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I know most people dislike Honor Guard. However, do they have a backfield counter assault role?

That depends on the unit. For Blood Angels, who can give their jump pucks and loads of plasma, melta, storm shields, and power axes, and come with a FC/FnP bubble, they are a great QRF for shoring up weak spots in your lines.

I've never tried to the Codex version, so I can't comment on it.

Codex marines a little more limited.

Reason for taking them IMO would be the chapter banner buff.

Were the Chapter champion I5 I think GW would have sold 3x the number of HG kits. As he is I4 and W1, as rest of the HG, there is insufficient differentiation, even with PW and 2+, thus standard is to reach into 1st company.

I think if you can shield these guys, they have a lot of potential.

Their 2+ save negates everything but axes and fists in hth. If you pair them with a Librarian with shield for an invulnerable save, they're a decent hth unit. With the Banner, they're base 3 attacks, and if they have a pistol, that would make them 4A, 5 on the charge. No charge to mix power swords and axes to meet any need, and upgradeable to relic blades for that extra str.

You just have to protect the crap out of them, because they're going to be expensive over 6 models!

 Salacious Greed wrote:


You just have to protect the crap out of them, because they're going to be expensive over 6 models!

Good points, all. But to Salacious's point, I'm bring Chapter Master Lias Issodon in my standard list, a Badab War HQ who changes Chapter Tactics to Steal. Would that be enough protection?

BTW, I'm thinking of only 4 models at less than 200 points, with diversified power weapons and thunder hammer.

4 models is not enough.

What is their role? 4 models might tip a moderate combat in your favour, ie a full GH squad.

Its not going to repel any serious threat though.

Further, its a single shot choice.

Think of it this way. If you take 7 terminators w stormbolters, lose 1 to shooting, charge something in assault, lose 3 killing something really nasty, you still have 3 termies left. With luck that can win you another combat, or allow a secondary unit to prevail on whats left from that second combat.

Now 4 honour guard. Yep cool gear. Theoryhammer it and as a RRF its not going to deliver you the power you need.

I always liked taking them with Kantor. now that they have a 2+ which stops the power weapons they have become more effective however I don't suggest taking a lot of them nor upgrading them much. they come good as is. remember if you use them as a counter assault unit they don't need to be geared as an offensive assaulting unit.

IMO the purpose of a counter assaulting unit is to simply soften an enemy then deliver a killing blow with your chosen unit. they shouldn't be made to be high costing elite breaking ultimate close combat beasts as that defeats the purpose of a COUNTER assault.

i run a 6 man squad with Pedro, the HG have 5 attacks on the charge, while the Champion has 6. They come equipped with power weapons (ive kited all mine to have swords, although some would says that modeling to advantage), and they have a 2+ save, which is huge now.

they shrug off alot of hits, and absolutely tear through MEQ. problem is obviously getting them into the combat. A LR makes them very expensive, so the best use is as the OPsuggested, as a counter assault unit.

In 5th, they were a good middle between Tactical termies and assault termies, they shoot better then assault termies, but not tac termies, and they were better in CC then Tac Termies but not Assault ones. now in 6th, Tactical Termies hold their own in assault.

SGT Bob, sounds like that unit would really struggle to handle a high toughness opponent that could deal out AP2. MC duties then fall on whose shoulders?

I tend to find points for 1 RRF unit, usually some termies, and a secondary lesser capability, ie an axe in tac squad. Tying those points to honourguard IMO is risky.