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Hi chaps.

3 acolytes with flamers (S4 AP5) in a heavy flamer (S5 AP4) chimera for 97 pts: 4 templates to ignore cover. Is this a good unit for its cost? Is there any way to improve the unit?

It seems to me that flamers might be excellent on acolytes as their poor BS matters not, and they can fire after moving from inside their chimera. A purgation squad in a rhino uses 40% extra pts and can't fire all its incinerators from the vehicle, and more importantly uses a vital Heavy slot. Other henchmen anti-horde units are psykers which can't get round cover saves, and arcos or DCAs which don't have frag grenades and have to pay through the nose for an Assault vehicle.

I don't see these chaps in lists, perhaps because soon after the codex came out everyone agreed that 10 pts is considered a little on the expensive side for flamers.

The other factor I've wondered about is the chimera. Should the heavy flamer go on the hull or the turret given that the chimera might have to pivot to face away from the enemy if the henchmen are to get out? I'm thinking not, as if the acolytes really require that extra range after moving 6" then a template from the turret would probably fall short; and additionally a cruise/disembark/shoot is more likely in situations where the henchmen need to get out. Am I correct? Thank you.

You're basically exchanging melta for flamers at the same cost. The issue people take with flamers is that they cost the same as melta well not having equal value. No other infantry can carry melta weapons for GK but anyone can have an incinerator, usually for free.

I ran a 4 flamer PCS when I played IG all the time and loved it. However I had a vendetta to carry them around. GK don't really have a comparable vehicle that's cheap.

You pretty much need to expect that acolyte team to die as soon as they've done their job. So it's just a question of whether 100 points is worth whatever you aim them at.

As a side note. I do use flamers in my henchmen list but only mixed in with DCA and crusader units as a small boost to their offensive power and a spare wound

Instead of a chimera I would recommend a razorback with the s6 bolters or s7 assault cannon. Usually if you need the 3 flamers inside you will need to drive 12 inches to get out and flame the enemy. The chimera also doesnt have fortitude, and has worse access points. Finally, the side armor of 10 can be an issue despite the rather good front of 12.

If you are running multiple Chimeras you dont need flamers anyway.

Hmm good points thank you. I do not have enough experience with flamers to know that you'd normally need to cruise/disembark to use them, so that's very helpful.