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Som im trying to figure out which of those i like more. The railhead with LS makes for great anti tank. But the Ionhead makes for great anti-horde and anti-meq

Frankly, they're both great. I like the Railhead with LS because it brings something you just can't get anywhere else, but no rational person is going to find fault with either. Either tricked out with LS or stock and dirt cheap, they bring a lot of firepower. Finally, don't forget the submunition. Against a number of enemies it's just as good as the Ion Overcharge, and you don't run into the possibility of rolling that 1 to void the shot.

Honestly, the answer is take both.

They both have different functions, and they play off eachother. Pop a transport with the railgun, then vaporise the troops with a large blast of ignoring cover and armour and instant death.
Added: I used to swear by dual railheads, but I've played an ionhead in two games and it has done so spectacularly well in both that it won't be leaving my lists any time soon.

I usually go railgun with submunitions (no Longstrike. Can't justify him at 1500 pts. That 45 points could pay for 4 pathfinders) and then take a riptide with the ion accelerator. You get the best of both worlds in my opinion since both can do anti tank or anti horde, I once took out 2 vehicles in one shot with the riptides nova charge plate. Strength 9 ordinance is brutal against pretty much any vehicle and if you position the plate right you can catch multiple vehicles (make sure to make the riptide BS 6 first. Re-rolling that gets hot dice is a wonderful thing).

Tank hunter too gewd for that single shot. I always take a long strike because i know i will fail that pen.

But really you should ask your self What does the rest of my army need?

If you already have a way of dealing with mass hoards and not a lot of anti tank, a rail is good. and the opposite also applies.


Edit: 4 pathfinders will often hit 2 markerlights which would bump a hammerhead to bs6. while a long strike gives Bs 5 tank hunter, a free bsf (lol) PE:IG (situational). its close though.

I have 2 missle sides, a riptide, and death rain squad. all with more missles then i could concievably need.

 Desubot wrote:
Tank hunter too gewd for that single shot. I always take a long strike because i know i will fail that pen.

But really you should ask your self What does the rest of my army need?

If you already have a way of dealing with mass hoards and not a lot of anti tank, a rail is good. and the opposite also applies.


Edit: 4 pathfinders will often hit 2 markerlights which would bump a hammerhead to bs6. while a long strike gives Bs 5 tank hunter, a free bsf (lol) PE:IG (situational). its close though.

I can't argue, longstrike is an amazing use of points, but only one person I play brings any vehicles and those are a dreadnought (AV 12), a predator with an autocannon (ignore it, it never does anything), and a razerback with Cotiez in it (again AV 12). Between my riptide, railsides, and railhead I can pretty much clear his thretening vehicles turn 1 (I always try to pop the razorback first with the hammerhead then drop the overcharged ritpide ion on Cotiez.. He just loves that...).

I just wish I could give my hammerhead interceptor... I know I've said this before, but I've built my entire army around putting enough s8 interceptor shots on the table to kill the Doom of Malan`ti before it gets to eat all my firewarriors.

Longstrike really isnt required unless you think youre going to deal with AV14 you cant deal with with deepstriking fusion suits. Unless its IG (which is the most likely AV14 face to deal with you might not be able to deepstrike on anyway) the only benefit on the actual shooting part is +1 BS....meh.

AV10-12 the S10 shot is overkill as it is, AV13 is 50-50 and AV14 is still decent odds. 45pts to reroll glance/pens against an av11-12 force is kinda a waste, which is the main thing youre going to face.

Last time i had a railhead i was actually shooting it at fliers trying to get lucky because it turn 1 popped a Rhino gun platform. Felt insulted that its best target was a flier and i had to snap shot at it (markerlights kept failing so i never got more than 1 mark on it)

EDIT: Onto the Ionhead: i actually see taking 2 of these in addition to a riptide or two with IA to be nasty in all regards except heavy air. Thats a ton of high strength and good AP pi plating thats near table reach. Ionheads definitely look a lot tastier than they used to.

I prefer Railhead because it fills a gap in the Tau army.

Personally, I found the Ionhead to be somewhat dissapointing.

Much prefering the Railhead with Longstrike for that heavy hit of Anti-Tank, aswell as the Large Blast.

I've been running this with squads of Sniper Drones and having great results - which at full strength each match the Ionhead for damage output at 48", with greater at 24" (triple with an Ethereal!).
Set it up in / behind cover and JSJ them to the best fireline and back again, when they do take damage, it's an incremental reduction of firepower instead of a complete removal of.

Just my 2 cents.