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So now that it is possible to model several types of close combat weapons for the same costs, which one do you think is most effective of plain old marine vet sgts?

The good old power sword as it still cuts down anything short of terminators and at IN4? The Power axe, it slows you down but unlike a powerfist you still get the extra attack and at a slightly better strenght and AP2? Or the power maul...not very good AP, but allows you to use your initiative, gives a strength bonus and is concussive.


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Power Maul.

You strike at init, and wound everything T4 and worse on 2+.

The power sword is only better against other Marines, and if you're taking an axe, might as well take a fist.

I agree with the above post. Sure an axe is cheaper but no good vs dreads etc...so then you need melta bombs. In the BA codex an axe and melta bombs is cheaper than a fist but you'll get 2 attacks on a dread with a fist (assuming 2 base attacks) so would rather have the fist if I've got the points. Also fists look boss.

I do like mauls because of the stregth boost, but do sometimes find them lacking when up against MEQs.

D

The axe is the best marine vs marine because you keep your extra attack and you wound much easier.

Power fist is nice but then you pay more and lose and attack.

But you also suffer unwieldy with the axe... Swords or mauls don't...

 Massaen wrote:
But you also suffer unwieldy with the axe... Swords or mauls don't...

Unwieldy isn't usually a big deal for a space marine. Especially if he has multiple wounds. I would always put axes on my HQs. Swords fail to wound and mauls give saves. Axes go last but wound easier and kill terminators.

Chainsword. Save the points for somewhere else.

If you are going to shell out and buy your sarge a new toy, what are you worried about? The different weapons work best on different targets.

MEQ - sword
TEQ - axe
Jack of all trades - maul
Vehicles - fist or melta bombs.

If you are just picking a generic one to have in a vacuum, go with what looks cool to you. Personally, I'd go sword. It's classic.

The "best" one depends entirely on your local meta and the composition of the rest of your army. IMHO they did a good job balancing out the varied options.

Space Marine Sergeants don't have multiple wounds. I'd skip the upgrades entirely. Give him a bolter and a bolt pistol like the rest of the Tactical Squad. If your Tacs get into combat, you want to feed him to the opposing character to make sure you lose the combat by as little as possible so that you can Combat Tactics out of it and keep shooting.

You'll never put enough stuff on a SM Sergeant to make him good in combat, and the squad around him certainly won't be either, so you'll be throwing good points after bad trying to beef him up.

Back in the day of 5E, the powerfist was the best option as there were no challenges so he couldn't be singled out and Vehicles were a lot more common, now, I'd just leave him bare, challenges can take the power fist out of the combat if you refuse and If you had 3-4 squads of tacs and you gave each sargeant a power weapon then that's 60 points you could spend elsewhere which would probably be better.

Just my $0.02

Axe is not best for MEQ as you're striking at I1 giving someone with a maul or sword to smash face before you even strike.

It's pretty good for TEQ, but if the opposing termie is a sgt with a power sword you're still boned...which is still true if you've got a fist.

No easy answer in the end but i'm not sold on axes and would only use them if couldn't afford the fist.

D

Kevlar wrote:
The axe is the best marine vs marine because you keep your extra attack and you wound much easier.

Power fist is nice but then you pay more and lose and attack.

Missing the fact that you probably won't even get to swing the Axe against another MEQ.

The Maul is the best choice for a TAC list. However, I'd steer clear of special CCWs on sergeants and go for a combi-weapon instead.

I'd say just melta bombs, in case you're stuck with a walker/need to hurt a vehicule. Apart from that, I reckon a combi-weapon gives you the versatility you need, if only by a single flamer overwatch shot.

I agree with chainsword. If we're talking tac squad sergeants here, there's seldom a very good reason to give them a melee weapon. If we are talking an assault squad, I'd probably give them a power sword, or, hell, maybe even a lance.

 Griddlelol wrote:

Kevlar wrote:
The axe is the best marine vs marine because you keep your extra attack and you wound much easier.

Power fist is nice but then you pay more and lose and attack.

Missing the fact that you probably won't even get to swing the Axe against another MEQ.

The Maul is the best choice for a TAC list. However, I'd steer clear of special CCWs on sergeants and go for a combi-weapon instead.

the maul is the TAC choice.
The sword is the anti meq specialist weapon.
if you can take a single lightning claw for the same price as a sword, it is better than any of them usually.

 Exergy wrote:

if you can take a single lightning claw for the same price as a sword, it is better than any of them usually.

That's true, but not particularly common unfortunately.

Maul, if anything for me. I usually only put them in squads I'm going to have pushing forward.

Personally I would say take a Power Axe, and Melta bombs. Very versatile.

CrimsonKing wrote:
Personally I would say take a Power Axe, and Melta bombs. Very versatile.

Sounds like versatility means paying 30 points extra for someone who's getting punked in a challenge the moment he hits his assault phase.

No thanks.

CrimsonKing wrote:
Personally I would say take a Power Axe, and Melta bombs. Very versatile.

who is likely going to die when he gets challenged by anyone not named "Infantry Squad Sergeant"

If we were not in 6th ed. i would propose a powerfist.
Now, the best choice would be to give him a combi-weapon (same as the special weapon of the squad) and nothing more.
These points are best spent elsewere.

Against other marines sword is well worth it. Sure, the sergeant gets beaten by any decent independent character in challenges, but not all enemy squads are going to have such a character. Against MEQs the sword triples the sergeants killing power. And most importantly, it looks cool.

Nothing or CombiWeapon

Thank you all very much for your opinions. I have been unable to really playtest this edition and was curious with peoples experiance

Sword or maul.

Sword -> Anti MEQ
Maul -> anti everything else plus better vs MCs

Axe, if challenging a 2+ you can very well be the 2+ target will have a PW or some other advantage. Initiative 4 while not amazing is hard to loose. I only put Axes on units with I3 or lower.

 Griddlelol wrote:

 Exergy wrote:

if you can take a single lightning claw for the same price as a sword, it is better than any of them usually.

That's true, but not particularly common unfortunately.

CSM and BA can right?