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I plan on running a tzeentch daemons army consisting of some large squads of horrors supported by heralds, however I will be running against SW quite often, and runic weapons have me a little concerned.
These relics from 5th edition will simply stop an entire squad's firepower on the roll of a 4+,
Rune priests are relatively inexpensive, powerful in their own right, and quite spammable.

My question is, are there any viable tactics against rune priests? The only solution I see at the moment is hit it with everything and hope enough gets through to take him out, or to charge a DP into the squad and issue a challenge. (Should be ok,but does have a risk of getting ID'd by the 'wounds daemons on a 2+' force weapon).

So are there any daemons players out there with knowledge of tactics vs space wolves rune priests?
Any ticks or tips that would help work around the 24 bubble of 4+ deny any psyker?

I don't think there is any one complete answer to Rune Priests.

Having said that there are a few rules/unit that could help.

The rune weapon only works on psychic powers used within 24". This means if you stay outside of 24" from the priest but not his unit you can buff units to kill the priest and his unit. You can also enfeeble, etc. his unit as long as you are outside 24" (at least easier than within).

Fateweaver is a reasonable counter to everything, in general, as you can manipulate the warp storm table and have a rather decent chance to get one of the good results. You can also move him 24" and fire off a bunch of powers. He has a fairly decent chance to wipe out or maim the priest's unit leaving the priest warpflamed and easy pickings for a charge or soul grinder.

I think the best answer may actually be just to scout some khorne dogs up and charge the priest and his unit. If you put the grimoire and forewarning/prescience/etc. on them then that priest unit won't last long. That is the real strength of a daemons list anyways. Not the shooting but the synergy buffing of units until they become godlike. Just buff something from outside the 24" range and have it kill the priest for you.

Obviously that dang rune weapon is going to be a priority target for daemons players and the fact that a SW player can have 4 of them in unit that are no slouches in assault doesn't help but with good play I think it can be done.

Get lucky on the warp storm table, make him roll an ld on 3d6 and watch another herald pop out?

Advise is kill it from range. The big nasty Soul Grinder with phlegm will do nicely. Its ordinance so wounds are allocated from the center (ie the run priest).

Play the field and stay away from them when you can't kill them out right.

General Duf wrote:


Advise is kill it from range. The big nasty Soul Grinder with phlegm will do nicely. Its ordinance so wounds are allocated from the center (ie the run priest).

Its only Barrage weapons the allocate wounds from the centre of the template, not Ordinance weapons. Wounds from Ordinance weapons are allocated like any other Blast weapon.

My mistake, I have trouble keeping those straight. Soul grinders with a s8 ap3 attack is still a good way to clear off some rune priests though. Just a bit more difficult

The better idea is to go with balance in your own list if you know SW will be encountered on a more than average basis.

Wait till we start seeing White Scar bikers with allied attached Rune Preists on bikes

Like General Duf implied, you would be good to consider something more reliable to focus on him and his unit if needed.

There's some good assault based options for dealing with him like the Slaanesh Exalted Loci, Something Grimoire'd perhaps.
Otherwise I'd make a list slightly less reliant on psychic powers.

I run a tzeentch list and this is how I solve that problem.

Take hounds (if youre trying to stay pure tzeentch screamers but to less effect) and just get the T1/T2 assault on the priest and his squad. The priests are relatively squishy.

Daemon lists all rely super heavily on psychic powers. Rune priests can be annoying but they also die really easily. Take fateweaver and cast beam power to hit the specific model and hopefully you can snipe him out. If not rushing the unit with hounds or anything really will kill that priest.

Deal with it the same way you deal with any psyker on the other team.