friendly games) to buy the StD starter and use it as a base for BOTH a Slaanesh and a Khorne army? So they'd be the bulk of those armies, but with some units dedicated to the particular god added in. With my friends we'd definitely be playing

[@HeyWoah]

that would work fine!

[@MrMephistoMori]

*resists urge to buy the new start collecting box* You can tell it's a great video when the propaganda works on me. I don't need a third army. I love my existing two... But... I already have a couple pieces... It would be so easy to just have BOC AND S2D. :P

[@ithinkitsaurus]

Im thinking about starting AOS

[@chaosspawn9302]

Ravagers are easy to understand why they are good but I feel like Cabalists have the real potential to top tier if played by someone far smarter than me

[@j453]

Is a "shrug" the same thing as "save after save"?

[@HeyWoah]

ya

[@SkallKiller]

I wanna make an StD list around marauders.

[@jrrgimli5378]

I wish you would have talked about marauders more, argueably the best battleline unit in the game. A block of 40 is 320 points but 2 attacks each, 3's to hit if they have 10 or more models, 4's to wound, and -1 rend if they have 20 or more models. And anytime you charge you turn the lowest dice to a 6. But when you buff them.. eightfold doom Sigil (5+ casting) will give all of them +1 attack, daemonic power (6+ casting) will let them reroll all hit and wound rolls, and i use the slaanesh keyword to make 6's to hit explode. I have gotten these guys to do 117 hits on a unit, with 50 wounds at -1 rend. Usually kills anything it touches, or heavily brackets monsters/heroes with wounds over 25

[@HeyWoah]

I tried to address maraders in the pin up there since (it blew my mind) they weren't nerfed in the GHB like I was sure they were going to be. Not talking much about maraders in an effort to future proof this video is the last time I ever tried to do something like that.

[@ChristofferAndersson]

Fucking yea!

[@Daleryen]

you missed the marauders, the horsemans have our only range attack of 12' with the javlin and the marauders are amazing at charge and can only fail one after a teleport if they roll a double 1 and they have rend when high count. You talked about the tzeench summoner but our sorcerer lord on manticor have a way better spell against hordes, one of the best in the game actualy.

[@HeyWoah]

chaos sorc lord on manticore's hordebreaker spell is Absurd. It's such a shame he can only cast 1 spell a turn - it causes me to pass him up for that price every time.

[@ZodiusXx]

Song name please with the weird humming?

[@HeyWoah]

Just a weird edit of some clips I had, but lost when computer died. Don't know the sources any longer

[@ZodiusXx]

@@HeyWoah Ahh shame, I like it a lot. Sounds like old druid chanting

[@briancline7349]

Who here was immature enough to laugh every time he said “STD”? ahem definitely not me either...

[@briancline7349]

Lord Inquisitor Shadowlord lol very true

[@bolikde9389]

Another contra of the Army.

[@RedLion502]

🤣...😳 psshh 🧐 I mean of course not me as well good sir!

[@mrspeigel3593]

Because theres nothing you love more than generic spikey evil guys

[@HeyWoah]

I know, they're so classic that it's fun to indulge.

[@mrspeigel3593]

@@HeyWoah so true

[@Warrgen]

Please do the Beasts of Chaos

[@Xenaisthebusiness]

I want to play so many models in this faction... but they can’t have a mark...

[@HeyWoah]

I was shocked that they included warcry in such a flaccid, superficial way :(

[@silverspeak4813]

Hero quest is the shit

[@arrinmixon5190]

4:45 FAQ?

[@JaviSettra]

Can you put the subtitles in Spanish?

[@HeyWoah]

going to be honest I don't know how to do that, let me look into it

[@what7017]

I have an army of STD’s. They t is uppercase for a reason.

[@minacapella8319]

Looool. Now the cultists can take marks and if they take the same one as your general they're battle line. Army has only gotten better

[@niilofriden4465]

.

[@god21lla67]

I'd play them because I already have a lot of STDs.

[@mendicant1981]

Dammit, makes me so angry to think my wife made me trash my Heroquest copy 5 years ago!

[@MrMephistoMori]

:(

[@mediocremodeler5174]

Easier to find a new wife than it is a copy of HQ.

[@maxcaysey2844]

However' dont consider LoN, they are so weak, compared to the new meta, that you might as well be playing Bretonnia. Not only have they released new stronger armies, they have increased LoN points so to make them worse than when they came out. Its a doubling down on nerfing LoN and it shows!

[@dialerdialerston6403]

I like this series, but as someone that is trying to get INTO the hobby I find it to be more of the question of why play table top at all? Most the players are gatekeeping fucktards that are so obsessed with winning that they drive all fun from what could be a really fun game. Not to mention, what the fuck is up with the price to start playing?

[@HeyWoah]

Your local scene sounds unusually toxic

[@ariels3372]

ya this is why it all sucks for fantasy ya i love chaos but im old school with my fantasy i want good to win in the end and whats the fun of this no matter what thay win ya fuck that if gw is hearing THIS NO THIS AINT COOLO OR EDGY ITS STUPID HELL MAKE IT HALFLINGS OGERS WIN THAT WOULD BE FUNNY THEN MASS FGOOD SOURCE OF RATS TOP EAT

[@HeyWoah]

sir, this is a wendy's

[@raywhichway1790]

Age of Signmar: Model look awesome. Story and Lore meh.

[@HeyWoah]

Especially early on - from launch until realmgate wars was super weak imo. From malign portents forward it's been on par with fantasy though, which is promising.

[@orben-amos6172]

@@HeyWoah i think they fix the stupid lore

[@shaunscott4773]

The lore is actually really interesting now imo. But yeah, it was weird to start with, but as it gets darker its more interesting.

[@raywhichway1790]

@@orben-amos6172 Too much Gods and Demons and Devils..... Seems more like 40k just name changes to AOS.. Realms are just planets. Sigmar is just the Emperor. Maybe I'm just wrong.

[@orben-amos6172]

@@raywhichway1790 think of aos like wow but in the warhammer world

[@Guzy_B]

All this doesn't matter cause Chaos Warriors are trash on tabletop.

[@HeyWoah]

:(

[@Starkiller-fc4kk]

HeyWoah How are they trash? I recently picked up a start collecting for STD and I’m really excited to paint them and start making a list

[@HeyWoah]

@@Starkiller-fc4kk normal damage + good defense is outshone by drag racer speed and buckets of dice from marauders (which I was so certain the balance changes would address that I didn't focus on them except in the list show - then GW did nothing so I had to put pin comments in the vid)

[@Starkiller-fc4kk]

HeyWoah it’s still viable to run warriors though right?

[@HeyWoah]

@@Starkiller-fc4kk I like 10s for anvils that can do some damage with slaanesh mark. If you're chasing the meta always include a massive regiment of marauders as well of course, though I still expect them not to survive winter points - how they did last time is actually insane to me.