Space Marine - Command squad on bikes

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**MeanAss_Demasoni**

This sounds like a great idea particularly for my Iron Hands chapter tactics. With an apothecary a FNP of 4+ on 5T units.

The rules aren't super clear as for equipment loadouts on the bikes though. Can they really carry anything they can without the bike? So they can have a shield and sword or a 2 handed gun (like a grav-gun) and still ride a bike?

How about HQs? Can any captain, chaplain or librarian be put on a bike to join them? It doesn't say so on their individual pages in the codex.

**Slayer-Fan123**

Command Squads are basically build-them-however-you-want. Every loadout you gave was legal.

**HoundsofDemos**

all the options are valid

Generally you want them shooting. Grav and plasma are excellent choices.

They can do combat but they are rather small and get expensive quickly

**Kommissar Kel**

I wouldn't say assault loadout is a bad option for them, you just need to keep the bells and whistles low.

First off they get 15 attacks per turn; 25 when they charge(5x 2base+2weapon+charge+how); so bikes, apothecary, champion, 1 axe, and maybe a melta bomb will keep the unit cheaper than apoth and guns on bikes, with the same level of hard to keep a wound on them and more killing power against many enemies.

That unit is more for certain army opponents(Eldar, both Craftworlds and dark, tau, nids, orks, daemons, and guardsmen); I would still go guns against necrons and vehicle heavy guard, or any flavour marines.

But, yeah, 5 bikes with fnp, and veteran attacks with 2 weapons is not bad if you do not sink too many points(the most common problem with command squads, vanguard vets, thunderwolves, and death co.

**MeanAss_Demasoni**

What is the points cost of putting an HQ on a bike? I don't see it in my codex.

Also, how do you model your biker command squad? Holding one handle of the bike while one handing a grav-gun? What if he has a shield and weapon?

**tydrace**

MeanAss_Demasoni wrote:
What is the points cost of putting an HQ on a bike? I don't see it in my codex.

Also, how do you model your biker command squad? Holding one handle of the bike while one handing a grav-gun? What if he has a shield and weapon?

Bike point costs are in the Special Issue Wargear on the Wargear table, which is located before the unit entries. It's four meltabombs in comparison.

**MeanAss_Demasoni**

tydrace wrote:
MeanAss_Demasoni wrote:
What is the points cost of putting an HQ on a bike? I don't see it in my codex.

Also, how do you model your biker command squad? Holding one handle of the bike while one handing a grav-gun? What if he has a shield and weapon?

Bike point costs are in the Special Issue Wargear on the Wargear table, which is located before the unit entries. It's four meltabombs in comparison.

Thanks, I totally missed that.

So do your bikers ride "Look ma, no hands!" style?

**Crazyterran**

I think a popular load out for a while was 4 grav guns/storm shields and one apothecary with chapter master smashface.

Some people added combat weapons like thunder hammers or power axes so they could do everything.

If you want an assault load out, however, I am afraid you'd just be better off taking Thunderwolf Cavalry allies to throw your CM or what have you with them.

**MeanAss_Demasoni**

Crazyterran wrote:
I think a popular load out for a while was 4 grav guns/storm shields and one apothecary with chapter master smashface.

Some people added combat weapons like thunder hammers or power axes so they could do everything.

If you want an assault load out, however, I am afraid you'd just be better off taking Thunderwolf Cavalry allies to throw your CM or what have you with them.

I won't actually be playing Iron Hands, just using the tactics for my successor chapter. So won't be using their chapter master.

I'm leaning towards keeping them shooty, with grav-guns or plasma. Although, I was thinking about down the road, running a battle company in which case the chaplain's command squad bikers could run with melee weapons.

**Crazyterran**

Why wouldn't you take a chapter master with the Shield Eternal, Thunder Hammer, Artificer Armour and in a bike if you are running a bike list, especially on the that isn't White
Scars?

**MeanAss_Demasoni**

Crazyterran wrote:
Why wouldn't you take a chapter master with the Shield Eternal, Thunder Hammer, Artificer Armour and in a bike if you are running a bike list, especially on the that isn't White
Scars?

I would, but i was under the impression that "Smashface" was the Iron Hands chapter master Kardan Stronos who had additional Iron Hands specific gear.

Wouldn't you want a weapon with higher initiative on your warlord though? Or would you use a champion for challenges?

**Dozer Blades**

You need S8 to kill the big stuff.

**Slayer-Fan123**

According to the Supplement, he's just any model equipped with that fancy Axe in there that gives +2S and is Master Crafted. Also S8 conditionally but the MC is what really matters.

It actually isn't a bad weapon when you think about it.

**MeanAss_Demasoni**

Wouldn't the 4 grav-guns be effective against the same big stuff you'd want the thunderhammer for? I have minimal table top experience so, honest question.

**Slayer-Fan123**

If anything, the four Grav Guns would be more effective.