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Dunno if this thread has been created before but here it is again.
from what i gather havoc launcher + range in hellbrute is worthless, hellbrute is made for melee and every rhino you have should already have havoc launcher so:

Should dreads be
1) full melee (1 hand fist with flail or hammer)
2) 1 gun and 1 melee (if this so which combo is best)

Seems more of a tactics question so moving there.

I think the stock 100 PT build is best. A multi melta can be quite potent.

If you are facing horde type armies, pay the 15Pt for the heavy flamer.

I think helbrutes work best when closely supporting other units and I like to keep a ranged weapon and a power fist on it. Keep it close to one of the havoc units to give them an initative order powerfist attack should anything assaulty get close to them. Pick a ranged weapon to suit your foe - meltagun/autocannon for IG, plasma cannon for terminators etc.

I gotta agree that the stock build is best. And it's WYSIWYG. And you can add the heavy flamer and stay that way because of the huge mouth in the palm of the hand could easily be spraying warp energy, bile, fire, etc.

The power scourge is very interesting. Lowering enemy weapon skill can make other supporting units much more effective.

I like it shooty, for the cost of 135 points it gets a twin-linked lascannon and missile launcher.

But then that doesn't help it on the crazed table

Reaper Autocannon with Missile Launcher. A mini-rifleman.

Otherwise, stock with heavy flamer.

I haven't used one in a while, but I was going to try using a multimelta and the flail with it being escorted by a Maulerfiend with the Lasher tendrils. Figured it'd be funny just to get both them into combat on the same unit with both the negative modifiers.

 WarOne wrote:
I like it shooty, for the cost of 135 points it gets a twin-linked lascannon and missile launcher.

This.

I've tried it out a few times and it works ok. Its pretty easy to convert as well.

Its the same price as the C:SM version, and about as good.

I recommend power scourge in place of multi-melta. The thing becomes dirt cheap, melee focused and can help support other units.

Main concern would be getting it to survive a combat ... you have to do enough to kill any melta bombs in a squad. If you dont well then your boned on a 4+

I'm not sold on the scourge. I don't think its worth paying points to lower your S, even if you get the debuff power.

 minigun762 wrote:
I'm not sold on the scourge. I don't think its worth paying points to lower your S, even if you get the debuff power.

it depends if you are running other fiends. A big scary daemon engine list can really get some miles out of helbrutes with scourges.

True, I see value in a monster mash kinda list, since you'll already have the S10 from the maulers or defilers.

I'm looking to try out 2 again with multimelta + heavy flamer combo. Using them as supporting units for some heavy slots they should be able to burn up or blow up quite a bit before assaulting.

Edit: I've tried the dakka Helbrute before. I did autocannon missile and tl lascannon missile and they served as a good distraction and annoyance on my flanks. I kind of ignored the whole craze table drawback because I figured AV12 would just get penned and then exploded if it were focused by actual Anti Tank fire (which keeps it off my rhinos or what not another turn.)

 Wingeds wrote:
I'm looking to try out 2 again with multimelta + heavy flamer combo. Using them as supporting units for some heavy slots they should be able to burn up or blow up quite a bit before assaulting.

Edit: I've tried the dakka Helbrute before. I did autocannon missile and tl lascannon missile and they served as a good distraction and annoyance on my flanks. I kind of ignored the whole craze table drawback because I figured AV12 would just get penned and then exploded if it were focused by actual Anti Tank fire (which keeps it off my rhinos or what not another turn.)

I think that the Helbrute suffers from this exact problem. It just isn't tough enough to handle dedicated anti-tank fire and in itself, isn't really worth the antitank-fire either. I wish it was more mobile to make it a threat the opponent had to deal with.
With that said, you need to run it shooty I do believe.

I run a stock Helbrute, no bells, no whistles. Same basic idea as a DISTRACTION CARNIFEX.

Khornate Daemon Prince and raptors on one flank, the Helbrute and 5 Nurgle spawn on the other flank, and Kharn and berserkers....backed up by a vindicator, bringing up the middle.

This way, pretty much no matter what, something scary is barreling down on my opponents. They just need to decide what they'd least like to ruin their day.

And if they ignore the brute, you might be surprised how much hurt it can bring to bear...

@Brymm
I know what you mean, but if you ignore it completely it's gonna pop off shots at your longfangs or get in for a side shot at some vehicle. It's those moments when your opponent forgets you have that nearby that it pays for itself. I think a lot of people shrug off walkers these days due to how easily grenades kill them now. But then look at how often people get into CC these days.

It's a relatively cheap and durable unit (up to about plasma lol) that can put out some good firepower. If you ignore it, it's gonna mess something up by game end. If you dedicate a lot of fire power into it you're ignoring something else.

 Wingeds wrote:
I'm looking to try out 2 again with multimelta + heavy flamer combo.

That heavy flamer is so expensive though. It seems like a simple upgrade but I don't know if its worth that on a throwaway unit.

That's why I'm looking at 2 for a crossfire action going. The heavy flamer can glance pen a lot of side armor. Facing a parking lot blow up 1 transport. Then you shoot the multi melta + flamer at another transport and put the flame template over a few unlucky dudes. Then use the 2nd hellbrute to do the same thing. It's just an idea I wanted to try against IG parking lots or Venom Spam.

Edit: I just played a game using 2 of them with multimelta + heavy flamer combo. Now I've had bad dice rolls before, but I've never seen 2 units so regularly do aboslutely nothing in CC. 1 wiffed 3 turns in a row on just hitting a furioso librarian dread. Didn't even get the chance to pen. My oblits were doing the same that game so maybe the dice gods were against me today.