Mournfang question

How do you guys run a unit of 4 mournfang? 4 frontage? 2x2? 3 and 1?

4 at front seems like it's too wide, 2x2 means I'm missing out on valuable impact hits and the mournfangs won't get all there attacks. so I'm leaning  towards 3 and 1, still  maneuverable and if one dies before combat their are still 3 to hopefully make contact.

What do most people do?

One of the best features of the mournfang is the 3 str 5 attacks that the mournfang provides.  Given how expensive they are and how strong they are in the front rank, you want to make sure that you have the most power available with no wasted points.

Something like silverhelms or cold one cavalry have no problem spending extra to make a bus of at least 10 units.  However, look at their attacks.  For the cold ones, you have 2 attacks from the saurus and 2 from the cold ones, and an additional 1 attack from the saurus in the second rank.  However, each cold one only costs 30 or so (depending on their setup), so 10 will cost 300.  They have 1 wound each, so you want to have some ablative wounds to ensure that your hard hitting front rank can swing back.  You lose the cold one attacks in the second rank, but they are the weaker of the two attacks, as the saurus might have spears and (depending local rules) predatory fighter.

Compare that to the mournfang.  4 mournfang costs roughly the same same as that unit of cold ones.  If you take the unit as 4 across, you get all of your attacks, and enough wounds that you can take a few hits without any real loss in combat efficiency.  If you put them in a 2x2 formation, you lose half of your strength 5 attacks.  You do not bring mournfang because of how awesome the ogre attacks are.  You bring them because of the strength 5 monster cat they are riding on.  You might take fewer losses due to the smaller surface area on the front, but if that is your concern, just bring a unit of 2.

I always take however many I want in the front.  If I can't get the impact hits and the strength 5 attacks, I am not going to pay the points for the extra mournfang.

If you're worried about maneuverability, you shouldn't be taking a unit of 4 Mournfang, break them into 2 units of 2 or similar.  If you're running 4 wide it's a main hitting block, and you need to deploy them accordingly.  But I agree with LawGnome, MFC should never have a second rank.

Absolutely agree with the others.  1 rank is the way to go.  I have had success with 4 or 5 wide.  5 across will mow through a dwarf block!

Thanks for the replies. I only just finished my second set of 'fangs so I'm keen to run 4. I'll try the 1 rank approach in my game tomorrow against OnG,  should flatten anything 

The only time I use more than one rank is when I get stuck in a combat with a lone character like a saurus cowboy.  I will then reform from 4X1 to 2X2 (if I have space) to get more attacks on the model.  But, in general, I start out with 4x1.

This has been a question that was preying on my mind, too - an additional thank you for the answers

I, too, am running 4 Mournfangs - gonna get the next batch next month

Yeah I tend to play 4 x 1 to maximise attack without any redundant mournfangs. 2 mournfang are 100mm wide so all 4 can attack against a unit 5 wide on 20mm bases
In smaller point games I tend to split the units and have 2 x 1 units

Its too bad that you can't equip them like maneaters.  Some with iron fist, and some with GW.  Having atleast one with a GW (like the last to die std bearer) would've helped kill that damned saurus cowboy.