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If running a squad of 10 DA with a PW + SS Exarch, Which power weapon is best to take?

I am inclined to discount the Axe, as striking last on a T3 single wound model seems meh. I like the the AP 3 from the sword, but at S3 it would still be difficult to kill marines. Thoughts?

Honestly, I wouldn't bother with any upgrades on an exarch. I wouldn't even bother with an exarch. Keep the squad lean and just focus on the shoot and move

Really didn't help to answer the question at all.

 extremefreak17 wrote:
Really didn't help to answer the question at all.

That's probably because a Dire Avenger Exarch doesn't really do anything worth paying extra points for. He won't win a combat by himself so what weapon you take is rather pointless. I can't justify taking one in the slightest.

You pay 10 points for a barley improved stat line in a non combat unit.
You can grab a twin linked weapon on a BS5 model. Also useless.
You can get a Dire Sword which is a fantastic weapon, but it's in a non combat unit.

So what powers do you have?
Disarming Strike, great something else that requires me to be in combat...
Shield of Grace....I am starting to see a trend.
Battle Fortune...yep. GW gave a non combat unit a ton of options to make it ever so slightly better at not dying in combat.

The only upgrade I see any marginal improvement from is the Power Weapon Shimmer Shield upgrade. 30 Points to give your entire squad an invulnerable save doesn't sound terrible, but 30 points is nearly 3 more Dire Avengers. The Power weapon is largely useless because you're going to loose the squad in any form of combat. If I was going take it though the sword would probably be a good bet. AP3 at I5 can maybe kill a marine or two. Axe is useless as you said on a T3 model unless you try to hide it in the back of a charge. Spear is meh and maul would be S5. So not terrible.

 Goldphish wrote:

 extremefreak17 wrote:
Really didn't help to answer the question at all.

That's probably because a Dire Avenger Exarch doesn't really do anything worth paying extra points for. He won't win a combat by himself so what weapon you take is rather pointless. I can't justify taking one in the slightest.

You pay 10 points for a barley improved stat line in a non combat unit.
You can grab a twin linked weapon on a BS5 model. Also useless.
You can get a Dire Sword which is a fantastic weapon, but it's in a non combat unit.

So what powers do you have?
Disarming Strike, great something else that requires me to be in combat...
Shield of Grace....I am starting to see a trend.
Battle Fortune...yep. GW gave a non combat unit a ton of options to make it ever so slightly better at not dying in combat.

The only upgrade I see any marginal improvement from is the Power Weapon Shimmer Shield upgrade. 30 Points to give your entire squad an invulnerable save doesn't sound terrible, but 30 points is nearly 3 more Dire Avengers. The Power weapon is largely useless because you're going to loose the squad in any form of combat. If I was going take it though the sword would probably be a good bet. AP3 at I5 can maybe kill a marine or two. Axe is useless as you said on a T3 model unless you try to hide it in the back of a charge. Spear is meh and maul would be S5. So not terrible.

I fully understand that taking an DA Exarch at all is not a competitive option.

As you said, the SS is the only real choice for the unit so I was just looking to see peoples' opinions on which PW to use. This set-up is going to be for a fluffy game, so the Exarch will stay in the list.

Seems like its between the sword and the maul, Which do you think would be better all around?

 extremefreak17 wrote:
I fully understand that taking an DA Exarch at all is not a competitive option.

As you said, the SS is the only real choice for the unit so I was just looking to see peoples' opinions on which PW to use. This set-up is going to be for a fluffy game, so the Exarch will stay in the list.

Seems like its between the sword and the maul, Which do you think would be better all around?

I would probably go with the maul since it allows you to glance rear armor. 2-3 attacks at WS5 S3 isn't going to do a whole lot to any opponent. Against infantry you main threat is still your gun and running away.

Sword has a better chance to kill marines, maul is better vs anything else.

In general, the sword is the best at killing marines, and the maul is better at everything else. While the sword’s niche is small (only MEQ) there are a lot of them out there.

Plus the sword is a graceful and elegant weapon. Leave beating things to death with blunt objects to the lesser races.

 Goldphish wrote:
I would probably go with the maul since it allows you to glance rear armor. 2-3 attacks at WS5 S3 isn't going to do a whole lot to any opponent. Against infantry you main threat is still your gun and running away.

This. S5 is the kicker. S3 power weapon may kill a marine, but a Maul will kill anything that's not a 3+ save (why are you in combat with marines anyway, with a 24" threat bubble?) much much better. It'll also put some wounds on an MC that happens to charge you and stuff like that. AP4 isn't as bad in practice as people seem to think.

Giving the Dire avenger exarch the Disarm power is kinda nice though. Really surprises guys who charge them with a single special weapon and finds out they cant outright murder em.

Lol disarming strike a a waste on a 1 wound model.

As for power weapon, I like the spear because there are a lot of MEQ in my meta, as long as you get the charge its good with S4 ap3 (feels like a marine with ap 3).

I like the lance as well, but it only really works when you're charging 3-4 marines with a squad. You need to kill or break (assuming a MEQ stat line without ATSKNF)on the charge, other wise you're buggered.

Still, all my stuff has swords or lances, simply because I find them aesthetically preferable.

My $0.02.

I run exactly 2 types of DAs:

1. DAVU

2. Full 10 with Shimmershield Exarch, weapon is a Power Halberd (original model). 5++ for 30pts has always paid for itself. The Halberd is S4 AP3 on the charge; really the only turn that counts anyway, you can't neuter or kill them with 18 or so extra charge attacks, you shouldn't charge at them anyway.

I would go with shimmer shield and power lance. Failing that I would take a power maul.

Thanks for the help guys!

I ran 30 dire avengers, and gave them all exarchs. A single exarch never did much, but combined they could team up and fairly effectively take stuff down.
Shimmer Shield is good. Init 6 makes it easier to get away when beaten in combat.