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I've generally ignored the crisis commander's special issue weapons because I feel they're a tad overcosted but I was wondering if anyone had used either the Cyclical Ion Blaster or Airbursting Fragmentation Projector. I feel like the Ion Blaster might be useful in that its an AP1 on a 6... but with such a low strength I can't image it ever coming in handy. The only way I could see the Fragmentation Projector being useful is if you stuck it in a unit with some suits equipped with flamers and try and hit hoards at close range, but at 20 pts for the weapon that seems too pricey. Anyone use any of these weapons in any effective builds or tactics?

Mr 4 Strings wrote:I've generally ignored the crisis commander's special issue weapons because I feel they're a tad overcosted but I was wondering if anyone had used either the Cyclical Ion Blaster or Airbursting Fragmentation Projector. I feel like the Ion Blaster might be useful in that its an AP1 on a 6... but with such a low strength I can't image it ever coming in handy. The only way I could see the Fragmentation Projector being useful is if you stuck it in a unit with some suits equipped with flamers and try and hit hoards at close range, but at 20 pts for the weapon that seems too pricey. Anyone use any of these weapons in any effective builds or tactics?

They're good, but somewhat specialized. Cyclic Ion Blaster has pseudo-Rending and it's good against things like Terminators or most MEQ. Just put it on BS5 model, otherwise you won't get the full effect. Combine with Plasma Rifle and it's very effective, if a bit short-ranged. Despite what the description says, it's not very cost-effective against hordes.

Airburst is excellent, mostly against hordes or just generally T3 infantry, of course, but not too bad vs Marines either. If and when your Commander has BS5, the Airburst hits nearly every time. Sure it's short ranged, but not as short ranged as Flamers. Very good if the enemy hides in terrain, esp. if they have camo-cloaks or some other cover-save boosting rule. I think my record with it is something like 13 dead Guardsman in one shot.

Commander with cyclic and plasma + targeting array is the standard aurora build for a tau commander. You basically pump out something around 3-4 ap 1-2 shots per shooting, excellent for killing TEQ models on the field.

As to the airburster, airburst + fusion + relay is one of the best ways to make a relay'o when playing ninja tau.

The tau army isn't easy to play tbh, but if you look hard enough, you can pull off some amazing stuff even with outdated wargear.

I agree to Tau being hard what I've noticed is that if you win a match it was usualy no contest or on the other hand if you lose it was the complete opposite.
That was off topic I like the cyclic ion it's basically the only rending weapon we have as Tau the low strength sucks but I've rolled 3 sixs on the roll against a transport 1 weapon destroyed and 2 immobilized. It sucks you can't take more then 1 per list it would be nice to link with plasma rifles or missile pods

I'd personally use the cyclic Ion blaster against T3 things, since I had no luck whatsoever against vanilla marines. All it did was manage to piss them off. The AFP on the other hand, now THAT'S something I can get down with...

I think the Cyclic Ion have a way too low STR , an S3 gun in a Tau army is rather.... weird, well it may not kill marine, but it sure a great success against footdar(aka T3) in a small point game

If you don't think it will work vs anything higher than toughness 3, then just roll as if you were firing it at BS 5.

Your basically paying for a not as reliable but faster firing plasma gun, with rapid fire range on bs 5 it really does a number on enemy TEQ. I've had games were the model alone put out 5 ap 1-2 shots in a turn, and then jumped to safety.

I run CIB + PR + TA Shas'O in my take all comers. I find it extremely effective.

Cottonjaw wrote:I run CIB + PR + TA Shas'O in my take all comers. I find it extremely effective.

It's better to run him as a shas'el or take the TA off for something else, like a relay or another wargear item. Don't need to add +1 BS when the 'o starts with 5 and can't go higher.