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Defiler

Battle Cannon, TL Heavy Bolter, Havoc Launcher
(Daemonic Possession)

// 155 points

Stays in a forest (4+), if it loses the Battle Cannon it fires the anti-infantry guns. It still has 3+1 attacks chargin and can Run + pop smoke for a turn if it has to go for a close combat role, or if it is moving into a close combat support role.

Thoughts? Other than take two Oblits. It has the Battle Cannon and Daemonic Possession.

Oblits will usually be better because of there versatility. Still I love that Defiler build I just faced in a doubles match. The player I faced took it with a squad of oblits was a great compliment. Very good for Hordes which is not oblits strong point. Though unless those forest are really dense you are not going to get 4+ cover save for it. Unlike a pred which you always want moving to not be auto hit the defiler is great because you do not have to worry about it.

-nick

That's right, eh? Probably cannot get the 4+, boo. I use a sort of hybrid area terrain rules for terrain for simplicity, although maybe I should learn to appreciate the new ruleset.

I used to do the weapons platform thing with my defiler until I noticed that he was just getting left behind. so I kitted him out with an extra CC weapon and a heavy flamer. now, he provides fire support as well as murdering troops at close range.
I feel like your build sacrifices too much mobility/close combat potential

I think Defilers should be used what they are made for, CC.
Max out CC arms. They will still have the BC and that's the only weapon you really want to fire. If they lose it just pop smoke and fleet. Generally by the time your opponent knocks the cannon off you are already pretty close.
BS 3 just won't cut it for a firing platform.

Defilers should count as having Scuttlers so they can Outflank.

They DO look like crabs.

I have a sort of love-hate relationship with defilers, mine miss all the time, aren't as effective against vehicles as what I'd think due to the silly 'hole has to be on the vehicle or else it's half strength' thing, and for some reason tend to explode if you so much as breathe on them. For CC they work great against ordinary troops but if they've got powerfists there's a pretty good chance of them dying due to their lower weapon skill making them easier to hit. I've found Obliterators to be a much better choice, they can move and easily get cover saves, good resistance against missile launchers which are common anti-vehicle weaponry in space marine armies, and are good in almost every situation. Against horde armies you can use twin linked flamers, against space marines and necrons you can use plasma cannons or twin linked plasma guns, against vehicles you can use twin linked meltaguns or multi-meltas or lascannons, etc. Also in higher point games I like to max out my heavy support though of course it costs more, I'd much rather pay the extra points to run 9 obliterators than 3 defilers. If you haven't taken them already I'd rather spend the points of giving your troops powerfists or investing in another daemon prince with lash and wings. Though they work well with defilers, I personally prefer using three small blasts rather than one big one which has a good chance of missing.

Just my thoughts