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I realize that the Helbrute isn't the best of units, but warp dammit, Iv always loved dreadnoughts and I actually like the Helbrute model. Plus, the idea of a giant killer war machine completely losing its gak in the middle of a fire fight is hilarious! So, what is theoretically the most "bang for your buck" efficient load out for the Helbrute?

I always liked the loadout with plasmacannon and the AP3 CC weapon. (Some sort of whips I think)

Las and a Havoc Launcher is a good ranged combo.

I personally prefer PC or AC with the HF fist. MEQ, hordes, terminators, vehicles, this has something for everyone. AC is for a little less TEQ and a little more AA. Pick your poison.

CC loadouts suck on Chaos Dreads. Maulerfiends are better. Even in the elite slot Possessed have a decent build line now. Just avoid that whole mess I'd say. Plus they gotta slog, they lose a turn every now and again, etc.

I love the Power Scourge, but it's a looks thing for me.

I'd go with the flail and a TLLC. Two CC weapons aren't as good as a maulerfiend, and two heavy weapons aren't as good as a predator, but being able to both shoot and chop is something only a hellbrute can do.

I wish the Helbrute could use a Havoc Launcer.

 6^ wrote:
I wish the Helbrute could use a Havoc Launcer.

It can, it can select items from the vehicle item table, so it can select a Havoc launcher.

welshhoppo wrote:

 6^ wrote:
I wish the Helbrute could use a Havoc Launcer.

It can, it can select items from the vehicle item table, so it can select a Havoc launcher.

So this means my Chaos Dreadnought with a crotch mounted havoc launcher I made as an immature joke is actually legal? Hot damn!

Yes it can, it also means that you can give Defilers 2 havoc launchers, and you can have 2 combi-bolters on a rhino, along with a havoc launcher and combi-plas/melt/flam

TL Lascannon and Heavy Flamer if facing hordes. Or TL Lascannon and missile launcher if facing 3+ saves or anything vehicle heavy.

To be honest I do tend to use them more to anchor my back line. Give my havocs a bit of a big chum to blunt charges, and that sort of thing. I love to get them into combat with marines who have only packed their crack grenades.

I would have a big smile on my face if we get a varient with Front AV13 in the next codex; bit of a wait!

I like it with a reaper autocannon. Cheap and TL it puts some stress on a variety of targets. I really didn't have that havoc launcher option on my radar. Gotta check that out.

Also, I strongly disagree with "I realize that the Helbrute isn't the best of units". IMO the right phrasing is "A majority of online debaters do not think it's an ultra-strong killer unit." In 40k forums people tend to glorify anything that is very strong and cheap while anything else will be labeled as "why does anyone take that crap".

I play Magic: The Gathering since almost 20 years and it's the same there. People play only the tournament decks they got from the internet and do not consider that at some point those decks were a new idea, too, that hasn't been considered strong in the internet before.

So by all means: take Helbrutes if you like them, if they fit your army or simply if you wanna try them out.

welshhoppo wrote:

 6^ wrote:
I wish the Helbrute could use a Havoc Launcer.

It can, it can select items from the vehicle item table, so it can select a Havoc launcher.

Sorry - from what I can see Helbrutes cannot take items from the vehicle equipment table - all other vehicles (including defiler) state in the army list section they "may take items from the Chaos Vehicle Equipment list" The Helbrute does not - neither does the forge or mauler fiend.

I wish you could take Havoc launchers cos they look badass ontop of a Dreadnought/Helbrute.


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I like mine with reaper autocannon and fists.
The sonic dread rules from Imperial Armour II are pretty good but I'm not sure whether they are legal anymore or not

If you don't know what force you'll be fighting its best to load them with a melee and a ranged weapon. Lets you take advantage of both crazed results and be able to switch jobs on the fly. Maulerfiends do cc better, forgefiends are better at ranged, helbrutes excel at being a cheap and versatile firing platform that can screw with your opponent's plans.

Personally I go with plasma cannons and fist/h.flamers. There's not much else in the codex that can take plascannons, and a good ranged ap2 blast weapon is always useful with all the terminators and deepstriking squads running around. Fist with flamer helps with both hordes and MC/Walkers. Versatility is the key, there's plenty thats better at what helbrutes do, but they do more for cheaper.

Thank you for the input everybody, I shall take all of that into account!

They are also good in armor saturation lists. I also use the reapers and no other upgrade...keep'em cheap. That AV 12 isnt going to last long. I wish they could have vehicle upgrades, but alas they cannot.

Yeah, that's one of the few proper oversights in the codex. They're a "demonic engine" but they don't get demon engine things like demon, demonforge, or it will not die, but on the other hand, they're a "vehicle (walker)", but don't get access to the vehicle upgrades.

... because they're neither a demon engine, nor a vehicle... despite being both...

At least their low price tag sort of reflects this...

I like the Default loadout, (Multimelta/Power Fist) with a heavy flamer added. I've wanted to run one with 2 powerfists and Heavy Flamers for a while now, or give the PF/PrScourge a try.