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A lot will depend on the points and if it must be bundled with the axe.

If you need to take the axe/shield combo, you end up with a pure CC dread, which frankly needs all the help it can get. And it will be differently tough then it’s C:SM peer the ironclad. AV12 with a 3++ is more vulnerable to mid weight fire then the AV13 ironclad, but will have a better chance to shrug off a melta/lance hit. Should be viable, either stepping out of a pod (preferable) or running up the table (tricky)

If you can mix guns and shields, some options open up. I doubt this will be the case, but that’s just my guess.

I think if you are going with a stand back in cover fire support dread, it’s not worth it. Odds are you will get some sort of cover save. While it is not going to be a 3++, keeping guns on both arms will give you a lot stronger weight of fire. Probably not worth the offense/defense trade.

If you are going to be walking the dread across the table supporting your forces and providing cover for those behind you, it might be worth it. I run an AsC/DCCW(SB) from time to time. It might not be the most efficient use of points, but it serves me well. The fact that the shield can be used as a CC weapon means that you don’t give up a lot to take it. The question here will be points. It works in mech heavy lists due to saturation, and makes for a nice jack of all trades troubleshooter, but if the points get too high, viability drops off.