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Looking for some advice on how to equip a couple of Stormtalons. Skyhammer has 3 shots vs two, S7 vs S8, 60" range vs 48", and is AP4 rather than AP3. The typhoon missile launcher is 20 points more expensive.

So taking everything in to account, how are Stormtalons best used? For hunting flyers, light vehicles, or infantry the skyhammer synergizes better with the assault cannon. But the typhoon missile launcher is likely better vs FMCs, MCs, and T4 characters or multiwound models with a 3+ save or higher. It is quite a bit more expensive, but it does seem to have a higher damage potential.

So those of you that have been using Stormtalons, what has been the most useful loadout for you?

I Personally use the lascannon on my Talon. Yes its only 1 shot, but you never miss with it, it wrecks all other flyers instantly and on the majority of ground troops, it forces those pining test.

My second go to is the Typhoon launchers because of it's because it is a lot more flexible. The 2 different shots allow to both wreck vehicles and troops.

I favor the heavy bolters myself-- but if I were choosing between the two different sets of missiles, I would definitely go Skyhammers.

Skyhammers are the best value for their points.

Skyhammers are best for value.
Lascannons are for when you need something dead.

Skyhammer are class

I use Skyhammers pretty much exclusively due to the point efficiency.

It depends what you're using your Talon for. purely for AA and light vehicle hunting Skyhammers are great. For those jobs Typhoons are roughly equal, but offer an increased ability to hurt marines, threaten hordes, and theoretical possibility to glance AV 14. But it's costly. In TAC list I'd still take Typhoon, as it is decent against pretty much anything.

 Halmyr wrote:
I Personally use the lascannon on my Talon. Yes its only 1 shot, but you never miss with it, it wrecks all other flyers instantly and on the majority of ground troops, it forces those pining test.[u]

My second go to is the Typhoon launchers because of it's because it is a lot more flexible. The 2 different shots allow to both wreck vehicles and troops.

How does the tl lascannon force pinning tests?

BronzeJon wrote:

 Halmyr wrote:
I Personally use the lascannon on my Talon. Yes its only 1 shot, but you never miss with it, it wrecks all other flyers instantly and on the majority of ground troops, it forces those pining test.[u]

My second go to is the Typhoon launchers because of it's because it is a lot more flexible. The 2 different shots allow to both wreck vehicles and troops.

How does the tl lascannon force pinning tests?

Strafing Run.

Dang, gotta take a better look at that then. That's cool.

I say either skyhammer or tl las, personally, as I don't run into too many horde armies.

I always take Typhoons myself as they are so flexible, but if I needed to spare points I'd definitely go Skyhammers.

I'm leaning towards typhoons for now. Still lots of power armor here, the eldar players like their wraithlords and Knights, and against Tyranids should be nasty.

I run BTs and as my army will be a lot of infantry...any support I take needs to hit heavy and hard. I would go with typhoons for meq lists due to the ap3 and tl lc for anything with lots of armor as that's my armies biggest hole.

As always it depends on how you play and what you play against...but with new sm release and tau elder still very big meta, for a tac list I would fork out the points and go typhoon. In fact a tac list with two typhoon storm talons would be nasty and they aren't THAT much in points compared to all the land raiders I see SMs taking these days.

I actually built a Stormtalon last night, and ended up putting the Typhoon ML on it. I know the Typhoon is the pricier of the two options, but I feel like it's also the more effective. The Skyhammer does have a longer range, but range isn't really an issue on fliers. The extra shot is really the only argument in favor of the Skyhammer, but that extra shot isn't going to do much to some of the higher AV fliers like Vendettas or Stormravens.

My own is built with the assault cannon and typhoon and mostly just focuses on being an anti-infanty/light vehicle killer. If I runs low on targets, I start taking shots at fliers.

Typhoon synergizes best with the Assault Cannon as its the only option that is effective against toughness based targets as well as vehicles.

2 Str8 shots are better than 3 Str7 shots. Range isn't a factor because you're a flyer and we only play on a 4x6 table.

Okay. So it seems that I'm finally starting to figure out something about how this game works.

I'm going to be running black Templars and looking to make the base of my list two typhoon stormtalons, two thunderfire cannons, a chapter master or captain on a bike with two grav bike squads and then fill the rest out with crusader squads. Each with a lascannon and plasmagun.

Beyond that I'm not sure. I would like to add TH/SS terminators to provide some heavy assault unit to help keep the bikes alive. But that's 500+ points. I've also considered a couple of ironclad dreads in drop pods. A quad gun on an Aegis would be nice as I'm facing a lot of wave serpents, but with so much ignores cover out there I'm not sure how well it will work. I still like rhinos to scoot 12-18" first turn and get squads where they need to go, but they aren't exactly long lasting.

And then there are allies also. A rune priest and a couple grey hunter squads are never a bad idea.

NM I misread and now seem foolish

Thing about the Lascannon causing pinning tests, everything youre shoot at with it is either a vehicle, immune to pinning, or random troop #41 because the real targets you want are dead/off the board lol. Which unfortunately is the problem with almost every gun that causes pinning, with the exception of Pulse Carbines for Tau its all on guns, even with Strafing Run, that wants to shoot big stuff that are typically immune lol.

However i'll never stop laughing the one time i pinned a Dreadknight with Dakkajet fire - that one wound that went through that stinkin armor and forced a pining test, he rolls boxcars and cant charge me

I have to be honest here, the are clear arguments for each Stormtalon weapon. I normally am a whore for lascannons, but I'm actually leaning skyhammer.

 Grey Templar wrote:
Typhoon synergizes best with the Assault Cannon as its the only option that is effective against toughness based targets as well as vehicles.

2 Str8 shots are better than 3 Str7 shots. Range isn't a factor because you're a flyer and we only play on a 4x6 table.

2 str 8 shots are better than 3 str 7 shots against what exactly? They will remove the same amount of hull points vs a AV 12 target and the skyhammer will remove more hull points vs anything lower than AV12. There are just a few AV12 fliers around and plenty of AV 11 and AV 10.

The fail of AP 3 comes through again.

tedurur wrote:

 Grey Templar wrote:
Typhoon synergizes best with the Assault Cannon as its the only option that is effective against toughness based targets as well as vehicles.

2 Str8 shots are better than 3 Str7 shots. Range isn't a factor because you're a flyer and we only play on a 4x6 table.

2 str 8 shots are better than 3 str 7 shots against what exactly? They will remove the same amount of hull points vs a AV 12 target and the skyhammer will remove more hull points vs anything lower than AV12. There are just a few AV12 fliers around and plenty of AV 11 and AV 10.

The issue is what you need the Talon for in the first place really. Being better against a majority of flyers is great for the Skyhammer alright, but if you don't have anything else to deal with Ravens et all then you are leaving yourself open by taking them. But that's the great thing about the Talon; it is flexible enough to be built for many different roles.

 Godless-Mimicry wrote:

tedurur wrote:

 Grey Templar wrote:
Typhoon synergizes best with the Assault Cannon as its the only option that is effective against toughness based targets as well as vehicles.

2 Str8 shots are better than 3 Str7 shots. Range isn't a factor because you're a flyer and we only play on a 4x6 table.

2 str 8 shots are better than 3 str 7 shots against what exactly? They will remove the same amount of hull points vs a AV 12 target and the skyhammer will remove more hull points vs anything lower than AV12. There are just a few AV12 fliers around and plenty of AV 11 and AV 10.

The issue is what you need the Talon for in the first place really. Being better against a majority of flyers is great for the Skyhammer alright, but if you don't have anything else to deal with Ravens et all then you are leaving yourself open by taking them. But that's the great thing about the Talon; it is flexible enough to be built for many different roles.

The tl-lc is worse at stripping hull points from av 12 than both the other weapons. A flat out wreck its more likely from the lc but not by so much
that it's worth it imo.

tedurur wrote:

 Godless-Mimicry wrote:

tedurur wrote:

 Grey Templar wrote:
Typhoon synergizes best with the Assault Cannon as its the only option that is effective against toughness based targets as well as vehicles.

2 Str8 shots are better than 3 Str7 shots. Range isn't a factor because you're a flyer and we only play on a 4x6 table.

2 str 8 shots are better than 3 str 7 shots against what exactly? They will remove the same amount of hull points vs a AV 12 target and the skyhammer will remove more hull points vs anything lower than AV12. There are just a few AV12 fliers around and plenty of AV 11 and AV 10.

The issue is what you need the Talon for in the first place really. Being better against a majority of flyers is great for the Skyhammer alright, but if you don't have anything else to deal with Ravens et all then you are leaving yourself open by taking them. But that's the great thing about the Talon; it is flexible enough to be built for many different roles.

The tl-lc is worse at stripping hull points from av 12 than both the other weapons. A flat out wreck its more likely from the lc but not by so much
that it's worth it imo.

Ok, but what has the Lascannon got to do with a debate between the Skyhammer and the Typhoon? Why bring it up randomly?

I was looking for ability to shoot as often as possible to take out AV12 or lower and 3+ or lower armor. I was not looking for an aircraft interceptor (yet).

The assault cannon worries me a bit with getting too close at 24". The skyhammer missiles seemed about right for what I was doing. It is more efficient to have a similar strength and number of shots weapon: they work in a similar way for the same target. 2+ to hit, re-rolls for the AC, pinning (appropriate since it works well on troops), 2+ to wound most "normal" toughness models and descent AP.

It is meant to be used as an air to ground gunship, I hate to disappoint.

 Godless-Mimicry wrote:

tedurur wrote:

 Godless-Mimicry wrote:

tedurur wrote:

 Grey Templar wrote:
Typhoon synergizes best with the Assault Cannon as its the only option that is effective against toughness based targets as well as vehicles.

2 Str8 shots are better than 3 Str7 shots. Range isn't a factor because you're a flyer and we only play on a 4x6 table.

2 str 8 shots are better than 3 str 7 shots against what exactly? They will remove the same amount of hull points vs a AV 12 target and the skyhammer will remove more hull points vs anything lower than AV12. There are just a few AV12 fliers around and plenty of AV 11 and AV 10.

The issue is what you need the Talon for in the first place really. Being better against a majority of flyers is great for the Skyhammer alright, but if you don't have anything else to deal with Ravens et all then you are leaving yourself open by taking them. But that's the great thing about the Talon; it is flexible enough to be built for many different roles.

The tl-lc is worse at stripping hull points from av 12 than both the other weapons. A flat out wreck its more likely from the lc but not by so much
that it's worth it imo.

Ok, but what has the Lascannon got to do with a debate between the Skyhammer and the Typhoon? Why bring it up randomly?

I assumed that you were talking about the LC since I already said that the Typhoons is just a tiny raction better than Skyhammer vs AV12 so I didnt really understand your comment in relation to that fact...