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I'm about to put together another box of terminators, and was debating how best to put them together. My current terminators carry assault cannons, but I was thinking about changing things up for this one.

For starters, this will be a command squad. I'll have an apothecary, possibly a champion (are they any good?), and maybe a standard bearer. The fact that the FAQ clarifies that the dakka banner doesn't work on terminators means I won't be running that, so maybe the deathwing one.

I've never really felt the need for cyclone, as my dev squads tend to deal with any heavy vehicles just fine. However, I'm thinking about going pure deathwing. I'll still have the las of a land raider, but wasn't sure if it'd be worth it throwing on a cyclone to be safe.

I personally think assault is the better choice, but figured, I'd look at some other opinions.

Assault Cannon needs to be TL along with being in high numbers for more effectiveness. The Cyclone has better range, and can deal with lots of targets too.

Since he's going deathwing, then he gets TL on the turn he arrives and will have sufficient bodies to take more AC's.

Range is less important when you can DS anywhere on the board, and the rending on the AC's means they can deal with lots of targets as well (even better than the missile launcher against AV14 or 2+ saves).

I'm a fan of the assault cannon personally, but I think it's more personal preference that anything. ML's tend to do better against MC's though, so if you face them a bunch, I'd be grabbing some just for that. The assault cannon synergises better, but also looks cooler IMHO, and that's what really counts.

I prefer the Assault cannon, better anti infantry weapon. The missiles are a fairly poor anti tank weapon and its a waste of the rest of the units weapons if you have to fire storm bolters at a tank..

The Assault cannon has more synergy with the rest of the squad.

 throwoff wrote:
I prefer the Assault cannon, better anti infantry weapon. The missiles are a fairly poor anti tank weapon and its a waste of the rest of the units weapons if you have to fire storm bolters at a tank..

The Assault cannon has more synergy with the rest of the squad.

Irrelevant in this case as DW terminators have split fire.

OP: Both weapons are viable, with each having their own strengths.

AC is better vs:
AV 10, 13, 14.
2+ saves
4+ saves

CML is better vs:
AV 11, 12,
3+ saves
T4 multi wound models
Monstrous creatures/ High toughness targets (except those with a 2+ save) (Both weapons will have the same efficiency against a T9 target with a 3+ save, AC is better vs T10, but this is pretty uncommon).

The CML has the big advantage of having double the range. Whilst this doesn't matter vs an initial target after deepstriking, it does help your low model count army affect more of the board later in the game, especially if you need your terminators to sit on an objective for a turn.

OP: Regarding the DW command squad: Do you really need a command squad? Personally I have found that terminators as troops are more useful (especially with an Ob Sec LRC), or DWKs as they are harder hitting.
The FNP and +1 attack banners can be fun, but expect them to be targeted and removed very fast.

Edit: I also dislike the champion, and would rather spend the points on a TH/SS.

FNP banner, go with a CML. 2-3 fnp saves and you've made the points back.

AC on terminators, CML on Landspeeders.

Aren't cyclones also shot in addition to a stormbolter? Not worse vs infantry than either. 2 times more expensive, however.

Cyclones, the extra missile shots can at times be very useful.
Space marines don,t always have tons of firepower past 24 inch's.