The Order of the Crimson Cowl: Undead 2000pts

Army lists and Tactics
1

Hey all,

I’ve recently come into a bunch of undead thanks to a trade, and I’m trying to figure out a good use for them. This is what I’ve come up with so far for a 2000pt list, and since I have a few red-robed necromancer-type models already, I figured I’d just call them the Order of the Crimson Cowl. Anyone have any advice / played something similar?

Army: Undead
Points: 2000
Unit Strength: 21

170, Zombie Legion
185, Skeleton Spearman Horde
– Undead Giant Rats
215, Revenant Horde
– Undead Giant Rats
190, Zombie Troll Horde
190, Zombie Troll Horde
115, Mummy Troop
120, Wraith Troop

175, Goreblight

95, Balefire Catapult
95, Balefire Catapult

195, Liche King
– Heal (6)
110, Necromancer
– Inspiring Talisman
– Aura (Vicious (Melee) - Zombie only)
– Bane Chant (2)
70, Necromancer
– Bane Chant (2)
75, Undead Army Standard Bearer
– Lute of Insatiable Darkness

www.goodarmylists.com

2

No surge at all?

3

The program used was an army builder set up to help the construction of an army, so it only shows abilities/upgraded you pay points for, not what you already have.

Lich king has surge 10, the necromancers surge 6

4

Ah, had assumed surge was swapped out for the spells listed.

5

As a regular undead player, I like the majority of your list. My lists are quite similar (here’s one!) featuring a lot of infantry grind alongside with a bit of surge.

To help you out a bit:

a) I don’t know if the giant rats contribute anything to the skeletons. Of course, you will lifeleech a bit more, but skeletons usually last only for two turns anyone (the turn they are charged and the turn they are killed). Having lifeleech more than (1) will not significantly change this.

b) also, what’s the idea of a mummy troop? 10 attacks at CS(2) look very nice, only that Me 4+ stinks. You might want to think of switching out this one for another unit of wraiths.

c) Wraiths are golden! They are no longer movement 10, but they got a significant discount, making them great roadblocks at def +6 and -/12 nerve. Even better when combined with the ralley banner, though I usually can’t find enough individuals to carry that one.

d) I do think you spent a little too many points on individuals. 450 in a 2k list will hamper your list in other departments (see “e”) so I would consider seriously cutting some models here. You’ll want at least two surge and three inspiring, preferably three of each. Though the liche queen is very good, I think she’s too expensive for the inspiring + surge she brings. I would suggest the following set-up: 1) Necro + inspiring + bane chant (+zombie mash aura if you want); 2) Revenant king / surge (+ evt. Horse/slashing) 3) army standard + book of surge.

Also see my review on undead characters here:

e) Your army seems to be lacking enough ways to deal damage. 2 Z-troll hordes and a troop of mummies is (I think) a little too light on the hammer side. You have 3 main anvils (Zombies, revenants, skeletons) while I think two should be enough.

If you also cut some points from your individuals, you should have some points left over for some hammers. Soul reaver cavalry/infantry are good, but wights do well too. Al alternative, of course, is the flying monsters undead have (my favourite is the vampire on undead peg) . Finally, don;t ignore the simple revenant cavalry, especially when horded. Undead have plenty of good hammers, you should have no problems finding those wich suit your needs.

good luck!
~Vince

2 Likes
6

Good suggestions! I’ve come up with this list as a reply, but I can’t figure out what to do with the remaining 140pts (which is a tough spot to fill, oddly).

Army: Undead
Points: 1860
Unit Strength: 20

175, Skeleton Spearman Horde
170, Zombie Legion
190, Zombie Troll Horde
190, Zombie Troll Horde
120, Wraith Troop
120, Wraith Troop
105, Revenant Cavalry Troop
155, Wight Regiment

175, Goreblight

95, Balefire Catapult
95, Balefire Catapult

90, Revenant King
– Surge (5)
110, Necromancer
– Inspiring Talisman
– Aura (Vicious (Melee) - Zombie only)
– Bane Chant (2)
70, Undead Army Standard Bearer
– Tome of Darkness

I kinda want to upgrade the Wights to a Horde, but thats a hefty chunk of change to have running around without a mounted leader. I could also upgrade the ASB to a Liche King for some better Surge… Not sure here. I’ll keep tinkering, but suggestions are helpful (there’s something staring me right in the face that I’m missing, I know it).

7

Lykanis comes to mind? Probably at the cost of one of those little surges tho :thinking:

8

1 Upgrade the revenant king with a mount (+25)
2 upgrade the wights from regiment to horde (+105)
There’s 10 points left for a 5-point item on both. Slashing on the revenant king and crushing/healing brew on the wights.

9

Yep, never mind me, wights horde is well worth the investment, and mounted rev king is far more useful than foot version (as well as escorting the wights). For the 10 pts, how about Sanguinary Scripture on the wights? Pacman up all them souls :fork_and_knife:

1 Like
10

I’ve had a bit more experience with the list, and I’ve upped it to 2300pts (which appears to be the regular points level around where I am).

Army: Undead
Points: 2300
Unit Strength: 24

170, Zombie Legion
175, Skeleton Spearman Horde
245, Revenant Horde
– Brew of Strength
190, Zombie Troll Horde
190, Zombie Troll Horde
115, Mummy Troop
120, Wraith Troop
260, Wight Horde

175, Goreblight
95, Balefire Catapult
95, Balefire Catapult

200, Liche King
– Conjurer’s Staff
– Drain Life (7)
90, Revenant King
– Surge (5)
110, Necromancer
– Inspiring Talisman
– Aura (Vicious (Melee) - Zombie only)
– Bane Chant (2)
70, Undead Army Standard Bearer
– Tome of Darkness

The Revenant King on a mount didn’t really do much combat or movement in either game, but DID do a surprising amount of Surging. On that note, I ended up wanting a lot more surge than I had access to, and the Liche presents an interesting mobile option for this. I was originally going to put Bane Chant on him as well, but with a Brew of Strength on the Revenants, I found I didn’t need it as much. I also ended up using one of the Wraith troops as flankers for the anvils a lot, and I think mummies fit that role a lot better.

To drop it down to a 2000pt list, I’d probably drop the Zombie Legion, one balefire catapult, vicious aura, conjurer’s staff, and downgrade the Liche’s Drain Life to a Bane Chant.

11

What’s the planned role for the mummy troop?