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I've been working on a "hammer and anvil" Imperial Fists list that combines long distance firepower (devastators, centurion devastators, thunderfire cannon, long range dreadnought) with deep striking terminators (regular terminators with a terminator chaplain and assault terminators with Lysander). However, the problem is that a bad run of reserve rolls can keep a ton of my firepower on the sidelines.

I have been thinking that the best way to proceed is to figure out a way to get more assault in my list. I have added a few more units to my army, but I don't know how to best incorporate them. I have added a bike squad, an assault squad, a drop pod, and I have a generic commander model I haven't built out.

I think that using some of those units in the right mix will be key, but I am also thinking of adding the following:
1. A land raider crusader. This way, I could put my assault terminators (with Lysander) on the table from moment one.
2. A master of the forge (with servitors). This way, I could have one HQ in attack (the "Hammer") and one HQ holding down the long distance firepower (the "Anvil").

What do you guys think would be the best way to proceed? Ideally I would keep it under 2000 pts.

-Roger Dorn

PS - Other units in contention: a close combat dreadnought (cc weapon, multimelta), a Stormtalon gunship, a scout unit (two snipers, heavy bolter), razorback, three rhinos, aegis defense line (with quad gun).

I won't be of much help, but there's a small amount of input I could give. I'd consider taking maybe some scout bikers with a locator beacon. That way, (assuming they outflank turn 2), anything that arrives a little late can be placed exactly where you want it. Or just drop pod spam a bit. 5 would probably do for a decent hammer (in addition to any terminators). They'd initiate the hammer fall early by having 3 of them come on first turn, and they're nearly impossible to mishap. The initial 3 would have to have some pretty hardy units, though. I'd say dreadnoughts. Then have the other 2 and your terminators be your follow-through on the hammer swing (this metaphor really couldn't be referenced enough).

All that said, I really wish that it was easier to have more reliable reserves rolls for your chosen chapter... Me? I just take Tigurius.

Comms relay on the ADL is cheaper than Tiggy / Sicarius, and I find the reroll to reserves almost always gets all the reserves in T2. If you are putting the Cents behind the ADL then they are a good, survivable choice to man it.

To improve your hammer accuracy though, you might want to include three drop pods - two of which have locator beacons. That way the first two in on T1 can help your Termies DS accurately in T2. The units inside would have to be pretty survivable though - either go for a tough nut like a dread (just watch your positioning and that soft AV 10 rump) or Command squad with SS, or alternatively go for numbers and put a combat-squaded TAC unit in there.

Also, don't forget the unsung heroes of the SM hammer tactic - LotD. Two melta squads and a Plasma squad come in pretty cheap when compared to other deep strike delivery methods, but they get to reroll the scatter and have a whole bunch of awesome special rules to boot

I run IF tactics only.

I tend to always devastators, Tri Las Pred, plus a sniper squad who sit at the back as my Anvil.

I then use a biker captain with a full grav gun squad and attack bike, a Land Speeder Storm with shotgun boys and StormTalon as my hammer getting forwards and causing havoc (the Storm I always outflank)

I then have 2 full tactical squads in rhinos either side of a vindicator coming up just behind.

And for Alpha Strike a MM Dreadnought in a drop pod. Great distraction unit and the one time in 5 it insta gimps a Landraider turn one you will smile and smile, as mine did last night

I second the comms relay, the aegis line will help your gunline and a re-rollable 3+ gives your reserves a 8/9 chance to come in. I use one all the time with my GK, and it definitely helps.

Can I ask why the assault termies with Lysander? Seems like the Chaplain would be a better option here, maybe even both Lysander and the Chaplain for a small ball of thunderhammer death.

Put them all in the Crusader, give the drop pod a locator beacon and drop in the dready (or drop it empty, but I think the dready is a nice touch), and then use the beacon to bring in the tacticals exactly where you want them.

Honestly, I made my Hammer and Anvil list around combining Grey Knights with Imperial Fists because for one thing, my first army was Grey Knights so I needed backfield firepower especially in this new edition and my favorite Chapter besides GK is the Imperial Fists so my GKs Deep Strike into the backfield and my Imperial Fists hold the back line but you probably want to remain pure Imperial Fist.

The Comms Relay is the best and cheapest option so I also recommend that.

My main problem with SM Terminators is they are so dang expensive especially coming from the perspective of GK player.

I also adding LotD or possibly some Sternguard. Also, can never go wrong with Thunderfire cannons to help provide firepower and a techmarine that can bolster defenses. Also if you use the Sentinels of Terra supplment, you can still take Dev Cents as Elites.