Games Workshop: "We've taken your feedback into consideration and in our next balance update, we will be updating the points cost of the Haruspex to 200 points."

More expansive than a ballistus dreadnought but get killed by it in one turn

I REAAAALLY like the way you compare the stats with the haruspex, points for points dmg vs different types of units. Very good info mate, keep it up. Id like to see more of this with other units.

For me it's official the screamer killer and the neurolictor are the 2 best buddy that are completely different but always hang out together

I stand by that a lot of nids units were designed for 10th before they knew what battleshock rules fully were. If battleshock didnt autoheal, or if it caused army losses, this guy would be amazing

I'd consider him for 130 points. 170 is way too expensive for how easy it is to kill.

Considering I just painted one of these boys for my friend, I hope he gets a points decrease in the future, definitely seems like a good blender for light / medium infantry it just depends on the points. Though I think depending on the matchup it can kill its own value in points and possibly more before dying. Only time will tell.

Played against my friend's Eldar last night and rapid ingressed a Screamer in their backline, out of LOS behind cover... and it literally died to overwatch as soon as it walked out from behind the building. They were genuinely shocked it was so flimsy, but at least I maxed Engage and won the game lol

Going to a tournament next week with a list including 2 SK and a Tfex with rupture canon and various other monsters. I feel like my list is at least missing 120-150pts. The idea is to allow at least one of the SK to be able to reach the enemy. The codex hurt us more than it helped in the case of monsters mash as crusher stampede is totally unusable.

I think it's a great unit that looks amazing. I just wish it was a bit cheaper and more in line with other, probably better units.

"Does it suck?" I don't know, I've never felt inclined to ask it.

If the mid 'Nids from the Leviathan box get the same glow up the mid 'Crons models from Indomitus got, then it might be worth keeping an eye on for 11th! Hopefully it's just closer to a Reanimator than a Skorpekh Lord (or doesn't take the three years to get good...)

Really would have been cool to have the screamer killer be some dedicated anti armour melee, there's just so little of that in the dex

I finally got around to playing the full Leviathan box in a game and my screamer killer got dropped to two wounds on the first turn before it managed to do anything. At least it being a big target took heat off my other units but yeah... didn't do much

One amazing thing about the Screamer Killer, is the kitbash potential to make a better unit.

It's like: "oh, you didn't get it in the Leviathan box? Don't worry about it, you're not missing much."

I feel that the scream should be Torrent really...

Tbh if he was bumped up to T10 and got twin linked on its weapon, It'd be worth the price.

Why would GW make the screamer killer good, when, if they overprice the points, forces players new to the faction, to buy more models if they want to be competitive.

I am getting two of these ready for when they hopefully drop them to 130-140. They will be great additions to a Synaptic Nexus so you can battle shock in two phases and possibly get two uses of The Somethering Shadow. I hope most tyranid monsters settle around 130 - 140, with Screamer Killers on the lower side.

I played a game against Dark Angels a few days ago. The Screamer did fall in battle round 3, finishing off a Hellblaster squad with its scream and then charging an Aggressor squad and killing 2. While I did feel it was a bit squishier than I expected, I wasn't disappointed. It took out about the same amount of points models as it cost and drew a lot of shooting attacks in the first 2 rounds that could have been easily wiping out my Termagants instead. Definitely plan to keep the Psychophage closer next game though!

I bought a bunch for about $25 a piece. They definitely don't suck when kitbashing them into Carnifexes.

It hasn’t performed well for me. My opponent treats it as a top priority target so it dies on turn 1, maybe 2. I think it could benefit from Tyrranocite. Letting it deep strike greatly increases its chance of getting into melee. In my next match I will try putting it into strategic reserves so my opponent can’t make it a priority in the deployment phase.

I wish it had gotten a strike or cleave option, where be either gains 5 attacks at D2 and half strength, or lost 5 attacks while gaining 2 strength and D4.

👍👍 I reckon I'll pick one up eventually 😊

I want to build a list around battleshock, using the heirophant, the screamer killers, the nuerotyrant, and the nuerolictor. Not sure how itd do, but i think its a cool idea.

My favourite model out of the Leviathan box!

I use it and I think used along side another big monster as backup is his best use. Let the norn take the shots ans get both up field…he takes out models quite well

Great Analysis! How did you do the point weighting calculation against the Haruspex? I’d love to know!

It's unfortunate it costs so much should been closer to 130 or even 125 like other Carnifex units, even the exocrine is only 135

Carnifaxes in General should be sub 100 points when you look at what they do its currently 125 points for a monster whit T9 8 wounds and a 2+ save that hits on 4 or the Screamer killer whit a few more melee attacks for almost 50 more points there are a few ways to save them becose they should be at least a mid tier unit in the codex when people say Tyranids they tend to think Carnifax, give Carnifaxes a 5+ FNP Old one Eye gets a 4+ let carnifaxes hit on 3 in melee for the love of the Hive mind fix old one eyes sweep profile to bring it in line whit other sweep profiles of its kind and drop the points to around the 100 mark also make it T 10 right now there is no reason to bring a carnifax since you can get a monster that dose more for the same points or dose almost 2 times its damage output while playing a little bit more

I love what they did with this sculpt, really is a throw back to that 90’s model, which was the scariest model on the battlefield back then. It’s way way too expensive though. Needs to lose like 50 points, which is crazy that they are so far off with it. If they want to keep it at that points cost, then it probably needs a higher toughness and a feel no pain of some sort, to justify trying to keep it on the board.

i still hope they'll release him as a multipart kit with options for the other fexes, buuut i know its very unlikely... just would be neat. weird to have multiple carnifex sculpts at the same time

I've been collecting fexs for 8 years.. The crusher stampede lights my candle. If your just throw in 1 fex across the board don't expect magic.. Run a whole list of fexs and watch your opponent not know where 2 shoot!! FEAR THE BUUUUUG!!!!!!!

My Vindicator 1 turn slapped it. It did 1 ranged damaged to an Inceptor. Cannon go boom!

Painting two as I listen. Not sure about good, but I like the idea of them in the psychic nid detachment, try to put as much battleshock up as possible. I have them anyway from leviathan, and neurolictors are just cool. Might as well lean into it

If you're playing casual they're great. GW really knocked it out of the park with their model. If you're playing competitively they're completely unplayable at 170 points. Mine will be sitting on the shelf with my tyrannofex's till the next points update. Sad really, all the new models that came in the leviathan box have terrible rules or are just overcosted aside from the gaunts and the nuerotyrant.

Great mini. I’m considering popping him in a Tyrannocyte.

previous carnimodel still looks better, the anatomy just makes sense that the tyranid tank has armor pointing at the enemy instead of all the fragile parts it could be an interesting creature for max 90 points and also not focused around battleshock like they want to do with every single nid without it making any sense seeing what they are doing to nids just makes me sad at this point

When it gets into combat it is pretty good. But out of the four games or so I ran a screamer, the only game where it wasn’t immediately killed in the shooting of turn 1 was when I ran two of them and the new Norn Assimilator and my opponent spread his gunfire across eight of my units, getting low casualties. If you run 1 it’s dead immediately.

Let´s face it: sometimes Games Workshop creates a model to just never be good at competitive play. I have two Venomcrawlers, it is a very good model, but has never been effective for its point cost and has always been overshadowed by other chaos datasheets. I have the feeling that the Screamer Killer is going to be in the same category: both of them first appeared in a starter box, both of them are the most impressive miniature in the set, and both of them are going to be on display in the shelves because they look good but have mediocre rules for their points cost.

It seems *comparable* with the haruspex, as you've said, with the haruspex being the clear winner in stats and points alike. Honestly, it seems like the only reason to take the screamer between the two is thst the haruspex is virtually impossible to get right now, and when one is available it's very expensive.

So I played against my friend recently in a 2000 point guard vs tyranids game, and I have a really easy way to take down the two that he has. I use a leman Russ equipped with a vanquisher cannon, and maybe spend 1 cp and I can do an upwards of 12 wounds in one shot. Classic sniper tank-

I think running two norns this guy gets better as I think he will get in more.

The distraction Carnifex is back, he just got a new model

yes.

This thing really causes problems for my terminators. It may not be as useful vs other armies but I highly recommend bringing 2 vs space marines in a 2k battle. Especially since 1 cost less than 5 terms. Also take into account Terminators are the best SM unit to bring for quite a few of the factions. Generally takes out 3-5 with shots and charge. Give or take a few if a 10 man squad. Also don’t expect it’s points to drop expect that Haruspex to go up 20-40 pts

150pts would feel like a sweetspot i think. Yo can anyone remind me was insane bravery only command phase now?

Not saying he’s value for the points, but I think there’s a synergy with the fast and lethal but fragile vanguard invaders - eg Genestealers. He’s scary enough that there’s a chance overwatch gets spent on him instead or he battle shocks them and they can’t, then you’re damage dealers get in where they’re needed. There are also a lot of armies like Necrons and Custodes that are a lot less scary to kill in a charge if they’re battle shocked. I think that’s what the scream is for: scream at them and they lose a bag of tricks that will affect your whole army. Swingy but I’ve seen two of these ruin a Custodes player’s day.

i am a Patreon now

Surprised you didnt mention how he can be put in a tyranocite and rapid ingressed in turn 1

It's a weaker Maleceptor for the same points.

My Scream Killer got focused by a Chaos Vindicator yesterday and it melted with like 30w overkill. That 2+ SV isn’t that great against AP -3

with how bad many of their datasheets are, I think Tyranids need to be a swarmy monster army, where you have big guys that dont cost so much. Carifexes, screamer killer, maleceptor (small), tyrannofex, Toxicrene and Trygon ofc need a MASSIVE points cut, hive tyrants, swarm lord, Psychophage(small) all need a signifcant point drop to be viable. the assimilator as well needs to drop by at least 60 points, it is nowhere near as useful as the emissary, which ss borderline okay, but could do with a small cut as well. Right now from early test games, both the vanguard and swarm detachments seem VERY powerful in comparrision. you can just lock your opponent down in their deployment zone for 2 turns with 60% of your army starting the game infront of their gates while just winning mission. or flood the entire board with ever returning gaunts and gargoyles. But I want the killy tyranids.. so make monsters good by making them swarmy aswell to stand a fighting chance. It would also be a very unique army with a lot of big models that LOOK scary, while not actually beeing that strong by themselve.

Give it more wound AND built in FNP 5+ or some way to not get oneshot and i could see playing it

I don't care if it does or not. It's a freaking amazing model!

Yes.

I really hope GW doesn't missunderstand this video.. Haruspex IS pretty good right now. BUT it is only good BECAUSE it is cheap, it really isn't outstanding by any means, and still very fragile, no invuln and it not beeing synapse requires alot of babysitting still.. even if it gets even a little bit more expensive, like 140 pts, it will basically also fall into unplayable, as is the screamer killer right now..

Ngl i proxy this thing as an old one eye😭

Looks good but dies to a ballistus dreadnaught under the no line of sight rules.

Doesn't matter. It looks badass, and that matters a hell of a lot more.

Its definitely an anti elite unit with fun stuff it can go. I Use Two in most games to great affect. They both block a flank for me and my opponent no mattwr how much they have tried have so far never been able to push back again

consider a brutalis is 175 points for T10 - 2+ - 12W - 6 attacks at ST12 or sweep . then has melta shots. icarus stubber and the dude is twin linked in melee plus also deals mortal wounds on the charge 🤔🤣🤣

GW: playtests Tyranid builds evolving around Hive Tyrants handing out free stratagems. Also GW: nukes free pivotal stratagems randomly in the new Tyranid detachments with an update to the core rules. 'Didn't think about that'.

Fun Fact: GW treats their homepage like a stepmother and doesn't care to update anything old. So the Carnifex box states that you can build Screamer Killers out of it (also Thornbacks which don't exist anymore) :P

Compared to other nid monsters and its cost - yes it sucks. There is a reason no-one is using them other than because they might be new players and got it in the Leviathan box. Its a shame really, the model looks beefy and monstrous but the stat line and cost of the model just doesn't come close to how it looks or plays. I have three of them, but would rather take the cheaper standard Carnifexes (of which I have way more than I can ever field). Using it in combination with Neurolictors and with Assimilation detachement for extra durability with healing, or Vanguard for maxing its damage potential (fall back and shoot then charge again) would be doable - but it will rarely live long enough for it to earn its heafty points cost back again. That said, its a easy fix model for GW really, all it needs is a substantial points drop to 130-140 pts and it would be golden. At 150 I would consider it, but it would be a tough call. At 170 there is no point in bringing it as there are far better options that does what it does but better.

Don't think it's bad, it's probably just average now and we have better options but it got slightly better with the nerf to battleshock strat and the appearance of the Neuro which gives a huge damage buff against battleshocked targets. Needs to be 140 points before it's considered in any kind of comp list and should be less than that even.

Yeah, it does. I converted mine into old one eye.

We just need to find a way to give him vanguard and he would be OP with the pick up put down, advance and charge.

he way too expensive to even warrent taking him once lol but iv noticed compared to other bugs it just dosent compare such as the haruspex but i also believe they have that at its point value to simply sell models

Honestly? I'd much rather have two Carnifexes with talons, and bio-plasma than one Screamer-Killer. I'm very meh on its points cost compared to a Carnifex that is way cheaper, but marginally worse (less attacks, mainly).

+neurotrope,+Neurotyrant: -2 battleshok and wounds

obviously screamer killers need to be cheaper but you should also be allowed to take screamer killers in units of 2 along with old one eye. i dont know why you cant. haruspex needs to cost more too.

Firstly he looks amazing. Second, I absolutely love him, depending on how I use mine. Bring Deathleaper close to the target and that´s -1 LS, then the scream has a bigger chance. It isn´t directly about shocking with the killer, but using multiple attacks of that style (like mawloc and so on) to break a unit that you really want to battleshock. Most of the times I use battleshock to stop the biggest, meanest unit of my opponent from using commands. For example when it was still allowed, my opponent had a 10 man squad of custodian guard with a shield captain inside, used multiple battleshock skills until they broke, then jumped with multiple units on it to slaughter them. He gets even better in Crusher Stampede. But using the tactic one where you can say "All critical hits have precision" also makes him good.

They are good for flanking, and last day i charge à squad of termi and Hé killed 6 of them

Yeah the only reason I’m bringing a screamer killer is that I don’t have a Haruspex or Maleceptor.

sum up. he doing okay just hard to use due to over cost and quite underwholming when compare to other monster.

should at most cost 140. 8in move, no advance and charge? melee is the opposite of meta this edition

Don't care. I'm building my second today. Gonna try putting one of the older carnifex heads in there.

170 is way way too much.... Melee units need to be way cheaper than shooty comparisons for the damage they do. Yes he has 10 attacks that are S10/AP2/3D, but theyre strictly melee. His range is basically there to say he has a ranged attack, its not going to really do anything meaningful, just poke at some objective holders that he wasnt charging towards. The fact that he costs 45pts more than a Doomstalker and is easier to kill and only slightly deadlier if we dont factor range vs melee is baffling. And the Doomstalker isnt considered ridiculously good either, just solid. He should be ~130pts. Unless your opponent has almost 0 way to hurt high toughness hes not hard to get rid of at all and takes awhile to hit something meaningful.

170p seems expensive to be honest. It seems relatively decent against MEQ and TEQ grade infantry but Nids already have a ton of decent and/or cheaper anti-infantry melee. Screamer feels overpriced for a dedicated melee monster of this kind.

It's been good against me, it's harder to kill than you'd expect draws fire nicely and will kill any infantry it touches. It might not be the most efficient unit ever but it has plenty of uses.

He never seems to get to melee. So either he totally sucks, or i need to do better applying threat saturation against ny opponents

The Screamer Killer is ruined by exactly one thing: being the same point cost as the Maleceptor. The Maleceptor is tankier, has more impactful abilities, has much better shooting, and its melee is still good enough to not miss the Screamer Killer all that much. So yeah, so long as the two are the same points, there is absolutely no reason for using the Screamer Killer over the Maleceptor.

I mean it killed 6 meganobz in one go so. I think it's pretty good

Battle shock effects are just near worthless. The rally in the command phase should not be automatic, but another LD roll.

I'd pay 125pts for it. As it stands, it JUST dies, it has the same problem as a haru while beeing 45 pts more expensive AND it dies even quicker to any mid strength anti tank.. If a sisters model can kill you, you know you are useless. and yes that is as much as a carnifex. because a carnifex needs to drop to something like 105 as well. they are even then unplayable probably...

Looks like a victim of GWs latest gimmick tunnelvision of "Morale is more important than ever!!!!".

This could've been a 0.5 second video but I'm glad it isn't.

How do you all feel now that it's 145 points?

Meanwhile armiger warglaive 150pts

You forgot the synergy with the Synaptic Nexus stratagem that dishes out mortal wounds when a battle shock is failed.

Too expensive... should be 140 MAX IMO, and I would still have to think about it. Id rather run 4 talons on a carni and save points than run a SK.

My friend plays tyranids and every time he's used this it just did nothing and died 😢

I don't get why he is so expensive, he is weaker and less durable than the haruspex which is just crazy rn.

Give ripper swarms endless multitude - can make use of strategems and special rules. Give screamer killer carnifex - can join ooe. Give Raveners Vanguard - make them good in the detachment. Make pyrovores 2-6 instead of 1-3. Make Tyrants and Swarmlord %15 cheaper. Then nids will be OK.

It would be fine if it was 30% cheaper.

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They really made his head look stupid

No! It’s screams!