Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

Hey Gang,


question for my BA players out there - do you prefer Death Company or Sanguinary Guard in your army list? Or Both?

DC have the black rage for extra attacks and FNP, but SG has the second wound.
DC are cheaper, and have a lot of weapon choices, but SG has the Encarmine Sword and Angelus boltgun- both really nice weapons.

What do you think? What characters do you buff them with?

I currently run a 10-man DC with 3 Hammers and 7 plasma pistols. Backed up by a Chaplain (Powerfist) and a Librarian if points allow. All units with Jumpacks.

Thoughts?


-Wargboyz

JP DC and lemartes is a must. A librarian with unleash rage is optional, for SG and DC. SG needs an ancient as your warlord with the standard of sacrifice and all PF. Ranged weapon for DC is 2 or 3 inferno pistols, the others get boltguns. SG gets plasma pistols, overcharge is pretty safe with the ancient warlord nearby. Both units are to expensive to have, go with one. I believe SG is better overall.

I would also consider Vanguard Vets after the point drops from chapter approved. They also get access to cheap 2pts stormshields.

This is a post I made a little while back on the main BA tactica thread.

The drop in VanVets has certainly put Death Company in a tricky spot. DC are great for chaff clearance and can be buffed wonderfully by Lemartes. VanVets are more durable with their access to 2-point Storm Shield. A flying unit with a 3++ and any special weapons you like is pretty potent.

Personally I wouldn't bother with Thunder Hammers on VanVets or DC now that Power Fists have got such a drop. PFs are most cost effective on a whole unit, save Hammers for your characters.

Sanguinary Guard are good but they are very expensive and need a lot of support to make them work well. Firstly you need to run them with your Warlord so that they can get full rerolls to hit. Secondly you need to maximise their number of attacks, normally by running them with the Sanguinor and/or a Librarian to cast "Unleash Rage". You need to add something to keep them alive, normally a Sanguinary Ancient with the Standard of Sacrifice and possibly even a Sanguinary Priest to buff their strength and heal/resurrect models.

In a sense, the ranking of these units depends on the points you wish to spend on them.

VanVets. Cheap flying Invulns make them great for tarpitting big monsters or blender units. Add a few fists/hammers and you can hit back pretty well.

Death Company throw out the most attacks for their points and can be buffed with rerolls to charge and to hit with 100 points of Lemartes.

Sanguinary Guard are an expensive hammer unit that needs support both to maximise their attacks and ensure they don't get trashed. Don't forget, you can actually make one of the Sanguinary Guard you Warlord, you don't have to choose a character. Yes you lose out on some tasty Warlord Traits but it guarantees that your SG will have full rerolls 100% of the time. This is particularly important if you want to DoA them in from Reserves.

The only thing I'll add in favor of SG is that I don't use sanguinor or psykers with them, only an ancient with a banner as warlord, and they work fine.

DC simply evaporate on an 8th ed battlefield.

VV evaporate IF they point the right guns at them.

To me, that make VV a clear choice over DC.

I don't think that is the right comparison. I say SG are a must with the banner. The bigger the unit the better.

It's between the DC and VV now and the DC are not looking great since the CA18 point changes.

I think it works out at 10 pts less for 10 VV with SS+CS than it does for 10 DC with CS+BG. So for 1 point a model more, with DC, you lose 3++ but gain 6+++ and +1 attack when you charge.

Like I said it's not looking great for DC these day's. No matter who you pair them against. For BA it's probably SG>VV>CV>DC>RAS IMO

The 2+/5+++ becomes soul crushing in cover. I can attest to this.

So can my regular battle buddies. It's too good not to have for me. So much so that I'm thinking of getting more. SG in cover can cause hair loss.

I've tried and tried with DC through this edition but to no avail. With and without Lemartes and they'll maybe kill a few chaff unit's but they then die and rarely make half their point's back.

I'm now even trying CV's with SB+CS just moving up supporting my core rather than sending the DC off to die.

At least use Astorath over Lemartes because he can buff other units.