Bolt Pistol, Plasma Pistol, or Grav Pistol for Assault Veteran Sergeant

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**ServiceGames**

So, I'm putting together a Skyhammer Annihilation Force, and I'm trying to figure out which ranged weapon would be best to use. I"m equipping both Assault Veteran Sergeants with a Thunder Hammer, but I don't know the best ranged weapon to use with them. What do you think would be best?

Thanks

SG

**Tibs Ironblood**

Bolt Pistol. The points the pistols cost do not justify what they give. 15 points for a single s7 ap2 shot that could get hot or for a single grav shot. Its not even close to worth it. Those points would be better suited to giving melta bombs to more sarges or a power weapon.

Edit: Yeah I would also pass on the hammer. Is 30 points for a guy who barely gets to swing it and even when he does hes still a t4 3+ save mook who can get challenged out.

**Slayer-Fan123**

Yeah, I'd highly advise against the Thunder Hammers myself.

**Brutus_Apex**

For best assault results lightning claw/powerfist. It's expensive but you are already blowing tonnes of points on a thunderhammer and possibly grav/plasma pistol.

A basic power weapon will probably be the best and cheapest.

Also never waist points on plasma or grav pistols, it's simply not worth the cost.

**ServiceGames**

Thank you all for your help!

SG

**nareik**

Could combi weapon be under consideration since the thunderhammer is a specialist weapon? Or do you want the pistol as a melee weapon for when unwieldy ap2 is unneeded?

**bomtek80**

If you want the AP2 and still have the ability to hurt vehicles you could always do a Power Axe and a Meltabomb at a total of 20 points.

Have to agree with the other guys and say that plasma and grav pistols are overpriced for what they offer. If the were 10 points instead we might be talking.

**ScarVet101**

It depends on what the rest of the unit has. If you have 2 standard Assault Marines with Plasma Pistols take the Plasma, otherwise, like other have said, stick with the Bolt pistol.

Save the Grav Pistol for a Grav heavy Tactical or Dev squad

**Nevelon**

If you were thinking of paying for the TH, give him the evisorator. Unless you wanted to take it in the squad as a hidden powerfist. For the most part, armorbane is going to be more useful then concussive.

Pistols are overpriced. If you really want to take them (because honestly, they do look cool) I’d take a grav pistol with an axe. Concussive shooting, so it applies on the first round of CC, plus the extra attack with the axe. Worth 30 points for the combo? Probably not. But looks cool and has some synergy.

As for the poll, bolt pistol. If you are taking anything else, you are making a conscious decision to be inefficient for the sake of cool. Which is not the end of the world, just something you need to be aware of.

**Crazyterran**

Power axe is the best option if you are going to spend points on them. Possibly a melta bomb. Or possibly just a melta bomb.

**MechaEmperor7000**

You can equip an assault squad with an Eviscerator, which can do a Thunderhammer's job a lot better without being mucked down by a challenge or whatnot.

I generally don't give sergeants any equipment; trying to make them into mini-characters is just a points sink and often goes badly since they still die to the same things their squadmates die to.

**Nevelon**

MechaEmperor7000 wrote:
You can equip an assault squad with an Eviscerator, which can do a Thunderhammer's job a lot better without being mucked down by a challenge or whatnot.

I generally don't give sergeants any equipment; trying to make them into mini-characters is just a points sink and often goes badly since they still die to the same things their squadmates die to.

One advantage of giving it to the vet sarge is that he gets to swing it multiple times. While the random marine in the back can’t be singled out in a challenge, he also can’t LoS! if he does get tagged. And the whole 1A thing.

There are pros and cons to both side.

The whole thing is above my comfort level on 1W guys, I agree that keeping their points down is needed.

**Slayer-Fan123**

He might get to swing multiple times, but not being challenged out is a bigger deal. On the charge your giant chainswords will hit most opponents twice. Anyone else should be looked at as meat shields for the Eviscerators.

**MechaEmperor7000**

Come to think of it Nevelon's right. Anything that can single out the vet sarge for a challenge probably isn't a unit that the Eviscerator would be good on anyways (primary targets for an Eviscerator would be MCs or heavy armored tanks, both of which rarely come with characters, and almost no one takes in squadrons).

On top of that the entry says "any model" so it can be the vet sarge. So I guess there's little reason not to put it on him for the extra +1 attack.