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I worked out how a unit of reavers with 4 Grav Talons and an Agoniser would fair against various opponents of roughly equal points cost. I think they come out looking like a fairly competent assault unit, adding extra shooting weapons to include before the charge will make them consummate monster hunters. As they are they can comfortably fight Marines of most varieties and hold even with Carnifexes and the like, providing the reavers charge (which they should with their ridiculous speed). I've also generally assumed everything in favour of the enemy. That is a first turn charge so that the +1 to hit doesn't kick in til turn 3 and similar assumptions. The assault marines are only equal in cost because they have no jump packs, so the chance of them getting the charge against the reavers is tiny. If they do have the packs the reavers will win tie if they get charged. I'm also assuming everyone just stays around to fight, rather than withdrawing and that each unit fights first in their own turn (as well as being able to shoot, of course) Take a look and give me your thoughts.

Thats a 384pt unit without guns, 444 with Blasters and 484 with Heat Lances. Just no.

And I'm comparing it to equally pointed units. Could easily split it in two and have similar results. If I'm running reavers its probably in units of 6 with an agoniser, possibly Grav Talons, possibly Heat Lances, Possibly both. 274 isn't a bad cost for 12 fairly durable high-speed wounds that are good at hunting tanks and monsters. Old style reavers with the same loadout would have been 213 points with half the wounds and a not dissimilar damage profile, due to the S3 and no AP on their close combat attacks which are now all at S4 AP -1. To be fair these would normally have been run without the agoniser and champion, giving 178 points. Are 100 points fair for 6 wounds and the ability to pick your drug? Maybe.

For a 12 strength unit you used to pay 356 points, you now pay 484. 128 points for 12 wounds. Not bad I would think and the old style reavers performed very nicely. On the charge old style, reavers do 8 Rending S4 hits and 4d6 (14) rending Str 6 hits, this is followed by 24 S3 attacks, usually hitting on 4+. this gives an average of 12.8 wounds on the charge (assuming no overwatch damage) against a marine target. The current unit, whilst being far more durable, does 11.06 and then maintains its ability to fight in later rounds. Against T7 with a 3+ save the current incarnation does a respectable 9.2 wounds on the charge, 7th edition reavers did 2.8. I'd say the current edition is pulling its weight in comparison.