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Maybe it's just me, or maybe I’m missing something with the relic blade, but why would a weapon that makes you count as strength 6, and ignores armor cost 30 points on a Space Marine Captain or Chapter Master? For 5 less points you could take a power fist, for the same amount you could take a Thunder Hammer, for 10 points, a normal power weapon, for 15 points, a lightning claw. Sure you attack at normal initiative, but is it really worth the extra points for a strength 6 power weapon?

To some, if their army is geared that way, yes. I personally take no power fists, but neither do I take relic blades. Except when I (rarely) take my honour guard, who are too cool not to have them.

Yes, for the simple reason the wielder could die before they contribute.
In addition I5 is very decent and worth to kill some rank and file before they strike back...even some Monstrous Creatures.

Secondarly reasons to use relic blades: it's unique(ish) to Codex SM. .

Because your WS6 character gibs MEQs at I5 on a to-wound roll of 2+.

A captain with a relic blade also has a habit of murdering my warboss.

...in fact, every time my warboss has gone head to head with a relic blade he has died! Now if he were GHAZSKULL with the 2+ invulnerable save it would probably be different, but the fact is a pile of attacks from a WS 5 model at S6 are good, especially when they strike before power fists.

Gornall wrote:Because your WS6 character gibs MEQs at I5 on a to-wound roll of 2+.

So does a power fist, and a thunder hammer, still, I see where you guys are coming from, being able to take down some opponents before they can strike back. I do have a question though, the codex says a Relic Blade is a two handed weapon, does that mean you cannot take a storm shield or a gun as well?

I think you can still take a gun or a stormshield, but you'll never get an extra attack from holding a pistol while you attack with your relic blade.

Dedrith wrote:Maybe it's just me, or maybe I’m missing something with the relic blade, but why would a weapon that makes you count as strength 6, and ignores armor cost 30 points on a Space Marine Captain or Chapter Master? For 5 less points you could take a power fist, for the same amount you could take a Thunder Hammer, for 10 points, a normal power weapon, for 15 points, a lightning claw. Sure you attack at normal initiative, but is it really worth the extra points for a strength 6 power weapon?

Against some armies, yes, against some.. no, It really depends on what type of toughness you are facing.

Example of when you want it, Bugs/Orks

Example of when you don't - IG/Tau (except the Instant death rule, that can be fun)

Yes you can have a storm shield and a relic blade. it is in the FAQ. I like relic blades on my captains and chapter master. Hitting your opponent on I5 is a big advantage.

starbomber109 wrote:but the fact is a pile of attacks from a WS 5 model at S6 are good, especially when they strike before power fists.

Just an FYI... Captains are WS6.

Yeah, a Powerfist or Thunderhammer is more expensive and awesome Captains tend to get singled out before they can swing at I1. Swinging at Initiative can easily save your life, especially against MCs and other ICs.

I always run a relic balde on my Captains. The S6 is HUGE against every enemy. 2+ to wound against anything T4 or lower is great. Your captain is already A3, so he's got plenty of attacks, even if he doesn't get the +1 for having a pistol or extra CCW.
He can cause Instant Death against a lot of IG and Tau units that have more than one wound.
He also really shines against anything T5 or higher. With your standard power weapon, you start needing 5s and 6s to wound, whereas the relic blade wounds T5 on 3s, and T6 on 4s. A lightning claw gets rerolls to wound, but you still need those 5s and 6s on the rerolls.
Never, EVER take a powerfist or thunderhammer on a Captain without Terminator Armor. You give up the I5, which is your Captain's biggest asset in melee!

The only time I can think of that it would be not worth the 30 points for the Relic Blade is if you're taking a captain to accompany a shooty command squad (typically done with 4 plasmaguns). These guys do not want to be in close combat, so you don't need to arm your captain for it. other units in your army should be keeping the close combat away from this unit. Give the Captain a power weaponm, a bolter, and hellfire rounds instead.

The Relic Blade is, generally speaking, the best weapon option on a Captain or Chapter Master.

It's S6, which is where you start running into diminishing returns on strength for anti-troop weapons, and swings at initiative (and I5 is quite good), and allows you to take a Storm Shield without (further) disadvantage (which makes the advantages of a Power Weapon or paired Lightning Claws largely redundant).

Now, the real question is -- is a Captain or Chapter Master worth the points? And to be brutally honest, unless you're packing a Captain on a bike (to get bikers as Troops choices), the answer is pretty much always "No.".

So, really, the points-worthiness of a Relic Blade on a Captain or Chapter Master is really a far secondary question to the points-worthiness of a Captain himself. Librarians give you far more utility as a HQ choice, and if you want an assault unit, you're either looking at Stormhammer termies or a bike Command Squad (in which case you'd do best to have a bike Captain anyway).

Relic blades cost 30 points because they go at inititive and are Str6.

The advantage over the powerfist is considerable.

Both will wound most infantry models on a 2+, but the Blade goes at inititive giving a big bonus over the fist.

Octavius Widowmaker wrote:Yes you can have a storm shield and a relic blade. it is in the FAQ.

Where?!
link please!
I can't find it!

I prefer Thunder Hammer and Storm Shield to Relic Blade and Storm Shield. With the Thunder Hammer, you only have to weather the storm for one round before everything fights at your speed.

Its in the codex you don't even need a FAQ for it its listed as a possible option in the war gear he has available. You can replace what he starts with with everything listed and he starts with two things that you can replace. I run two captains on bikes with Relic blades and artificer armor and they murder everything. The ability to wipe out up to 4 enemies on the charge before anyone else gets to attack goes along way for making combat very winnable since in addition to killing enemies your preventing them from hitting back at you unlike most times when you go at I4. If your going at I1 its already too late and the damage has been done and against most enemies Str 6 and Str 8 both wound on a 2+ anyway.

geeze people.

this thread was 7 months dead. let it lie

Edit*

haha didn't check the dates,

Old thread!

All done now!