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Not so much a review, but I would like to include some imperial guard as allies for my Deathwing, because, ya know...tanks. I would also like to use this as an opportunity to slowly build up an imperial guard force. Now, I love basilisks, always have since they smashed my entire ork army back in 3rd ed, but I haven't played with/against them since then. So the question is, what would make a good allied contingent for Deathwing? Not really looking to build up foot-guard, but all opinions welcome.

Well I think IG are pretty much the best allies you can take.

You have quite a few options.

One thing is to take an infantry platoon and max them with lascannons/plasmas and blob them together with a commisar.

LD10 stubborn with 10 AP2 weapons is scary and they are scoring.

As far as other choices some people like vets in chimeras, but you could only take 2 units as there alled troops. You can put 3 meltas in each and a demo charge and they are good vs. tanks.

You may want a unit to deal with flyers so the bloob helps as they have multiple shots. You could even take a D line for them.

IG tanks are the bomb. I like medusas as they are boss vs. tanks with large or small templates to deal with any unit. Russes are not very great right now as the FAQ to make them a heavy was another terrible GW idea.

Any of this helpful?

 Icelord wrote:
Well I think IG are pretty much the best allies you can take.

IG tanks are the bomb. I like medusas as they are boss vs. tanks with large or small templates to deal with any unit. Russes are not very great right now as the FAQ to make them a heavy was another terrible GW idea.

Certain Russ tanks did get the shaft, but the executioner is still a good tank, cant argue with a tank that can fire a 3 shot plasma cannon that doesn't get hot. I am going to run IG with deathwing allies, gonna run 2 executioners an a exterminator an see how they do. I have 2 vendettas for air support.

The problem is that with An executioner you are paying 245 (with plasma) when for 250 you could just take 2 vindicator. There ap2, large templates, good vs tanks (executioner isn't).

I know they are armor 13 not 14 but try to shoot 2 tanks with 1 squad!

I think the executioner is still good. But not points efficient especially with da being your main army!

 Icelord wrote:
The problem is that with An executioner you are paying 245 (with plasma) when for 250 you could just take 2 vindicator. There ap2, large templates, good vs tanks (executioner isn't).

I know they are armor 13 not 14 but try to shoot 2 tanks with 1 squad!

I think the executioner is still good. But not points efficient especially with da being your main army!

I don't add the extra sponsons, I almost offed my own tank with two gets hot rolls. I stick with the plasma an hm lascannon. It can fire both on the move an wreck face.

Well that's preference I guess! :-)

Thanks for the advice. I tend to value mobility more than saturation, so it sounds like two squads of Chimera vets would be the way to go for troops. Now, you guys recommend the Medusa. Do you like that more than the basilisk battery? Does the earth shaker routinely have range issues? Also, I know this is nowhere near optimum, but I'll be damned if I don't eventually pick up a deathstrike missile launcher. Good luck shutting it down with fearless th/ss termies by the bucket as guards.

I prefer the medusa as it is ap2 while the basilisk is ap3.

As far as range the nedusa is only 36 inches but in a standard game when are you not within 36? And not with 25 percent to get cover for a vehicle there decently resilient. I own a basilisk also. Prefer the better ap and the choice of both template sizes.

Darn basilisk needs a 6 to destroy a tank...

Yeah Plasma Sponsons are really unattractive now. I'm going the other way and have been adding Deathwing to my IG and a few notes:

As Icelord said, a heavy weapons platoon can be awesome. 300 - 600 points gets you

Company Command Squad w/ Autocannon + VoxCaster
(Sits in cover and focuses on giving commands, shooting is secondary)

Platoon Command Squad w/ 4 Flamers
(hide as a counter-assault)
x2-5 Infantry Squad w/ Lascannon + Flamer
(for more counter-assault or Grenade Launcher to add some cheap help against av 12- vehicles. Not a big fan of Plasma on regular squad as 15 points is a lot for a weapon on that lil' squad)
And a single Commissar in the squad



The other option is Chimelta Vets:
455 Points gives you
CCS w/ 4 Meltas in Chimera
x2 Veterans w/ 3 Meltas in Chimera


The last cheap addition is the airborne option:
450 points gives you
CCS w/ 4 Melta
Veterans w/ 3 melta
2 Vendettas
Vendettas come in, wreck enemy planes and before they fly off the table either go into Hover Mode and drop off troops or have them use the special rule to disembark while moving.


Obviously you can mix and match but I try to keep my allies forces low. Chimelta Vets with a Leman Russ Demolisher is always a good pain train to lay down on your enemies!

I would consider having the IG as the parent army. Then take the aeroplanes.

I think you could do something with a blob. Give your librarian, IG psyker, with PCS orders and they will be a very reasonable squad.

Deathwing needs antiflyer and more firepower, that is all you need to look for in any case.