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Tomb Kings of Khemri · 141 points · Chariots
Are Skeleton Chariots good?
Skeleton Chariots are good on the charge and almost useless when charged. Three chariots won 55% of their charges but only 7% of fights when the enemy charged them first, in my simulations.
Quick answer: it depends whether Skeleton Chariots get the charge
- If they charge
- 55% across eight opponents
- If they receive
- 7%: the lowest of any unit I tested
- Best targets
- Empire halberdiers (77%), Rat Ogres (74%) and Gors (68%) on the charge
- Avoid
- Ironbreakers: 3% even on the charge
Skeleton Chariots are a delivery problem with a big payoff: everything depends on getting the charge.
How many simulations I ran
I ran 32,000 complete combats with 3 Skeleton Chariots: 2,000 against each of eight opponents while the chariots charged, and 2,000 more against each while the opponent charged. These were the results.
My Skeleton Chariots never had a General nearby, so they missed the Royal Host impact-hit reroll, and they never had to find a charge lane: every charge landed from the front. Both of those cut in opposite directions, so the gap between charging and receiving is the part of these results I trust most.
How Skeleton Chariots did against each opponent
Every matchup for 3 Skeleton Chariots, Master Charioteer, standard (141 pts). n = 2,000 combats per row ±2 points
| Opponent | Who charged | Won | Destroyed | Wounds dealt, round 1 | Wounds taken, round 1 | Avg rounds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 Jade Warriors | Skeleton Chariots | 51% | 43% | 5.40 | 1.21 | 2.2 |
| 8 Ironbreakers | Skeleton Chariots | 3% | 3% | 1.45 | 1.66 | 3.2 |
| 20 Clanrats | Skeleton Chariots | 59% | 50% | 6.04 | 1.46 | 1.8 |
| 3 Rat Ogres + Master Moulder | Skeleton Chariots | 74% | 66% | 4.34 | 2.16 | 1.7 |
| 5 Knights of the Realm | Skeleton Chariots | 52% | 41% | 2.09 | 0.68 | 3.2 |
| 17 Gors | Skeleton Chariots | 68% | 58% | 6.07 | 0.61 | 2.0 |
| 20 Empire halberdiers | Skeleton Chariots | 77% | 67% | 7.52 | 0.50 | 1.9 |
| 9 Swordmasters of Hoeth | Skeleton Chariots | 56% | 50% | 4.58 | 2.49 | 1.9 |
| 15 Jade Warriors | Opponent | 4% | 4% | 2.12 | 1.66 | 2.2 |
| 8 Ironbreakers | Opponent | 1% | 1% | 0.45 | 1.09 | 2.9 |
| 20 Clanrats | Opponent | 9% | 7% | 2.56 | 1.06 | 2.4 |
| 3 Rat Ogres + Master Moulder | Opponent | 8% | 7% | 1.06 | 4.36 | 1.7 |
| 5 Knights of the Realm | Opponent | 8% | 6% | 0.68 | 2.67 | 2.5 |
| 17 Gors | Opponent | 4% | 3% | 2.10 | 2.23 | 1.9 |
| 20 Empire halberdiers | Opponent | 9% | 8% | 3.10 | 1.23 | 2.4 |
| 9 Swordmasters of Hoeth | Opponent | 15% | 13% | 1.51 | 2.30 | 2.2 |
Why the charge matters so much
Impact hits do most of the work. Skeleton Chariots dealt about 4.7 wounds in the first round when they charged, and only 1.7 when they received. Without that opening, three chariots cannot win on ranks or numbers.
Ironbreakers blunt the impact entirely: 1.45 wounds in the first round, and a 3% win rate.
How I would use them
Keep their lanes clear, threaten a target already tied up by infantry, and never accept a charge to protect another unit. If the list has 18 more points, Tomb Guard Chariots did far better both ways.
More Tomb Kings results
- All seven Tomb Kings units compared
- Are Tomb Kings Skeleton Warriors good?
- Are Tomb Guard good?
- Are Ushabti good in combat?
- Are Necropolis Knights good?
- Are Tomb Guard Chariots good?
- Are Necroserpents good?
My conclusion
Based on these results, I would use Skeleton Chariots to charge a target that is already busy fighting something else, with a clear lane. I would not charge Ironbreakers with them, or leave them where the enemy can charge them first.
FAQs
Why are Skeleton Chariots so bad when charged?
They lose their impact hits, which provide most of their damage. Their first-round output fell from 4.69 wounds charging to 1.70 receiving, and they won just 7% when charged.
Should I take Skeleton Chariots or Tomb Guard Chariots?
Tomb Guard Chariots if you can afford them: 78% charging and 25% receiving in my simulations, against 55% and 7%. They cost 159 points to the Skeleton Chariots’ 141.