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All ig players know of the deathstrike and its capabilities, we also know of the egagerated storie of their use in our codex. But is it really that good? It is in a squad by itself and takes up 160pts and a hvy suport spot.

The deathstrike has a blast radius of d3+3, at best you get a six inch blast range. And its a barrage. so yes you can fire indirectly, but its a one shot one small area insta kill life. But involn saves of 3+ (like sm veterans) will probibly surive it. Will a six inch range kill over 160pys of people? and people that are acutaly a threat?

The manticore is a garenteed large blast, and has four shots per game. It has a smaller, more resonable, range and costs the same. It aslo has the chance to be a multi barrage. it aslo has a slightly lower armour on the sides, but it can fire indirectly so you shouldent have it in the open.

If im wrong on any of this correct me, but i do not find the deathstrike worth the money and pts. The manticore is much better but still expensive.

You do know that's a d3+3" RADIUS blast (NOT diameter, like all of the others), right?

4-6" RADIUS blast. That's from larger than a 5" blast marker and up to larger than the Apocalypse pizza platter.

Even a roll of a 1 gives you an 8" blast (large blast is 5" by the way).

That said, there are too many "ifs" involved in the Deathstrike. Will it fire at all, will it fire in time to have the potential to do something, will it scatter/hit where it can realize that potential?

Then there is the stupidity of fielding an ICBM directly in the field.

Manticore is way better, and one of the gems of the heavy support section.

That said, the vortex missile datasheet makes for a fun game.

The game has enough random to it as it is, I don't like units that are as random as this one. I like knowing when my weapons are ready to use, not rolling everyturn like reserves.

chromedog wrote:You do know that's a d3+3" RADIUS blast (NOT diameter, like all of the others), right?

4-6" RADIUS blast. That's from larger than a 5" blast marker and up to larger than the Apocalypse pizza platter.

Right, so everyone within six inches assuming you roled a 3 on the d3, gets hit. Thats still only one inch larger than the large blast.

Sorry, forgot my math, your right with the radius so everyone within 12+ inches would get effected. sorry, my mistake

Manticores are great for their points cost. Limited ammo but if they've fired off all their missiles they'll have at least caused SOME damage. Deathstrikes I'm not so keen on. Too much of a wild card.

most games go around six turns. If you dont want to have a dead tank chassie, putr the manticore in reserve..however the best time to fire it is when you have first iniciative on the first turn of the game. Your enemys are all clumped up screaming kill me! blow me up!

After you use all shots (4 turns) then use the chassie to guard troops as they move down the field, potential covor, and a heavy bolter. why not?

I have found the Manticore a pretty useful tool, although it is a bit tricky picking targets for it. GEQ are easily killed, as are Tyranid Warriors. However, it struggles with MEQ since it is only AP4, and MEQ tend to be in smaller units which can cause problems with the scatter. Half the time, it seems like I am using my Manticore to do anti-armor work, since it is a Str. 10 ordnance weapon. In the MEQ example above, the Manticore is a lot better at killing Land Raiders than Marines.

ImpGuardPanzies wrote:most games go around six turns. If you dont want to have a dead tank chassie, putr the manticore in reserve..however the best time to fire it is when you have first iniciative on the first turn of the game. Your enemys are all clumped up screaming kill me! blow me up!

After you use all shots (4 turns) then use the chassie to guard troops as they move down the field, potential covor, and a heavy bolter. why not?

I have two manticores in my army and the 4 shot limit is not a big deal. When you think about it, if any unit in the game is able to get 4 turns of use out of it without dying its done well.

I use a heavy flamer on mine, because after 4 shots usually the enemy is in my lines so a flamer is much more helpful for getting them out. Tank shocking with it can help as well.

ImpGuardPanzies wrote:


Right, so everyone within six inches assuming you roled a 3 on the d3, gets hit. Thats still only one inch larger than the large blast.

Sorry, forgot my math, your right with the radius so everyone within 12+ inches would get effected. sorry, my mistake

No, look at it this way. Assume x is where the deathstrike missile landed.

[--------------6 inches---------------]x[--------------6 inches---------------]

Everything in that radius gets hit, now a large blast marker?

[----------5inches------------]

Your telling me that the Deathstrike will only get 1inch more? The Large Blast templat is 5" diameter, while the Deathstrik CAN be 6" radius. Major difference. However, that being said the Deathstrike still isn't a good option, but it is a fun one. There's nothing more satisfying than launching a tactical nuke at a forest full of Kroot.

And yeah, it's not an ICBM its a SRBM equivalent to a Scud in my opinion.

Even if it is equated to a SCUD and not an ICBM, it's still something that shouldn't belong on a 40k table as anything but a mission objective for scenario games (destroy the launcher before it fires!) as such weapons aren't anything like front line assets either.


As to its game effectiveness. It has a lot of potential to be scary, but just as much potential to whiff hard and isn't the hardest thing in the world to eliminate, and there's a lot of ways an opponent can mitigate their casualties from something like that.

ChrisWWII wrote:
And yeah, it's not an ICBM its a SRBM equivalent to a Scud in my opinion.

Page 55 of the IG codex states that: "They fire an inter-continental solid fuel rocket, which has an operational range measured in thousands of kilometers".

I agree that it's silly as hell to put such a pathetic warhead on such a weapon though.

Just looked at the IG codex again, and you're right. They call it an ICBM....and that's just stupid.

Well, wehn you think about it, things like Basilsks and Manticores would also never be deployed on the front lines like they are in 40k. So really, the point is a bit moot. But yes, it is unusually weird to have a large tactical missile like that in the frontline. At least Basilisks and Manticores you can say they're being used like assault guns, but the Deathstrike has no excuse.

Guess you can always claim that you're not fighting at the front, and that the enemy broke through the main lines with a task force to destroy your nuclear missile or something?

So whats best for 3 heavy support? manticor/ death strike, hydra flack cannon, and diff artileries.
or

2 squads of artilery, and a lemen russ squad?

(Assuming you are planning on making the enemy come kill you and your not moving much up) -deep strike two seperate vendettas-

Post the rest of your list then we can help you.

Ok, do you know of a system that alows you to model a battlefield setup? or would copy and paste from word be a better option for posting that sort of stuff on dakka?

The way I do lists is just this:

Name of Unit: Upgrades.

Just put that up. We don't need to see the battlefield setup/.

OK, i posted an 1500 pt army in the forum

I personally love the deathstrike missile launcher, it just seems to fit in with the wacky nature of the IG. Sure I have only had one game where it managed to A) launch at all B) hit something, but when it hits it hits really hard. Wiped out triple its points cost (6" radius turn 1) in one go, they are awesome fun.

-Kredic