Stonehorn Tactics

In an effort to fill out my 8th Edition Tactica index thread that's been stickied above, I've spent a considerable amount of time searching through old threads searching for discussions about the Thundertusk and Stonehorn. Most topics talk about their pros and cons a bit but usually just boil down to one vs the other, and on that everyone seems rather divided due to personal preference. There are very few posts that I could find that specifically talk about how to USE them.

So I'm taking matters into my own hand! Please share your stories of success and failure, discuss synergy with other units in the army, when to charge and anything else you can think of.

Please limit this thread to the STONEHORN only. The Thundertusk will be discussed in another thread.

Charge the stonhorn and another unit of Ogres into the same target. resolve the bulls first so the stonehorn only has to clip the target, unless the enemy is only str3. In which case maximize the stonehorn's contact.

The Stonehorn will generate tons of extra combat rez for the Bulls/IGs.


Thats how I see the stonehorn. A combat rez generator for my main combat units. He helps break the enemy.

Terror is also useful for getting rid of enemy chaff.

I like him for attracting cannonballs. He is sturdy enough to survive a few hits. Usually my opponents go after my cannons, though, so he lives a lot of times to get that charge he is feared for. I like to keep a sabretusk nearby to help making sure I get the charge.
His devastating charge can be quite impressive. I once charged the flank of s steamtank who was at about 6 wounds left. The charge completely killed the unit. So, for fights against units without a lot of static combat resolution he is excellent imo.
In protracted fights against infantry I found he can be outmatched as he has, apart from his initial charge not that many attacks. His low leadership can see him running after a few failed attacks and bad thunderstomping against ranked up infantry. But as a sidekick with another block of infantry, things change, of course.

Park him behind a unit to benefit from Frenzy-charge-blocking until you want him to go nuts. I like using the Harpoon Launcher over the first couple of turns before throwing him into a unit of T3 enemy where available. Preferably nothing with poison.

Resist the urge to place him on a flank and use him like a big expensive chariot that supports units in the centre late game.  If the opponent wastes time shooting or nuking the guy, let them and go about your business.  Stonehorns work best in a late game role and as a distraction.

I've never used them but I've seen them used well as early chargers and disruptors. I want to try 2 or 3 of them and push them into my opponents face and make them deal with them or risk some serious hurt.

Was thinking deploy your generals/BSB unit. Then place him 12" away to the side so no LD 7 frenzy then run them up 2gether charge your big block of guts in then him. Take abit of positioning and maybe eliminating some chaff.

I've used the Stonehorn about 3-4 times now and have only managed to get him into combat once, against skaven slaves.....Still looking for a good way to make him viable as I made a really cool conversion for him. 

Last game was against an all gobbo army...so many warmachines, didn't stand a chance.  lost the game too

Use him to charge units of heavy cavalry like dragon princes, boar boys etc. his high strength hits/ attacks will get through the 2+ saves and their s3/4 attacks will bounce right off the 'horn.
The cav wont take much to get below steadfast and should break relatively easily.
Terror is extremely useful early on for clearing away chaff, and the harpoon can be good against chariots too

I have used the Stonehorn many a time at conventions, tournies and local leagues so here is my 2¢
1: Stonehorns can generate MASSIVE combat resolution when it gets ogre charge (or even a lucky charge) off. 3d3+3 hurts so bad, potentially dealing 12 wounds alone. With a high toughness and good armour, I usually charge this guy into shooty infantry blocks (T3 usually) and wreak havoc. If your opponents men don't wet himself, their shooting is meager to stop the stonehorn.
2: Monsters generally fear the Stonehorn. If you get the charge off, it's usually one dead monster at the end of your turn. Stonehorn's high strenght and impact hits can hurt most T5 monsters, and they generally can only inflict 3-4 wounds back (if they roll HOT!) Plus, Stonehorns can be perfect sluggers, tying up monsters because it can.
3: Chaffe clearer. Sometimes chaffe line up a way you want them to. Charge the Stonehorn in, win combat and overrun on. The destruction caused will just lead to either panic or victory.
4: Unit support. Charging your main combat block into the enemy with this massive mammoth going to do the same, the unit is good as gone. Generally, I would charge my bulls/IG first and then the stonehorn, as it's only one model so a clip will insure your full attacks. With the amount of Combat Resolition it generates, the unit should be needing Snake Eyes to stand and fight.
5: This guy can eat through cannonballs if lucky, potentially surviving 5, thanks to it's hard skeleton.
6: Ever cast trollguts on this guy? Try it. You'll be amazed how artillery change targets so fast. The stonehorn probably works best with Wyssan's or Bullgorger/Toothcracker, as then it can nullify the highest armour and wound most monsters on a 2+ and be wounded on 5's.
In conclusion, the Stonehorn is a synergetic monster that embodies the Ogre Kingdom's strenght in combat.

I do not advise sending this guy unsupported into infantry blocks.

At best, its a continious slugfest for the rest of the game. At worst, your stonehorn could have a bad round and lose to static combat resolution. And he's not going to stick around with only Ld7. Keep him near the General and BSB and the main combat blocks.

I usually pair my stonehorn Pebbles with his seeing-eye sabretusk Mittens in front, to redirect charges, and to block Frenzy-charges.

A possible combo against some opponents would be to have the stonehorn cause Terror, and when the enemy runs away have the Swiftstride tusk run them down.

I've often wondered how this guy would do against that infamous Nurgle Demon Prince, actually. At T5 with 4 wounds and a 5+ ward, the impacts could shred him (though if he's bought some magic armour might have an armour save after the S6). Only downside would be stopping it from charging the Stonehorn...

I found I usually have the stonehorn protecting my slaughtermaster or other valuable people from charges and BS.

Worked really well against small units or big weak units exspecialy with a great charge. Not so much against other large war machines and chariots.

The hunter atop is well worth the points. Adding another couple big damage hits in close combat.

I play a lot of Daemons in my area,

I was thinking of running a Hunter mounted on a Stonehorn, maybe with Armor of Fortune and ironfist for a 3+/5+ save.  Stir in the The Other Tricksters Shard, all those nasty daemon troopers will have to re-roll their ward saves versus this combo.  I love the LD of the Hunter too, two points higher than a normal Stonehorn with ogre riders.

Feasible?  Thinking of giving it a run this weekend!

Generally using a Hunter at all is not that great a choice, putting him on a Stonehorn, while fluffy, is a huge points investment when you can do better from other selections in the army. For what you spend on him you can get a unit of Meaters or MFC. I know what I'd rather be taking.

I am taking a Hunter on Stonehorn to Adepticon in a few weeks.  I personally have had fair success with it so far as most people think that it's no threat.  When he charges in with the Sword if Striking they change their minds with 3D3 S6 impacts and 4 S5 attacks hitting on 2's with a Thunderstomp.  I give him a 5+ ward with enchanted shield so he's fairly stable.  Just hope my cannon rips theirs first.  I agree LD 9 Frenzy isn't quite as rambunctious.

The OTS manuever is the sole reason to ever put a Hunter on top of the thing (well and LD9) at all.  If you are running a minimum spec character army, say just SM and BSB, its feasable to fit this guy in.  To really get a descent return on him your meta has to be dominated by ward save troops and light on cannons, though.

Well,

He did make his points back.  Ran into a big unit of 30 Daemonettes plus Herald, got the flank charge off.  The Hunter did get killed by some double wound thingie on the Herald the second round, the Horn stuck around and stomped the rest of the unit though.

Four hundred points though, seems like a bit much.  Even with the Shard to make those pesky Daemons re-roll ward saves!

I've used him on a number of occasions where he winds up attracting missile fire and, if he survives, slams into the flank of units I'm charging with Infantry units (Bulls, IG, or ME).  He's great at adding combat res. and attracting fire away from my army. 

But don't think of his use being only to attract fire, might as well save 50 points and take a Giant.  As soon as I get my Thundertusk bought, built and painted I really wanna see what a synergy of SH, TT, and my Maneater deathstar does vs. hordes or other deathstars.

I just thought of a different way to use the Stonehorn, instead of merely cannon bait you can have him shield your ironblaster(s) on the first turn.  I find that my ironblasters are a major concern for most enemies and are a priority target.  If an obstacle or building is not available to deploy behind you can simply park the IB right behind the stonehorn.  Even if you get first turn you can easily move around to shoot and if you get shot first the Stonehorn will almost certainly not die in one round. 

A lucky guess could land the cannonball right on top of the ironblaster but to be even sneakier you can turn the ironblaster sideways so your opponent has a mere 2" of space to hit it with.

I suppose this could be used with different units behind the stonehorn but I doubt anything else would be as valuable.

might as well save 50 points and take a Giant

Well a giant is T5, with no save and no ½ multiple wounds. I'd say that's worth 50 points if you're using him as a fire magnet.