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With SM Tri-Las Predators now 25 points cheaper than before, coupled with how fragile Devs are to all the cover ignoring stuff in CSM/Tau/Eldar, as well as how expensive devs and Dev Centurions are with Lascannons, is the Predator with a TL Las and Las sponsons finally a viable choice?

This depends on so many things. Using IF CT, devs will get Tank Hunters. Using UM CT, they'll actually get to move and fire at full BS for a turn, as well as have access to being twin-linked (assuming you take Tigurius). Iron Hands get IWND. White Scars (I believe) get that scout move.

Then consider what else is in your list. If you aren't taking any other tanks, the Predator will get blown up post haste. If you're taking a TFC, the devs will probably have access to a 3+ cover save. Do you actually need lascannons, or can you be helped more by devs with cheaper guns?

Ultimately, the maneuverability of Predators is actually pretty bad and I don't plan on taking much/any rhino chassis, so Devastators will be far more likely to join my army lists.

They were worth it when they were more expensive, so they're certainly worth it now that they're cheaper.

Cheap ap2... yes please

I myself would like to hope so considering I bought two Preds before the Dex drop in anticipation of the price decrease. I think they're a solid way of handling MCs like Riptides and Wraithknights at range, and coupled with a few grav bikes will hopefully be good enough to take one down in a turn or two before they cause too much damage. You can also never go wrong with AV13 front armor either, especially since a lot of Tau lists lack consistent ways to deal with AV13 and above. I'd like to say the same of Eldar, but with their mobility it's rather easily for Wave Serpents to get to side armor...

 Ferrum_Sanguinis wrote:
With SM Tri-Las Predators now 25 points cheaper than before, coupled with how fragile Devs are to all the cover ignoring stuff in CSM/Tau/Eldar, as well as how expensive devs and Dev Centurions are with Lascannons, is the Predator with a TL Las and Las sponsons finally a viable choice?

Definitely. They are very solid for the cost, especially if you're running Iron Hands. AV13 and IWND are a great combination, especially in the modern environment.

I had one before and sold it because I was so irritated at the points sink. Now, it's not so bad; I think the primary difficulty is looking at how vulnerable you feel your Predator is vs a Squad of Devastator Centurions. Depending on the opponent, one will stand out more vs the other as more survivable, with comparable damage output considering the points costs. I personally feel the Centurions will be overall more surivable. Everyone is complaining they have no invulnerable save, but with 2+ saves just find some cover. (At least Heldrakes can't auto-kill them)

If you want to be extra safe use redundancy and take 1 Centurion Devastator Squad with 2 Tri-Las Predators.