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I used to run 4 tactical squads equipped as such

3 with combi melta/fist, melta gun, lascannon
1 with combi flamer/fist, flamer, plasma cannon.

Both were good, but in different situations.

Look at the rest of your army, see what it needs, and go from there. Do you lack anti tank? more meltas. And same for horde. Plus there is local meta to consider. My local area is highly mechanized, so the extra meltas are always good.

My tac squads now are:

1. Sergeant with Power Sword
Plasma Gun
Heavy Bolter

2. Sergeant with Chainsword
Flamer
Heavy Bolter

3. Sergeant with Plasma Pistol
Flamer
Plasma Cannon

4. Sergeant with Chainsword
Melta Gun
Multi Melta

5 Sergeant with Combi-Plasma
Plasma Gun
Plasma Cannon


I think it's all about synergy. There's no point taking a melta gun if you're going to keep your squad out of close combat (6")

But if given the choice for a Tac squad i'd go with flamer, since they're more likely to be sent agaisnt infantry than armour.
Armour is for Devs to take care of, or Assault Squads.

Have i missed something here? Im well aware that flamers ignore cover, but two auto wounds? Where does it say that in the brb?

2 auto wounds?? Nope don't think so.

Flamer vs Terminator Armour. Doesn't do much.

I would kind of disagree with you seeing what three flamer templates can do to a disembarked Termie squad. I killed two with the flamers, and then (I had two units, one running twin flamers the other with flamer/melta, using my brothers Space Wolves) the bolters and melta shot cleaned up the rest. (there were six coming out of a stunned Redeemer)

Sorry was thinking of my multi-melta. that had no effect on the terminator librarian I targeted.

Yeah, flamers ignore cover. If only they could ignore armour saves too!

Hang on, thought you can't take two flamers in a squad! Only way you could do it is have a flamer and heavy flamer!
And only Terminators carry heavy flamers....

Confused

@Corennus:

Yeah, flamers ignore cover. If only they could ignore armour saves too!

Maybe you should try Daemons or CSM... Wind/Breath of Chaos might be something you'll like

As a Guard, and soon to be Salamanders player, I tend to favour the specialisation of special weapons in units as opposed to mix-'n'-matching them.

I feel that in order to get the most out of a unit, you need to give it a job to do; be it AI or AA and equip it accordingly. Flamers work exceptionally well as AI weapons as they negate the BS of the user (particularly useful on Guardmen) and generally hit a larger amount of the enemy. Meltaguns, on the other hand, are one of, if not the best, AA gun in game. To mix the two within the same squad confuses the overall role of the squad, and makes them 50% effective against either target rather than the optimal 100%.

This is from a Guard perspective, where my units are cheap and numerous enough to warrant such specialisation. However, even when it comes to building my Salamanders army I'm still going to keep the dedication running through the squads, I just feel that it gets more bang for your buck.

L. Wrex

A pair of weapons works 4 times better .
Using the multiple template resolution rules is GOOD.

Mixing it up is IMO BAD.

I dread to think of the chaos that can be caused by a Devastator Squad with 4 plasma cannons against an infantry mob......

Personly I prefer the flamers, just for the fact that you can and will barbeque anything that is in cover.