Combat ironblasters

How well do your Iblasters do in combat? To day 1 of mine was charged by a pair of HE tiranoc chariots. It lost 3 wounds, giving 2 in return and fled, rallied was charged by both again and lost 0 wounds, gave 3 in return and ran down the 1 remaining chariot.  Epic stuff.

I tend to find that if it ever loses combat it runs, unless it was within general and BSB range.

I had one get charged by a big bus of Slaves, I wiffed, he failed to do any damage, I lost by 4 and got ran down

Never let it get into melee with something that has 3-4 static combat resolution, unless you have some backup.


I usually use the Ironblaster to support another unit's combat if I am out of shooting targets. In an ongoing combat it can basically generate a bunch of free combat resolution. Charge, D6 impact hits, 3 rhinox attacks, 3 rider attacks, and the Gnoblars attack. Never forget the Gnoblar. I had him stab a dragon once.



The Ironblaster is also decent at cleaning up remnant units at the end of the game. Those last 3 members of that big unit running for the hills trying to preserve their points. Depending on the angle you can either bounce a cannonball through them or you can charge them.

I once got an epic kill shot on the last turn of a game. Picked up the last members of a unit of Swordmasters AND 2 lvl1 wizards(one was in the SM unit)

Don't forget the swiftstride that chariot grants you.  I used to think since only move 6 that it didn't get it.

The I-Blaster has done pretty well in most combats I've seen. It struggles against static CR and getting flank-charged, but if it rams into something headfirst, not many things can hurt it back (T6 is a very good thing) and it's a menace if it ever sneaks its way into a flank.

last game I used it to charge a block of 40 saurus charged in and won first round of combat and survived the second meaning the unit stayed put so I could charge it with other stuff. 

It will win on the charge against average units with average rolls

If yours had charged them you'd probably have won

Agreed, charge and your more likely to win. If your opponent is sticking around for a while I hope you chose one that doesn't hit too hard.

I use mine as a slow flanker to great effect, opponents sometimes forget their charge range and underestimate their combat prowess.

I love mine, but yes, you don't run it into a combat block and expect it to do anything at all. Support your Bulls or IGs with it or go hunting light cav and they can do great. Mine have munched through Glade Riders with ease and are great for removing small units, especially if they've been thinned out with cannon fire for a couple of turns.

last game I used it to charge a block of 40 saurus charged in and won first round of combat and survived the second meaning the unit stayed put so I could charge it with other stuff. 

It will win on the charge against average units with average rolls

Mathing it out.  d6 S6 impact, 3 S4 ogre, 3 S5 rhinox, 1 gnoblar yields an average of 3-4 wounds.  Conservatively the Saurus were not in Horde, equipped with HW/Sh, and would throw 8 attacks with about a 50/50 of doing 1 wound.  You charged they - have a banner - musician beats you.  Break test on Ld 6.  This of course assumes there's no magic or characters present (rare).  I grant you, there is a decent chance to win that first round.

Second round of combat, you put out 1 wound and maybe get 1 in return.  Static resolution beats you by 3 at least - break test on Ld 4.  There goes the chariot although not a bad performance. 

The Saurus are now in position for you to charge, assuming they did not pursue.  Maybe they did pursue and you can get some flank charges off.  170 points to hold up 40 Saurus for 2 rounds, not a bad plan really.

I find they're great for flank charges - the opponent doesn't expect it! Haha. However if you're that close don't people prefer to fire grapeshot?

No, Grapeshot is for situations where you are too close to fire the cannon, but also don't want to charge.

Like say a big scary monster/character is in your face, so you use your movement to move out of their front arc and then you grapeshot because you have nothing better to do.

I spent 2 turns doing that to a Shaggoth till it died.

Most recently my Ironblaster killed a unit of 3 Peg knights all by his lonesome, but I've had good luck with them in combat, especially if you get the charge.

I always run two ironblasters.  Not for cheesiness sake, but because I'm famous for first-shot misfires with a result of 2.  It's a bit of a standing joke at my game store how often I manage to crack a cannon.  That being said, I'd never regretted having a S5 T6 chariot running around to support charge and vaporize chaff.

It's really great when you can double-charge your two IBs.  I've had both IBs charge, kill, and/or run down entire units of Cold One Cavalry, skeleton units, marauders, and TK chariots.

It could be worse, Nihmwit. A friend of mine that plays Ogres tends to roll a 1 on that T1 misfire.

But because I'm famous for first-shot misfires with a result of 2...

Holy manoly! And here I was thinking I was the only one. It has come to the point where I have started ignoring them in some of my lists. I rather have them blown up than being an over expensive chariot...

Thats the point; I'm not terribly devastated by a 2 result because I find them to be so effective as combat chariots.

But because I'm famous for first-shot misfires with a result of 2...

Holy manoly! And here I was thinking I was the only one. It has come to the point where I have started ignoring them in some of my lists. I rather have them blown up than being an over expensive chariot...

This happens to me when I bring 1. When I bring 2, they both will not misfire until at least turn 3