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I don't own any sisters models, but I was looking over my Witch Hunters stuff and wondered: has the Mechanized Sisters list become/remained viable?

With a good BS and Armor Save, access to nice special weapons, and a variety of transports, couldn't Sisters give quite a pounding in short ranged fire fights?  A full squad of Sisters with a Veteran and a smoked, armored Rhino doesn't quite run you 200 points -- not a bad deal.

Has the proliferation of marine-busting plasmaguns and general anti light vehicle weapons made this list idea untenable, or is it possible?

I figure an all-sisters list with a Cannoness with jump pack and toys, two Sisters squads in Rhinos, a Seraphim squad, a Retributor squad in an immolator, and an Excorcist could be quite a powerful, compact threat basket.

-Adso

They have been viable since they received their codex, and became more powerful with 4th ed.

An extremely balanced codex.

Mech sisters is the preffered way to play, but not the only way. Especially when you take Cities of death into consideration.

They do become rather formulaic after awhile though. No longer a challenge, so to speak. The reson being is that:
*You see an enormous amount of exorcists, theyre just that good.
*Sister squads for all comers are all the same
*Seraphim
*Divine guidance everywhere possible
*etc.

I still love my army, but play them not nearly as frequently anymore because its a very predicatable list for the most part.

I play against Sisters a lot, almost weekly at this point.

Mech Sisters are competitive, but like a lot of armies they really rely on only a few units:

Jump Pack/2+ Save Cannoness
Mounted Sister Squads
Seraphim
Exorcists

That's the short list of what you need to make a competitive army.

You can do well. If there isn't a lot of terrain a Marine SAFH will wreak your day, a lot of things can give you trouble, but with a decent terrain setup and some experience with the list, you can do pretty well with it.

As Stated above. Mech Sisters are quite competitive, especially in 4th, but it is hard to get variety in a take-all-comers 'standard' 40k SOB list. There just aren't a lot of incentives to take anything other than what has already been mentioned (Zealots had been somewhat viable in 3rd, but in 4th just really aren't a great option). Sure, you may see a list with retributors w/HB or celestians in a rhino, but more likely not (especially at 1000-1500 points).

Having said that, COD is a great setting if you want to take a 'freak show' list (zealots, priests, penitent engines, etc.).

dear god yes

for a pure sisters force mechanized is the way to go to get your short/medium range firepower into play.

 

i know one guy who start CC themes with flagelants, penitents and repentia but eventually tossed them all in favor or rhinos, exorcists(a must to balance sisters short range shooting), seraphim and lots of flamers

 

 

although pesonally if i went with a sisters transport it would be all FW repressors for the extra heavy flamer and firing slots. its like a sisters specific rhino >

Interesting...looking at it all, I was worried that the 'death in transport' issue would apply to the list, but perhaps not.

What allies from the many options would the mech sisters list benefit from the most? Guardsmen to bulk up the numbers and provide some more weaponry? Perhaps a couple of Armored Fist squads? Or some Marine units to provide even heavier firepower and armor, or some powerful close combat support?

I'd lean towards a Cannoness, a Celestian bodyguard in an Immolator, two squads of Sisters, one Exorcist, and some ally...either Assault Marines and/or Landspeeders or Guard Armored Fist squads and/or Sentinels (the only way to get some lascannons in).

-Adso

The best allies for a mech sisters list is more mech sisters. At 209 points for the standard 10 sister + Rhino load out, you aren't exactly going to be rolling around in free points.

The problem is, I can tell you exactly how to play you're army, and it will work, and be the same as all of the other sisters armies that work.

You want your Cannonness to have a blessed weapon, jump back, cloack of St. Aspira and an inferno pistol. You may even want a second (with an Eciscerator as the BW is 01).

You want three or four sisters squads, they're your bread and butter

Exorcists work well in pairs and best in triplicate

And no reason for assault marines when you can take Seraphim, arguably one of the best units in the game!

For the record, you can't take marines in a force that includes sisters (Though you could take 1 HQ, 1 elite, 2 troops and a fast from the sisters list and put them in a marines list)

You don't need lascannons with all of those exorcist missiles and melta guns running around, believe me!

You can't take marines with sisters as the parent list. You can however make full use of DH allies, Grey Knights to be specific. They add a nice heavy assault punch to the army, but are quite pricey.

Hmmm...while they do sound deadly enough, I dislike boring forces.

I've been hunting for a regular opponent for my budding Guard, and a misguided force of Sisters was one option. Looks like I oughta keep searching.

-Adso

brother adso if your taking exorcists your taking 2 to 3 or none. 1 exorcist will die in turn 1. it is the single major long range threat the sistes have. especially since it is AP1

coffin of death rhinos are a weakness but it can be negated by skillful use of terrain. sisters don'tt rhino rush et all 3rd edition. but because thier shooting is so short ranged they need to get close which means mechanized. especially if you bring along that nice assault 1 heavy flamer. 

 

the other things you have to remember about sisters-the shoot like marines which is good, they save like marines which is good, they are only S/T 3 which is bad...but they have faith points which can win you the game. which is why more sistes is always good in a sisters force to get those points.

 

they main problem with most sisters CC stuff as my friend discovered-you can't controll them once they activate.......a bunch of flagelants attacking something they can't even hurt because they have to charge the nearest enemy unit just really sucks for a sisters player.

if you want to be really annoying you can go seraphim heavy and take saint celestine......she just keeps coming back even if she dies lol

 

oh and if you don't want to be locked in CC with say a gaunt squad-drive a rhino up to it, pop the heavy flamer sister out the top hatch, burn them and drive away since they cant get through the AV 10/11 anyway(more effective with a repressor but still works) >

Its extremely competetive, but sadly its extremely boring and formulamatic once you get the hang of it.

You dont have to worry about "coffins of death" simply because smoke covers that weakness for the turn your exposed till you jump out and flame and bolter to death the problem.

Its only later turns you have to worry...but between like 5 rhinos and 3 exorcists.....there really isnt much you cant handle.

I would disagree about the 'boring' part. Sure, they have some good units (exorcists), but no-one is holding a gun to your head and making you take them. They are one of the last lists in the game that has things like D6 attacks and other randomness built in, so I think they really are the antithesis of 'boring'. Plus what with all the crazy things you can do with faith points, most games will end up pretty different.

Take arco flagellents. Sure they may die, but they may also rip apart that genestealer squad....

Also, they have all those great anti-psyker weapons. How cool is that (and this from an Eldar Player)..


Oh.. Yeah. Mech sisters are totally viable

I think there is another list which could be viable. With a witch hunters (WH) list you can take inducted guard. I think you could build a SAFH list with sisters.

Fill out your compulsary troops with 2 five man stormtrooper double plas squads. Use guard infantry platoons with max lascannons as your anti tank. Take 3 units of retributors as your Heavy. Give them 2-3 heavy bolters per unit. Upgrade the sister superior so they generate faith. These form the bulk of your gun line. A standard Cannoness leads the force. Spend leftovers on 'phim for objective grabbing, counter assault, and harassment.

Here's another cute option.  142 grabs you an elite choice inquisitor and a callidus assassin. A character who chooses to pass or fail moral tests is pretty cool, can we say special or heavy weapon guard squad?   A callidus might be the most underrated unit in 40k.  Going first?  Hammerhead or falcon with harlequins spends turn 1 floating over level 3 area terrain.  Problems with a battlesuit team?  No problem, you WILL get to assault them!  

I don't play sisters or guard, but I constantly play against them. I think this list could be a nice break from the rhino rush. 

Wow...
I hadn't thought of using the calidus quite like that.

Push the opponents HW squads straight to the front, out in the open, waiting to be shot and assaulted. ...

Dig on that.

I love the Callidus.  IMHO...she is the epitomy of balance.  She can't take down a powerful character or squad on her own, but she excels at sewing confusion amoungst the enemy ranks. 

Polymorphine + Jump Back + A Word in Your Ear are a thinking man's best friend! 
The neural shredder rolls D3 on the glancing hits table against vehicles, which is also a hoot!

The key word in the totle is "competative". A cpetative sisters army is mechanized. And its formulamatic. I comepletely stand by that statement. Having played them consistantly since 2nd ed.....

None of the freak show stuff is. I LIEK arcos.....but they arent that competative.

And no, I dont know what game YOUR playing, but they dont rip apart genestealers. Not without luck. Stealers are going at I6, acros something like I3 OR 4.

Invulnerable saves are nice, but its 4+.....you're going to lose your 6 models faster than a tyarnid player is losing his stealers.

My attempt at a SAFH Sisters list.  This comes out to ~1500 pts with a model count of around 80!

The problem is that I keep running into is that heavy weapons are very expensive on guardsmen!

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</td> <td>
</td> <td> </td> </tr> <tr height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;"> <td height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">Retributors</td> <td align="right" x:num="">7</td> <td align="right" x:num="">4x Heavy Bolter</td> <td> </td> </tr> <tr height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;"> <td height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">VSS w. Book</td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> </tr> <tr height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;"> <td height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;"> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> </tr> <tr height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;"> <td height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">Retributors</td> <td align="right" x:num="">7</td> <td align="right" x:num="">4x Heavy Bolter</td> <td> </td> </tr> <tr height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;"> <td height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">VSS w. Book</td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> </tr> <tr height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;"> <td height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;"> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> </tr> <tr height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;"> <td height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">Retributors</td> <td>                   8</td> <td>     4x Heavy Bolter</td> <td> </td> </tr> <tr height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;"> <td height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;"> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> </tr> <tr height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;"> <td height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">Troops</td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> </tr> <tr height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;"> <td height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;"> </td> <td>
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</td> <td> </td> </tr> <tr height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;"> <td height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">Storm Troopers</td> <td align="right" x:num="">5</td> <td align="right" x:num="">2X Plasmagun</td> <td> </td> </tr> <tr height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;"> <td height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;"> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> </tr> <tr height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;"> <td height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">Storm Troopers</td> <td align="right" x:num="">5</td> <td align="right" x:num="">2X Plasmagun</td> <td> </td> </tr> <tr height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;"> <td height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;"> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> </tr> <tr height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;"> <td height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">Junior Officer</td> <td align="right" x:num="">5</td> <td style="" colspan="2">Missile Launcher</td> </tr> <tr height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;"> <td height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">Inducted IG</td> <td align="right" x:num="">10</td> <td>Lascannon</td> <td> </td> </tr> <tr height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;"> <td height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">Inducted IG</td> <td align="right" x:num="">10</td> <td style="" colspan="2">Missile Launcher</td> </tr> <tr height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;"> <td height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">Inducted IG</td> <td align="right" x:num="">10</td> <td style="" colspan="2">Missile Launcher</td> </tr> <tr height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;"> <td height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;"> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> </tr> <tr height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;"> <td height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">HQ</td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> </tr> <tr height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;"> <td height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">Canoness</td> <td align="right" x:num="">1</td> <td style="" colspan="2">Jump-Pack, Blesses Weapon</td> </tr> <tr height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;"> <td height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;"> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> </tr> <tr height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;"> <td height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">Elites</td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> </tr> <tr height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;"> <td height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">Inquisitor</td> <td align="right" x:num="">1</td> <td style="" colspan="2">Bolt Pistol, CCW</td> </tr> <tr height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;"> <td height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;"> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> </tr> <tr height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;"> <td height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;" colspan="2">Callidus Assassin</td> <td> </td> <td> </td> </tr> <tr height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;"> <td height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;"> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> </tr> <tr height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;"> <td height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">Fast</td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> </tr> <tr height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;"> <td height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;"> </td> <td> </td> <td>HandFlamers</td> <td>VSS w. Evisorator, Book</td> </tr> <tr height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;"> <td height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">Serpephim</td> <td align="right" x:num="">6</td> <td align="right" x:num="">14</td> <td align="right" x:num="">1</td> </tr> <tr height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;"> <td height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;"> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> </tr> <tr height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;"> <td height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;"> </td> <td> </td> <td>HandFlamers</td> <td>VSS w. Evisorator, book</td> </tr> <tr height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;"> <td height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">Serpephim</td> <td align="right" x:num="">6</td> <td align="right" x:num="">14</td> <td align="right" x:num="">1</td> </tr> </tbody> </table>