Uses for the humble multilaser

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**trephines**

I've been reading posts about chimeras and sentinels and was wondering of the multilasers use?
I remember before in 4th ed it not having as much of a gleaming reputation for being any good compared with the other options that chimeras and sentinels now have.

So in short, this is abit of a inquiring into mulilaser/ sentinel tactics.
Any simple advice for a newbie like me would be much appreciated.

**Ailaros**

There's really nothing special to them. They're exactly the same as a heavy bolter, except they can take winging shots at AV10 vehicles better. They don't have the Ap, which means you can't force your opponent into cover, but given how easy cover is at the moment, there's not much for the heavy bolter either.

Perhaps if cover changes in the future, there will be more of a distinction, but currently there isn't.

As for tactics... Point. Shoot. Repeat.

**Kain**

Well, the Multilaser is a bit better against monstrous creatures and wraithguard than the heavy bolter is. As someone who's seen three bolterbacks fire into a wraithguard brick and inflict precisely zero casualties I suppose this can be useful for some people.

**Testify**

I've had a multi-laser wreck a Storm Raven before (it went flat out, immobilised=destroyed).
But yeah, they're handy en masse for chucking at light armour. Don't expect much or rely on them.

**hobojebus**

You could use it to make some popcorn maybe, toast some bread?

The fact the only thing it will kill outright is ork boyz really counts against it, in an age of 4+ saves even they wont go down to its shots.

Pound for pound a heavy bolter on your turret is alot more use than the multi laser.

JB

I've run IG lists with up to 8 Chimeras and find that multi-lasers outperform heavy bolters especially against the high numbers of T4 and AV11/12 models. If you still want a HB, put one on the hull. I like a mix of hull HB and HF though. It depends on whether the Chimera is part of my gun line or part of my objective seizing battle groups.

Sentinels are trickier for me since I haven't used mine with the current codex other than Apoc games. The other Fast Attack choices are just too much better. The 2 sentinels that I have in my collection are both standard Mars pattern with multi-lasers and an added searchlight. They are cheap scouts that were useful in Night Fight for lighting up targets for my more powerful long range shooters. Given the Newcrons ability to turn daylight on and off, searchlights are important again.

**Testify**

hobojebus wrote:
Pound for pound a heavy bolter on your turret is alot more use than the multi laser.

If you have some kind of sexual fetish for weaker weapons, maybe. ML is strength 6, HB is strength 5. Cover is endemic, don't pretend that you often find yourself shooting at 4+ troops that aren't in cover.

JB

Testify wrote:
hobojebus wrote:
Pound for pound a heavy bolter on your turret is alot more use than the multi laser.

If you have some kind of sexual fetish for weaker weapons, maybe. ML is strength 6, HB is strength 5. Cover is endemic, don't pretend that you often find yourself shooting at 4+ troops that aren't in cover.

I agree. AP4 doesn't mean much unless you fight a lot of Tau or Eldar or the new Necron warriors. S6 is better against T4 MEQ and TEQ as well as T6 MC. Same with T(5) bikers and the minions of Nurgle.

**Ribon Fox**

Good on scout sentinels and having a go at rear armour. The last game I played was against a Gray Knight venerable Dreadnought list (nine models in a 1750 list!). A maxed out squad of scout senties (well my counts as scout senties) managed to make two of the five dreadnoughts go boom. Pumping out nine shots a turn, at lest one is going to breech the damned things is the way I see it

**Ailaros**

Testify wrote:don't pretend that you often find yourself shooting at 4+ troops that aren't in cover.

Don't pretend that you will always, in every possible circumstance be shooting at troops in cover either.

Cover is prevalent, but it's not universal. The insignificant bonus you get from +1 S in this S range is roughly equal to the benefit you get from occasionally being able to shoot at something wherein it doesn't get a cover save.

**Hikaru-119**

Wounding most things on a 2+ instead of a 3+. It's overkill for a few units, but if you are like me a fighting a lot of marines then cover is a non-issue. If you are fighting a lot of 4+ armies then that's what your hull mounted heavy bolter is for.

**ZebioLizard2**

Hikaru-119 wrote:Wounding most things on a 2+ instead of a 3+. It's overkill for a few units, but if you are like me a fighting a lot of marines then cover is a non-issue. If you are fighting a lot of 4+ armies then that's what your hull mounted heavy bolter is for.

Considering that most 4+ armies I know are often stuck in tanks, transports, and have alot of non 4+ backup. The multi-laser still wins out as a good transport killer as well as smacking those in the vehicle.

**Ensis Ferrae**

The last game I used my guard, I parked my 11 Chimeras around my corner of the table... by the end of turn 2, all of my opponents Long Fangs were toast, the only other anti-armor unit he had was a single land speeder, with MM, piloted by the aptly named, D-Bag Mcghee, because EVERY time he rolls to hit, he rolls a 1 (we tested this out, and he would have needed to survive until turn 9 in order to get a To Hit roll other than one)

So, while the Multilaser isn't the greatest weapon out there, given enough ammo it'll take down just about anything.

**Dark Scipio**

I only face Multilasers so far, but I found them a much greater danger for my Marines than Hvy. Bolters.

I woul be glad if I could use them.

**Squigsquasher**

Autocannons are just better. More expensive, but better.

JB

Squigsquasher wrote:Autocannons are just better. More expensive, but better.

True but you can't put an autocannon on a normal Chimera. It's only possible using FW rules which are not always allowed in tournaments or friendly games.

**Squigsquasher**

Oh. That sucks.