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So recently, as I've started building up my new Necron army (brand new to the hobby ), I've been doing some research to figure out if I should give my Immortals Tesla carbines or Gauss blasters. So far I haven't found a solid mathematical discussion of the two, so I thought I would post one of my own for others to comment. I've run the numbers for each weapon on a standard 5-model immortal unit, firing at a 10-model unit of some kind of MeQ (Toughness 4). I've varied the armor save and the distance. Here's the results I came up with, where the long decimals are average unsaved wounds per shooting phase:

Tesla
12"/24" Range
- 2+ Sv: 0.5555
- 3+ Sv: 1.1111
- 4+ Sv: 1.6666
- 5+ Sv: 2.2222
- 6+ Sv: 2.7777
- No Sv: 3.3333

Gauss
12" Range
- 2+ Sv: 0.7407
- 3+ Sv: 1.4814
- 4+ Sv: 4.4444
- 5+ Sv: 4.4444
- 6+ Sv: 4.4444
- No Sv: 4.4444

24" Range
- 2+ Sv: 0.3703
- 3+ Sv: 0.7407
- 4+ Sv: 2.2222
- 5+ Sv: 2.2222
- 6+ Sv: 2.2222
- No Sv: 2.2222

Comparisons
Gauss - Tesla. Positive is better for Gauss, negative is better for Tesla.

12" Range:
- 2+ Sv: 0.1851
- 3+ Sv: 0.3703
- 4+ Sv: 2.7777
- 5+ Sv: 2.2222
- 6+ Sv: 1.6666
- No Sv: 1.1111

24" Range:
- 2+ Sv: -0.1851
- 3+ Sv: -0.3703
- 4+ Sv: 0.55555
- 5+ Sv: 0
- 6+ Sv: -0.5555
- No Sv: -1.1111

Cover/Invuln Saves
Here's how the two weapons match up against non-armor saves (cover and invulnerable). Note that for Tesla, a model with a 4+ armor save in a 5+ cover area will still take the armor save.

12" Range, 4+ Cover:
- Gauss: 2.2222
- Tesla: 1.6666

24" Range, 4+ Cover:
- Gauss: 1.1111
- Tesla: 1.6666

12" Range, 5+ Cover:
- Gauss: 2.9629
- Tesla: 2.2222

24" Range, 5+ Cover:
- Gauss: 1.4815
- Tesla: 2.2222

To sum up: Gauss beats Tesla in all cases at rapid fire range (12" or less). At long range, Tesla beats Gauss at all saves except 4+ and 5+, the latter of which they tie. Also note that the differences at short range are somewhat more significant. At short range 4+ Sv a Gauss will outperform a Tesla by 2.77 unsaved wounds per shooting phase. At long range 4+ Sv a Gauss will outperform a Tesla by 0.55 unsaved wounds per shooting phase.

Verdict: On the whole, the two weapons are similar. Since the Gauss only outperforms the Tesla against a 4+ Sv at long range, it is fair to say that the Tesla outperforms the Gauss at long range. However, the Gauss is relatively better at short range than the Tesla is at long range. Also, the Gauss has a bonus against vehicles. In the end the choice comes down to which army you're playing against and how you plan on using your immortals. As objective takers the Gauss would probably be better, as they're more likely to have enemy units within rapid-fire range. If they're meant to provide cover fire to other units or to kill as many units as possible, the greater flexibility of the Tesla probably makes it the better choice.

From just the math you have done yes I'll agree with you.

But.

Taking each of those guns special rules into account really changes your numbers up.

Just something to consider.

Your math is wrong. Just to give one example, tesla against SV - gives you 3.333 wounds, not 2.9.

Etched in Pride, I tried to take into account the special rules for Tesla weapons in the math. The rules for Gauss penetrating on 6's aren't included, true, but that doesn't factor into the calculations against infantry. As Peregrine pointed out I did the math incorrectly; I forgot that the extra hits from 6's don't have to check against BS. I'll update the OP with the correct Tesla stats.

You should factor cover into your calculations as well. Models with worse than a 3+ save will very often be hugging cover, especially if their opponent has any decent volume of AP4 S5+ firepower.

If you want the gauss, take Warriors; they are cheaper, and you can field more of them. Sure they are one STR and AP weaker than the Immortals, however, its volume of shots in that case that throw the win towards the warriors. Ghost Ark shenanigans aside too with Warriors. Immortals should always be built with Tesla, the extra shots are what give it a kick.

Ok, I added the math for cover. The results aren't surprising; Gauss wins at short range, Tesla at long. This time they're both about equally strong in their respective strengths. And Xzerios, I'm just not convinced. That's a good point about the warriors (Although some of us that just got the battleforce have to field immortals), but the extra strength and ap makes a pretty significant difference. The reason I'm hesitant to take the Tesla is that the Gauss is five times better at short range than the Tesla than the Tesla is better at long range than the Gauss.

One thing you can't really factor in with math is that the Tesla's range is a significant advantage.

It means you will have more rounds of shooting the Tesla at full effect than shooting the Gauss at full effect.


Gauss will get 2 rounds of 1 shot, and 1 round of double tap. Plus Overwatch. Then your unit is in melee with the enemy.

Tesla will get 3 rounds of full effectivness plus overwatch. And Tesla is nasty on Overwatch because each hit is actually 3 hits.


Considering that, the Tesla becomes far superior for Immortals.

If you want Gauss take Warriors.

First off, how did you come to the conclusion that 5 Immortals is the 'standard'? Are you assuming that they will be deployed via Night Scythe? Because that is the only time I think I've seen squads of 5 Immortals used; the rest have been squads of 10 (which means that the 0.8333333333333333 chance of getting a 6 is increased to 1.666666666666667, making getting 6 total hits from just 2 shots a very real possibility and really helps tilt the numbers in the favour of tesla when the rest of the shooting is added).

You're also neglecting to factor in the real dangers of the range. At 12", you're lucky if your Guass Immortals can get more than 1 rapid fired volley in before being assaulted or simply rapid fired down themselves, whereas the range on tesla affords them greater protection from both assaults and shooting, especially since they will gain cover buffs from night fighting should they need them.

There's also the fact of how gauss immortals get to within 12" unharmed. Do they DS in? If they do then you have to factor in the risk of DSing outside of RF range or even into enemy units or terrain close by and mishapping/suffering dangerous terrain respectively. If they're beamed in by Night Scythes then they get better, but there's still the fact that unless what they're shooting at dies then and there, they can and likely will be assaulted next turn and crushed if they're not simply shot to death.

Even if deployed by NS, Tesla allows greater flexibility by not having to be deployed so close, and if deployed by deep strike, they can be deployed in a far greater area than gauss if they want to retain decent shooting.

If you're confident that you can always get the short range on gauss, and always survive to get there, and always survive after you've unleashed your shooting, then go for it, but I don't know of anyone who is that confident about the myriad things that can mean your gauss immortals are now less efficient than telsa.

I'm of the very firm mindset that the flexibility of tesla is superior to gauss pretty much because I've played enough games to know that if I'd modelled Gauss on my Immortals, I'd have had to take far more risks and few of them would have paid off in any sort of way.

Put me down in favor of tesla. I used to take Gauss on my ten man Immortal squads. I reasoned that rapid-fire, the ability to glance vehicles, and the strength of AP4 versus opposing Necron armies would make gauss the stronger overall choice even though I knew the math favored Tesla from range.

However, after significant experience using Necrons as my ally of choice, I've switched over to tesla. My main use of Immortals is as a ten man squad with a VeilTek. As it turns out, 90% of the time sitting in rapid fire range with this squad is a mistake. It means I've probably taken a huge risk and will most likely lose my precious late game movement shenanigans.

This squad really wants to be sitting at the 20-24in range so I don't risk getting rundown in assault, mishapping, or getting torrented down by rapid-fire bolters. In this case, Tesla is strictly superior.

The only time I'm taking Gauss Immortals is if I have 20 odd points leftover in my list, in which case I'll upgrade my Nightscythe/Haywire/Warrior squad to Immortals for a little added resiliency.

I personally use tesla as well,
Gauss are for the warriors, if AP is the issue, Bring more warriors!

And AP5 doesn't come into play against a ton of opponents really. Orks and Guardsmen, who will probably be in cover anyway because their save stinks so the AP5 will be the same as AP- effectivly.

Then you have Tesla's additional number of hits that get generated.


6 shots at Bs4 with Gauss net you 4 hits on average. 6 Tesla shots on BS4 net you 6 hits instead of 4, with potential for more.

Each hit you gain has basically a 25% chance to triple the actual number of hits.

I always tend to equip my Immortals with Tesla.
Their goal is to slowly advance towards objectives while trying to stay away from enemies.

I always set up my army in a way that enemies who try to engage my Immortals in CC are within range of my 30-warriors.
And the Immortals usually have Obyron with them as a quick 'escape' tool.

 Grey Templar wrote:
And AP5 doesn't come into play against a ton of opponents really. Orks and Guardsmen, who will probably be in cover anyway because their save stinks so the AP5 will be the same as AP- effectivly.

Then you have Tesla's additional number of hits that get generated.


6 shots at Bs4 with Gauss net you 4 hits on average. 6 Tesla shots on BS4 net you 6 hits instead of 4, with potential for more.

Each hit you gain has basically a 25% chance to triple the actual number of hits.

Totally agree here,.. also besides the extra hits,.. tesla usualy has higher strength then gauss, so you wound a bit more easily,, which is awesome against marines,.. they save almost everything anyways, and with tesla you migh generate extra hits, and you wound more easy then gauss.. I'd say,.. win!

 Waaghboss Grobnub wrote:
tesla usualy has higher strength then gauss

...
what?