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I really, really, really want to put an Ironclad Dread in my army. They just look so bad-ass. The only problem is the points cost. I've pretty much ruled out using one in a drop pod, as that, combined with a melta and two H/K missiles comes to the cost of five assault terminators, which seems like a far superior investment. I know rifle dreads are very effective, especially against things like Dark Eldar or 'Nids, with very low or nonexistent armor values, but I want a CC dread to smash face, and I can't get one there without being slagged by melta unless I dump 65 points of goodies on him, and even then it's far from a sure thing. Is there something I'm missing that makes this unit better than I think it is?

If you need him to bash face, give him a Drop Pod. It may be expensive, but it's also designed for a different role than Assault Terminators. Really, the Ironclad should be hunting big vehicles and maybe heavily fortified buildings if you're using them. So if you find that your army can't reliably take out these types of things, put him in there. Assault Termies are really more for bogging down tough infantry. Honestly though, the Ironclad is less useful in smaller games because there aren't going to be many AV13 or 14 vehicles around for him to Hulk Smash.

But how is he going to be able to hang out in melta range for a turn without moving or assaulting without turning into a puddle of molten metal? I mean if he survives, he can conceivably shoot off two hk missiles, two meltagun shots, and charge into close combat with a chainfist and DCCW all in one turn, which is incredibly badass, I just don't see him surviving that long.

Drop him near a high value target, AV14 tanks or buildings or a squad of troops you wanna tarpit for the rest of the game (not a squad of IG vets or sterns. ;b), pop smoke then shoot and assault next turn, I would advise against taking the HK missiles but assault/defensive grenades are great.

Or you can invest in a Lucius pattern pod and assault on the turn you arrive which is pure awesomeness.

With the heavy flamer and meltagun combined with Vulkan makes for some truly awesome sauce.

Best bet is to use him in a drop pod with a heavy flamer in place of his stormbolter and when you land pop smoke and run to a good position. For best results drop two on first turn, and if you want add deathwind launchers to the drop pods.

If you have a shooty army, why not run a couple on foot as your counter-assault element? I do this with Furioso Dreadnoughts in my Blood Angels mech list. Obviously, the Ironclad is kind of a poor cousin to the Furioso, but it seems like a viable strategy in a semi-competitive army.