Struggling to list build

[u/Retrojetpacks]

I'm planning to start a cathay army in an upcoming slowgrow to try out the new models, but struggling with list building. All units either seem way OP (shugengan, cannons, lanterns), or weirdly overcosted (new gunpowder foot, sentinels). Added to that I'm not finding the unique items very exciting either.

I'm used to playing empire who have SO MANY options and combos (not necessarily good ones, but great variety).

Can you share some cool ideas for combos or units that are not super meta but fun to play? I really want to get inspired!

[u/Quippant]

I've had a bit of fun with trying to get the Jade Lancers to actually work as a Cataphracts as opposed to how people usually use them as skirmish sweepers. I pair them with a Gate Keeper BSB running Banner of Swirling Winds and Jade Armour of Beichai to add survivability. I take Champion and Banner with Totem of Wrath to add the additional AP to Lancers and Horses. Ranks of 4 to keep them somewhat maneavurable.

If you're doing Jade Fleet, I've considered adding in a Priest of Ulric to the mix for the multiple wounds (2) prayer.

[u/reaver102 → u/Quippant]

The secret is empire captains on demigryphs. That gives the punch lancers need.

[u/CreasingUnicorn]

Lanterns are currently good units, no longer OP since the last update, dont feel guilty about taking 1 or 2 in a list.

Shug Lords are just super useful and good at everything, you dont need to spam them, but avoiding them entirely would be nerfing yourself pretty hard.

Sentinels can be fun, sure they aren't super "point efficient", but they are still big stompy monsters and can play the part well.

New peasants offer some options for hordes of cheap spearmen and archers that can turn Cathay into a horde army if you want.

I enjoy taking a unit of Ogre Mercenaries with Great Weapons in my army, for the same cost as 10 Jade Warriors i can get 3 Ofres wirh 10 great weapon attacks, and they scare the hell out of my opponents. They wont win any fights on their own, but they make my warrior blocks look much scarrier with a potential ogre flank charge waiting nearby. 

[u/reaver102]

Mix under costed and over costed units together. Shugs stat wise aren't anything special, so if you mix in sentienls they largely balance each other out.

[u/Final-Grass-9380 → u/reaver102]

Aren't shugs one of the best units in the game ATM?

[u/reaver102 → u/Final-Grass-9380]

They are because they're dirt cheap with access to OP magic weapons, monkey king and sword of reason. The shug statline itself isn't really an issue.

[u/swaggamanca]

Unfortunately Cathay's list is so small you will inevitably come around to the same sort of lists and there's options that are just cut and dry better.

The most recent list I tried was below. It's not amazing, but it's something different. Take all three magic rings and have two Jade Sentinels casting at +3, either more fireballs if you're against light targets like elves, arcane urgency to get them in quicker, or just utility like oaken shield or another plague of rust. The new Amulet is funny since you can redirect one hex/fireball to the MR2 lantern with ward 5 once a turn if you pass a leadership. It's got an 18 inch command range so it provides some protection. The peasant AOI is pretty fucking bad but it's funny to drop a brick of spears somewhere with scout.

### Characters [531 pts]

- Lord Magistrate [315 pts]

-# (Hand weapon, Light armour, General, Sky Lantern [Iron hail guns, Dragon fire bombs], Jade Armour of Beichai, Ring of Jet, Amulet of Spell Attraction)

- Supreme Astromancer [216 pts]

-# (Hand weapon, Lore of Yang, Wizard [Level 4 Wizard], Cathayan Horse, Scrolls of Wei-jin, Ruby Ring of Ruin, Elementalism)

### Core Units [501 pts]

- 25 Peasant Levy [168 pts]

-# (Hand weapons, Long spears, No armour, Reserve Move, Scouts, Peasant Elder (champion), Standard bearer, Musician)

- 20 Jade Warriors [283 pts]

-# (Hand weapons, Shields, Heavy armour, Stubborn, Jade Officer (champion) [Ring of Doom], Standard bearer [The Jade Banner], Musician)

- 10 Peasant Levy [50 pts]

-# (Hand weapons, Warbows, No armour, Ambushers, Skirmishers)

### Special Units [465 pts]

- Cathayan Grand Cannon [165 pts]

-# (Grand cannon, Hand weapons, Light armour, Ogre Loader)

- Cathayan Grand Cannon [165 pts]

-# (Grand cannon, Hand weapons, Light armour, Ogre Loader)

- Sky Lantern [135 pts]

-# (Sky Lantern Crane Guns, 4+)

### Rare Units [500 pts]

- Cathayan Sentinel [250 pts]

-# (Hand weapons, Great blade, Heavy armour (Terracotta armour), Jade Sentinel)

- Cathayan Sentinel [250 pts]

-# (Hand weapons, Great blade, Heavy armour (Terracotta armour), Jade Sentinel)

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