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What do people think of combi-plasmas vs normal plasma guns?
For an extra 2 points you potentially get 2 shots of plasma and 2 of bolter fire on 4+ to hit (space marine).
Im in the process of putting my army together with lots of plasma chosen/fallen, and im not sure if im better off making combi-plasmas (very easy with plasma pistols+bolters) or just sticking with regular plasma guns.
Im horrible when it comes to mathhammer, but im sure some of you would have thoughts on this.

Usually when I'm unloading plasma against a target, I really want to hit with my plasma shots. It's not worth getting 2 4+ bolter shots in order to drop your 3+ hits w/ plasma to 4+.

The only time that it's really better is with combi-flamers, since you don't roll to hit with the flamer half anyway, making the 2 4+ bolter shots just free extra shots. Those are worth the 2 points, but I don't think that's the case with plasma and melta.

I think combi-plasma is the weakest of the combi-weapons. If you take it you do so because you cannot take a regular plasma gun. I look at it this way, you are rarely going to want a -1 to hit (you'll never overcharge with -1 to hit).

As was mentioned the combi-flamer makes sense because flamers have short range, and when you shoot the flamer the -1 to hit is no big deal because the flamer does not suffer the penalty.

For a combi-melta you are likely to use 1 or the other option based on your target. Melta has short range and is not great vs light infantry so you might use the bolter.

I think the only situation I can think of where you want to shoot both with a combi-plasma is in the circumstance that you need to kill more than 2 models and have only 1 combi-plasma model to get the job done.

Mathematically it is a decent idea to do so against light infantry I guess, but that typically isn't the target for your plasma guns.

Overwatch without overheat.