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So i got a bunch of terminus ultra lascannons and spare csm lying around and wondered if lascannons are worth it in general. I mean they cost more than the dude holding it but they can kill quite about anything the game can throw at u. some say launchers are way better but im still a bit sketchy.

The answer of this question always comes down to "what do you need in your army?"
And to a lesser extent "What other armies will I be running against?"

If you need long range anti-armour/ str8 ap2 shots, and you have no other options for this task, then yeah definitely they can be worth their points.

Are they better than missile launchers? This totally depends on what you are running against, missiles are cheaper and just as effective vs some targets (tau battle suits, non 2+ MC's, for example), they also have the ability to put down some templates which makes them more useful vs hordes.

The lascannons are obviously superior vs armour and 2+ saves.

LC are good on dedicated AT units, where they far outclass ML, and 4 BS4 LC shots can also put the hurt on most TEQ and MCs without too much hassle. If you have a more general unit already, then an out-and-out AT/MC killer unit is never a bad choice.

Lascannon Havocs are pretty cheap for what they bring, and I'd take them over Missile Havocs most of the time.

I think lascannons are the right choice for CSM and DA. And probably in the new marine codex coming out as well.

I've been around and around with people about this, but I don't use ML in my BA lists. I don't think they do any real job well enough to even be considered a heavy support choice.

One of the most damning thing about them is that standard plain 4X ML devs, on gaussian average, won't even crack a rhino. You need a divination babysitter to make it even more than 50% likely. And frag missiles are just full of fail. Try them.

I agree with what is above stated.
I personally think Space Marine Devastator squads with Lascannons are just way too expensive to field in anything other than a casual game.
230 points on 5 standard marines with lascannons. Can't move. Can die really easily. can't score. Might as well field a LandRaider.
Land Raider uses up the same slot, can take 2 lascannons that are twin-linked, can fire at two different targets, can move, highest armour in the game, and a transport.

"One of the most damning thing about them is that standard plain 4X ML devs, on gaussian average, won't even crack a rhino. You need a divination babysitter to make it even more than 50% likely. And frag missiles are just full of fail. Try them."

^ Haha, so true!

Yes. Always lascannons. They're a best in class weapon.

Compared to a missile launcher, for examaple, the lascannon does what the missile launcher is good at, except it does it better (well, except for hordes with frag missiles, but MLs aren't exactly great at that). Meanwhile, there's a long list of very scary things that the missile launcher is hopeless against that the lascannon isn't, like terminators, the worst monstrous creatures, vehicles with AV higher than 12, etc.

As godless mimicry says, they're more expensive, but their value is better because you're more than getting what you pay for with that extra expenditure.

Okay, I have something to throw into the mix. If you have 2 squads of Havocs, one with 4x AC, do you give the 2nd 4x LC or 4x AC?

Yeah, I keep preaching that Ailaros, but there's always the huge horde of people claiming that the ML is the TAC choice. However, they're missing the "A" in TAC, as MLs struggle against a huge variety of targets. There is nothing all purpose about the ML at all. It's niche is low armor and overkilling meqs. That's too corner case for my *heavy support* slot.

And the frag argument is just laughable. Even guardians get their armor save against frag missiles. Without warlock buffs. Even worse, guardsmen get their save, too.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
4 X AC and 4 X LC are a great combination for an unknown opponent.

yukondal wrote:
I agree with what is above stated.
I personally think Space Marine Devastator squads with Lascannons are just way too expensive to field in anything other than a casual game.
230 points on 5 standard marines with lascannons. Can't move. Can die really easily. can't score. Might as well field a LandRaider.
Land Raider uses up the same slot, can take 2 lascannons that are twin-linked, can fire at two different targets, can move, highest armour in the game, and a transport.
^ Haha, so true!

Great, but what has that to do with this thread? This is about CSM Havocs, not SM Devastators.

yukondal wrote:
I agree with what is above stated.
I personally think Space Marine Devastator squads with Lascannons are just way too expensive to field in anything other than a casual game.
230 points on 5 standard marines with lascannons. Can't move. Can die really easily. can't score. Might as well field a LandRaider.
Land Raider uses up the same slot, can take 2 lascannons that are twin-linked, can fire at two different targets, can move, highest armour in the game, and a transport.
^ Haha, so true!


Great, but what has that to do with this thread? This is about CSM Havocs, not SM Devastators.

My bad

Go Havocs! w00t!