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How exactly does this thing work? I was reading the rules and just can't seem to get a handle on it, could anyone explain them for me? Thanks in advance.

What part of the rules trouble you? Be specific and precise, please.

It's quite simple really. At the point in your shooting phase when you want to fire the Deathstrike roll a d6. You then modify it in accordance with the codex, e.g. plus one for each turn, minus one for each weapon destroyed or crew stunned result. If the value after modification is at or above 6, OR if you rolled a 6 to begin with then you may fire the Deathstrike.

Instead of laying down a template, you select a point on the table that's outside its minimum range, and roll for scatter as normal. You then move the point you selected as the dice tell, and you lay down a marker. You then roll a d3, add 3 to that value and you get your blast RADIUS. This is important. The 5" template has a 5" diameter, and even the smallest roll for your Deathstrike will give you an 8" diameter blast. So yes, measure out how far the blast goes and everything within the blast zone is hit with the S10, AP1, Cover Ignoring blast. All vehicles are hit with this regardless of where they are in the blast zone.

That's the basic rules for firing the Deathstrike.

Last time I used this I exploded 1 x LandRaider 1 x Predator and 1 x Razorback - great result.

ChrisWWII wrote:It's quite simple really. At the point in your shooting phase when you want to fire the Deathstrike roll a d6. You then modify it in accordance with the codex, e.g. plus one for each turn, minus one for each weapon destroyed or crew stunned result. If the value after modification is at or above 6, OR if you rolled a 6 to begin with then you may fire the Deathstrike.

Instead of laying down a template, you select a point on the table that's outside its minimum range, and roll for scatter as normal. You then move the point you selected as the dice tell, and you lay down a marker. You then roll a d3, add 3 to that value and you get your blast RADIUS. This is important. The 5" template has a 5" diameter, and even the smallest roll for your Deathstrike will give you an 8" diameter blast. So yes, measure out how far the blast goes and everything within the blast zone is hit with the S10, AP1, Cover Ignoring blast. All vehicles are hit with this regardless of where they are in the blast zone.

That's the basic rules for firing the Deathstrike.

Thanks, I understand the firing now, but the blast part I am still a little shaky about, so you get a 3 inch +d3 inch blast radius? or you start with the large blast template, add 3 + d3 inches and thats what takes the hit? it says D3+3" Blast. Doesn't the "blast" imply to use the smaller 3" inch instead of the larger 5" version?

No. Well, yes, usually if it just said 'blast' then you would use the template, but the Deathstrike gives a more specific version of the rule, so instead of one of the standard templates being used, you use the special version of the rule as described in the codex. When I say 'marker' I mean a penny, an anything there just to remind you where the missile scattered off to.

But yes, you get a 3inch +d3 inch blast radius. You do not use any of the standard sized templates. You just measure out from the impact point after scatter.

edit... I guess I have read that wrong before, never noticed the inches. I also have seen one used though.

ChrisWWII wrote:No. Well, yes, usually if it just said 'blast' then you would use the template, but the Deathstrike gives a more specific version of the rule, so instead of one of the standard templates being used, you use the special version of the rule as described in the codex. When I say 'marker' I mean a penny, an anything there just to remind you where the missile scattered off to.

But yes, you get a 3inch +d3 inch blast radius. You do not use any of the standard sized templates. You just measure out from the impact point after scatter.

I think I now understand, Radius is measured from the inside out and diameter is across, I always assumed that 3inch +d3 would be a 6 inch diameter blast, but its actually a 6 inch radius blast therefore becoming a 12 inch diameter blast. Whoa thats a huge blast.

I guess if I actually fully read and comprehend your first post I probably would of understood this before hand.

It's even bigger than the 10" blast apocalypse class weapons can use, hence it's "mini nuke" moniker

Generally you just get a tape measure and sweep, counting the hits as you go. It can get very deadly very quickly if you roll high on that D3....

It's basically it becomes a 12" circle within which almost anything without an invul save will die. It's DEVASTATING against hordes.

I wish it had more then 1 shot lol..

could you imagine fielding 3?

I accidentally used it as a 3+d3 large blast weapon once. Was stupid effective. The only things still alive were some guys in some ruins one level up, since I declared ground floor as my target.

For a guard army, they are pretty awesome tbh. Consider using them plus good balanced infantry squads and making people try to rush your gunline, into doom.

juraigamer wrote:The only things still alive were some guys in some ruins one level up, since I declared ground floor as my target.

That's another thing you did slightly wrong. Deathstrike is another one of the weapons that must fire as a barrage and barrages have no choice about which level they hit.

Raxmei wrote:

juraigamer wrote:The only things still alive were some guys in some ruins one level up, since I declared ground floor as my target.

That's another thing you did slightly wrong. Deathstrike is another one of the weapons that must fire as a barrage and barrages have no choice about which level they hit.

Dammits! Thank you for the tip.

Funk3140 wrote:I wish it had more then 1 shot lol..

could you imagine fielding 3?

fielding 3 would be the best way to field them. Gives you a 42% chance of firing turn 2. IF the enemy ignores them then that rises to 70% but i find that unlikely ... Still 480pts what else would you take?

probably the reason it doesn't appear more often is because it is a Heavy Support option.


taking one means, 3 less Lemun Russes/Basilisks/Hydras...

taking 3 would mean you would be playing a largely infantry force, with a massive ticking time bomb in the rear.

WHich could be really quite fun, to be honest. Imagine, turn 2, all 3 fire, and a good half of your opponents army goes 'poof'. More accurately they die a horrible death in a rapidly expanding ball of superheated plasma that can carve through tank armor like it was nothing, but the point still stands!

Grey Templar wrote:probably the reason it doesn't appear more often is because it is a Heavy Support option.


taking one means, 3 less Lemun Russes/Basilisks/Hydras...

taking 3 would mean you would be playing a largely infantry force, with a massive ticking time bomb in the rear.

Not really; i wrote up an 1850 list this morning, 3 deathstrikes, a plasma CCS, 2 Plasma Vet squads, 3 Chi-melta-vet squads, 3 Vendetas, and still have 50 points leftover for either 5 ratlings or a techpriest. Everything is at least relatively "Mech'ed" (air cav for everything but those last 50 points) has tons of anti-tank and anti-troop and with 9 vehicles on table along with the 58-62 infantry models should require some decent anti-infantry firepower to table.(the 12 KPs it offers is a little bit of a negative though, but not too bad many of my lists hover around that #)