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Are scatter lasers now the best loadout for jet bikes?

I'm going scatter lasers. And because I moved my new group is way more competitive. So I gotta get a scatter laser on each bike, not just 1 in 3 like I used too.

I feel like neither cannons nor scatter lasers are very good choices. If I were running Jetbikes I would probably take twin catapults (though these aren't great either).

Obviously Windriders of all sorts were just awful in the index. cannon bikes only got a 4 point cut, so I don't think much more needs to be said -- there's no way that's sufficient.

Scatter laser bikes got a bigger 7 point cut, but they pretty much force you to go Saim-Hann just to get your mobility back, so why not just take cannons and then a Craftworld that makes them better instead of not worse? Biel-Tan cannons are very nearly as good as scatter lasers even against GEQs.

But also what are you even planning on doing with your bikes? Scatter laser bikes kill ~6 points of Guard Infantry per volley. You need more than 4 turns to break even. You need more than 3 turns against even tactical marines outside of cover. They are terrible as artillery. Why not just use Swooping Hawks instead? 26 points of Hawks will be almost as durable as a Windrider against single-damage weapons (it's very easy for Hawks to always have cover) and much more durable against multi-damage weapons. The two Hawks get 8 S3 shots, which is as good or better against everything except T6. And the Hawks deep strike and have grenade packs, and can move and shoot effectively without having to waste their Craftworld Attribute on it.

The one thing that bikes do an okay job of -- their only real niche, I think -- is shooting shuriken catapults without needing a transport. They're only 23 points with catapults now, which is still high when compared to something like a Scout Biker, but this does make them actually a more efficient source of shuriken fire than Dire Avengers. They end up looking pretty good compared to Dire Avengers except for their vulnerability to multi-damage weapons. They're not so expensive that you can't afford to have them get shot at and they do very good damage.

Well if your Beil-tan (I think? My english is bad and get them mix up time to time) you get re-rolls 1 with Shuriken and Shuirken can have AP, but sacrifices range, also Shuriken are Assault vs Heavy.

If you go Alaitoc then i would say Scatter might be better since you can stay out of range a lot easier.

Scatter for Saim Hann bikes.

 bullyboy wrote:
Scatter for Saim Hann bikes.

and cannons for Alaitoc bikes.