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Okay so here's the comparison:

Terminator squad 225 points
3 terminators with stormbolters and powerfists
1 terminator sergeant with stormbolter and power sword
1 terminator with stormbolter, powerfist and cyclone missile launcher
abilities: deep strike


Vanguard veteran squad 219 points
4 Veterans with boltpistols and close combat weapons
2 Veterans with boltpistols and power axes
1 Veteran sergeant with storm shield and power fist
wargear: jump packs, frag grenades, krak grenades
abilities: deep strike, heroic intervention

Okay so let's see:

- in close combat, the terminators have 8 AP2 attacks, 8 of which are S8, all at I1. In addition, the terminators have a further 2 S4 AP3 attacks at I4

- in close combat, the vanguard vets have 8 AP2 attacks, 2 of which are S8 (the rest are S5), all at I1. In addition, the vanguard vets have a further 12 S4 AP- attacks at I4


- in shooting, the terminators have 10 S4 AP5 shots at 24" + either 2 S4 AP6 frag blasts or 2 S8 AP3 krak missiles at 48"

- in shooting, the vanguard vets have 6 S4 AP5 shots at 12" + either 1 grenade blast at S3 AP6 and 8" range or 1 S6 AP4 shot at 8" (krak grenade)



Additional abilities:

- both units can deep strike.

- the vanguard vets can move 6 more inches than the terminators, OR gain 1 additional S4 AP- attack per model if they assault and can re-roll charge range.
- the vanguard vets can charge into cover and their chainsword guys can strike at normal initiative.
- the vanguard vets can sweeping advance
- the vanguard vets have 2 more body count/wounds in total than the terminators (7 vs 5)
- the vanguard vets can charge 2 units simultaneously without losing their charge bonus

- the tactical terminators have a better armor save (2+ compared to 3+)
- all 5 tactical terminators have an invulnerable save (5+) compared to the lone 3+ inv. save of the stormshield vanguard vet sergeant


Who do you think is better?

Assuming you are running BT tactics, I'd go with Vanguard but I'd consider trimming a power weapon or downgrading the fist for a few melta bombs.

Reason is to maintain Crusader bonus and the VV Champion is stronger than Terminator Champion.

I like miniguns advice. I would do 1 axe on a guy and then two melta bombs on squad and that's it. Termie die way to easy this edition.... it's so sad.

Tactical terminators actually kill more stuff with a heavy flamer deep striking in off a teleport homer. But they are still bad for 40pt/W.

Dividing 219 by 7 I get 31.3 points per Vanguard Vet model. The termie squad averages at 45 points per model, but has +1 better armor save and +2 better invulnerable save but less bodies; fewer attacks in total, but more high strength attacks; fewer attacks at high initiative, but greater firepower especially at double the range, but moves slower and cant sweeping advance

Tough call, but I think I'll stick with my Vanguard vets, especially because they are so scalable - I can take only 5 guys in lower points games while the minimum points cost is pretty rigid with the termies.