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Hey guys,

I got a Terminator CC Squad for Christmas and I have no idea what to give it... a lot of people seem to like Thunderhammers (what do they even do? I left my rulebook at University) but I lurv Lightning Claws... should I go for a mix? This is a 5 man squad by the way... Anyhoo, if someone could tell me what a TH does and maybe give me advice I'd be grateful! (I need to get the models built by Thursday, eep).


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Oooh scratch that, I just looked under my foam trays in my space marine case and the rulebook was there... lol

Anyhoo, Looking at the rules I see that they're pretty awesome, they strike last since they're power fists... but they have stormshields to protect them. I'm a bit nooby at the combat-side of 40k but that still doesn't strike me as the best element of the TH... I mean, even if some of the enemy are reduced to Initiative 1, they will still strike before a TH, and since SM have an Initiative of 4, that's still pretty high, so is this only really useful against factions such as eldar where my other SM units or Termies with Lightning Claws can attack before them?

The reason I called a TH "awesome" was the fact that it can achieve a crew shaken result on vehicles... that seems pretty nice to me.

Anyway, my gut is now telling me to perhaps give the Sergeant a TH and Stormshield and everyone else lightning Claws?

It's not the TH that is awesome... it's the SS. A 3+ invulnerable allows them to go toe to toe with big gribblies and anything that would punch through the 2+ armor save. I wouldn't go with any more than 2 LCs in a 5 man squad, personally. That gives you enough attacks to thin out some stuff at I4 if needed while still keeping the I1 beatdown intact.

I usually run 2 Lightning Claws and 3 Thunderhammers in my all comers list. Pack that into a Land Raider. But be warned it will draw every anti-tank shot on the board

Its important to also factor in instant-death, as STR 8 of the TH will instant death most non-MC/vehicles. This makes it good against other MEQ based armies. Also, if your opponent is going to hit at a higher I than 4, the SS is better as it will allow more models to survive PW attacks. If your opponent is hitting at I 2 or 3, then the LC really shine as you get your attacks, then can allocate wounds to the LC terminators first so you still get your attacks with the TH guys.

Normally I run 1 LC and 4 TH. TH is just more useful in more situations, but getting in some attacks at I 4 always seem to come in handy.

hammernators, hammernators hammernators.

2/3, w/ a chaplain they get re-rolls to hit.

Thunder hammers = powerfists on drugs.

Thunder hammers double your strength PRO
Reduce your initiative to 1 CON
reduce anyone who survives initiative to one. PRO

Captain Solon wrote:
hammernators, hammernators hammernators.

2/3, w/ a chaplain they get re-rolls to hit.

Thunder hammers = powerfists on drugs.

Thunder hammers double your strength PRO
Reduce your initiative to 1 CON
reduce anyone who survives initiative to one. PRO

While this is true it is all also true -baring the last line - for tactical terminators with powerfist and storm bolters.
As said the strength of the TH/SS combo is that the SS makes the model with it much tougher against things that ignore their 2+ armor save.
If you run Vulkan then the TH become more of an offensive threat as they all become master crafted.

I like the 3:2 TH/SS:LC mix personally. It has a nice balance of Hammer and Anvil qualities.

Cheers
~Volkan

With Volkan on this one. The 2 LCs let you thin out opponents at I4, reducing the number of attacks your THs guys face, and the 3 THs still have good killing power.

As people have said, 2 LC: 3 TH/SS is a good combo. I would say that either that or 1:4 or 0:5 would also work well if you're leading your army with Vulkan as more TH are increasingly attractive in that scenario. SM assault terminators are most valuable for their 3+ invulnerable save. For black templar terminators with furious charge, even if their shields gave 3+ invuln the ability to strike at I5 S5 on the charge really swings the numbers in their favor and as such are great LC platforms. SM termies are the toughest, and to play to that strength will leave you in good stead.

It's somewhat cute to give the Sarge the LCs and everyone else TH+SS. Sorta fluffy, plus a decent mix.