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I really want to try out a list with all three elite slots taken up by assassins, namely the Callidus, Eversor and Vindicare varieties. But, I was wondering whether it's really viable to do it? I realise it's not going to be the most competitive list since the three will cost 420 points and will take up all three elite slots but it sure would be fun to play and to watch my opponent worrying about how to avoid them!

So, I was thinking they're going to be big targets that my opponent will want to take out as soon as they can so I'd need to run some other units that will play well with them. I won't have any elite slots left so I'd either need crowe to make purifiers troops or just take strike squads which I favour in this case as they are cheaper and I can take a more useful HQ.

My thinking is a GM with grand strategy using scouts to help move a rhino or two full of strike squads up quickly and some interceptors to do a first turn shunt into the enemy lines and then infiltrate all three assassins. I've not worked out a proper army list but the tactic, whilst risky is certainly going to throw the enemy plans into disarray and be a lot of fun to play.

What's the viability of this and how would you play a list with three assassins? Would you put the Culexus in there instead?

First of all, you can't take three Assassins as they are a Unique unit. For the one Assassin that you can take, I would recommend the Vindicare, for the following reasons.
1: The only Assassin which can Infiltrate.
2: Great array of ranged weapons

The Eversor used to be a great choice in the old DH Codex but now they absolutely suck eggs. Same with the Culexus, mainly as they don't have Infiltrate, ergo they will spend most of the game footslogging it towards the enemy.

Oh yeah, just read the rules on them (should have done it before lol) - I didn't realise that only the vindicare had infiltrate, although the Callidus does arrive via deep strike so it's not gonna have to footslog.

As for the unique thing, I thought that it meant you could only take one of each so you could have three assassins but only one from each temple. Are you sure that it's just the one assassin full stop? If so, what a waste of the other three as I agree the Vindicare is the best and I won't even bother buying any of the others if I can't use them in the same list as the Vindicare.

I agree on the unique thing. If you were were only allowed to take one assassin per army, it would be clearly written as such. As it stands now, each type of assassin is marked unique, so you can take one of each kind up to the maximum elite slots. If I'm missing something, please point it out.

Here a trick with the Culexus, your army can have up to 50+ psyker in your army.

Culexus weapon work on psyker, so many in 12" he will get that many extra shot @ str 5 ap 1.

I;m gettin ready for Ard Boyz and a touranment, I had over 70 shot with rerolls...go figure.

With the psyker thing though, I think that a whole unit of GK counts as just one psyker. Still, you can have quite a few psykers within 12" of the culexus but I don't think that GW really meant that each GK counts as an individual psyker, otherwise I could see the culexus being a little OP. That's why there's the brotherhood of psykers rule.

mrblacksunshine_1978 wrote:Here a trick with the Culexus, your army can have up to 50+ psyker in your army.

Culexus weapon work on psyker, so many in 12" he will get that many extra shot @ str 5 ap 1.

I;m gettin ready for Ard Boyz and a touranment, I had over 70 shot with rerolls...go figure.

50? How? I'm pretty sure that the brotherhood of psykers rule means each GK squad counts as a single psyker, so you could only get one bonus shot per squad, not one shot per model.

its up for debate.

technically, i think its one squad=1 psyker. characters are single psykers though.

Grey Templar wrote:its up for debate.

technically, i think its one squad=1 psyker. characters are single psykers though.

yeah each squad is a psyker via BOP as are just about every character in the book. The henchmen psyker squad is 1 psyker as well. Of course if you come across a seer council or IG psyker battle squad....

I think GK vehicles are specifically NOT psykers to avoid more abuse on that gun.

on the Henchmen,

they technically arn't psykers. they don't have BoP or the Psyker special rule.



yes, RAI they are psykers and the Errata better add the BoP or Psyker special rule to their entry.

Valkyrie wrote:The Eversor used to be a great choice in the old DH Codex but now they absolutely suck eggs.mainly as they don't have Infiltrate, ergo they will spend most of the game footslogging it towards the enemy.

It might be a good idea to use a GM to give the Eversor scout so he can outflank and assault a unit straight away since he has Fleet. He's also the cheapest of the assasins.

As far as I am aware, you can take one of each type of assassin. In the codex there are seperate entries for the different assassins in the army list section and whilst they all say unique, they are all different to each other. Seperate entries in the army list section means that they are not the same unit and therefore the restrictions of 'unique' do not apply.

yes, you are allowed one of each assassin per army, per Elite slot.

Seeing as though Assassins are unique, I'd go with a Vindicare with it's BS 8 and awesome ammunition.

How can anyone argue that a model called 'psyker' is not a psyker?

don't ask that which cannot be answered

Redbeard wrote:How can anyone argue that a model called 'psyker' is not a psyker?

Because it lack the rule Psyker(at least, that's the argument I've always seen).

Platuan4th wrote:

Redbeard wrote:How can anyone argue that a model called 'psyker' is not a psyker?

Because it lack the rule Psyker(at least, that's the argument I've always seen).

A Farseer also lacks the rule Psyker. It has 'Psychic Powers'. Oddly enough, Grey Knight Psykers also have 'Psychic Powers'. Can you imagine the guy sitting in the room saying, "do we need to include a sentence that says "A psyker is a psyker." No, I think they'll figure that one out...

Vindicare is definitely the easiest to use, just put it on the top floor of a building and they it shoot sergeants, ICs or occasionally blow big holes into the rear armour of tanks (using special ammo) also this assassin usually has more types of special ammo than theri are turns in the game, so you're not going to be short of shots, as mentioned it has infiltrate, a 36" sniper rifle and stealth.

Culexus is fairly redundant as it only takes out psykers, which your force weapons should be taking out fairly quickly.

Eversor is excellant in cc, maximum of 10 attacks a turn, has fleet and furious charge, BUT cannot infiltrate meaning your 2 wound, 140 points of crazy will be footslogging it towards the enemy, however move through cover should help keep it out of trouble until it reaches your enemy.

Callidus has awesome special rules that can start to foul up your enemies plans right from the start with an instant death power weapon and a str 8 ap 1 pistol template weapon, (Is it small, large or a flamer template?) which uses leadership instead of toughness and cannot be fired at vehicles.

Conclusion: Vindicare, it's the easiest to use, most useful and most adaptible, that is the most expensive (145 points) but will quickly make up the points.

Hope this small guide helps you

Ipnurt

Assassins are most useful when frustrating the enemy's plans. The Vindicare is the best at this: killing leaders that buff their squads, taking out ICs with special rules, and then falling back on blowing up tanks. Hands-down your best choice.

not to mention killing their special weapons.


"o, you seem to be planning on putting a couple of plsama shots into my terminators. 'BLAM' not anymore "

Or, the situation I envision most often happening: "Ah, my paladin squad is about to charge your large mob of boyz with a hidden PK----Err, scuse me. Your large mob of boys. Charge!" ---Scene begins with smoke, pieces of ork boyz flying through the air, random and poorly aimed gunshots, and 5 dudes in really shiny body armor shrieking about Sparta and/or morphine---

I like Vindicares the most.

Love popping Land Raiders with them, and taking down special characters is nice with them.

Also, don't forget that the Turbo-Penetrator does 2 wounds for a failed save. Perfect for killing other Vindicares, I've found if you don't use your Storm-Bolter-Galore to kill them.

Vindicare sniping Vindicare is a poor use of his talents. Vindicares should always be rocking a 3+ cover.


he is more useful killing enemy models like special characters or weapon toters rather then sniping his evil twin accross the battlefield.

Grey Templar wrote:Vindicare sniping Vindicare is a poor use of his talents. Vindicares should always be rocking a 3+ cover.


he is more useful killing enemy models like special characters or weapon toters rather then sniping his evil twin accross the battlefield.

In Soviet Russia, Vindicare shoots Vindicare...

Grey Templar wrote:Vindicare sniping Vindicare is a poor use of his talents. Vindicares should always be rocking a 3+ cover.


he is more useful killing enemy models like special characters or weapon toters rather then sniping his evil twin accross the battlefield.

even in 3+ cover I dont see him last too long before he gets Dakkaed to death or an ID rockit. I give him 2 rounds of shooting +1 if you go first.

Shooting a special weapon trooper seems kind of a waste. It obviously depends on what it is but he gets 6 shots a game, provided he lives the whole game. Each shot has a small chance to fail to wound. Overall he is going to wiff about 25% of the time and then their is cover. Is that really worth it against a marine with a plasma gun? Certainly not againt a guardsman with a melta gun. He should take out big vehicles, ICs or maybe unit leaders in very expensive squads. Otherwise he is a waste of points.

it is true he goes down to fire if he is targeted, but that 3+ cover makes it impractical to fire Str8 at him. you don't have enough shots to reliably get past his cover to kill him.


The odds are on the Vindicare's side in that situation.

I played my GK vs another GK player the other day. He ran a Crowe list, I ran a hybrid (a little of this, a little of that). My vindi went out like a punk in 1 round of shooting. One purifier squad worth of Psycannons and SBolters was more than enough. As for his Vindi...I just stayed out of his 36" range after the first turn (due to infiltrate) when he blew up my razorback.