I just played this game with an old
40K companion of mine.
I have been testing Iron Hands list with double Repulsor Executioner, henceforth Executioner, since last month.
However the latest and quite clandestine update from Warhammer Community did make me sad, as it raised the points cost of the Executioner by 31 points.
This meant my original list with two Executioners was now over the 2,000 points limit by whopping 62 points.
To maintain the monstrous duo, I had to forfeit a unit of 3 Eliminators.
This gave less board control to my Space Marine army, which was already suffering from lacking good board control.
Nevertheless, I decided to try Post-Nerf Executioners, and see how they actually perform in real-life games.
And the opponent for my first Post-Nerf games was running pure Saim-Hann list.
While it can be considered as less competitive than Alaitoc list, it nevertheless had all the tools for destroying space marines.
The list had powerful psykers, extremely mobile and deadly shining spears, and most importantly the dreaded Asuryani Air Wing.
The detailed list is shown below.
Pure Saim-Hann Craftworlds List
1) Battalion Detachment
-
HQ
Farseer Skyrunner(Singing Spear, Doom, Executioner)
Farseer Skyrunner(Witchblade, Guide, Fortune)
Warlock Skyrunner(Witchblade, Quicken)
- Troops
5 Rangers
5 Rangers
5 Rangers
- Fast Attack
6 Shining Spears
5 Windriders(5xScatterlaser)
2) Battalion Detachment
-
HQ
Autarch Skyrunner(Nova Lance, Fusion Gun):
Warlord(Trait: Extra wound & Ignoring wounds/mortal wounds on 6's)
Autarch Skyrunner(Laser Lance, Fusion Gun)
- Troops
5 Dire Avengers(Exarch: Twin Avenger Shuriken Catapult)
5 Rangers(Exarch: Twin Avenger Shuriken Catapult)
5 Rangers(Exarch: Twin Avenger Shuriken Catapult)
- Fast Attack
6 Shining Spears
3) Air Wing Detachment
- Flyer
Crimson Hunter Exarch(2xBright Lance)
Crimson Hunter Exarch(2xStarcannon)
Hemlock Wraithfighter
Total Command Points: 14
Against this list, I took the following army
Double Repulsor Executioner Iron Hands......with a trio of Imperial assassins
1) Battalion Detachment
-
HQ
Captain in Phobos armour(Camo Cloak, Master-crafted Instigator Bolt Carbine, Close Combat Weapon, Bolt Pistol, Frag Grenades, Krak Grenades)
:
Warlord(Trait: Target Priority from Codex: Vanguard Space Marines)
Captain with Jump Pack(Thunder Hammer, Storm Shield: Replaced by Shield Eternal, Bolt Pistol, Frag Grenades, Krak Grenades)
- Troops
Intercessor Squad(Bolt Rifles, Bolt Pistols, Frag Grenades, Krak Grenades, 1xIntercessor Sergeant: Chainsword, 8xIntercessor: Auxiliary Grenade Launcher)
Intercessor Squad(Bolt Rifles, Bolt Pistols, Frag Grenades, Krak Grenades, 1xIntercessor Sergeant: Chainsword, 4xIntercessor)
Infiltrator Squad(Marksman Bolt Carbines, Bolt Pistols, Frag Grenades, Krak Grenades, 1xInfiltrator Sergeant: Chainsword, 4xInfiltrator)
- Fast Attack
Suppressor Squad(Accelerator Autocannons, Grav-chutes, Bolt Pistols, Frag Grenades, Krak Grenades, 1xSuppressor Sergeant, 2xSuppressor)
- Heavy Support
Eliminator Squad(Bolt Sniper Rifles, Bolt Pistols, Frag Grenades, Krak Grenades, Camo Cloaks, 1xEliminator Sergeant, 2xEliminator)
2) Spearhead Detachment
-
HQ
Lieutenant with Jump Pack(Bolt Pistol, Power Fist, Frag Grenades, Krak Grenades)
- Elite
Venerable Dreadnought(Twin Lascannon, Missile Launcher)
- Heavy Support
Repulsor Executioner
(Heavy Laser Destroyer, Heavy Onslaught Gatling Cannon, Twin Heavy Bolter, Twin Icarus Ironhail Heavy Stubber, 2xStorm Bolter, 2xFragstorm Grenade Launcher, Auto Launcher)
Repulsor Executioner
(Heavy Laser Destroyer, Heavy Onslaught Gatling Cannon, Twin Heavy Bolter, Twin Icarus Ironhail Heavy Stubber, 2xStorm Bolter, 2xFragstorm Grenade Launcher, Auto Launcher)
Stalker(2xIcarus Stormcannon, Storm Bolter): 97pts
3) Vanguard Detachment
- Elite
Culexus Assassin(Animus Speculum, Psyk-out Grenades)
Eversor Assassin(Neuro-gauntlet, Power Sword, Executioner Pistol, Melta Bombs)
Vindicare Assassin(Exitus Rifle, Exitus Pistol, Blind Grenades)
Total Command Points: 9
I took a detachment of assassins, as they were far more cost-effective than any other options in Space Marines codex in terms of taking board control.
The Eversor was especially threatening to my opponent due to his
3d6" charge range, making a successful charge after deep strike very likely.
We played a randomly mission picked from Maelstroms of War, updated in the 2018 Chapter Approved.
The picked mission was "Scars of Battle". Each player must roll a
d6 just before the first turn begins.
Players cannot generate objectives which starts with the rolled number.
For example, if I roll 4, I cannot generate objectives numbering from 41 to 46.
I rolled 4, whereas my opponent rolled 2.
This was pivotal to the outcome of battle, as my opponent could never achieve objectives requiring him to hold a numbered objective for a turn.
We used randomly picked deployment zone from the rulebook, which was "Search and Destroy" shown below.
I picked the deployment zone first, which is the "Player B Deployment Zone" shown at the map above.
The reason behind my choice was that three objectives were spread around the edges of my deployment zone.
With another objective in my deployment zone, I could manage to grab majority of the objectives without much trouble.
My opponent picked the remaining deployment zone and deployed his entire army first.
The aircrafts were deployed at the far rear of the deployment zone, to avoid lethal fusilade from the Repulsor Executioners, should the Space Marines seize the initiative.
Rangers and Avengers were placed around the objective to form large denial zone against my assassins in reserve.
The bikers and characters were hidden behind the terrain pieces concentrated at the centre of the board.
Meanwhile, I deployed my forces in a defensive cluster stuck at the far corner.
Saim-Hann shining spear can potentially advance 22" twice with the help of psychic power Quicken, and then declare charge using Saim-Hann Stratagem.
Therefore I wanted to keep as much distance as possible between my forces and my opponent's
At the lower left corner, a unit of Eliminators were set up to hold an objective.
Infiltrators were set up at the upper right corner to claim another objective
Before deployment, I spent a command point to give my lieutenant Armour Indomitus.
This left me with only 8 command points.
After I failed to seize the initiative, the Asuryani advanced forward at alarming speed.
Battle Round 1
Turn 1: Saim-Hann
Flyers and bikers moved forward in order to eliminate priority targets: Repulsors, Eliminators and Infiltrators.
The Farseer with Doom and Executioner moved towards the Eliminators and unleashed eldritch powers, but only managed to remove one of the snipers.
Windriders moved on top of the ruin held by the Eliminators. Although they failed to inflict damage on the snipers, they claimed the objectives by outnumbering Eliminators.
On the other hand, Hemlock Wraithfighter destroyed three infiltrators with Smite and Heavy D-scythe.
With -2 penalty to their leadership due to the presence of ghost-piloted aircraft, the remaining infiltrators flee from the battlefield.
The Asuryani score 1 points for achieving
First Strike.
The combined barrage from two Crimson Hunter Exarchs inflict 10 wounds on on of the Executioners.
A unit of shining spears, which just advanced twice thanks to the Warlock Skyrunner, manages to chip off 3 wounds from the same Executioner but fails to finish it off.
The Executioner now has 3 wounds remaining.
Shining Spears then successfully charges the intercessors protecting the damaged Executioner by using the Saim-Hann Stratagem.
Five of the Intercessors fell pierced by laser lances, but the rest stand firm.
The Saim-Hann warhost scores 1 more point for achieving q tactical objective, for preventing my forces from approaching close to an objective.
Battle Round 1
Turn 2: Iron Hands
Intercessors and the critically impaired Executioner fell back from the shining spears.
The rest of the forces moved little, including the stalker that moved a bit to gain line of sight to crimson hunters.
With no psykers available, I went right over to the shooting phase.
The stalker fired an opening salvo and inflicted 6 wounds to the Crimson Hunter Exarch with two bright lances.
Venerable Dreadnought and a squad of Suppressors then finished off the Exarch, giving 1 points to Iron Hands for achieving
First Strike
Gone with the......S7 Damage 2 autocannons.
Executioner with 3 wounds left also shot at the other Crimson Hunter Exarch, with the aid of Phobos Captain's warlord trait "Target Priority".
Despite the +1 bonus to hit rolls, the Heavy Laser Destroyer fails to inflict a single wound.
However, the remaining side arms inflict heavy casualties to the nearest shining spears.
Bolt fire from second unit of intercessors finished of the rest of the Aeldari knights on windriders.
This however left the Captain with Jump Pack exposed to potential sniping from Hemlock Wraithfighter, as the captain now had no enemy units to charge against.
The second Executioner inflicts 11 wounds on the remaining Crimson Hunter Exarch with starcannons, but fails to completely destroy it.
The Iron Hands scored nothing else, as the tactical objectives required me to inflict damage to enemy characters or take the objectives controlled by the enemy.
Without mobile means to claim objectives or powerful snipers available on turn 1, I had to wait for another turn to score the points.
Battle Round 1 Score - 1(Iron Hands) : 2(Saim-Hann)
Battle Round 2
Turn 1: Saim-Hann
The remaining shining spears advance toward the Iron Hands deployment zone.
While Farseers hide in cover, the Autach duo dash forward to harass the remaining intercessors and Executioners.
The Hemlock wraithfighter accompanies the Autarchs and ends the move right in front of the captain with Jump Pack.
However, my opponent makes a mistake and leaves his wraithfighter within 3" of the captain.
In the psychic phase, one of the farseers successfully manifests Guide and Fortune to shining spears.
But the Warlock fails to manifest Quicken despite using Command Re-roll stratagem.
Another farseer manifest Executioner and Smite to remaining two Eliminators.
The xenos psyker however fails to wipe out the squad.
The Eliminators were later removed to a man by focused fire from two units of rangers.
The damaged Crimson Hunter only removes a wound from the second Executioner.
However, one of the Autarchs destroys the critically damaged Executioner with Fusion Gun.
Another Autarch removes two intercessors.
Meanwhile, the Hemlock wraithfighter fails to manifest Smite due to the presence of Culexus Assassin.
Heavy D-scythes directed against the captain were deflected by storm shield.
Two autarchs declare charge at the remaining intercessor units, but only the regular variant reaches into combat and the warlord fails.
On top of that poor dice rolls meant only one intercessor was killed on the charge, although the sole remaining intercessor failed morale check and fled.
The Culexus assassin and the lieutenant who performed heroic intervention then destroyed the autarch.
The Hemlock wraithfighter which accidentally ended its move within 3" of the captain, allowed the captain to also perform heroic intervention.
The ensuing battering of thunder hammers dealt 11 wounds to the flyer.
Despite heavy casualties, Aeldari scores 2 more points for manifesting psychic power and achieving Big Game Hunter.
Battle Round 2
Turn 2: Iron Hands
Most of the forces remained stationary, save the two assassins that arrived as reinforcements.
The Eversor assassin with grim skull-faced helm......
and the dreaded marksman, the Vindicare assassin.
Both assassins targeted the farseer hiding behind the terrain piece, but failed to inflict a single wound.
However, the Culexus assassin inflicts two wounds on the said farseer by amplifying his headgear, the Animus Speculum.
Stalker finishes off the last Crimson Hunter Exarch.
Then the suppressors and the remaining Executioner removed 4 of the 6 shining spears near the edge of Iron Hands deployment zone.
Despite the 4+ invulnerable save of the shining spears and successful manifestation of Fortune, the Executioner inflicted considerable damage.
In the ensuing charge phase and combat phase, the Eversor Assassin successfully charges the Farseer and assassinates the witch.
After the captain finishes off the wraithfighter, the Eversor assassin fought again at the end of the combat phase by using officio assassinorum stratagem.
The warlock floating next to the farseer was removed with horrifying ease.
At the end of the turn, I scored points for claiming objective #2 which was previously held by the farseer.
This tactical objective awards d3 points to me, but I was lucky with my roll and earned 3 points.
I scored achieved another tactical objective worth d3 points, which I earned by completely removing one or more enemy character.
I also rolled high for the d3 and gained 3 extra points.
Finally I scored my 8th point for destroying an enemy unit in the shooting phase.
Battle Round 2 Score - 8(Iron Hands) : 4(Saim-Hann)
At this point, my opponent considered it almost impossible to catch up my points while preserving his remaining forces.
With the removal of tactical objectives starting with 2, he could not score points by controlling objectives during his turn.
His Air Wing, which was the most threatening presence against my Executioners, was decimated and shining spears were nearly annihilated.
On the other Hand, I still had one healthy Executioner which was supported my dreadnought, stalker and suppressors.
The trio of assassins and captains were unscathed.
Thus the game ended as my opponent conceded at the first turn of Battle Round 3, although the game was intense and it still took about 2 hours.
Before the battle, I expected one of my Executioners to be removed on the first turn and the second one severely crippled at the least.
Fortunately for me, my opponent did not equip all of his Crimson Hunters with bright lances.
I suspect he was writing an "all-comers" list, where starcannons' superior number of shots can be useful against armies with less vehicles.
For example, orks and genestealer cults are known for employing massed infantry and lacking high cost vehicle like the Executioner.
In this context, the Executioner might prove to be a niche choice exploiting the meta where all-out dedication to anti-tank weaponry can be detrimental to other matchups.
Still, I believe he could have had better chance to cripple my Executioners had he swapped the second unit of shining spears with another Crimson Hunter Exarch with Bright Lances.
Shining spears tend to perform ideally with multiple buffs stacked, and the second unit of shining spears is usually left without any support.
He also made a mistake that cost him his wraithfighter, as approaching within 3" of my captain meant he could perform heroic intervention and damage the flyer on my opponent's turn.
If his units were drawn from Alaitoc instead of Saim-Hann, his important units might have survived much longer.
But this might have been difficult for him as he preferred to run his army as the way he painted.
My list definitely needs more playtesting, as this matchup was not the toughest one.
I will let you know the results if I can find more matchups in the near future.
Thank you all for reading.
