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I'm new to 40K and I'm interested in building a mech army. I've been leaning towards Blood Angels, but I've recently heard that IG may be the best mech lists. I was hoping to throw it up for discussion - generally speaking with a new general which army builds the best mech lists, BA or IG?

Thanks!

Well, I have no experience directly with IG, but a friend of mine collects them to great success, and they certainly do seem to have the widest selection of tanks and vehicles.

Blood angels (my housemate collects those) I would say is a lot more... jump pack troops and close combat, than mech. They do get some pretty good rules for dreadnoughts though...

Obviously as with a lot of armies, it all depends on which units you choose, you can make a mech list out of most armies. People on here will tell you to:
"pick whichever army you like the look of the best, and then tailor your list from there, because you'll enjoy modelling and painting more if its the models you like"

Which I totally agree with. Its the reason why I currently have 4 different armies lol... I like too much stuff

back on topic though, I always dread playing against the IG army that my friend plays as, cos they have an awful lot of variety when needed. Go browse the games workshop site and see if you like the range, and if so, then you might be on to a winner!

Methinks IG do it best what with platoons and such.

As a BA player (though not a mech player), their transport, along with the predator and vindicator are fast vehicles. However, the las/plas combo on razorbacks for BA isn't as good on them as for C:SM razorbacks.

Myrrodin wrote:As a BA player (though not a mech player), their transport, along with the predator and vindicator are fast vehicles. However, the las/plas combo on razorbacks for BA isn't as good on them as for C:SM razorbacks.

How? You can move 12 and still fire 1 a turn

In my opinion, the Imperial Guard are the best for armoured lists. Chimera Veterans with leman russ/artillery/vendetta support is quite good.

IG still dominate the mech game

Myrrodin wrote:As a BA player (though not a mech player), their transport, along with the predator and vindicator are fast vehicles. However, the las/plas combo on razorbacks for BA isn't as good on them as for C:SM razorbacks.

BA Las/plas razorback is better in every way than normal C:SM razorback.
You can move 6" and fire both weapons instead of staying still. And you can move 12" instead of 6" and still fire, increasing your rapid fire plasma envelope from 18" (6" move +12" RF range) to 24" (12" move + 12" RF range).
You have to pay 10 point premium on the Fast status on Rhino/Razorback/Predator, but it is good deal.

IG is all about the armor. BA gets a few things, but there's not really much variety or interesting models in it for us - I would absolutely kill babies if I could field the Leman Russ variants.

Chesh wrote:I would absolutely kill babies if I could field the Leman Russ variants.

I am not sure if that means that you would like it or not, assuming you play BA you should like getting Russ tanks, but killing babies isn't something a normal person does when they are happy.

The Guard.

Actually...as an IG player I'd actually suggest that the answer is possibly BA.

IG's main transports with Melta Vets cost 155 points, have AV 12, and pack a S6 turret gun.
BA's main transports with base Assault Squads inside cost about the same, and have AV11, but typically have LC/TL-PG, are higher BS, are fast, and have better dudes inside.

IG's vehicles are mostly either AV12 front and are Artillery, or have AV14 front and are Russes.

BA's vehicles are typically fast, and you can run at least 6 Predators easily in a 1,500 list. That's a wall of AV13 and it's all fast.



I don't know...honestly I have to give it to BA.

I'd say BA has a leg up on the Mech build because thier units don't fold over when the vehicles get destroyed.

NuggzTheNinja wrote:Actually...as an IG player I'd actually suggest that the answer is possibly BA.

IG's main transports with Melta Vets cost 155 points, have AV 12, and pack a S6 turret gun.
BA's main transports with base Assault Squads inside cost about the same, and have AV11, but typically have LC/TL-PG, are higher BS, are fast, and have better dudes inside.

IG's vehicles are mostly either AV12 front and are Artillery, or have AV14 front and are Russes.

BA's vehicles are typically fast, and you can run at least 6 Predators easily in a 1,500 list. That's a wall of AV13 and it's all fast.



I don't know...honestly I have to give it to BA.

I would agree, BA have the best armor in the game. But the best mech army is ig.

The Crusader wrote:Methinks IG do it best what with platoons and such.

Platoons are the one way to do mech IG wrong. Vets in chimeras or Valks/Vendettas is the way to go.

I'd also say that "best" is somewhat qualitative. There are different armies that do mech in different ways.

As no one has mentioned it yet, I'd also throw in DE. Their transports are individually hella flimsy, but they're also very, very cheap, come with lance weapons for free (much less the 3x disintegrator or 2x splinter cannon variety), and come in an army that can transport things like wyches.

Ailaros wrote:I'd also say that "best" is somewhat qualitative. There are different armies that do mech in different ways.

This is the key to it. You could develop a formula that calculates the value of an army's armour based on speed, power, utility, armor, etc. but it would all come out pretty close because where an army may fail in one area they make up for in another.

I'm an IG player myself and taking BA into account they are faster and have comparable armor, and thus are a better choice for those who wish to use that to their advantage. However, if you don't utilize their mobility there's nothing making them better than the IG armor.

IG on the other hand are better suited for those who wish to pound the hell out of the enemy and not have to worry about moving all over the board. A Russ can move 6 inches and still fire a primary AND secondary weapon which can be invaluable when you wish to present the enemy with a WW1-style wall of iron. Throw in the potentially devastating effect of pinning indirect-fire artillery batteries that can reach anything on the board and pound it to dust and many would say you don't need mobility when you have the IG's iron fist.

Then on the other hand, many BA players would also advocate that with the higher mobility they posses they don't need superior firepower when they can get up close and personal. Same with DE, if used correctly their armor and mech support can fly circles around an IG tank line. it all boils down to what qualities you are looking for.

So what are you looking for? Masses of long-reaching ordnance that can blast the hell out of anyone to cross its firing line? Rapid-moving mech support to get you up close and personal? It's all a matter of opinion.

Which models look the most interesting to you?

Which army looks more appealing to paint and assemble to you?

Asking "Which army is best" is a loaded question, at best.

IG. a maximum of 95 vehicles in stansrad FOC if I am not mistaken.

Ailaros wrote:I'd also say that "best" is somewhat qualitative. There are different armies that do mech in different ways.

As no one has mentioned it yet, I'd also throw in DE. Their transports are individually hella flimsy, but they're also very, very cheap, come with lance weapons for free (much less the 3x disintegrator or 2x splinter cannon variety), and come in an army that can transport things like wyches.

Lanceweapons are actualy quite bad ( whohoo...a glorified missile launcher... ) and DE vehicles are realy fragile ( low AV, difficult to get into cover thanks to their skimmer base ) and most of all, they are not cheap ( 55-60 points isn't cheap, especialy considering their insane attrition rate ).