They have two main disadvantages in that they occupy a Rare slot (competing with RBTs, Eagles and White Lions) and they cost 15 points per model, which makes them the most expensive infantry in the 6th edition HE book (tied with the Sea Guard of Lothern, but at least they are Core).raccoonhat wrote:Why is the Phoenix Guard so bad in this edition?
Eagles and RBTs are two of the best units in the book and you can only take 2 Rare units at 2000 to 2999 points games, so it becomes hard to justify picking Phoenix Guard over them.
Even if you somehow decide to take PG, you need to justify picking them over White Lions, the only source of S6 attacks in combat (besides Characters) who can also move freely through Forests (difficult terrain in 6th ed really slows you down so this is pretty good).
What do Phoenix Guard offer in 6th ed? They cause Fear, they have I6 which they can use since they wield halberds, and they have L9.
Fear is very strong in 6th edition mostly because if you win combat and outnumber the enemy they autobreak, but at 15 ppm it is not cost efficient to try and outnumber the enemy.
So what role can PG perform in an army? Their strengths besides Fear seem to be in grinding, because with I6 they attack before most units in the game, and with L9 and Fear it is difficult to break them.
This seems to suggest a niche role in breaking elite infantry, particularly Stubborn enemy infantry (elite infantry is expensive so you might outnumber them, with I6 you attack before they do and S4 is decent in 6ed).
However this is the only role they excel at compared to other units (SM grind better because of S5 I5, White Lions have S6 attacks so they are better can openers and shock troops, Spearelves are 4 points cheaper per model), and it is a very niche role because you aren't guaranteed the enemy is running Stubborn units, and even if he does infantry has difficulties picking their own combats.
And of course, PG are still T3 5+ AS models who die pretty easily unless they make a lot of wounds to reduce the return attacks (which is why SM are better grinders, with S5 and I5 they are more likely to make wounds, except against I5 or I6 troops which is essentially other Elves).
Considering all this, it is very difficult that 6ed PG would perform consistently, so in blind pick lists (where you don't know your enemy) they are not a good choice.
They are very good against Daemons and Undead because they are inmune to Fear and you can equip them with the Banner of Arcane Protection for MR2 and dealing extra wounds to them in the magic phase.
They are also decent against Elves because of I6 and Fear (you have a chance to outnumber here).
And that is about it, they mainly have a problem that their role is too niche and for a grinder infantry Spearelves are more cost effective, combined with competing for a Rare slot with RBTs and Eagles essentially dooms them to the shelves (at least White Lions can be made a Special unit with the Lion Guard honor).
The only thing that could make them unique is the combo Lion Guard Prince + Phoenix Guard, having a Stubborn unit which causes Fear is rather unique and makes a very solid infantry centre, but the cost of a 16 PG unit with full command is already 275 points, plus the Prince around 225p is around 500 points give or take. It can work perhaps, but you need to think how to properly support them (magic that protects from shooting is crucial here).