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Hi all,

I've made a first attempt at a Guard list. Would love to get your take on it; as I've never really utilised them as a pure Guard army. Always thrown in space marines of some sort. Thanks in advance!

++ Combined Arms Detachment (Astra Militarum: Codex (2014) v2000) ++

+ HQ +

Tank Commander
Battle Tank [Heavy Bolter]
Battle Tank [Heavy Bolter]
Command Vanquisher [2x Plasma Cannons, Camo Netting, Extra Armour, Knight Commander Pask, Lascannon, Pintle-mounted Storm Bolter, Warlord]

Primaris Psyker [Force Staff, Psyker Mastery Level 2]

+ Elites +

Militarum Tempestus Platoon
Militarum Tempestus Command Squad [Tempestus Scion w/ Flamer, Tempestus Scion w/ Medi-pack, Tempestus Scion w/ Platoon Standard]
Commissar [Bolt Pistol, Power Sword]
Tempestor Prime [Orders, Plasma Pistol, Power Sword]
Tempestus Scion w/ Vox-caster [Hot-shot Laspistol]

Militarum Tempestus Scions [Tempestus Scion, 2x Tempestus Scion w/ Meltagun]
Tempestor [Close Combat Weapon, Plasma Pistol]
Tempestus Scion w/ Vox-caster [Hot-shot Lasgun]

Militarum Tempestus Scions [Tempestus Scion, 2x Tempestus Scion w/ Meltagun]
Tempestor [Close Combat Weapon, Plasma Pistol]
Tempestus Scion w/ Vox-caster [Hot-shot Lasgun]

+ Troops +

Infantry Platoon
Infantry Squad [5x Guardsman, Guardsman w/ Plasma Gun, Guardsman w/ Vox-caster, Lascannon Team]
Sergeant [Bolter, Close Combat Weapon]

Infantry Squad [5x Guardsman, Guardsman w/ Plasma Gun, Guardsman w/ Vox-caster, Lascannon Team]
Sergeant [Bolter, Close Combat Weapon]

Platoon Command Squad [Guardsman w/ Plasma Gun]
Guardsman w/ Medi-pack [Lasgun]
Guardsman w/ Platoon Standard [Lasgun]
Guardsman w/ Vox-caster [Lasgun]
Platoon Commander [Bolter, Close Combat Weapon, Orders]
Taurox [Augur Array, Fire Barrels]

Veterans [Grenadiers, Veteran w/ Grenade Launcher, 4x Veteran w/ Lasgun, Veteran w/ Plasma Gun]
Veteran Missile Launcher Team [Lasgun]
Veteran Sergeant [Bolt Pistol, Close Combat Weapon]
Veteran w/ Vox-caster [Lasgun]

Veterans [Grenadiers, Veteran w/ Grenade Launcher, 4x Veteran w/ Lasgun, Veteran w/ Plasma Gun]
Veteran Missile Launcher Team [Lasgun]
Veteran Sergeant [Bolt Pistol, Close Combat Weapon]
Veteran w/ Vox-caster [Lasgun]

+ Heavy Support +

Thunderer Squadron
Thunderer Siege Tank


Comes in at 1775 at the moment.

This would also allow me to take the start collecting formation from the Militarum Tempestus box. So that I can continue to suicide deep strike a melta squad -as long as the commissar stays alive.

I'm pretty sure that if you utilize the formation you take it as a formation detachment, not use the Scions in a Scion platoon in the elite slot.

Not really much reason to mix a missile launcher and a plasma gun in a vet squad. You'll generally want to kit them out for a set purpose, not mix and match. Also don't bother giving regular guardsmen plasma guns, it's just not worth it. Again with the mixing and matching it's not a great idea, if they've got a lascanon you'll generally want them in the backline sniping vehicles which means that plasma gun isn't going to be doing much anyways unless you're shooting at light vehicles, but even then it's not a terribly great anti-vehicle weapon.

You'd probably be better off just outright dropping the single infantry platoon and giving your vets chimeras and taking another squad of vets. A single infantry platoon isn't going to do a lot on its own as they tend to die quickly, you either want a lot of regular guardsmen or a bunch of mobile vets.

Awesome thanks for the tips Anderan.

I tried to add the Hellrain Brigade formation but Battlescribe didn't seem to have it. So assumed I just pay for the models, and as long as I meet the requirement I can take the formation?

Will take another look at your comments in more detail.

The formation is under Militarum Tempestus instead of the Astra Militarum, it's a subtle difference but it impacts the orders they have available to them. Also don't forget the formation requires a Taurox Prime.

Anderan has already given you some good feedback. Your list looks good. You have a solid firebase of 3 Russ tanks and 36 or so troopers while you run a PCS in Taurox, Thunderer, and 25 storm troopers around.

I’m guessing you took all the extraneous wargear because you lack IG models. If so, that’s cool for now. But once you get more models I strongly encourage you to drop the bulk of your upgrades (camo netting, grenadiers, plasma pistols, standards, power swords, etc.). As you know, boys before toys. I counted roughly 170ish points saved if you dropped most of your upgrades (although I suspect you will want to keep your augur array). With the points saved there are many different directions you can go with your list: add a 30-trooper conscript blob w preacher so you can contest midfield objectives and to tarpit, a low-budget CCS with mortar and vox for the really good orders (hide em behind a wall or hill), a commissar to keep your 20-trooper lascannon blob from running, etc.

Also, I don’t really recommend putting 3 tanks in your tank commander’s squadron. As any veteran IGer knows, Russes die to assault easily these days so you might as well run 1 of your 3 Russes as a solo Russ. That way the enemy will at least have to chew through 2 units instead of just 1 unit.

Welcome to the guard!

Ah what a wolly!

Of course the formation is under Militarum Tempestus! Adjusted that into the list now.

I will take a hard look at your tips Tallarn Commander. Looks like really solid advice.

I have a 1500 doubles tonight were I will be testing out a slightly smaller version will let you know how it goes!

For small chages: without completly rewriting your list

The storm bolter on the vanquisher, it's an anti tank model so your bolter is wasted, if you ever do buy a pintle gun the stubber is always a better choice. Same goes for the plasma cannon sponsons, change those for multimeltas. Your opponent will come close enough to make them effective.

I would swap the lascannons and Missle launchers. Vets have a better bs so give them the better gun.

You pay a bunch of points for the scions to have ap3 lasguns. Then go and pay more points to take that away and give 1 a flamer. Also that power weapon....with only 5 man squads you're most likely to die before you ever get to attack.

If you have the models take some of that extra stuff out drop the platoon standard buy a normal HQ command squad and give it a regimental standard. The reroll moral for everyone nearby will help lots.

Basic strategy for guard is don't over load units with war gear if you can. They all die fast so it's better to buy more than trying to make them better.

For building a list you should have a role for each unit in mind when you put it in the list, and make it do that job. Unlike marines that can do everything.

Also don't be afraid to sacrifice units. It's a hard strategy for a lot of marine players to learn but it's great to have an infantry unit to step up and surround a death star unit and stand there so he has to assault only them,. Then you get another round of shooting as another unit steps up and does it again. Don't let your opponent kill you units on your turn by charging if it isn't going to pay off