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I currently run a mech guard armylist, now my question are Grenade Launchers better than Plasma Guns?

I know that Plasma Guns are good against MEQ's and are okay against back armour tank, but so are Grenade Launchers with Str 6 are good range, what do you think?

Grenade launchers are way worse than plasma guns. There's a reason that they cost a third as much.

Against the right opponent, and in the right circumstance, grenade launchers can be useful. A veteran squad with 3 GLs can inflict some real hurt on a tyranid or ork horde and even on other lightly armoured, low toughness armies such as eldar and dark eldar.

Problem is, most of the time you will be facing MEQs with T$ and 3+ saves and against them, the GL will epic fail.

Their only real benefit is their long(ish) range and high strength of the krak shot, but apart from that, if you are putting together a take all comers list, you will be better served by taking plasma guns.

When I do take them, I generally run 3 of them in a veteran squad with Gny Sgt Harker. This way you have a squad that can still dish out a reasonable amount of firepower without sacrificing mobility, and the 2 weapons compliment each other nicely.

Plasma is more expensive and occassionally blows up - GLs do less damage but are cheaper.

Certainly on vets I would go for plasma if I have the points, but for BS3 infantry I would take the GL.

so what im seeing so far, is that plasma is better than grenade launchers, i do agree but does the blow-up faze anyone? because on the roll of a 1, you are pretty much dead, but they do get more shots in.

Most things in a game of 40k will die by turn 7 anyway, who cares about the risk? I would always pay for a plasma gun over a GL, it can hurt most enemies in the game. A GL is only actually good against light infantry, who you don't see too much of - and when you do, use your lasguns.

The one thing a GL has over a PG is range. It has an effective range of 30", where a PG's max range is 24" for one shot or 18" for rapid-fire. This is not a huge deal, but can be a factor in any plan.

In every other way a plasma gun is much better than a GL which, as was said, is why it costs thrice as much. It wounds MCs on 3s, ignores armour, pens vehicles more easily with s7 and is even better against light infantry assuming your opponent knows how to space his dudes.

I love grenade launchers. I love the move and fire ability, the flexibility, and the low cost. That being said, I can't seriously consider them a contender in a special weapon slot. They don't get enough different jobs done well enough. The best places for them are in Harker's squad, like black-rabbit suggested, and PCS squads in a Chimera, where they can trundle along at 6" a turn and fire away in support. In line squads, I'm not convinced their worth the points compared to other specials. My infantry squads are usually forward, and so it doesn't take too long to get into major damage range with any of the other special weapons. In most games I don't have the luxury of the fighting withdrawal that the grenade launcher is pretty good at.

That being said, I have found a nice niche for it at the 500 point level. In low point games, the 10 point premium vs. plasma is more significant, and on even a 4x4 board there's a lot more room for your army to maneuver, so a veteran squad with three grenade launchers can shift around getting the best shots on enemy units while staying out of range or LOS of the worst threats.

Plasma guns all day on vets, grenade launchers on line infantry IMHO. The only drawback is 15 pts for a plasma gun but if you kill just one tact marine you've made your points back. overheating is a bitch but your dudes are gonna die one way or another, might as well be shooting at the enemy rather than in CC.