Editing Warhammer Army Project/Vampire Counts (section)

==Building Your Army==
===Army Composition===
The counts' army are the epitome of ''super hammers'' and ''immortal anvils''.

Your core will be filled with holding lines of zombie units that can grow faster than killed (may not be true anymore) and Skeleton that can fight back and use armor to brick longer if the enemy has blenders. The core is also filled with the fast beasts chaff to distract enemy hammers and archers. You also have ghosts to anvil and chaff more against non-magical soldiers.

your front line can also have a little more bite with buffed Graveguard or Crypt Ghoul or Crypt Horrors on the wings of the zombies.

then your left with many options for hammers from cheap, big brutes, monsters, to vampires.

Then finally for heroes, your left with a choice between trying to go [[hero hammer]] with vampires, magic supremacy with wizard spam or double down on hammer and anvil with two cheap necromancy casters.

Either way, always have one or two necromancers in a bunker or out of enemy reach.

===Vampire Builds===
The vampire with their Clans, powers, plus magic weapons can create many different characters.

*'''Von Carstein:''' They are a balance bloodline between martial skills and spell casting. this blend and the VAMPIRE LORD having a Ld of 10 make them candidates for generals. they get the biggest selection of powers,(most focused on fear-based debuffs, and making your bats and wolfs better).  Just spec into a little of everything and you have a general that can fight, duel, cast spells, and hold the army together.
**'''Von Carstein Quagmire:''' Fear Incarnate makes enemy only hit on 6s, Supernatural Horror gives terror, Transfix makes a big monster not fight, and Aura of Dark Majesty is a - 1 ld. Mix in Lore of Death/shadows plus standard Warrior Gear you have a vampire that's hard to attack while causing them to flee with a charge or a few wounds.  

*'''Necrarch Caster:''' pure casting with all vampire lore + Metal and Heavens, and casting based powers. They are Necromancers+ more versatility, casting, and a better fighter despite being a dedicated wizard. The only defense is Regeneration (4+) from Curse of The Revenant or other magic item wards. 
**Master of the Black Arts, Forbidden Lore, Nehekhara's Noble Blood is pure Ulta caster and Dark Acolyte adds more resurrection if your a necromancer.
**for mounts, unless your list needs a zombie dragon, keeping it down to a Hellstead, Barded Nighmare, or the Flying Horror power is enough.

*'''Blood Dragon Fighter:''' no arguing that they are the best default vampire fighters. Already with heavy armor and buy a shield and other Mondaine weapons if you don't need magic items. 

*'''Strigoi:''' Although they can't take weapons with only their Natural Armour (6+), T6/5, and Curse of the Revenant power, generic armour, or a talisman for protection, they are cheaper fighters and have the lore of beasts and deployment tricks with the crypt ghouls like an ambush. They have hatred and are so good at hitting. 
**'''Strigoi In the face:''' Take him with Hunter in the Dark, Ghoulkin or on Terrorgheist, and other combat powers. now have a Super beast turn one in the enemy's potential flank (can's charge first turn with scout so needs to be placed in cover). 

*'''Lahmian Shadow dualist:''' Although Blood Dragons specialize in melee and armour, Lahmias is a better caster/dualist hybrid. Should take additional hand weapon, light armour, and Poisoned Attacks upgrades for duals. They have several powers that help with killing and not killed by heroes, Innocence Lost(ASF, and rolling hits because you're faster), Lightning Reflexes, and Quickblood is your defense.
**Transfix could make heroes sitting ducks but need a bad roll.
**For magic items, consider something to boost your strength past a mere 5 and/or more attacks. Add Glittering scales or Nightshroud, and you have a hard-to-kill duelist and caster.

*'''Lahmian siege engine:''' Lahmians are no joke on a Coven Throne, Ton of attacks and lots of protection, and a bound spell that for our purposes lets her reroll wounds. Stacking more things: Poisoned Attacks, Nightshroud, Innocence Lost, Lore of Shadows. It will run you 515pts with 40 left for other gear. 
**Your enemy will have to overcome T5 4+/4++, ASL, pass a contested roll or may not hit, -1 to wound rolls, and be stripped of all their strength bonuses.
**On your side, your extra slippery with Shadows giving you 12" movement with every cast and debuffing enemies more. Mountains of attacks on top of Rerolling hits from ASF, Rerolling, and +1 to wound, plus other gear.

===Magic===
*'''Shadow:''' with everything being so weak it's easier to drag the enemy below, than rise above them. Lots of debuffing and each casting grants 12" on your Vampires movement. 

*'''Death:''' A good choice, with buffs and debuffs inaction of generating more dice, though you've got to be pretty close to an enemy for some spells. Doom and Darkness synergize well with your Fear and Terror causing units. Soulblight makes hitting things easer. Purple Sun may not be good if it hits more of your own Low Initiative units then the enemy. 

*'''Necromancy:''' The necessary magic that keeps units at the proper size and makes undead less weak. good to always take at least two lv1 wizards with this.

*'''Beasts:''' only available to STRIGOI and Zacharias. with the STRIGOI Lord can only reach lv2. Shame he can't ''The Savage Beast of Horro'', he has access to all the spell he needs. Adds buffing versatility as not many lores can boost your strength and toughness. S&T4 zombies or skeletons with spears is a pain to deal with using ''Wyssan's Wildform'', then remember that blood knights give you a +1 to cast because they are cavalry.

*'''Metal:''' Necharch only. the anti plate mail option. also, make your Undead blobs (preferably Grave guard) more durable and dangerous.

*'''Heavens:''' Necharch only. a mixed Magic Missle lore, letting your Zombies hit first for once with Iceshard Blizzard or Disintegrating knights with Higher-level Lighting spells.

*'''Fire:''' Zacharias only. more magic missiles and +1 to wound. You have better use of a named vampire.

*'''Light:''' Zacharias only. zombies now hit first, and counter other undead and deamon famous.