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A friend and I are having a debate on what each other believe is the best Troop ranged weapon.

The criteria for the weapons:

Standard Issue Weapons

Free Upgrade Weapons that majority of the squad can take

Criteria of Judgment :

Weapon Profile: Range, Strength, AP, Type, and Special Traits.

Application by model: meaning a model with higher BS or other traits may use a weapon better that a similar model with Lower BS.

Number of weapons in the unit

Feel free to leave your reasoning or arguments of possibly the application behind your choice.

Storm Bolter by far IMO. It's Assault 2, 24" range, leaving a total 30" threat range. The users are BS4 (i.e., Strike Squads and Termies), so it will hit quite a bit. It edges out the pulse rifle because it can move and shoot at maximum range. It can also become S5.

I went with lasgun: you can get so many of them. I also assumed that "application by model" included the ability to take orders, as they are pretty central to the Guard's tactics. Feel free to correct me on this point if I am in error.

Lasgun probably. Perhaps Splinter Rifle.

Because noone in 40K cares about "standard issue troop weapons" anyways. The only truly relevant criteria are:
- "is it cheap?" and
- "how many per unit can I replace with some flamer/melta/plasma/equivalent as needed?"

Zweischneid wrote:Lasgun probably.

Because noone in 40K cares about "standard issue troop weapons" anyways. The only truly relevant criteria are "is it cheap?" and "how many per unit can I replace with some flamer/melta/plasma/equivalent as needed?"

I beg to differ. Lasguns kill more stuff than specials and heavies for me (not counting tanks of course). My biggest fear is bolt weaponry too.

Storm bolter by a country fething mile! What can beat a rapid firing version of a gun that fires 12" explosive tipped bolts! Awesome as.....

I see the assault weapons (Storm Bolter) seem to be a majority leader.

Other Assault Weapons that might be overlooked:

Tyranid Warrior Devourer. Its Strength 4 Assault 3 with 18" range, but 24" if you include their movement.

Avenger Catapult same 18" Range with 6" movement putting it at 24" for the round and a Strength 4 AP 5 Assault 2 Profile. Exarch confers a bladestorm allowing 3 shots in one round.

Storm Bolter,closely followed by the Avenger Catapult.

Avengers get my vote, even if only because I'm an Eldar fanboy.

Is Storm Bolter even a standard-issue weapon? It always seems like a special issued gun for me at least.

Anyway I at least think the Gauss Rifle is pretty good despite the Necrons hurting as an overall army.

Harriticus wrote:Is Storm Bolter even a standard-issue weapon? It always seems like a special issued gun for me at least.

Grey Knights called.

Anyway, Stormbolters. Awesome as is, but you can even upgrade them to have S5. And that's just dirty.

Stormbolters are nice, but are they really as good as four lasguns? I suppose the point is they come out to about the same effectiveness overall, just with different strengths and weaknesses.

Stormbolter easily wins this teamed with BS 4.

Splinter rifle, by a long, long way.

Hi, I see that you have a Dreadknight/Bloodthirster/Wraithlord/GUO/C'tan/TMC/etc...Oh look, 90 points of warriors just delivered 10+ wounds to it! Start making saves!

Anything with lasers, other than that the storm bolter. Its probably more reliable than laser guns anyway, not to mention it has good range and its very powerful.

If anyone else but an ork wielded it, a shoota would be pretty potent.

'Course, it probably wouldn't work outside of and orks hands either, so...

Stormbolter, that thing is vicious.

Gauss flayer. It strips you apart, a atom at a time!

Fafnir wrote:

Harriticus wrote:Is Storm Bolter even a standard-issue weapon? It always seems like a special issued gun for me at least.

Grey Knights called.

Oh yeah, forgot about them. They're so hax I had mentally forgotten they count as "standard"

Devourers don't really count as standard issue weapons, just sayin'. I might have voted for Fleshborers if they still rerolled their wounds, but as is they don't even come close. I was thinking Stormbolter, but Gauss Flayers are a better all-round gun imho. Sure they got nerfed with the 6th ed damage table, but tons of glancing shots are still good, and T4 is good vs infantry.

Andilus Greatsword wrote:Devourers don't really count as standard issue weapons, just sayin'.

Tyranid Warriors disagree with you.

Rail Rifles!

Ignore Power Armor
Wounds Termis on 2!
Shoots farther than Pulse Rifles!
Firers can be BS3-5

Bare bones stock Infantry though It would be Pulse Rifle hands down for pure damage and Bolters for firer's BS skill.

Storm Bolters. The amount of range + weight of fire is enough to make any enemy cry. In the case of Grey Knights, those are suddenly S5. It huts us!

I went with gauss flayer, because it can hurt anything.

Gauss Flayer to me, it isn't assault but you han hurt virtually everything.

Devourer's get my vote. 3 shots, 18"range, move & shoot ability, S4, and have a morale effect.

Pulse Rifle, longer range and good stopping power.