Assault Terminators- Lightning claws or Thunder hammers?

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**Lord Bingo**

The point of this thread is to see how people equip there assault terminators and why. If you do answer the poll please state why you equip them that way and how there used.

**Trench-Raider**

I use a mix of both. First and foremost it's because I don't have enough of either on hand to make a full strength squad. But also, the lightning claws will reduce the number of enemy models that have a chance to attack my thunder hammer guys before they strike. Also the claws are a bit more useful against large units, thus giving me a good mix.

TR

**Anung Un Rama**

I don't play Space Marines (Hurr) but I would use Claws since normal Terminators already have slow CC weapons. On the other hand, if I would play Salanders I'd go with Hammers of course.

**ArbitorIan**

Thunder Hammers are considered the better weapon i think, partlt because of the 3+ Invulnerable.

However a mix of both is the most flexible. You can kill some enemies before they attack back, and you can take advantage of the wound allocation rules...

**Razerous**

Both.

If an IC joins the squad of assault termies you will usually have that IC fighting with a normal I weapons, so getting one or two assault marines to also strike at I4 (albeit at lower strengths) to thin out the ranks uses the force availible well.

**Caffran9**

Mix of both. I tend to prefer 1 pair of LCs for every 3 TH/SS.

Getting some shots in at i4 is helpful, especially against basic troops and other weaker infantry. The Hammers are just extremely solid with str8 and a 3+ invulnerable save though.

**Alphus**

From what I have fought against with my *cough* Nobz on bikes squad tends to be the same: Crusader containing a chaplain, Vulkan, 2 Lightning claw and 4 Thunder hammer terminators.

With my marine army that i play with only takes shooting terminators. I run two squads of five terminators with NO upgrades.

**0ldsk00l**

I have done pretty well with all thinderhammer/stormshields, mainly because I dont transport them, so the access to a 3+ invuln on all models helps against the angry demoliher cannons and plasma guns/cannons that everyone is packing these days. That being said, I am considering taking 2 claws next time around (out of 10) to help thin out the return swings.

**pavonis**

Depends on your local metagame AND what you have more fun playing.

Honestly, if you put two 6-man squads of terminators against each other, the LC termies would, at the end of 3 turns, beat the TH/SS by 2-3 still standing if they got the assault, or would win by 1-2 if the TH/SS got the assault. Adding Vulkan and it's an even stand-off.
It also depends on what you are fighting. With lot's of MC's or high toughness or multi-wound models like ork nobs, the TH is king.
If your opponent has lot's of low AP weapons, the SS rules.
Keeping your termies in a land raider or in cover except when assaulting, then the LC will chew things up.
Just like with all of marines, a good balance seems to work the best. I like the 1:3 or 1:5 ratio. I used to run 50/50, but it gets tough because you want to put your wounds on the SS instead of your LC's, but also lose those TH attacks if they die.

**Casper**

I play with a mix of both. Since I play DA we dont get a fancy 3++ save, but I find that my mix of 1 LC 4 TH/SS plus a interrigator chap, in a LR they work reall evectivly. The LC and Chap take care of lots of light infantry with their power wep and the TH/SS are their to clean up (and wound alocation).

Idealy I would run 1 squad of each with the chap going with the LC but I'm not quite that far yet with my DA.

**Steelmage99**

Mix of both with a slight advantage given to Claws. The Hammers are there in case of the odd vehicle coming along, and providing a 3+ invulnerable when needed.

**whitedragon**

If you are playing the new codex:SM, then all TH/SS all the way. Maybe 1 lightning claw guy to make it a complex unit if you want. The 3+ invulnerable is too good to pass up.

If you are playing any other marine codex, then you want more lightning claws, with a 4:1 or 3:2 ratio, since you only get a 4+ invulnerable. Plus, if you are templars or BA, re-rolling lightning claws are pretty mean.

**Ludovic**

Another one for mixture but haven't played with them yet so I won't vote.

Many people seem to prefer 3 LC and 2 TH/SS, but I'd go 2 LC and 3 TH/SS, the LC are there for wound allocation and so you have a chance to wipe out damaged CC stuff before they can hurt you. Nearly any time you're going 1 on 1 point wise, either you're gonna win anyway with TH/SS or you're gonna lose anyway even with LC. For instance a unit of 25 Boyz w klawnob will do 91 points to LC termies versus 71 from the LC with the termies on the charge even with combat resolution.

pavonis wrote: Honestly, if you put two 6-man squads of terminators against each other, the LC termies would, at the end of 3 turns, beat the TH/SS by 2-3 still standing if they got the assault, or would win by 1-2 if the TH/SS got the assault. Adding Vulkan and it's an even stand-off.

My Mathhammer says that LC would indeed win if they got the charge, but would lose if they were charged by TH/SS. OTOH the TH/SS would lose if you assumed no charges, so against each other the LC still comes out ahead but the TH/SS still are more survivable from shooting.

**Emrab**

Simply put I play BA and the claws just have more attacks to tear though units. Its also the fact that my terminators are still stuck with the 4+

**Sirius42**

lightning claws, I play templars and LC plus templar vow plus furious assault is pretty unstoppable on the charge (s5 i5, re roll to hit and to wound)

**Emrab**

Sirius42 wrote:lightning claws, I play templars and LC plus templar vow plus furious assault is pretty unstoppable on the charge (s5 i5, re roll to hit and to wound)

Yeah that is a nasty squad to face. A squad of those tore though the majority of my army one time.

**imweasel**

I take:

Cassius
1 LC
5 TH/SS
GK Brother Captain (psychic hood)

All loaded into a LRC.

**Malladrius**

What I do is attach a chapter master in terminator armor with a pair of lightning claws to a squad with all thunder hammers. This gives me the ability to launch the guys at anything and expect to come out on top. I have used them to destroy tanks as well as hordes of infantry. Although they are less effective against massed infantry with this loadout the chapter master usually kills at least 3 guys per turn and the terminators can usually inflict 5-7 casualties in a base squad of 5 of them.

**asugradinwa**

Try this: 3 Lightning claw terminators, 2 thunderhammer/Stormshields, Cassius, and a librarian with null zone.

20 I4 power weapon attacks Reroll misses and wounds and if you do have a inv. save you have to reroll it.

**ph34r**

I use Belial with lightning claws, 3 terminators with lightning claws, and 2 terminators with thunder/shield, along with the +1 attack banner. Note that my gaming group has DA using wargear that is consistent with the new SM book, so 3+ save shields.

**Lordhat**

I use TH's. As a quiet note of relevance, I'd like to point out that including Vulkan in your list requires you to separate out each indivual TH in evey unit for attacks; Mastercrafting only allows one re-roll per TH.

**MinMax**

I use five Thunder Hammer Terminators, joined by Vulkan in a Land Raider Redeemer. Vulkan's I 5 Relic Blade helps make sure the squad doesn't suffer too badly before getting a chance to swing.

**Spivey**

You need to have a mix of both or Just thunder hammers. The lighting claws are kewl but you cant beat a 3+ invurable save. and also bring them down to initiative one is powerful.

**asugradinwa**

Lighning claws with null zone in effect is fun though.

**Wildstorm**

I'm for TH. It is a nice balance between the two, but in games with Vulkan or a Chaplain I lean toward TH. In games without them I lean toward not taking Termies at all.

**Iago**

In a black templars army, a mix of both with more Claws, furious charge makes them awesome.. not only that but re roll hits and re roll wounds is just too good to pass up.

Cheers!

**wuestenfux**

Thunder hammers all the way.

CC oriented squads generally have I5 or higher and so they will hit last anyway.

**mercsniper**

Chapter Master with 2x LC in a squad of 5 term w/ TH/SS. Charge with the squad and get 6 attacks with LC then 15 TH. The Halo on the Master provides a 4+ inv. So overall it is a balanced unit with the ability to take down a vehicle plus the LD 10 of master when charging a vehicle.

**chaplaingrabthar**

I used Thunder Hammers, not because it was effective, but because it was fluffy for my Salamanders

**KompleteKarnage**

Fluffwise and Thats Awesome-wise, Dual Lightning Claws are the way to go with Templars, reroll to hit AND to wound with furious charge!

Generally 3 claws and two hammers are the go, unless you are space marines and what the majority to have those 3+ invulnerables!