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I realize that this isn't so much a post about tactics, but, what it IS is a question as to which sniper unit is the best in the game, and why, which could be due to tactics.

Round-about, sure, but, what are the best sniper units in this game? What are some of the worst? Are some more suited to certain tasks rather than others?

I've been a long-time lurker, but, figured I'd go ahead and get this question I've asked myself for a few months to those who knew better.

Eldar Pathfinders, Easily. They can hole up in a building and get a 2+ cover save and any shots that hit on a five or six count as Ap1. They can kill terminators and Tyranid Monstrous creatures and are hard to root out of cover.

Depends what you are sniping at.

But Pathfinders are pretty good. I do like Vindicare as well, but that's for coolness factor, rather than efficiency.

All sniper units have their place.

However, since there are really only Marine Scouts, Eldar Pathfinders, and Tau Sniper Drones...I put my vote on Tau Sniper Drones.

Thye OP could be reerring to "snipers" in a more general sense- long ranged precision hitters, rather than a Sniper in the traditional sense.

lol "A Sniper is a Marine, highly skilled in field craft and marksmanship who delivers long range precision fire on selected targets from concealed positions, in support of combat operations." Straight from the USMC Scout Sniper handbook, lol

But honestly from me... Id say Marine Scouts. Not only do they play the role of the sniper, using their long range capabilities, but they (the squad the sniper is in) can be equiped with a range (small one) of heavy weapons to use against whatever you need if the precision fire isnt so precise.

Well vindicare assassins ability to target IC's will come in handy when your fighting orks now. Goodbye 5+ cover save shield, hello whirlwind and vindicator pie plates. I know since I plop down 2 full loota squads in the open wherever the best field of fire happens to be with only the mekboy shield for cover, its going to hurt when he is targeted and dropped.

Stelek wrote:All sniper units have their place.

However, since there are really only Marine Scouts, Eldar Pathfinders, and Tau Sniper Drones...I put my vote on Tau Sniper Drones.

Vindicare, Ratlings, and IG snipers also.

Stelek wrote:All sniper units have their place.

However, since there are really only Marine Scouts, Eldar Pathfinders, and Tau Sniper Drones...I put my vote on Tau Sniper Drones.

really? i would have never even thought of them, if you lay 4 shots on them, and you force the spotter to take it and he fails his awsome 4+ save, whoops! whole squad is gone!

spotting rocks, that is true, but the ability to be taken out that eaisly is a major drawback in my book.

marines are good. i like eldar pathfinders alot, its close between the 2 of them, but marines can have a missile launcher or a heavy bolter, which for practicality means they can be more all around effective.

I'd have to vote for Pathfinders.

They have two things going for them beyond the normal Sniper rules.

First, they can get AP1 shots, which is huge, but more importantly, their great cover save allows them to play the Sniper role that much better. They force you to come root them out, which serves the rest of the army by setting up units for ambush.

Sorry I don't count IG snipers and ratlings (nor Ork snipers). You don't need them in a IG or Ork list, and they don't really do a whole lot for you anyway.

Tau Sniper Drones are better than the rest because they are sneaky gits and they don't die unless you drop pod or get in assault range of them. Plus they are effective against vehicles and kill marines outright.

Knowing from military experiance, all in all...snipers go out, willingly in less than protective gear, which plays its part in the game, ie letting them infiltrate, their low armor saves, but do to their abilities in camofladge (which arent truley represented in the game besides possibly an invul save and/or maybe a plus to their cover save), they can be effective, but you cant put them on the same line as regular infantry, they are specialist units (duh) who play a high risk roll, knowing death is very possible. Its how you use them that counts.

When i play IG got to have one squad of them (and not the damn space hobbits) snipers for the high toughness guys out there it helps

@Redmond know were you are coming from AL anbar 05-06 PA Guard, spotter/heavy weapon guy

Sorry back on topic have to say eldar pathfinders

I think that purely by the models ratlings are the winners hands-down. But gamewise i'd go with eldar pathfinders. AP1 and 2+coversave is pretty good even if the can't take a rocket launcher.

No kiddin?! I was in Al Qaim (Al Anbar), Scout Sniper, WPNS company, last year March 1-Sept 24th...Im currently in Al Anbar, again, but further SE of where I was before. (off topic)

The little ratlings are good (model wise) basically cause their small as hell

Redmond wrote:No kiddin?! I was in Al Qaim (Al Anbar), Scout Sniper, WPNS company, last year March 1-Sept 24th...Im currently in Al Anbar, again, but further SE of where I was before. (off topic)

Are you active duty guys even allowed to associate on these forums while
working? Or does it depend?

off topic if we are off on down time

sorry i'll keep on topic them halflings i just hate the hairy feet

We are allowed to post, just not give out any specific information on current events, otherwise known as OPSEC (operational security)..so Im good right now to do this.

I would vote for sniper drones. Expensive yes, but hard to see (let alone hit) and they have a gun that doesnt rely on "rending" to bypass armour.

Stelek wrote:All sniper units have their place.

However, since there are really only Marine Scouts, Eldar Pathfinders, and Tau Sniper Drones...I put my vote on Tau Sniper Drones.

Each one of these has a good advantage
Eldar Pathfinders (2+ save when given upgrades and also ignores saves on a 6)
Marine Snipers (Infiltrate and reasonable points cost)
Tau Snipers (Stealth ability)
Ratlings (sorry don't know any stats for ratlings so haven't included them)

I rarely used the infiltrate with the scouts which for me made taking them worthless, I'd be better off taking standard marines. So IMHO I'd say that the Eldar Pathfinders are proberly the best to take for points cost, reliability and durability.

Ratlings>SM scout snipers by themselves.

Infiltrate, bonus to cover and cheaper for the same offensive punch.

They just have a lower tougness.

Ratlings are dirt cheap, gain a +1 to cover, and will never run away from shooting (they can chose to be pinned instead). If you are simply looking for 10 Sniper Rifles, they're your boys. They also use an often unused IG elites slot, but they do cost a doctrine.

SM snipers are IMO only good for filling a mandatory troops slot.

Tau Sniper Drones are nice, but use a heavy support slot that the Tau desperatly need for anti-tank. If you have the slot available, they're good, but they pay for what they can do.

Pathfinders are affordable, durable from shooting, have sniper rifles that actually hurt the enemy, and use troops slots. They combine the effectiveness of Sniper drones with the availabilty of SM snipers, making them the best choice when factoring in all possible variables.

Dark Angels Snipers probably qualify as a separate choice from generic Marine snipers. They take up an Elites slot, but gain the Combat Squads rule. They also come with a useless (in that role) Veteran Sergeant. They're probably on the lower rung along with IG Special Weapon team Snipers.

This is WAY OT, but your panda always makes me sad when I see it, lol

dont forget that eldar pathfinders also have infiltrate, scout and move through cover if i remember correctly

My favorite sniper unit is a squad of 10 kroot snipers. Now I'm leaving pathfinders and vindicares out of this. I've found that it isn't always easy to make back a vindies point cost and a couple bum cover saves will cost you a very expensive unit of pathfinders.

Kroot snipers are 8 pts each, have a 4+ cover save in woods, infiltrate and can see through 12" of woods. They also have a manditory 21pt 3w vet serg. Give him a power weapon and put them in a building or in some woods 12" from the edges and watch them rock. The only downside is that they are aheavy choice and any army other than kroot mercs can only take 1 unit.

I often use two or three units in my kroot army and they're very nasty. I also often use one to add some cheap and fairly survivable snipers to my ork and chaos armies. Unlike most snipers kroot won't be wiped out in one turn of close combat should an enemy unit get the drop on you. And giving the shaper a power weapon or trading his rifle for an evicerator makes a mean surprise for anyone who charges you while you're in cover.