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I was given a squad of these boys for Xmas and I was thinking of adding them to my Ultramarines army. I already have a squad of Devastator Centurions (grav cannons) and an old squad of Devastators with all rocket launchers. My list is typically built around a demi-company (although I'm thinking of switching to a Stormlance Battle-Demi Company) so any/all advice would be appreciated.

Leave the centurions with grav cannons and hurricane bolters, no other weapons combo has near the utility. For the devastators, you can also go with grav and put them in a skyhammer formation OR use them as a static element (either hold your line or drive them up to hold the middle) with adequate buffs to make them hard to kill (invisibility/re-roll saves/2+ cover). Alternatively, you could give them plasma cannons for the same cost as missile launchers and add the new Haemotrope Reactor fortification to your list: it turns your blast weapons into large blasts, which if combined with ignores cover will make your humble devastators a feared menace.

For combat operations, grav.

For guard duty on the shelf, any other weapon.

Gravcannons are probably the best devastator weapon, but also the most expensive points-wise. If you are wanting to run Skyhammer, you might want both Gravcannons and Multimeltas, although outside of that formation Multimeltas are trash due to having to snapfire when moving. I actually like Lascannons on devastators due to the range; they can sit back in ruins and pound even tough vehicles like Knights from across the board. While even 4 Lascannons are unlikely to kill a Knight in one shooting phase, they can take off a few hull points while some other units finish the thing off.

Plasma Cannons got a new lease on life with the Haemotrope Reactor making them Large Blasts, but now they get hot on 1's and 2's, so keep that in mind. Missile Launchers are not that great for their points. Heavy Bolters are cheap, but again, not that powerful unless you are facing hordes of weak troops.

All of the possible weapons have niche uses, but in a TAC list some of them are just not worth taking. Really it depends on the rest of your list and how you intend to run your Devastators.

Just my 2 cents.

Let's put it this way then:

You don't pick grav because you want to take Devastators. You pick Devastators because you want to take grav.

If in battle company, one team with 4 grav cannons with Cathapractii captain in a pod.

one 2x lascannons in a rhino.

If not, on the shelves (or maybe 4x melta 4x grav in Skyhammer)

I beleive Devestator came with a rifle and missiles which could be interchanged with his fists WAIT, we're talking about space marines, not Constructicons arent we

 Skymate wrote:
I beleive Devestator came with a rifle and missiles which could be interchanged with his fists WAIT, we're talking about space marines, not Constructicons arent we

If Decepticons were in the game they'd obviously be walkers. Autobots, just as obviously monstrous creatures.

My favorite Dev squad for the classic “camp in ruins” role is 4xLC

For a stormlance, I might take 2xGC in a rhino. Roll around shooting out the top hatch.

For relentless/S&P shenanigans (skyhammer, CTDA captain) either MMs or GSc depending on points.

From a practical POV, get a tac box/other source of PA bodies and build all the options. Swap around as list/points demand. Except the PCs. Those things are pretty useless these days.

 Nevelon wrote:
My favorite Dev squad for the classic “camp in ruins” role is 4xLC

For a stormlance, I might take 2xGC in a rhino. Roll around shooting out the top hatch.

For relentless/S&P shenanigans (skyhammer, CTDA captain) either MMs or GSc depending on points.

From a practical POV, get a tac box/other source of PA bodies and build all the options. Swap around as list/points demand. Except the PCs. Those things are pretty useless these days.

I have Calth and Prospero to take extra bodies from, along with all the heavy weapons within, but for the purposes of the squad in the Stormlance I might just go with the 2× Grav Cannons, as these guys will need to be on the move a fair bit

Grav Cannons are amazing, but I'm also a big fan of Lascannons. In my competetive Battle Company list, I have one unit with four Grav Cannons, and one unit with four Lascannons.

Lascannons are excellent for sitting tight and putting some extra hits on big targets, a fine support unit.

4 plasma cannons. But I haven't used them since 7th.

 Insectum7 wrote:
Grav Cannons are amazing, but I'm also a big fan of Lascannons. In my competetive Battle Company list, I have one unit with four Grav Cannons, and one unit with four Lascannons.

Lascannons are excellent for sitting tight and putting some extra hits on big targets, a fine support unit.

I just wish I had that many lascannons on hand, I have the two in the box and that's about it (unless Gee-dubs suddenly did us a solid by offering 4 of each heavy weapon in the box)