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After last weeks close call with a Landraider I'm going up against an Imperial Guard player 2000pts. I have seen his army last week for 2 minutes, it is tank heavy. He has gone for the minimum troop allocation (With PG, FL, LC and AUTO CANNONS for his troops), with 3-5 Leman Russ variants + 3 Chimera's and a squadron of Sentinals.

I am sporting.

1x SM Cap (TH+SS) (Should i swap this to Relic Blade + SS to keep his iniative?)
1x Chaplain (Croz + Combi-Melta)
2x 10man Tac squads(Relic blade, ML + MG)(Relic blade, ML +FL)
1x 5man Scout Squad (Vanilla) (PF+Melta bombs)
1x 5man Scout snipers + TELION (ML)
1x 5man Sternguard (Melta's or Combi-melta's) + RB (TWIN LC)
2x Dreads (1x ML/TLC) (1xMM+PF+HFL)
1x Predator (TLC + LC Sponsons) + Extra Armour.
1x LSS (HB)
1x LS (MM)

Do i need more Melta's in my force? I might trade out my TAC FL for another Melta. I am not worried about the infantry my Tac Squads/sternguard should deal with that. My LSS and scouts should then swoop on an objective. I think I will hold tight and keep moving towards the objectives and hopefully my Pred and Dreads will nail his armour, plus my infantry all have a sting in the tail in the form of Melta's. My Razorback might also repay with TLC if i get a good hit on a vehicle. Your thoughts guys?

Just some things:

Firstly, if you're not worried about infantry, why take relic blades? I understand they're str 6 and you get to keep your initiative, but unless you're going to go gungho into a 30+ combined squad, you'll be fine without them. Spend the points elsewhere, or get a power fist to penetrate vehicles on a 3+ instead of 5+.

Secondly, I would recommend you drop pod your dreads and possibly your tac squad. If he doesn't have an inquisitor, he has very little deep strike protection unless he deploys in heavy cover. Unless he takes nothing but leman russ demolishers, you won't be able to keep your distance. By drop podding, you're creating an immediate threat that allows your scouts to sweep in on objectives.

I'd drop the lascannon sponsons on the predator and pick up heavy bolters instead. It's 35 less points, it's still strong enough to penetrate side armor on chimeras and will tear infantry apart. It will also probably prevent it from being the first thing blasted off the board.

Also, what is the purpose of your chaplain, exactly? This seems like mostly a shooty list to me.

Good point on the chaplain, i haven't got a really CC Unit so his re-rolls would be pointless. Might be worth changing him for some drop pods! I will take relic blades(read PW) on TACS in case he fields Ogryns or some crazy veteran CC unit ( I need some redundancy), plus i don't want to be caught unaware about any CC Assassin unit. I am going to see how the 1st turn settles before deciding if my Sternguard will be a tank killing unit or propping up the line and thin out the EN infantry.

With most guard armies, tank heavy and normal the footprint is huge.
To fit into his deployment the units wont be able to spread too well.

While it means getting close, a vindicator can drop a S10 pieplate and should hit more than 1 unit/vehicle at a time.
This should help to no end with reducing armour and infantry at the same time.

If there are a few infantry units, then a whirlwind would do fine aswell, however, keep it in cover or away from those autocannons.

Failing that. landraider the game away.
Granted he has alot of armour, but a basic raider should be popping one a turn with ease and shouldnt get too damaged in the process.

I'd take 2 raiders and a vindi, or even 3 raiders.
Infantry can be tank shocked out of the way, and if needs be, you can allways ram the russ's.
With AV14 the raider should do some nice damage without getting scratched.

Could also take a dakka pred for infantry / transports.
Not sure on nilla marine dex, but can you take 2 TL auto's on your dreads? if so, it would make an ideal ranged transport hunter.


all in all, max out on armour and ram / tank shock as much as possible while lascannoning russ's.

CHeers Jack, wish i'd listened yo your advice last week and i might have won that Deathwing game!

Now sporting my own Landraider + 2 Predators, (Had to borrow the LR but I will get 2 for xmas this year!)

Hmmm... I would suggest Drop Pods but you don't seem to have any.

Try for a first turn assault with your scouts in the storm on his scariest tank.

I wasn't aware that Tactical Squads can take a Relic Blade.

Just gonna throw this out there: almost all of his large blasts are going to be ordnance, so land raiders aren't exactly super safe, either.

Sorry, Monster Quite right I meant power Weapon I keep calling them Relic Blades for some reason?