Favorite chapter tactic for Gladis strike force

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**Smotejob**

As the title says, what is your favorite chapter tactic for a Gladis strike force?

**Crazyterran**

White Scars is the best one. With the Khan, they have hit and run and scout, both of which are great for the Battle Company.

If you mean outside of the battle company... Why are you running a gladius? If I'm running a fluffy list in a gladius (you know, the only other reason to run it other than a company) it will be Ultramarines, because... See profile picture.

**GunslingerSamus**

White scars is the best by a good margin. Raptor can be good in the right version, it gives you the option to have an alpha strike with throw away units such as scouts. However with all the variables hit and run is too good. It saves your marines and gives them a ludicrous amount of mobility plus opens up your opponents to shooting where is most of the Gladius damage output is.

**casvalremdeikun**

Definitely White Scars with Khan. Hit and Run and Scout are hard to top. Thought their specialized Super Formation is Even better.

**MacPhail**

Sounds like White Scars is the consensus... does anyone have a rough list for such an army? At what point cost is a White Scars Gladius at it's most efficient? Not intending to hijack the OP... I'm just curious as to the build behind such a strong unified opinion.

**greyknight12**

Another option I've seen work situationally well is salamanders in drop pods with vulkan for re-roll melta hits.

**vipoid**

Are Iron Hands any good?

**casvalremdeikun**

vipoid wrote:
Are Iron Hands any good?

with some Clan Raukhaan cheese, they can be quite potent. Their chapter tactics not helping vehicles anymore really hurts. If it worked on vehicles, they would be pretty potent with a lot of undying Razorbacks on the board.

**Slayer-Fan123**

casvalremdeikun wrote:
vipoid wrote:
Are Iron Hands any good?
with some Clan Raukhaan cheese, they can be quite potent. Their chapter tactics not helping vehicles anymore really hurts. If it worked on vehicles, they would be pretty potent with a lot of undying Razorbacks on the board.

I thought the verdict was still unknown for that.

**vipoid**

Slayer-Fan123 wrote:
casvalremdeikun wrote:
vipoid wrote:
Are Iron Hands any good?
with some Clan Raukhaan cheese, they can be quite potent. Their chapter tactics not helping vehicles anymore really hurts. If it worked on vehicles, they would be pretty potent with a lot of undying Razorbacks on the board.

I thought the verdict was still unknown for that.

What do you mean?

**DirtyDeeds**

vipoid wrote:
Slayer-Fan123 wrote:
casvalremdeikun wrote:
vipoid wrote:
Are Iron Hands any good?
with some Clan Raukhaan cheese, they can be quite potent. Their chapter tactics not helping vehicles anymore really hurts. If it worked on vehicles, they would be pretty potent with a lot of undying Razorbacks on the board.

I thought the verdict was still unknown for that.

What do you mean?

I think ITC voted in favor of giving ITWD to vehicles in an Iron Hands Detachment.

**vipoid**

DirtyDeeds wrote:

I think ITC voted in favor of giving ITWD to vehicles in an Iron Hands Detachment.

So, they decided to randomly buff Iron Hands?

**Slayer-Fan123**

vipoid wrote:
DirtyDeeds wrote:

I think ITC voted in favor of giving ITWD to vehicles in an Iron Hands Detachment.

So, they decided to randomly buff Iron Hands?

Something about the wording being weird. I don't have the codex on me so I cannot contribute much.

**Deschenus Maximus**

Khan Scars is deffo the best. I'm also quite partial to full null deploy Sicarius Ultras.

**greatbigtree**

The Gladius Formation provides offensive benefits, that overlap with the Ultramarines, Salamanders, and Imperial Fist benefits. The Ultras can only use one per turn, and the 3 you get as standard are typically enough, such that the restriction of building to a Gladius is more of a hinderance than you gain benefit. Sallys are always re-rolling Flamers and Meltas [assuming Vulkan] so the re-rolls from the doctrines is, again, insubstantial compared to the downside of having to build to a Gladius.

Both Scars and Iron Hands have defensive benefits, as Chapter Tactics, so the Gladius doctrines are pure benefit. As has been noted, Khan-Scars are probably the best out of the codex. My, apparently shared, opinion is that Scouting your Transports / Bikes and then being able to H&R away from combats is good times.

Core of the list would be something along the lines of...

Battle Demi-Company:

Khan [On bike, or not, user preference]

3x Tacticals, in Rhino / Razorback, with a Special Weapon and matching Combi-Weapon

Bike unit, with Gravguns

Dev unit, in Rhino, with 2x Lascannons, Arm Cherub, Signum [Scout to better position, and fire from the hatch, survive in metal box.]

Probably a Command Squad unit, on bikes.

A unit of Dreadnoughts, to support the Rhino Tacticals. Provide Fire support, melee backup.

Auxiliary:

User preference, but a cheap Suppression force would be helpful. Fast moving heavy weapons, coupled with the anti-infantry firepower from the Whirlwinds.

A Storm Wind would let you rule the skies, and also keeps pace with the rest of your force. Nothing really to transport in the Raven, but that's not necessary, I suppose. You could take a single Dread in the BDC, to drop and smash?

It would depend on how many points you're playing. Things are very tight at 1500 points, fairly easy by the time you get to 2000.

**Btothefnrock**

Multi melta devs work great with scout. Also, the scout bike formation is killer with white scars...

**Deschenus Maximus**

@greatbigtree: Being able to use either Tac or Dev doctrine for 5 full turns is pretty sweet, and Sicarius sinergises well with pods and Storm Wing.

As to how to build a Khan BC:
-Khan
-Chappie w/ The Hunter's Eye & Auspex, Bike
-6 x 5 Tacs w/ plasmagun or gravcannon, depending on available points, riding in AssBacks or Plasmabacks.
-2 x 5 Assault Marines w/ 2 flamers, in pods or razors or rhinos
-2 x 5 Devs w/ plasma cannons or gravcannons, w/ bolterbacks or lasbacks
-Suppression Force w/ 3 Whirlies, double bolter Speeder or AssCannon/MM.

**MacPhail**

Thanks, both... pretty much what I'm building toward in my head. I can't pull together that many bikes or Rhinos yet, but I think I can meet the minimum. Thanks for the details.

**Smotejob**

Deschenus Maximus wrote:
@greatbigtree: Being able to use either Tac or Dev doctrine for 5 full turns is pretty sweet, and Sicarius sinergises well with pods and Storm Wing.

As to how to build a Khan BC:
-Khan
-Chappie w/ The Hunter's Eye & Auspex, Bike
-6 x 5 Tacs w/ plasmagun or gravcannon, depending on available points, riding in AssBacks or Plasmabacks.
-2 x 5 Assault Marines w/ 2 flamers, in pods or razors or rhinos
-2 x 5 Devs w/ plasma cannons or gravcannons, w/ bolterbacks or lasbacks
-Suppression Force w/ 3 Whirlies, double bolter Speeder or AssCannon/MM.

Where do you put Khan and the Chaplin in that squad?

**Tactical_Spam**

Imperial Fists because if I have to run 6(!) tactical squads (All with ten men ~~because I am compensating~~), I want to be sure I am benefitting from that volume of bolters and Tank Hunter Centurians are great.

**casvalremdeikun**

Tactical_Spam wrote:
Imperial Fists because if I have to run 6(!) tactical squads (All with ten men ~~because I am compensating~~), I want to be sure I am benefitting from that volume of bolters and Tank Hunter Centurians are great.

Also great when taking the 1st Company Task Force. Re-rolling Sternguard Special Ammo FTW! If one could take the Sentinels of Terra supplement and gain TL at half range, IF Sternguard would be even more brutal. Hopefully they get FAQ'd to fix that issue soon. I would also accept a campaign supplement (like Kauyon) that updates Sentinels of Terra.

**Btothefnrock**

Smotejob wrote:

Where do you put Khan and the Chaplin in that squad?

I run Khan in one command squad, Chaplin in the other. At 1850, I have 27 bikes on the table, along with all the other stuff. At 1500, I put them each in one of the bike squads (yeah, you get a free Razorback if you take Assault marines, but I wager the 3 man bikers with 2 Grav and Combi grav is still better).

**tedurur**

casvalremdeikun wrote:
Definitely White Scars with Khan. Hit and Run and Scout are hard to top. Thought their specialized Super Formation is Even better.

Since they do not get free transports with that formation its much much weaker.

**casvalremdeikun**

tedurur wrote:
casvalremdeikun wrote:
Definitely White Scars with Khan. Hit and Run and Scout are hard to top. Thought their specialized Super Formation is Even better.

Since they do not get free transports with that formation its much much weaker.

Those free transports cost 420+ points worth of Tactical Marines. The Hunting Force, especially when equipped with Khan, can take up to five bike squads(with Scout) and a bike Command Squad in a single formation.

**tedurur**

casvalremdeikun wrote:
tedurur wrote:
casvalremdeikun wrote:
Definitely White Scars with Khan. Hit and Run and Scout are hard to top. Thought their specialized Super Formation is Even better.

Since they do not get free transports with that formation its much much weaker.
Those free transports cost 420+ points worth of Tactical Marines. The Hunting Force, especially when equipped with Khan, can take up to five bike squads(with Scout) and a bike Command Squad in a single formation.

Yes, the Gladius gives almost as much free points as the cost of Tacticals, thats awesome.

The hunting force trade re-rolls to hit and wound vs very specific and maximum three targets, enhanced hit and run and hammer of wrath for having to take scout bikes and attack bike(s), being much more limited in FW stuff (and other stuff) and most importantly losing ObSec on all normal bikes compared to a simple CAD.

**Crazyterran**

The typical Khan list I have seen is:

Khan (foot)
Chaplain (foot)
6 tac squads, special weapons vary on points, in varying Razorbacks
2 assault squads, maybe flamers, Razorbacks
2 Devastator squads, one or two heavy weapons, razor backs
1-2 command squads with 1-2 melta guns. In pods
1-2 dreadnoughts in pods, mm + hf

Either suppression force or anti Air Force, depending on what you worry about seeing more.

Kit the Razorbacks as points allow.

Considering you are getting 600-700 points for free... Scouting....

**Deschenus Maximus**

Smotejob wrote:
Where do you put Khan and the Chaplin in that squad?

Khan with one assault squad, the chappie with a dev squad or a bike command squad with gravguns if you have the points.

**Kommissar Kel**

I play Sons of medusa(Iron hand successors); their tactics are actually pretty great without raukaan cheese.

Iwnd dreads(hey look a vehicle that has ct) are awesome, especially when you field several.

A full battle company can do some awesome things, and it is how I like to play(many infantry units): full 10-man squads for tacs, min jump, min dev with all single guns(generally lascannons) 4 dreads(2 mm and hf, 3 asscan and storm bolter) I do not generally take advantage of free transports.

Loadout: 2 each 10 man tacs:
1) sgt with combi-flamer and fist, heavy bolter, plasma gun. Advances in force snap-firing hb(suprise tactic, that functions better than you would expect). Might take free rhino.
2) grav gun, plasma cannon, power weapon and grav pistol(split with heavy and special staying behind to camp home objective). Might take razorback for 4 bolter marines and sgt, either just hb or asscan.
3) either all grav(cannon, gun, and combi) or missile melta and grav pistol+pw with mb. Can be kept in force or split, generally footslogs.
Chaplain with jump pack.
Captain with jump pack and lightning claws.
2 assault marines in 5 or 10 man units depending on points; if 10 then split. These are not treated as forward elements, they are counter-assault and objective defense. Keep them behind tacs, but near enough that they can jump over comfortably. If enemy units get near enough to charge range(or fail charge from distance/overwatch) jump the assault marines forward and hit them hard. Sgt has p-fist and combat shield.
Devs: 4 lascannons per squad, naked sgt. Add bodies if I have the points.
For aux; I might go air-defense and/or whirlwind.