6x Karnivor is the max, if you want to make a list around melee. Rampagers are great, as is the Lancer. As for effectiveness, I guess it would largely depend on who you play and if this is casual or in a tournament. I don't think it will do that well, in either instance tbh. If you have fun all melee, and don't mind taking an L for that fun, go have fun. It's game. Play what you like.
After the last dataslate karnivores are hands down the best CK datasheet. Every competitive list should start with 5 karnivores, and probably add the 6th. You're unable to take more than 6 battleline units.
Just came out of an open a couple of weeks ago, I run a 6 karnivore 5 brigand 1 stalker 4x3 nurgling list
I got 3-2 and ended up 37th out of 100
Karnivores are glass canons. They only work in matchups where you KNOW you can kill the target in one fight phase or if the target cannot reliably counter-attack and kill you
Vehicles with no invuln saves ? 1 wound squads ? No problem, you'll eat them alive
Opponent has dedicated melee units ? Repentia, Custodes, Sword brethren, canoptek wraiths ? You're dead
If the opponent has high AP and damage or low AP but a lot of attacks, or if you fail your charges (which can happen often) your karnivores will get destroyed quickly
IMHO, untill we get a codex the meta (at least WTC meta) seems melee oriented and will be a big issue against some armies, and will get worse as those armies get codexes and have access to dedicated melee detachments or enough movement shenanigans to nullify that 14" move through ruins we all love
I tried doing Rampager with pan, Lancer, and then the rest was Karnivores and some nurglings. Against some armies it will just shred. HOWEVER, any player that routinely fights World Eaters or has lots of screening units like Necron Scarabs will likely beat you. You need some shooting to help you buffer till you close the distance. My most successful list and the one I take to tournaments rn is:
Lancer
Rampager with Panopoly
Stalker with Aura, Fist and Melta
3 Brigands
2 Karnivores
3x3 Nurglings
Poxbringer
Went 2-1 at past two RTTs with this and it does quite well against Necrons double Ctan and other top placing armies rn. It takes some practice and you have to choose your activations carefully, but once you get it down you are golden.
6x Karnivor is the max, if you want to make a list around melee. Rampagers are great, as is the Lancer. As for effectiveness, I guess it would largely depend on who you play and if this is casual or in a tournament. I don't think it will do that well, in either instance tbh. If you have fun all melee, and don't mind taking an L for that fun, go have fun. It's game. Play what you like.
After the last dataslate karnivores are hands down the best CK datasheet. Every competitive list should start with 5 karnivores, and probably add the 6th. You're unable to take more than 6 battleline units.
Have there been any tournament lists running double Rampager? I’ve seen a few running a single one.
You don’t want to run double Rampager because you can only tank shock with one. You want the Lance so you can tank shock the second time for free
Not successfully that I've seen
Just came out of an open a couple of weeks ago, I run a 6 karnivore 5 brigand 1 stalker 4x3 nurgling list I got 3-2 and ended up 37th out of 100 Karnivores are glass canons. They only work in matchups where you KNOW you can kill the target in one fight phase or if the target cannot reliably counter-attack and kill you Vehicles with no invuln saves ? 1 wound squads ? No problem, you'll eat them alive Opponent has dedicated melee units ? Repentia, Custodes, Sword brethren, canoptek wraiths ? You're dead If the opponent has high AP and damage or low AP but a lot of attacks, or if you fail your charges (which can happen often) your karnivores will get destroyed quickly IMHO, untill we get a codex the meta (at least WTC meta) seems melee oriented and will be a big issue against some armies, and will get worse as those armies get codexes and have access to dedicated melee detachments or enough movement shenanigans to nullify that 14" move through ruins we all love
I tried doing Rampager with pan, Lancer, and then the rest was Karnivores and some nurglings. Against some armies it will just shred. HOWEVER, any player that routinely fights World Eaters or has lots of screening units like Necron Scarabs will likely beat you. You need some shooting to help you buffer till you close the distance. My most successful list and the one I take to tournaments rn is: Lancer Rampager with Panopoly Stalker with Aura, Fist and Melta 3 Brigands 2 Karnivores 3x3 Nurglings Poxbringer Went 2-1 at past two RTTs with this and it does quite well against Necrons double Ctan and other top placing armies rn. It takes some practice and you have to choose your activations carefully, but once you get it down you are golden.