Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

Recently I eBayed myself a nice lot of used CSM models to bolster the old pirate warfleet, and this lot included a Land Raider, a model I have never owned. Obviously, as soon as it's re-painted I want to try it out, but I was hoping for some advice on the best way to do so. Chaos Heavy Support discussions generally revolve around Oblits, Defilers, and Predators of various flavors, so I wonder if perhaps the Land Raider is an underpowered, overpriced, or otherwise unpopular choice for Chaos. Is this so?

I also would appreciate advice on the best units to ride inside. CC-focused Terminators are an obvious choice, but would Berzerkers or Possessed work well, too? Are any of the various upgrades worth paying for, or should I just be happy with my AV14 and TL lascannons? How do you guys use Land Raiders in your Chaos army?

Slanesh Termins with Dual LC.

Karhn and Boyz

Abby

Land raiders provide a few roles.

They transport troops to where they need to be.
AV 14 means that it will take melta guns to destroy the vehicle, and by the time the melta guns are close enough to roll 2d6, the raider has done its job. Any good assault unit that you want to deliver will work. Unlike Rhinos, the troops can assault the turn they come out.
While you can only fit 10 models inside (unlike the imperial variants), its still a solid choice.

Protect the hell out of an objective
Popping a unit of CSM in a LR makes it a very tough nut to crack from across the board. As melta must be close to do its dirty work, the biggest danger are lances or fast moving meltas. If you just have to hold that one objective, this is a way to do it.
The flaw with this solution is that its firepower is low for the point cost, and the squad inside cannot fire.

Mobile Cover
The LR model is big...really big.....you would not believe how vastly, hugely, mind bogglingly big it is. I mean you may think its a long way down the road to the chemists, but thats just peanuts to.....sorry got carried away. Since the model is so large, you can use it to give your other models a mobile wall as they are marching up, blocking footsloggers from LOS or obscuring all your chaos rhinos.
Since the LR is AV 14 on all sides, your welcome to keep it turned sideways every turn to provide more cover. Of course, that does look pretty damn goofy and people might not like you for that.

I have to say that I've been underwhelmed by my Landraiders (so much so that I've started turning 2 of them into a super heavy ).

As labmouse says, one of the major advantages of the LR is that it gives cover, both to whatever is inside it, and whatever is behind it. This and the fact that you can assult out of it means that it is great for hiding a couple of DP's with wings behind, driving up to the other side of the board and unloading into the enemy.

The main drawback is that it is a lot of points for some fairly poor firepower once it's delivery job is complete. 220 (if I recall correctly) for some mobile cover is a bit steep.

Best use I've seen has been as a linebacker. You put some super-killy unit inside of it (I wouldn't mind trying Kharn w/ Zerkers for example, although I loathe to give up a DP) and use it to spearhead while following with another Zerker unit or something in rhinos behind.

That said, it's a shame heavy slots are at such a premium for chaos. Competing with Oblits and Defilers is pretty rough.

labmouse42 wrote:Land raiders provide a few roles.

They transport troops to where they need to be.
AV 14 means that it will take melta guns to destroy the vehicle, and by the time the melta guns are close enough to roll 2d6, the raider has done its job. Any good assault unit that you want to deliver will work. Unlike Rhinos, the troops can assault the turn they come out.
While you can only fit 10 models inside (unlike the imperial variants), its still a solid choice.

Protect the hell out of an objective
Popping a unit of CSM in a LR makes it a very tough nut to crack from across the board. As melta must be close to do its dirty work, the biggest danger are lances or fast moving meltas. If you just have to hold that one objective, this is a way to do it.
The flaw with this solution is that its firepower is low for the point cost, and the squad inside cannot fire.

Mobile Cover
The LR model is big...really big.....you would not believe how vastly, hugely, mind bogglingly big it is. I mean you may think its a long way down the road to the chemists, but thats just peanuts to.....sorry got carried away. Since the model is so large, you can use it to give your other models a mobile wall as they are marching up, blocking footsloggers from LOS or obscuring all your chaos rhinos.
Since the LR is AV 14 on all sides, your welcome to keep it turned sideways every turn to provide more cover. Of course, that does look pretty damn goofy and people might not like you for that.

This.

Also, if it's KP, you can probably save one by having a LR drop off it's payload and do w.e. and the one or two marines left can just jump in.

Personally I have thought about putting Noise marines with sonic blasters in there, I know,wierd.

But it could work out, jump out with Kharn or someone, shoot at the enemy with your sonic blasters and the doom siren you will bring, then charge using your high initiative.

Someone must try that out...

People generally dont run them in lists as they prefer to take the oblits, simply down to the sheer firepower the have.

However, the raider is best used for 2 things.


1: Throw a unit of troops in it and sit on an objective.
With AV14 it will be a pain to move, so alot of enemy fire will be aimed at it, leaving the rest of your army able to move as they want, without catching a lascannon round to the face.

2: Use it for assaults.
Load it up with either terminators, or beserkers and a character.
both units can cause alot of damage in assault.
The raider gives them enough protection to make it into assault, so its pretty much a 95% chance they will make it (depending on what army you face)

Failing that, use it as a firebase and just sit back tank hunting with all of the las.
I wouldnt say its the best use, but its still an option.

Have to say that I prefer havocs over obliterators - you just get more firepower for your points, even if they are not so "versitile".

I load mine up with lightning-claw/combi-melta terminators and have a winged DP follow behind it for cover. Costs a bunch, but hits hard.

Well, I have also a Chaos LR but I don't use it.
It has no machine spirit and this is real downside.

My friend Roland (ECT Germany, 2nd, 2010) plays 2 Chaos LR, 2 min-sized CSM units, 2 winged lash Princes, and 8 Obliterator at 1750 pts.
The LR are deployed in the back field with the Oblits as a bubble wrap. Tough to beat.

Step 1: weep that your corrupt LR is terrible in comparison to the loyal one in almost every way and competes with all the other crucial Heavy slots

Step 2: shell out the points to make it possessed

Step 3: load up Abaddon and Berzerkers and make something pay for your sorrow

- Blackbone