Getting Started: Resistance Unit Overview

I think enough time has passed and enough games have been played so we can take a proper look at Dropzones newest faction - The Resistance. 

In this post, much like we've done with UCM, PHR, Scourge and Shaltari, I will go through each unit and describe some pros and cons in their use. 

The Resistance are quite unique in their design, firstly you can choose to be either Allied or Feral, with each side getting specific command cards to use. Also, the Resistance don't have much in the way of Dropships. This might sound strange in a game called Dropzone Commander. 

How am I supposed to get to the 'Dropzone' without dropships?! Well, if you read on you will find out


Command

Alexander: Probably most players go-to command choice. It NEEDS a Lifthawk, without it, the Alex is left taking potshots at a buildings. Probably never firing a shot in anger at the enemy. If you can drop this behemoth on turn 2 and be mid table it will scare the bejeezus out of anyone! Resistance players take note. You will lose your boss. If you come from a different race you may not be used to losing your commander, but because of the Alex's design it needs to be at the front-line, which puts it in harms way. Cards can help if you're lucky. Oh and it's an awesome looking model!

Thunderstorm: This thing is massive. Too big for the tabletop? not sure yet. Officially the model is not out yet, but it is the same chassis as the Leviathan, just with different armament. Talking of armament, the guns are ridiculous. 4 E12 range 18" plasma's - seriously, it's a beast. 
My biggest fear for it, is that it will just get in the way of your other units. If you trundle up the middle whatever you put on one side of it will not get around it. This means your enemy knows where most of your army will remain for the whole game. 
The retinue? personally I don't see the point. you are paying too much for them. I'd leave it empty. 

Standard

Gun Wagon: The staple in every Resistance army. The only question is 1 squad or 2? A squad of 3 has 6 shots hitting on 2+. Excellent AA and with the bonus of driving off of a Kraken and still being able to shoot you can really pack a punch and get an alpha strike on an opponent. 

Rocket Technical: Very little used standard choice. Probably due to the really short range. I think they would work best coming out of a drill right on top of your opponent. That way they need to be dealt with early before you get overwhelmed. The minor drop in points will really help. Only 10 pts per technical is pretty awesome and make a cheap standard choice.

Infantry

Resistance Fighters: You are definitely going to be taking at least 1 squad of these. They are cheap and do the job they are supposed to. Personally I like 2-3 squads in Jacksons in a Lifthawk, with the other squad either Bezerkers or Occupation Veterans. I think they can work in a battle bus too, but I prefer the Jacksons.

Occupation Veterans: I really like these guys. Put them in a battle bus and you have have some drive by shenanigans going on. Again utilising the Hovercraft, where you can drive off and shoot the same turn. They can also hold their own in CQB, all round these guys are great. They have also been greatly helped by a reduction in points. I think we will see a lot more of these guys cruising around.

Bezerkers - Feral: I think the Bezerkers are difficult to use. They don't have much utility, it's pretty much CQB or nothing, and when in CQB they are a bit random (which I quite like). I'd always stuff them in a building for an objective search on turn 1, it's an extra dice to roll. After that, go look for trouble. 4 bases in a battlebus is going to give someone a really bad day - possibly 80 attacks!! Add to that a points reduction and it will be great to see more of these guys on the tabletop.

Marine Force Recon (MFR) - Allied: As a long standing UCM player, all I have to say is WHY! WHY! WHY CAN'T WE HAVE THEM TOO?! These guys are amazing, coupled with their super slick Raven with Evasion countermeasures they dish out the hurt. As with Praetorians though, falling masonry really hurts them. 

Support

Storm Wagon: A fun unit to use. But, go big or go home! I think 6 minimum really, but that gets expensive, even with the points decrease from the FAQs. 6 of them will be 150 points, for one shot. Otherwise it's not worth doing. If you take them, make sure you have plenty of scouts for spotting, whether its free riders or gun technicals. You can really build a nice Barrage army with more of these and Cyclones thrown in. Obviously they need to stay out of harms way, as each Storm Wagon that dies reduces the effectiveness of them. 

Fire Wagon: So cheap and really effective, sorry to keep going on about it - but having a Kraken with them gives them an effective range of 5" (Kraken half move) + 3" (disembark) + 3" (Fire Wagon half move) + 6" (Range of weapon) = 17" That is amazing! I don't know why we don't see more of these about. Every list I design now has a squad in. 

Cyclones: Best looking models so far? (sorry Archangels). Yes they are, they are simply beautiful. The metal rotors are a great add too. In game these boys add much needed anti-tank punch. I think 3 is a good number to band about in, although 2 also works as their move and fire is good. If you don't have them already go get some.

Barrel Bomber - Feral: A cheap support unit, even with the AA gun upgrade. Can have devastating potential. Does a huge amount of damage to buildings, and has a large array of weapons to use. Shame the Frag bombs aren't so good. Being Armour 6 and 4dp it is very likely to get to where it needs to be to deliver it's payload.

Scout

Gun Technical: These little blighters can be a royal P.I.T.A. pop them out of a drill into safety, then bomb round a corner and murder a light dropship. I know they are only E5, but weight of fire is key here. So much better than their rocket cousins

Free Riders: A lot has been said about Free riders, not all of it fair. They clearly weren't designed for an anti-tank role, but that seems to be what they are best at. They have a fast Mf and E10 sticky mines, which are now E9 thatnks to the FAQ. 3 per base! Add to that they have Evasion countermeasures they are very tricky to get rid of. You will find yourself having to look through the army lists as you will be using guns you've never used before.... a lot! A very good scout unit either through a drill or ride on. 

Heavy

Hannibals: I am still a bit undecided on these. They are tough, have reasonable output but they are quite expensive, not only individually, but to buy as a squad with transport. They are too short ranged to not get the Lifthawk. I think they are a good defensive unit. Place them on a Focal Point and hold it, I don't think they work offensively, when you you are in the heart of the enemy. It's a shame that the resistance don't have a heavy dropship that can cart 4 or 6 of them about for cheaper than 2 Lifthawks. 

Zhukov: Some of the deadliest AA in the game bar none. 2+ to hit, E8 and Devastator 2. The Zhukov can take out any medium dropship in 1 shot. There is debate about whether to purchase the Lifthawk or not. If you don't then you are limited to position. Your opponent can play around them and they will mainly be a denial unit. If you mobilise them, they are more of a threat, but that means over 200 points on a squad. It's a tough choice.

Fast Movers

Pathfinder - Allied: What a superb unit! This is what UCM dreams are made of. Always going to be hit on a 6+, hits on a 2+. It gives the Resistance something extra. The ability to take out targets they can't reach. It is costly though and forces you to play Allied (not such a bad thing). Unlike their UCM counterpart, the Pathfinder can reliably be run on it's own. I think spending 160 points on 2 is a little much in a 1500 point game.

Helhog: A fast mover with transition. Also A6 and 3dp. Unless it has 1 dp left there is little point reaction firing it. This is a very versatile unit. The Resistance don't have much versatility. You can place the Helhog anywhere on the board, out of AA bubbles and it can harass all game. Personally, I would keep the AA missiles and not replace with the extra ammo. It just gives you more options.

Transports

Breaching Drill: I really like the drill. It has excellent utility in any resistance army. The Resistance lack one major thing compared to the other factions and that is light dropships for quick and easy extraction. The drill really helps to mitigate against this. Not only does have the ability to act as a board edge for your subterranean units but it can contest Focal Points. I love the idea of using one really aggressively with a shed drill load of rocket technicals right in enemy territory. Oh, and with A9 and 5dp it will be around for a while too.

Kraken: Probably one oft he best 'dropships' in the game. I know it's not strictly a dropship, but it does the same job. It's pretty damn resilient and it's quite inconspicuous. Plus the Hovercraft rule is good. 
You will go the first few turns not even bothering to think about the enemy Krakens, they will deliver what they carry and you will need to deal with that, then they start pumping you with E9 cannons, then you start losing stuff, then its too late........ 

Leviathan: Lovely lovely model, but I see 2 problems with it's usage. No.1: it can only take 2 squads. This means either 6 + 6, 9 + 3 or 1 squad of 12, but do you want that many Wagons? and how would they work. Do you take 6 Gun and 6 fire? 3 Gun and 9 Storm? With each set-up there are problems. I wish it could take 3 squads. No.2: is it's size, this will limit the placement of the Leviathan and ultimately its usage. I like the AA upgrade, 8 E6 shots hitting on 3+ and 4 separate weapon profiles is very good. 

Lifthawk: It's a mean mother. A6 and 4 dp is tough to crack. It's not cheap though, but it is a versatile dropship. Not many can claim to be that. For an extra 15 points it can have an AA canon too. That means an E8 missile, E5 chain guns and AA capability. Some people call dropships a tax, with a lift hawk I find that it's essential as it can soak a lot of firepower and can't be ignored. 

Jackson/Battlebus: The eternal debate! Jacksons or Battlebus?!?! Both have their good points, both have their bad points. The Jackson has countermeasures is A9 and a gun, can be equipped with spider launchers too, but and it is a rather big but, it has only 1dp. The Battlebus is A6 and 4dp, meaning it will definitely need 2 shots fired at it to remove it. It has no countermeasures though. You can also upgrade it to have some weaponry but it is quite costly. The biggest plus is the ability to shoot from inside. Drive-by's DzC style! 

Hope you enjoyed this run through, there will be some more advanced tactica coming for the Resistance. 

All pictures from Hawk Wargames http://www.hawkwargames.com/collections/resistance-all-products