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So I started to work on guardsman models (just started the game) and am stumped on what I should give to my heavy weapons teams. I Currently have two start your collection for the Astra Militarium and debating between going mortars or heavy bolters. I plan to get another start your collection to make a battalion and get a full HWT squad. I was hoping to make the leman russes my main anti vehicle since I will have 3 and possibly 4 if i decide to get the enginseer/tank commander bundle. I am up for any suggestions.

At this moment in the history of Warhammer 40,000, mortars are typically the best choice for heavy weapons teams. They are flexible and aren't a waste of points if you move (which will raise the unit's ballistic skill to 5+).

The other useful option is lascannon. This weapon has a very high potential that can be bolstered with regimental doctrines and orders. But, again, becomes a waste of points if you want to move at any point. It is also a risky points investment on a very easy to kill platform.

Beyond those two, you are left with heavy bolter as a functional and fairly useful for-the-points upgrade. Mathematically, they aren't as good as mortars at performing the same function. But mortars have been the target of criticism for like a year, so they could go up in points.. maybe.. someday.

All the weapons , with the exception of the missile launcher which is massively overpriced and has no clear role, are good and worth taking. At least on Heavy Weapon teams in infantry/veteran/command squads.

Mortars are very cheap, have good danage output against infantry, doesn't need LoS and is least affected by the -1 to hit modifier if you do have to move. Best on Heavy Weapon Squads as they are both cheaper and the ability to hide behind hills and buildings completely negates their vulnerability.

Heavy Bolters are much less random than mortars and the extra +1S and -1AP go a long way in munching infantry (especially T4 and T5 one) for a very small points increase. Does need LoS, but isn't much of an issue on squad embedded weapon teams, and not much of an issue on heavy weapon squads because HBs are so cheap.

Autocannons now that they cost only 12 points are a very good middle ground between anti-infantry and anti-tank duty. Compared to a lascannon they not only are 8pts cheaper, but having two shots makes them much more likely to hit on BS 4+ models. They also fill some specific but relevant niches, such as killing infantry with two wounds (say Primaris), going after 2+ armor/3++ Inv. save monsters/vehicles/characters and basically completely negating quantum shielding on Necron vehicles (which make lascannons completely useless).

Lascannons are the best thing for most anti-tank work and every list should have a healthy number of them. Only take on squad based weapon teams because of the price. Especially good on BS 3+ units (veterans and the very cheap Command Squads).

Heavy weapon teams: Mortar. Simple as that. HWT's are made out of paper that goes dead if somebody says "boo!". Thus making them expensive high priority target with something like lascannon just means enemy will have easy time killing your heavy weapons. Mortars are cheap and can be put out of LOS thus making them actually survive. If you desperately want something other than mortars heavy bolters. At least it's cheap.

For infantry squad heavy bolter, autocannon or lascannon are all good. Autocannon wasn't that hot but with rise of dark eldars that's got some use back as it's good vs dark eldar vehicles.

For infantry squads meanwhile mortar loses usefulness a bit as the no-LOS is generally meaningless. Infantry squads wants to be at objectives or screening stuff so will be visible. Hiding behind LOS objective isn't that neccessary. Even if there's objective like that mortar HWT's can do that job just as well. Use the infantry to screen your tanks and other soft target instead.

Personally, I enjoy mortars because of the volume of dice they can put out. They can wound just by sheer volume (assuming the rolls favor you). For most of their weapons, there are better alternatives.

For example, at six wounds a piece I'd prefer to put the Lascannon on a Sentinel rather than a two wound HWT that would need morale checks and has less movement (should you need to). Yes, a HWT will give more shots, assuming LoS is in your favor and that you took three, but their save roll is worse so you'll have to hope to have first turn as they'd be a priority for your opponent. Heavy Bolters would likely be better strapped to the side of a Leman Russ or in a backfield infantry unit holding an objective (and the same for an auto cannon). Regarding the ML, I can't say that I've seen much of a use for these. They seem a jack-of-all-trades that could easily be replaced by something more suited to the function.