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So it's been a long and unproductive lockdown... but! Me and some friends got a narrative campaign going on TTS since none of us had played in yonks and it was... interesting... I found that Custodes that don't have to spend CP for upgrades and who can stack campaign bonuses on units become OP very quickly, everyone has pretty much agreed Custodes are not a fun campaign army to take. So once this campaign is done we've all agreed to have rematches with proper competitive armies using proper matched play rules.

But since it's on TTS, I thought I might try out some new units, specifically Trajan and the firespike terminators:

++ Battalion Detachment 0CP (Imperium - Adeptus Custodes) ++

+ Configuration +

Detachment Command Cost

Shield Host: Shadowkeepers

+ HQ +

Captain-General Trajann Valoris

Shield-Captain on Dawneagle Jetbike: Auric Aquilas, Captain-Commander, Hurricane Bolter, Indomitable Constitution, Misericordia, Superior Creation, Warlord

+ Troops +

Custodian Guard Squad
. Custodian: Sentinel Blade, Storm Shield
. Custodian: Sentinel Blade, Storm Shield
. Custodian: Guardian Spear

Custodian Guard Squad
. Custodian: Sentinel Blade, Storm Shield
. Custodian: Sentinel Blade, Storm Shield
. Custodian: Guardian Spear

Custodian Guard Squad
. Custodian: Sentinel Blade, Storm Shield
. Custodian: Sentinel Blade, Storm Shield
. Custodian: Guardian Spear

+ Elites +

Aquilon Custodians
. Aquilon Custodian: Infernus Firepike, Solerite Power Talon
. Aquilon Custodian: Infernus Firepike, Solerite Power Talon
. Aquilon Custodian: Infernus Firepike, Solerite Power Talon

Vexilus Praetor: Misericordia, Storm Shield, Vexilla Magnifica

+ Fast Attack +

Vertus Praetors
. Vertus Praetor: Hurricane Bolter
. Vertus Praetor: Hurricane Bolter
. Vertus Praetor: Hurricane Bolter

Vertus Praetors
. Vertus Praetor: Hurricane Bolter
. Vertus Praetor: Hurricane Bolter
. Vertus Praetor: Hurricane Bolter

+ Heavy Support +

Telemon Heavy Dreadnought: Arachnus Storm Cannon, Arachnus Storm Cannon

++ Total: [95 PL, -1CP, 1,998pts] ++

It's been a while since I've played Custodes in a competitive fashion, so a few questions:

1. Is shadowkeepers the best shield host to go for? The -1S strat was pretty strong during the campaign I found
2. Never used Trajan before since I normally use my converted bike captains but getting a free strat during the game sounds like it'll be a big help
3. Should I go full re-roll a wound per turn and +2W on the bike captain or is -3CP too much? Or is -3CP fine but I should get a different Captain-Commander upgrade?
4. Are 2xshield and 1xspear still the way to go?
5. The Firespike + Talon models AND rules look really cool but am I going too anti-horde with this build?
6. Axe or storm shield on the Vexilus?
7. How many bikes is too many bikes?
8. I love the Telemon model, I assume there's no objections against him?

Looking forward to getting back into the hobby!

Cheers

I usually run a unit of Firepike Aquilions but I think it may be worth swapping them out for Lastrum and Gauntlet. The autohits are nice but the double-tap Stratagem would be very useful on them.

I generally run Dread Host, as their WT is pretty solid as well as Light of the Moriades. The -1S strat has its uses but I think it may be a bit situational.

Generally speaking you do need some more anti-tank. Perhaps give your bikers a couple of Melta-Missiles. It may also be good to swap out one unit of Guardians with some Sag Guard. I usually run 2x3 Sag and 1x4-5 regular Guard.

 Valkyrie wrote:
I usually run a unit of Firepike Aquilions but I think it may be worth swapping them out for Lastrum and Gauntlet. The autohits are nice but the double-tap Stratagem would be very useful on them.

Ah yeah, I forgot about the double tap strat and I suppose the gauntlets would give me more anti-tank.

I generally run Dread Host, as their WT is pretty solid as well as Light of the Moriades. The -1S strat has its uses but I think it may be a bit situational.

Reckon maybe I should forego the Captain upgrades and turn him into more of a buffing character for my bikes? And then use the saved CP to give the terminators double tap and 3d6" charge when they come in?

Generally speaking you do need some more anti-tank. Perhaps give your bikers a couple of Melta-Missiles.

1 per unit? Still, I always though it was a bit sad trading 6 bolters for 1 melta

It may also be good to swap out one unit of Guardians with some Sag Guard. I usually run 2x3 Sag and 1x4-5 regular Guard.

Never really looked at them before, always just took guard as immovable objective holders, have you found 4++ and not ignoring AP-1 hurts their staying power much?

Cheers for the advice though!

 mrhappyface wrote:

 Valkyrie wrote:
I usually run a unit of Firepike Aquilions but I think it may be worth swapping them out for Lastrum and Gauntlet. The autohits are nice but the double-tap Stratagem would be very useful on them.

Ah yeah, I forgot about the double tap strat and I suppose the gauntlets would give me more anti-tank.

I generally run Dread Host, as their WT is pretty solid as well as Light of the Moriades. The -1S strat has its uses but I think it may be a bit situational.

Reckon maybe I should forego the Captain upgrades and turn him into more of a buffing character for my bikes? And then use the saved CP to give the terminators double tap and 3d6" charge when they come in?

Generally speaking you do need some more anti-tank. Perhaps give your bikers a couple of Melta-Missiles.

1 per unit? Still, I always though it was a bit sad trading 6 bolters for 1 melta

It may also be good to swap out one unit of Guardians with some Sag Guard. I usually run 2x3 Sag and 1x4-5 regular Guard.

Never really looked at them before, always just took guard as immovable objective holders, have you found 4++ and not ignoring AP-1 hurts their staying power much?

Cheers for the advice though!

I think the CP would be better served on the Aquilions to be honest.
If you do go for Sag Guard you can still retain some anti-troop firepower that you'd lose by taking Meltas. You can also use the Telemon's [see forum posting rules] Launcher and dispersed mode on the Arachnus if you need to thin down some hordes.
Honestly Sag Guard are pretty decent for this army, moreso now their Lastrums are D2. Just remember to take a Misericordia.

 Valkyrie wrote:
I think the CP would be better served on the Aquilions to be honest.

Hmmm, maybe I'll try one game with a smash captain and one game with a support captain, see how much I miss those CP.

If you do go for Sag Guard you can still retain some anti-troop firepower that you'd lose by taking Meltas. You can also use the Telemon's Spicule Launcher and dispersed mode on the Arachnus if you need to thin down some hordes.

Fair enough.

Honestly Sag Guard are pretty decent for this army, moreso now their Lastrums are D2. Just remember to take a Misericordia.

Hmmm, I'll give 'em a go since I've never use them before.

Cheers!

Let us know how you get on. Also the Telemon's launcher seems to be a banned word?

 Valkyrie wrote:
Let us know how you get on. Also the Telemon's launcher seems to be a banned word?

Yes, the nickname you used for the launcher is also a slur

 mrhappyface wrote:

 Valkyrie wrote:
Let us know how you get on. Also the Telemon's launcher seems to be a banned word?

Yes, the nickname you used for the launcher is also a slur

Whoops, thanks for the headsup.

 Valkyrie wrote:

 mrhappyface wrote:

 Valkyrie wrote:
Let us know how you get on. Also the Telemon's launcher seems to be a banned word?

Yes, the nickname you used for the launcher is also a slur

Whoops, thanks for the headsup.

yhea the word is anti-mexican/latino slur. its most likely the automated censors picked it up. its a common problem, as explained in this video....