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Out of the 7 Leman Russ Tanks (battle tank, exterminator, vanquisher, eradicator, demolisher, punisher, executioner), which one is your favorite? I know each serve different roles, but if you were to face an opponent without any knowledge of his army, which of these would you have to bring on the table?

If I'm allowed to field multiples? Punishers.

That much firepower can do serious damage if applied right.

I find Demolishers or Standard patterns scare me the most.

Executioner all the way

punisher/w pask cos its handy
demolisher for 2+ save/ AV 14 and basic russ for all round.

My friend always brings against my marine those Plasma Russ', with plasma sponsons. As marines they are quite scary. If you make a mistake they just annihilate squads.

Probably the Leman Russ Battle Tank. It can engage anything I put on the field from a massive distance, and I can't do crap about it until I get really close.

Standard Leman russ ftw. Cheap, dependable and able to fight almost anything the enemy can throw at you (+2 saves non-withstanding)

Although I haven't played IG yet (still building army), I feel that my first leman russ is quite versatile. With a battle cannon, lascannon, and heavy bolter sponsons, this tank can kill just about anything!

I'm growing to dislike the basic Battle Tank (hull LC, or three heavy bolters are the usual variants). Yes, it's cheap, but I would argue it being dependable. The value of AV14 is overstated in this world of lances, meltas, and bunches of power fists, et al. Once any of those things come into play, a battle tank is no more survivable than a chimera. Of course, normally the range of the tank can let it sneak around behind chimeras, compounding that AV14 hull with cover and distance. The problem I've discovered with this methodology, however, is the relative lack of firepower. Your most likely result with that cannon shot is either a complete miss, or tagging 2-3 guys that get to take cover saves. The lascannon synergizes well with the battlecannon, but with BS3 and cover saves, it doesn't do much to boost its damage output. The heavy bolters are simply a joke. Compared to an equal (or smaller) amount of points of artillery (or even Hydras), these variants Russ simply lack firepower for my tastes.

The only variant I ever use anymore is the Executioner. It has the AV11 to make it tougher against assaults, and with 4-5 plasma templates, you're bound to get at least one hit. Unlike the battle tank, it never fails to kill something every time it fires. Of course, this tank is expensive, so in smaller games a BT with plasma sponsons isn't a horrible "poor man's executioner".

The other Russes are just bad, IMO.

Demolisher = a lot of people swear by it, but in my experience it has all the problems of the Battle Tank and none of the advantages. The single template is just as unreliable, but the incredibly short range makes it melta/powerfist bait (as well as making it much easier to get side shots) and mostly negates the benefit of RAV11.

Eradicator = weak, hyperspecialized gun, that is far outclassed by griffons, manticores, hellhounds, etc., or even just regular heavy flamers on your chimeras.

Punisher = lots of shots, rear AV11, but crippled by AP -, pathetic range, BS3 and a 30-point premium for the upgrade. Once you've shelled out for Pask and the sponsons to make it put out a respectable amount of hurt (if you're within 24" and don't have to move), you've spent 250+ points. Simply not worth it, IMO. If you just want to hose down troops, Griffons, Manticores, Hydras, Hellhounds/Banewolves, rocket pod Valkyries, or even Colossi leave this guy in the dust. A crappier, more expensive version of the Eradicator, basically.

Vanquisher = the BS issue is even worse due to lack of a template. Pask and a lascannon make it pretty effective at damaging land raiders, but that's about it. It will still struggle with the monolith, it will bounce off waveserpents, and is gross overkill/inefficient for transport-level vehicles. For its task of busting high AV, it is utterly outclassed by the breacher medusas, manticores, Vendettas, Devil Dogs, or simple melta vets. Most of these options are quite cheaper than 215 points, too.

Exterminator = Now this tank I have somewhat mixed feelings on, as I'm still experimenting with it. While it has half the firepower of a pair of Hydras, it can maintain that volume of fire even while moving for better angles. In a few playtest games, Pask has actually been worth it here. With 3 heavy bolters and a stubber (coincidentally 230 just like my executioner), he makes an absolute mess of infantry, monstrous creatures, and most importantly light/medium vehicles (4 TL S8 BS4 shots are perfect for scrapping dreads, chimeras, serpents, vendettas, storm ravens, rhinos, etc.). I face 90% MEQ, and expect lots of Blood Angels FNP spam in the near future, so I'm still taking the Executioner first, but if Spearhead makes the Russ a troop choice, I'm spamming Exterminators with hull LCs, and praying for the option to buy tank aces.

I'm growing to dislike the basic Battle Tank (hull LC, or three heavy bolters are the usual variants). Yes, it's cheap, but I would argue it being dependable. The value of AV14 is overstated in this world of lances, meltas, and bunches of power fists, et al. Once any of those things come into play, a battle tank is no more survivable than a chimera.

I want to repeat this for added ephasis

To me the Executioner is far and away the best leman russ. It doesn't kill things it annihilates them.

Following behind the executioner, the only other leman russes I run are the Vanquisher and Exterminator, but only if pask is in them. The ability for the vanquisher to reach out and penetrate AV14 from across the board is just delicious. And the exterminator because it can make life miserable for anything that is not AV14

I'll echo Terminus on the Executioner.

As a nid player, I can deal with most of the other LR variants. There's very little I can do with a potential 5 plasma templates coming from a single vehicle, and it's a massive danger to either my swarms or my MCs.

Hang on, people are saying the LRBT is bad because there are so many weapons which kill it as easily as a chimera. Isn't the exectutioner plagued by the same problems, just 1.5 times as expensive? It seems like you're taking a huge risk just by putting it on the board.

Anyway, I favour demolishers and LRBTs. But I can see how the cheaper, lighter HS choices, especially manticores, hydras and medusas, can fill the same role.

Exectutioner has marginally better armour.

I-bounty-hunt-the-elderly wrote:Hang on, people are saying the LRBT is bad because there are so many weapons which kill it as easily as a chimera. Isn't the exectutioner plagued by the same problems, just 1.5 times as expensive? It seems like you're taking a huge risk just by putting it on the board.

Anyway, I favour demolishers and LRBTs. But I can see how the cheaper, lighter HS choices, especially manticores, hydras and medusas, can fill the same role.

No, the Russ isn't "bad" because these things can kill it. It's that the additional armor isn't worth the firepower you give up. The single-shot ordnance is a 50/50 crapshoot for 165+ points. The Executioner makes no such compromise, carrying one of the most unique and absolutely devastating weapon loadouts in the game.

Also, RAV11 makes it tougher against assaults (although proximity is still to be avoided), and then there's the principle of the best defense being offense. If it takes a shot, some they is taking a dirt nap, leaving less to threaten you next turn.

Granted, in smaller games its cost is a bit prohibitive, so I tend to stick to the Chimera chassis for these games.