Zombie Dragon

So, I'm looking to buy and start using a Zombie Dragon is my armies. I've never used one before and would like a bit of help (Cypress, you'd be great here ).

First, which is most effective: a Dragon with a mostly infantry army, a Dragon with a mostly cavalry army, or somewhere in between with a balanced mix? (I've been playing around on Army Builder with the latter. An infantry center with Black Knights and Blood Knights on the extreme flanks, with some bats and wolves thrown in their for speed).

Second, how should the Dragon be played? I've seen some players hold him back until later turns of combat, but that seems a waste for the ~700 points spent on him. I've always seen some players rush it forward, but even with the Wristbands that seems a bit risky.

Is the Dragon even worth taking over an Abyssal Terror? He is more resilient (which is important, because I want to keep the Lord mounted for the Dreadlance) and has that nice Cloud of Flies rule, but is a Terror just as effective?

TIA

First of all I don't ever make a list that doesn't include a Lord on a Zombie Dragon. I just love this model. Its just so fun to use. Now at my last tournament I ran this combo.

Vampire Lord,
Balefire Spike, Crown of the Damned, Flayed Hauberk, Dispel Scroll
Infinite Hatred, Red Fury, Walking Death
Extra Magic Level, Zombie Dragon

This combo destroyed everything it went up against. Even took out a fully ranked up Saurus spearmen unit with Battle Standardbearer in 2 rounds of combat. But the Crown of Spuditiy cost me a victory though in another game. I've modified my equipment now.

Vampire Lord,
Wristbands of Black Gold, Flayed Hauberk, Balefie Spike, Black Periapt.
Dark Acolyte, Forbidden Lore, Infinite Hatred.
Extra Magic Level, Zombid Dragon.

This set up is not as deadly in close combat as the previous set up but it is more versatile in its roles. Being able to choose any lore from the rule book is just an awesome ability. Knowing all the spells from that lore is just that much better. My favourite Lore is the Lore of Fire. Just pure destruction with that spell list and I love casting the Flaming Sword of Rhuin. 5 attacks at strength 8. 1's fail to hit and 1's fail to wound. This entire setup is more fun to play than the all out attack version.

As far as troops go I like using a super fast army. Dire Wolves, Black Knights, Blood Knights, Fell Bats. My core units simply contest table quarters as they really can't keep up with the main fighting force.

I've never tried using an infantry heavy list yet. Its just not my style, but I could see it being just as effective. I would definitly include a Death Star unit of Grave Guard, with Ghouls protecting the flanks and probably Wraiths supporting in some way or fashion.

Hope this gives you some ideas. If you find a better combo or tactic do share as I'm always looking for ways to make my Lord on Zombie Dragon more effective.

I'm thinking about this:

Vampire Lord
Dreadlance
Wristbands of Black Gold
Red Fury
Infinite Hatred
Avatar of Death (shield)
Zombie Dragon

Have you ever tried the AT?

I've used the DreadLance tons. It was my favourite combo to run for a long time. Its a great weapon, but with Infinite Hatred and Red Fury its not needed. The Balefire Spike does the job just fine and saves you 50pts to spend on other gear. As for Avatar of Death. I've never used. Looked at it lots but a 4+ armour save just isn't that good on a character flying around on a Large Target. Prefered Walking Death. It just kicks ass. Broke alot of units because of the +1 to combat res.

One area where you'll find the Dreadlance invaluable is against Woodelves and their stupid "Annoyance of Nettlings". The Dreadlance by passes the Nettlings all together. Making those squishy Elf Lords easy pickings.

Not anymore. I think its in either the Woodelf one or the latest general FAQ. It will be a roll off each combat phase to see which item is in effect.

One can also argue that FAQ's are NOT official rule changes. Only Errata's are.

But this discussion is not for here. This is all about Lord/Zombie Dragon combo tactics.

I've also considered the Cursed Book many of times. Obiviously the only draw back is that everyone and their dog will attack the Dragon. Anyone else ever thought about using the "New Cursed Book"?

Here's the combo I like for my Lord/Dragon combo. He's been able to handle any other dragon/lord combo to yet be thrown at him. And has even taken a couple BT's down.


Vamp Lord L3: Red fury, Infinite hatred, Beguile, Balefire spike, Crown,
Nightshroud, Cursed book, Dragon.

You direct all your attacks and the dragons against his dragon and you should kill it in one turn. Then all you have is some Lord running around on foot, usually fleeing from you. RnF troops are just slaughtered......

I've been using a Zombie Dragon for a bit. Rather than the usual cookie coutter utra-killy type, I've gone for a more subtle true von Carstein style- Walking Death and Aura of Dark Majesty, plus hatred of course. Then simply Balefire Spike, 2+ armour, and Book of Arkhan. It's a bit of a worry having no ward, but with my luck I'd just fail it at the appropriate moment anyway

But the -1LD combo has been wrecking my enemies- you'd think with all the ItP stuff around it wouldn't matter much at all, but it's been making stubborn units fail their LD check and causing all kinds of problems. Terradons trying to get by with LD6? Try it on LD5 like the old days be-atches! Plus keeping my Banshee nearby also makes the effect even nastier, and easily redeployed.

I'm almost up to 25 games before the big tournament I've been practising for and he really has been slaughtering everything in his path. Some games I've lost- I try not to put him in front of armies with shooting but it's sometimes unavoiadable (Or I simply play the "fun" way as a gamble rather than the WAAC way- less likely to happen at a tournament ), my Lord has died to a single RBT shot before, a single Burning Gaze, and, yes, my Dragon has been Gateway'd. But it's still really fun to use. Bring on the plague of Dragons!

Don't forget you can't use your lance once the dragon is dead.

If my Dragon dies I think not using a lance is going to be the least of my problems....

Yeah? My dragon dies early and often, perhaps in two out of five games. It doesn't mean that I automatically lose. Usually I run into some infantry block and pull out a win anyway, but it takes longer.

So with Dragon/AT's dying a large amount of the time, would it be better to be equipped with a Sword of Might instead of the Balefire Spike/Dreadlance?

@ Alesh,

The simple answer. No. I would still rather have the Balefire Spike than the Sword of Might. Having Strength 7 is alot more important in the 7th edition than it ever was. Theres alot of high toughness good armour save characters and creatures out there now. For a tournament list I would always bring either Lances.

In a friendly game were I knew exactly what army I'm playing against then yes I would consider the Sword of Might. Kind of an obivious answer but thats my personal experience using all three weapons in the past.

Also don't get discouraged using the Lord on Dragon. I remember the first 4 or 5 games I started using it I lost my Dragon every game. Through practice and being more patient I started to keep it alive alot longer. At my last Grand Tournament I only lost my Dragon once in 6 games. When this baby hit home it annilhated units, characters and monsters all tournament long.

I like to think of it as "Ahh, finally I can kill these stinking High Elf characters" time

Have to agree with LC on that to. Having S7 is just crucial to winning some of the combats and having flamming attacks against the regen out there is nice.