Effectiveness of Fire Raptor Gunships for CSM

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**TasadarTheMadBear**

I am getting ready to purchase a few FW vehicles to add to my CSM and one of them I am considering is the Fire Raptor Gunship. For starters, it looks absolutely awesome and would fit very well with the rest of my Iron Warriors. That being said, does anyone have any experience using it under the Chaos rules found in IA 13? I would love some suggestions on loadouts and tactics as I have not used any flyers besides Heldrakes. Also, how does the Fire Raptor compare to Heldrakes? Since it is a Heavy Support choice I plan on using both it and atleast one, possibly two, Baledrakes. Does this seem like over kill with flyers? Thanks in advance for your input.

**GrafWattenburg**

Its great, give it the autocannon sponsons and you're good to go. I often run a csm allied Detachment with my renegades and include a fire raptor and a heldrake. I wouldnt run two heldrakes myself, but a Hell Blade would compliment your flying force well. How many flyers you want to bring depends on your meta, the missions you play etc., but in general i will always recommend a fire raptor. Amazing firepower and durability

**TasadarTheMadBear**

Thanks Graf! Another question, is Armoured Ceramite worth the points? I hadn't even considered the Hellblade. After looking through IA 13, I am thinking of using a formation of Blight Drones to real swarm the field with flyers.

**Intercessor**

I run blight drones very underrated

**Slayer-Fan123**

Blight Drones are pretty cool.

Regarding Armoured Ceramite, it isn't worth it on Fliers.

**DCannon4Life**

The Fire Raptor is well worth its points; the ability to 'split' fire is huge. Consider Warpflame Gargoyles (?) as a cheap lol way to burn 5+ infantry units to death.

If you plan to run a list with more than 1 unit in reserves, then give serious consideration to including reserves manipulation (Comms Relay, etc.) into your list.

**GrafWattenburg**

I never bother with armoured ceramite, but if my meta included more flying melta i would consider it.

**Azoqu**

You want to run the autocannons as well as the upgraded missiles. The reason for the missiles is that they are no longer ordanence so you can actually fire them and they ignore cover (not the best with only AP6 but large blast and ignoring is nice). Another added bonus is on weapon destroyed results, half of the time it will get a missile if you haven't fired one yet.

**DCannon4Life**

Azoqu wrote:
You want to run the autocannons as well as the upgraded missiles. The reason for the missiles is that they are no longer ordanence so you can actually fire them and they ignore cover (not the best with only AP6 but large blast and ignoring is nice). Another added bonus is on weapon destroyed results, half of the time it will get a missile if you haven't fired one yet.

Depending on which, if any, FaQ you use, swapping out the missiles isn't automatically necessary. The argument is that if all 4 missiles are fired at the same time, the 'ordinance' rule would not come into play. It would (obviously) come into play if only 1 missile is fired, then the remaining weapons (ball turret, nose gun) would have to snap fire. So, you can fly on, try to nuke something by dumping all 4 missiles into it, and then spend the rest of your time spitting dakka dakka at three different targets a turn....

**GoliothOnline**

I always run mine with Reapers and Maelefic Ammunition for Rending but aside that nothing else. I make my points back relatively easily each game and after prioritizing Light Vehicles and Heavy Infantry with each Reaper battery I tend to just make sure it's a nuisance for my opponent whenever possible.

**TasadarTheMadBear**

After spending the night thinking about that awesome model, I have decided to get the Fire Raptor over the Sicaran Tank. I will definitely be giving it reaper autocannons and upgraded missiles. After looking at the rules and reading the responses here, I think that's all it should need. It's a meager 225 points and packs a lot of punch. The malefic ammo is a maybe if I have points to spare, but doesn't seem like a must have. Rending is great, I just don't think it is need and adds too much to the price tag. Does anyone with experience using it have any thoughts on its survivability?

**Slayer-Fan123**

Why not get both? Both are pretty cool dudes.

**locarno24**

Agreed on malefic ammunition. Rending reaper autocannons or quad heavy bolters turns the waist turrets from an annoyance to a serious threat in their own right.

**GrafWattenburg**

Malefic ammunition is too expensive imo.

**ryuken87**

A friend runs a list with 3, all with the autocannons (no brainer) and malefic ammo. One also has the Vessel of Tzenahk the Occluder. You get -1 BS (you are still BS4 twin-linked vs most targets) but it's won him so many close games for a measely 10 points.

**GrafWattenburg**

Vessel of tzenach is pretty good, i brought it to a tournament a few weekends ago and it scored me some vital points

**Slayer-Fan123**

Malefic Ammunition is 40 points, right? That's too steep.

**TasadarTheMadBear**

The big debate seems to be whether to malefic ammo. If I have the points I will, but it doesn't seem like a must have.
And @Slayer-Fan123, eventually I plan on getting 2 Sicarans and the Fire Raptor, but at FW prices it has to be one thing at a time.