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I have heard a lot of people say that this BT elite choice is largely useless and expensive. I just wanted some other peoples opinions of them as well as tips on how they play them/seen them played.

I have tried a "counts as" version of them a time or two, while debating if I wanted to buy the squad (They look AWESOME and the fluff behind them is pretty neat IMO) What I want to try is have 3 with chainswords+B.Pistols+C.Shields, 1 dual L.Claws, and one more with a Powersword+B.Pistol+C.Shield. Everyone would have terminator honours, frag grenades and the whole squad has infiltrate. They would have the Rage from the champ's AAC vow.

So a squad of 5 marines, each with 5 attacks on the charge with 3+ and a 5+ invuln (except L.Claw guy) and can start the game 12" or 18" away from something juicy. They also have no character like a sergeant to complicate matters with challenges.

Any advice? What to change/improve...what to watch out for...better tactics?

6++ invulnerable save. Per the Black Templars FAQ:

Page 27 – Combat Shield.
Change the last sentence to: “The combat shield confers a 6+
invulnerable save.”

What to watch out for: Getting 5 very expensive power armored guys shot to death on turn 1 before you can do anything with them. They really don't add much, I'm afraid. The only time I ever infiltrated sword brethren was when I put them in ruins in my opponents deployment area and gave them a Plasma Gun and Plasma Cannon. CCW Sword Brethren cost as much as terminators once you kit them out, and do less damage and have less staying power. I'd rather deep strike in some terminators.

Not worth the fuss IMO for a Black Templars army. CC just isn't what it used to be (*cough*overwatch*cough*) for those armies that thrive on assaulting. So save points and maybe invest in a BT Vindicator or Devastator and go for the Range Game. I recently ran my Templars with them along with two Dreads with TL Lascannons against a Tau/Eldar army.