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One of my favourite units in the C:SM has to be the ironclad. 13 front and side armour? I'll take it!

However, I'm a bit unsure how to use them, I hear that the best regular dreds are either rifledreds or TL las and ML dreds. SO how do you use an Ironclad, my only idea has been to pod it in and try to take out a tank with it's melta, but sterns could probably do that better. With the increased armour value I think it would be a beast in CC, but I'm not really sure how to get it there...

Does anyone use ironclads regularly/successfully and if so how do you use them.

Thanks in advance!

As you said, pods would be the way to go. You need to use them with other units which will be in your opponent's face immediately.
Personally, I think a biker/motf list could work. Some riflemen dreads for fire support, ironclads podding in, and bikes providing harassment.

Podding them forces your opponent to deal with a Armor smashing threat Right Now, and Armor 13 means that it won't be an easy problem to deal with.

You can also give it two Hunter-Killers and have it walk towards your opponent. Lets you still attack, and now you can put a walker in between your opponent and your more vulnerable transports

Drop pod them down. Headbutt the enemy. 'Nuff said.

Don't be afraid to pack HK's either. With a meltagun 2 HK's and a pod, you can smash up a vehicle pretty good if you get it in the side or rear.

Hks, Ironclad Assault Launchers. Keep the original arms and pod him in. Infantry will cry, even if they have str8 weapons Waatch out for melta bombs and for the love of the Emperor, beware of anything like a lascannon.

you want them in CC asap. Str8 will take down AV12 pretty quickly, but AV13 becomes nigh invulnerable and the IC has 1 more attack.


the Ironclad can walk to its target, but you really want 3+ of them to soak up incoming fire.

If you drop pod both an Ironclad and a unit of sterns first turn, your opponent now has to spend most of his next firing phase clearing out his deployment zone. By the time thats done, you already have control of a deal of the board.

I usually take the HK's, and always take the assault lanchers. Nothing disappoints an ork player then being told he dosn't get his extra charge attack.

or his +1 Str and I

The fact that they are AV 13 front and side means nothing in close combat because they are rear 10 Because of that, their staying power in CC is limited. However, with the power of the seismic hammer, or the chainfist, an Ironclad can do some serious damage when it charges in. Add the assault launchers, and they can do some serious damage. They can mess up vehicles, and small infantry squads, but against dedicated assault units, they will be dead rather quickly.

I would suggest podding them in, for some distraction on the first or second turn.

PraetorDave:

You do know that Walkers get hit on their front armour in close combat, right? AV13 is significant then. However, if the Dreadnought gets Immobilized, then it's meat for Melta Bombs, and even AV13 isn't great against Melta when you have to close with the enemy.

General Comment:

Ironclads are pretty good, but I wouldn't use them in an assault fashion. I think where you can to go with them is Ironclad Assault Launchers, dual Hunter-Killer Missiles, Seismic Hammer, and dual Heavy Flamers. The trick is to charge stuff that the Ironclad won't get stuck in close combat with, and to use the templates on the hordes.

If you want to land something sturdier and more effective against vehicles, a Venerable Dreadnought with a Multi-Melta is going to both do a better job killing stuff, and do a better job surviving the return Melta fire.

Whoops my bad. I forgot. Well amend my statement accordingly.

No one likes a Dread in their deployment zone. Nothing surives in an opponents deployment zone like multiple Ironclads.

Pod them in, protect their rear armor with the pod, and melta/dual HK your closest vehicle threat. Mmm mmmm good.