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I play a drop pod list of salamanders with 7 pods and a storm talon. I've currently got the option to take either a melta legion squad, or hold 3 attack bikes with mm in reserves for 10 points more.

My question to you is : what's more useful? A deep striking, cover ignoring squad to support the front lines, or a squad of multi wound bikes to zip around the back picking up backfield tactical objectives and take pot shots at light armour and heavy iinfantry?

With mobility after the drop being one of the only weaknesses of the Salamanders drop I'd be leaning towards the Bikes. Especially if you play a lot of Maelstrom missions.

As much as I love the Legion, I would say bikes due to mobility, the fact that they get overwatch and benefit from your CT.

Bikes in drop list looks strange :/

One of the problems with drop lists is that all your mobility is front loaded. Once you place the pod, you foot slog it if you need to move. This can make it rough if the shape of the battlefield changes. A unit of bikes would give you at least one thing that can shift as needed.

Thematically, the LotD fit better into a planetfall list. What are the bikes doing on the planet when everyone else is dropping? But from a mechanics POV, I do think they are a better choice.

I love CSM units of 3 bikes with melta, melta, sarge with combi melta and mark of nurgle, clocks in about 130 points. Assuming the same weapon loadout is possible on loyalists (bar the mark obviously) then I'd highly suggest it as an annoyance unit that is a serious threat to it's intended target but a bit of a pain for the enemy (can dodge line of sight, Jink etc). Any serious investment in firepower will wipe the floor with them but they are pretty cheap and your opponent should hopefully have his arms full dealing with the other drop pod threats.

Main reason for chaos to use only 3 is in order to be able to rally a lone meltagunner without needing double 1. For loyalists you dont have to worry about it so could add an extra body (especially if you are lacking fast moving objective securers).

Also, bikes laugh at D weapons (until they roll 6s). Oh no? a Plasma Annihilator? good job I know how to duck and weave on my bike! I'm such a skilled rider I can dodge the length of a city block in under a second!

 Nevelon wrote:
One of the problems with drop lists is that all your mobility is front loaded. Once you place the pod, you foot slog it if you need to move. This can make it rough if the shape of the battlefield changes. A unit of bikes would give you at least one thing that can shift as needed.

Thematically, the LotD fit better into a planetfall list. What are the bikes doing on the planet when everyone else is dropping? But from a mechanics POV, I do think they are a better choice.

Backfield Thunderhawk drop.