Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

Here it is, the troops ride in valks. Gotta ride in style these days....

CCS 110
4x plasma

Vets 120
3x Melta -
1x Las cannon

Vets 120
3x Melta -
1x Las cannon

Vendetta - 130

Vendetta - 130

Valkyrie - 130
MRP -

Valkyrie - 130
MRP

Valkyrie - 130
MRP -

3x LRBT 495
Las cannons

3 Demolishers 495

Total 1990

Comments, questions, advice?

It's inefficient and doesn't really take advantage of anything that competitive IG lists do.

For example, lots of Vendettas/Valk's but no Astropath? What do you plan on doing when you go second?? You have to reserve those flyers otherwise they will get shot down first turn, which is where having an Astropath is required.
Why Valkyries? Vendettas cost the same but are better in almost every way. Why are you squadroning expensive AV12 flyers that cannot get cover, do you like losing vehicles on a 4+?
In your Heavy Support, why 2 squadrons of 3, instead of 3 squadrons of 2? Same number of vehicles and shots, but with the ability to shoot more targets per turn, and less overkill.
Why so few troops? This is one of the few imperial guard lists that would really struggle in objectives matches, simply due to the fact that that you have so few troops and those Valkyries have to stay within 4" of eachother. A lack of troops also limits your ability to set up a deep strike defence or bubblewrap your expensive tanks.
Your long range shooting is abysmal for an IG list. 10 Lascannons; 2 of which are inside a vehicle with no fire points, 6 of which are on two Av12 vehicles that cannot get cover, the other 2 being Bs3. Battle Cannons don't impress anyone who knows how to put their infantry in cover, and are unreliable at best against mech due to the scatter rules and poor Bs.
Your CCS is terrible. The only way it can actually do anything is by getting out of its vehicle, at which point it's dead. There's a reason why people take Chimeras you know.

That about covers it. Poor long range shooting, no ability to hold multiple objectives and no ability to reserve properly. Not competitive in the slightest.

Try reading this .

IDK man, it looks like a wired air cav. You need to reallocate a few points here

1) las cant shoot out of birds - 60 points back in the pool

2) pull the las off the LRBT - 45 points back in the pool

3) squadrons only really work in a demo wall, and even there its not necessarily a good build. Drop one of them and spread out the other one. I would say kill the demos - 495 points in the pool

4) drop one of the valkyries you don’t really need 3 of them 130

That will give you 730 points and stream lines your list a bit. Now try and add in;

1) as unbeliever stated you need an astropath to make this list work I also like the MOF it’s a keeper if you have the points …60 points

2) drop in 2 vendettas to squad up the other your teeth…260 points

3) you need more troops 2 melta units will work well 200

4) DS ST work well in this type of list as well I would pull out 2 of them 205

This tools you out a balanced air cav I would think. But my exp is limited in this type of list so I would give It a fair bit of play testing before you stick with anything.

Not enough troops and I am not sure why meltas are with lascannons - do this go in a Vendetta or Valkyrie? If so the lascannon cannot fire when the dudes bail out or if they move afterwards to get the meltas into 2D6 range.

Here are some changes... more advice please, but be nice this time.


CCS - 225
4x plasma
Astropath
Officer of the Fleet
Chimera ML/HF

Vets - 165
3x Melta -
Chimera ML/HF

Vets - 165
3x Melta -
Chimera ML/HF

Vets - 165
3x Melta -
Chimera ML/HF
Vendetta - 130

Vets - 165
3x Melta -
Chimera ML/HF

Vendetta - 130

Vendetta - 130

Vendetta - 130

Vendetta - 130

Valkyrie - 130
MRP

Stormtroopers - 105
2x Melta

Stormtroopers - 105
2x Melta

Executioner - 250
Lascannon
Plasma Sponsons

OR

Manticore and more Stormtroopers



Total 1995

Sorry had my math wrong on the ST but I see you caught that. And I don’t think unbeliever has an off button, but his advice is sound and worth listening to, even if it is a bit crude.

Ok back on topic, yes this is a much stronger list. Still a lot of room to improve. Your real problem is that this isn’t air cav anymore. You just built a mech vets list.

BLARGH!!!!! What would you suggest for a Air Calvary list? =[

Mech vets is a stronger IG build then air cav. But as the question is how do I build a viable air cav list. Lets start with the basics;

Air cave is an alpha strike build, if first player the idea is to turbo scout as close as possible to the opponent, then turn one drop the contents of your birds point blank and eat as much as you can with melta or plasma. Leaving very few tanks and a lot of troops on the table. If you are forced to take 2ed turn or facing a 2ed turn list you hold your force in reserves and out flank. On a good roll you get to alpha strike on turn 2 from the sides. it’s a fun idea but takes a lot of skill and luck.

I’ve toyed with this list off and on but never entered it in a tournament.

CCS + melta x 4 + astropath
Chimera
175

CCS + melta x 4
90

Vet + melta x 3
100

Vet + melta x 3
100

Vet + melta x 3
100

Vet + melta x 3
100

Vet + melta x 3
100

Valk x 2
Pods
260

Valk x 2
Pods
260

Valk x 2
Pods
260

Manticore
160

Manticore
160

Medusa
135

So no vedettas at all?

I was thinking about that, your vets and artillery should be able to take care of anything you needed the vendettas for. With that in mind the lack of ML/HF horde is going to be your largest problem, I feel the valk fill this hole and if you are able to function with the 12 blasts from them and the variable blasts from your artillery you should be able to hold them at bay.

Do you want a fluff list or an effective one? On a fluff basis I'd probably drop the Manticores and Medusa's for more Air units probably DS Stormtroopers. If your worried about the lack of flamers Vets can take them and if you take Vendetta's you won't be hurting for tankpower.

I just feel that this list is VERY anti mech oriented, perhaps drop the medusa for another manticore, and drop the second CCS for some plasma somewhere.

How do the tactics for this work out? I understand holding the birds in reserve, but what then?

All rage, all the time.

Honestly, I don't think pure AirCav can really work in a competitive setting. Those Vendettas/Valks are far too vulnerable up there by themselves, and being squadroned only exasperates the problem.

Let's talk about this alpha strike business, and why it's pretty fething terrible against most competitive lists. Vendetta + Veterans + Meltaguns = about 250 points, depending on upgrades. Two of them in one squadron and you're looking at 500 points. Most competitive lists are min/max in one form or another, meaning your 500 points worth of anti-mech gets an alpha strike off and kills...two Rhinos, maybe? Less if your opponent has the ability to set up good bubble wrapping. Then what happens? You've just killed 70 points worth of armour, and in turn will lose both Veteran squads and both Vendettas to return fire and assaults. Good trade!

If you have to do it though, I would aim for something like this.

CCS, 4 Meltaguns, Astropath, MotF, Chimera (Multilaser, Heavy Flamer) – 205

Storm Troopers, 2 Meltaguns, Chimera (Multilaser, Heavy Flamer) – 155
Storm Troopers, 2 Meltaguns, Chimera (Multilaser, Heavy Flamer) - 155
Storm Troopers, 2 Meltaguns, Chimera (Multilaser, Heavy Flamer) - 155

PCS, 2 Meltaguns, Autocannon, Chimera (Multilaser, Heavy Flamer) – 115
Infantry Squad, Meltagun, Autocannon, Chimera (Multilaser, Heavy Flamer) – 125
Infantry Squad, Meltagun, Autocannon, Chimera (Multilaser, Heavy Flamer) - 125
PCS, 2 Meltaguns, Autocannon, Chimera (Multilaser, Heavy Flamer) – 115
Infantry Squad, Meltagun, Autocannon, Chimera (Multilaser, Heavy Flamer) – 125
Infantry Squad, Meltagun, Autocannon, Chimera (Multilaser, Heavy Flamer) – 125
Special Weapons Squad, 2 Meltaguns, Demo Charge – 70
Special Weapons Squad, 2 Meltaguns, Demo Charge - 70
Special Weapons Squad, 2 Meltaguns, Demo Charge - 70

Vendetta - 130
Vendetta - 130
Vendetta - 130

Manticore - 160
Manticore - 160
Manticore – 160
Total: 2500

AirCav/Normal Mech hyrid.

Deployment will depend on what you are facing or what you need to do. The Storm Troopers can Scout forward in their Chimeras and join the SWS team for an alpha strike, which goes against what I said above I know, but the Storm Troopers + Chimeras let you Tank Shock through bubblewrapping and hit multiple tanks. With a bit of luck, that’s 3 SWS Vendettas and 3 Storm Trooper squads getting an alpha strike. That’s a good option to have, correct?
Or, the SWS can hop in the Storm Troopers Chimera, reserving the Vendettas and letting the Storm Troopers DS in. The Astropath means both will get in relatively quickly, and nobody likes facing 6 anti-mech squads that arrive all at once.

This list still has all the things that a good, standard mech vets list has - lots of Bs4 Melta in Chimeras, lots of long range shooting across multiple units, lots of tanks, lots of anti-horde firepower. It also has a lot of fun elements to it, with the DS Storm Troopers and demo charges.

Air-cav lists rely a lot on alpha strikes to eliminate threats early on, either by blasting away with Vendettas, or turbo-boosting Valkyries loaded with suicide melta troops

Going first you Scout move 12" away from enemy move 6"or 12" then unload depending on the situation especially if you have nothing to destroy at all.

If you go second you Outflank your birds then same as above(Astropath helps you get the side you want).

Having Vendettas is also good as you'll need something else to pop transports.

Have you tried using Demolitions with your vets? It may be expensive but a demo charge just might help with MEQ and even terminators (hopefully BS4 will help it not scattering back to you)

Yep air cav really isn’t competitive just a fun list to play.