Tactical Squad? best loadout?

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**Deadshot**

I just got my third Tactical Squad. What's the best loadout? I tend to have a balanced mix of specialist units and have numerous characters and have Blood Ravens so switch tactics every game or so.

My other troops are
Tactical Squad (10 models, Flamer, Missile Launcher, Sergeant with BP and CS).
Tactical Squad (10 models, Flamer, Missile Launcher, Sergeant with BP and CS and Melta bomb).
Scout Squad (5 models, 2 shotguns, 1 bolter, 1 Heavy Bolter, 1 Sgt eith BP+CS).

**DanielBeaver**

This doesn't really have a simple answer, as it will depend on your Chapter Tactics, and what sort of list you're running.

For the most part, you should keep them cheap and spam bolters. A meltagun is usually a cheap, effective upgrade that allows the squad to threaten vehicles without detracting too much from their main function (which is to cap objectives and spam bolters). It's perfectly fine to just run them with bolters, and nothing else.

Other wargear is situational. Meltabombs are very cheap, and enable you to win assaults against tough vehicles and MCs. Heavy weapons can be an okay choice if you split into combat squads, and leave behind the heavy weapon team to camp a backfield objective. Combi-meltas can double your anti-vehicle firepower for one turn, which is sometimes a godsend. A Plasma Gun is awesome if you're fighting against tough targets (it will sometimes out-damage the rest of your squad's weapons combined).

There are a few options that I think are almost never worth it:
- Close combat upgrades for the sgt. He's not very good in close combat, so don't throw good money after bad.
- A heavy weapon choice on a 5 man squad. The special weapons are much better.
- Flamers for non-Salamanders. The bolter it replaces will, on average, do more damage over the course of the game.
- Plasma/grav pistols. A Combi-weapon is cheaper, and will often accomplish more.
- The Veteran Sgt upgrade. Only a moderate buff to morale tests, and he's still pretty crappy at close combat.

**Jimsolo**

I play Salamanders and go MM, flamer, and a vet sergeant with a combi-melta, melta bombs, and a power weapon. (Of varying type)

**jhe90**

Missile launcher has uses, a good long range weapon which can put a good dent in lighter armour and pose lesser threat to heavier hulls.

Yes it can waste bolters on rest of sqaud but sometimes you just need extra anti armour, + krak missiles make good overkill for killing tough hq.

**vipoid**

jhe90 wrote:
Missile launcher has uses, a good long range weapon which can put a good dent in lighter armour and pose lesser threat to heavier hulls.

Yes it can waste bolters on rest of sqaud but sometimes you just need extra anti armour, + krak missiles make good overkill for killing tough hq.

Out of interest, do you not think it would be better to spend the extra points and just get a Lascannon?

I mean, for just 5pts more, you get +1S and AP2 - the latter meaning you can ignore the armour of tough HQs (many of which have 2+ saves), and also that you have a chance of exploding any vehicle you successfully penetrate.

**jhe90**

I liked the extra range, I can use the 48 inch range to hurt most units on the board from a decent position if required.

True they are more effective at times, but partly also given until now I lacked laser cannons. I had a army built from a mix of places, less specialist weapons. More missiles.

There in my dev sqaud though, mid of laser\missile to bust open anything bar a superhevey.

I grew to adapt to be good with them.

Automatically Appended Next Post:
Expensive but at a push they can be upgraded as a anti air weapon of last resort with flakk missiles.

Not ideal but flexible as a aniti armour, infriantry and air weapon

**Deadshot**

Thanks for all the prompt replies everyone.
I think I'm gonna go with all the options. Temporary pins to switch out all the options.

I can't get rare earth magnets anywhere convenient or cheap enough to warrant it, and pins are more stable IMO.

**vipoid**

jhe90 wrote:
I liked the extra range, I can use the 48 inch range to hurt most units on the board from a decent position if required.

If you're referring to my post, aren't Lascannons also 48"?

jhe90 wrote:

True they are more effective at times, but partly also given until now I lacked laser cannons. I had a army built from a mix of places, less specialist weapons. More missiles.

Fair enough.

**jhe90**

vipoid wrote:
jhe90 wrote:
I liked the extra range, I can use the 48 inch range to hurt most units on the board from a decent position if required.

If you're referring to my post, aren't Lascannons also 48"?

jhe90 wrote:

True they are more effective at times, but partly also given until now I lacked laser cannons. I had a army built from a mix of places, less specialist weapons. More missiles.

Fair enough.

For some reason I thought they where 36, maube I'm wrong. If I am well I'm wrong :-)
I'll have to dig out a book to check if Its not been mkoved again that is!

Though frags are next to useless on anything but paper thin units I admit. Even disappointed me vs ork boyz.

**vipoid**

jhe90 wrote:

Though frags are next to useless on anything but paper thin units I admit. Even disappointed me vs ork boyz.

I think the problem is that small blasts just aren't very good unless you can spam them.

**SharkoutofWata**

I'm a big fan of Plasma+Combi-Plasma in a squad of ten with either Heavy Bolter or Missile Launcher and Storm Bolter+Flamer plus Librarian with Biomancy in a squad of 5 with a Razorback. One squad can put significant hurt on MCs while the other is meant to be a 24" threat coming in to assault. The Storm Bolter is a five point extra shot at 24" AND before an Assault when everyone else has to use pistols.

**Big Blind Bill**

I'm not a fan of heavy weapons in tac squads, as they often work counter intuitively with the rest of the weapons in the squad.

Personally I like a special weapon, a combi weapon and a transport.

**Nevelon**

I’m a big fan of keeping the heavy, but I’m an old-school Ultramarine player, and sometimes let fluff and tradition override point efficiency.

MM/M, c-melta in a drop pod (rhino in a pinch)
HB/F, c-flamer
LC/P, c-plas

**TheCustomLime**

It depends on the focus of my list. Typically I run Combi-weapon+Matching special weapon in a max squad in a Rhino or a similar set up with min squad size in a Razorback. I don't like taking heavy weapons since I think Tac squads need mobility. I wish they had an upgrade that gave heavy weapons guys relentless or a watered down version.

**wuestenfux**

Variety is key in an all comers list.
Plasma gun, combi plasma, and plasma cannon vs Termies.
Melta, combi melta, and multi melta vs tanks.
Flamer, combi flamer and missile launcher/heavy bolter vs infantry, specially hordes.