Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

Looking for the best specialized stormtalon load out. Was thinking typhoons because they, paired with the AC's, can take on boards and armor.

The skyhammer is a better deal. Three strength seven shots for 5 points. The TML is to expensive for what it brings.

There are pros and cons for pretty much every option.

HBs are the free base. Good for keeping points down. If you are dogfighting by doing fly-bys and shooting things up the tail with the chin turret, you aren’t going to be shooting them anyway. Weakest pick, IMHO.

Skyhammers are the best from a cost/effectivenes POV. Once again, IMHO. The profile pairs well with the TLAsC, and you get a nice volume of shots. The AP is irrelevant is shooting at vehicles. Good all-around pick, and well worth the points to upgrade from the HBs.

TML has fewer shots then the skyhammer, but more S and a better AP. If you are going after FMCs with a 3+ save, this can be a big deal. Is it worth the extra points? Maybe, depends on what you see in your local skies.

TLLC is good if you are gunning for heavy targets. While the S7/8 of the missile systems is good for most things on the wing, S9 AP2 is better if you want that one-shot kill, or are looking to shoot tanks and such on the table with AV13-14. Seeing that you generally want to kill via stripping HPs, the single big shot is often not the most efficient choice. I have found myself wishing for it from time to time, but not enough to change my default load from the skyhammers.

The general consensus usually ends up at skyhammer but it is still dependant on the armies you play against. In my meta with lots of FMCs, typhoons are exceptional and are quickly becoming the standard.

General consensus I've seen is Skyhammer missiles, with Typhoons a close second.

Not a fan of the las cannon the range and shot volume doesn't jive well with the AC.

HoundsofDemos wrote:
Not a fan of the las cannon the range and shot volume doesn't jive well with the AC.

If facing a Heldrake, I think the lascannon is the best thing. Since if you cannot one shot it, you are going to spend 2 turns to get it back in your fire arc, which means two more squads of marines on ground are fired. While one shot a flyer is now more depended on luck, lascannon actually at least provide slightly better chance.

The TML, solely because it will force Flyrants to jink.

Good point about the heldrake, but sadly with how bad CSMs are I'm rarely worried about them as an army.

Slayer-Fan123 wrote:
The TML, solely because it will force Flyrants to jink.

They can just eat the krak missiles, they are MCs after all. Only the last wound matters.

Probably 2 kraks, then maybe another from the assault cannon via failed armour or rending and you're looking at a possibility of death via grounding. Heaven forbid they took another talon, especially since most of the other marine fa other than pods are junk and talons are pretty good.

Martel732 wrote:

Slayer-Fan123 wrote:
The TML, solely because it will force Flyrants to jink.

They can just eat the krak missiles, they are MCs after all. Only the last wound matters.

Er, I believe any sane Nids player would not just let their flyrant eat two S8 AP3 shots without jinking, that would usually means two wounds and a grounding check, the flyrant only have four wounds so it is a very high risk move for a 240pts unit.

Or just hop between cover and have a toe in ruins to claim the 4+ without even needing to Jink.

I magnetized mine to have missile launchers and Lascannons. Skyhammer is the cheapest and gets the job done against most flyers. The Typhoon is probably the next best option, since it is a little more versatile as it has better AV and Strength. I didn't even bother magnetizing the Typhoons, I just count the bigger missiles as either the SML or TML depending what I paid for. The Lascannons are on the expensive side, and lack the shots to really do a whole lot of damage unless you want to blast something in one shot.

I wish there was a way to get the Storm Talon Split Fire. Then you could unload with the missile launchers/lascannons at one target, then shoot the nose turret at something else.

I haven't run it yet, but I am going to run my Storm Talons in the Raptor Wing for the ability to reroll Pens and Wounds. Really makes the missile launchers shine.

 Frozocrone wrote:
Or just hop between cover and have a toe in ruins to claim the 4+ without even needing to Jink.

That forces the Flyrants to be defensive. That's a win.