New Sisters of Battle Codex Tactica

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**war**

Thats true, but is having a T3 EW with a 3+ better than just taking another inquisitor? If you want something to tank for you (and have space in the LR) then go with Deamon hunter Inquisitor with termi armor. If there's a priest in the unit his 2+ re-rollable is pretty impressive for tanking ap 3+ or worse attacks in hand to hand.

Idk, every time I try a Canoness i'm disappointed with her performance. the points tend to go elsewhere in my forces.

**Mr Morden**

pretre wrote:
As we've discussed before, there's almost no reason to take a Canoness over Celestine or Jacobus unless you have an irrational hatred for SC or something.

I like using the Canoness - I like St C as well but she won't go into a vehicle no matter what I say to her

**NewTruthNeomaxim**

GoonBandito wrote:
NewTruthNeomaxim wrote:
Could someone look at this potential TAC list for my wife? She continues to play with her lists (while we eagerly await the collections arrival), and is building with an eye toward 1850pts.

Canoness' and Ministorum Priests are the only models that can take relics, though some relics are restricted to either only Canoness' or only Priests. Celestine comes with a fixed Wargear loadout that you can't change (like most, if not all, named characters in the game). Which means she is highly susceptible to Instant Death since she can't take the Mantle of Ophelia, so watch out for S6+.

You haven't listed it there, but I assume you know that the Inquisitor needs to be a Psyker to take a Force Sword. Personally I would drop his Needle Pistol and give him Rad Grenades instead - if he's gonna be attached to the DCA/Crusader squad it's gonna want to get into CC where the pistol is useless. Dropping Rad, Psyk-Out and Psychotroke Grenades onto a unit that you charge with DCA/Crusaders is insanely brutal. For extra brutality, put a Ministorum Priest in there to make the Crusaders have a re-rollable 3+ Invuln (take the Priest from the Sisters Codex and give him the Litanies of the Faith so you auto-pass the War Hymn test).

I prefer to have my sisters armoured up inside transports, but that's a personal choice. However I would recommend you ditch the Heavy Bolters on the Battle Sister Squads - Give them a Meltagun or Heavy Flamer instead. Heavy Bolters are not too bad when you take 4 of them and give them Rending (ie Retributor Squads) but a sole Heavy Bolter that will snap-shot if you need to move the squad is pretty useless.

The list looks fine overall though. I really like Sisters + Inquisition allies. She's got the stand out units in Exorcists, Melta-toting Dominions in Immolaters and Hand-Flamer Seraphim so you can't go too wrong. With regards to Seraphim, don't forget that since they're Jump Infantry they can Deep Strike (along with Celestine) - Deep Striking all those flamer templates with Shred on some unsuspecting backfield unit can create real headaches for opponents - especially since Celestine is no slouch in Close Combat herself (but keep her far away from Power Fists/Monstrous Creatures...).

Thanks man. Those Heavy Bolters were actually supposed to be Meltas... Don't know how that mistake snuck through, but noted, regardless.

I don't have a Codex in front of me, but do Inquisitors get to chuck all three grenades in CC? I don't know why, but I had always thought it was one speciality grenade at a time.

Also, is the Landraider transporting that Inquisitional Warband a solid idea, or would those points be better spent elsewhere? Strikes me as a lot of points for a durable delivery system that then just sits around flaming... in an army already full of cheap flame templates. Is getting that Warband to the lines intact worth that?

**Mavnas**

pretre wrote:
Mavnas wrote:
The Canoness could tank challenges in the inquisitor + conclave unit, holding off the enemy until the DCA start to have their wounds spill into the challenge. Uriah would be pointless there and Celestine isn't an EW and can't ride with them in the LR while they approach.

Uriah would give them another act of faith and fearless/counterattack. Far from pointless.

The priest already gives them fearless and the conclave has no act of faith or ability to activate it. Counter attack and 2 4++ wounds isn't worth 75 points (difference between him and an unnamed priest).

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war wrote:
Thats true, but is having a T3 EW with a 3+ better than just taking another inquisitor? If you want something to tank for you (and have space in the LR) then go with Deamon hunter Inquisitor with termi armor. If there's a priest in the unit his 2+ re-rollable is pretty impressive for tanking ap 3+ or worse attacks in hand to hand.

Idk, every time I try a Canoness i'm disappointed with her performance. the points tend to go elsewhere in my forces.

The guy in termi armor goes squish as soon as someone brings a Thunderhammer. The canonness with 4++ rerollable and EW doesn't.

**pretre**

I meant Hymn, not AoF, since Uriah doesn't have AOF.

It is worth 75 points when you're not paying 65+relic for the canoness.

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I mean, I guess you're dedicated to the canoness, I just think it's a waste.

**Mavnas**

The LR is good, but the warband should be bigger if you're dropping that many points on it.

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pretre wrote:
I meant Hymn, not AoF, since Uriah doesn't have AOF.

It is worth 75 points when you're not paying 65+relic for the canoness.

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I mean, I guess you're dedicated to the canoness, I just think it's a waste.

No, Uriah just has no place in that unit. Whether or not there's a canonness. It basically takes all the reasons someone should take him and invalidates them.

**pretre**

You're just wrong there. He saves you 25 points from another priest and 65+ points from the canoness.

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The question is really how much you want to spend on HQ and what you want them to do. If you want them to enable that unit and your FOC, Uriah is cheaper and better.

**deviantduck**

In addition, Uriah puts the 'Crazy Old Man' in 'These girls would be scarier if they had a Crazy Old Man with them' statement.

**Mavnas**

pretre wrote:
You're just wrong there. He saves you 25 points from another priest and 65+ points from the canoness.

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The question is really how much you want to spend on HQ and what you want them to do. If you want them to enable that unit and your FOC, Uriah is cheaper and better.

Uriah doesn't replace a canonness in any situation other than competition for HQ slots. Their roles couldn't be more different. Also she costs 105+.

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deviantduck wrote:
In addition, Uriah puts the 'Crazy Old Man' in 'These girls would be scarier if they had a Crazy Old Man with them' statement.

Uriah does nothing for a battle conclave that a priest with the litanies can't do cheaper and better without costing an HQ slot.

**deviantduck**

I usually have him in a bastion massaging the shoulders of retributers whilst they rain down rending heavy bolter fire.

**pretre**

Mavnas wrote:
pretre wrote:
You're just wrong there. He saves you 25 points from another priest and 65+ points from the canoness.

Automatically Appended Next Post:
The question is really how much you want to spend on HQ and what you want them to do. If you want them to enable that unit and your FOC, Uriah is cheaper and better.

Uriah doesn't replace a canonness in any situation other than competition for HQ slots. Their roles couldn't be more different. Also she costs 105+.

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deviantduck wrote:
In addition, Uriah puts the 'Crazy Old Man' in 'These girls would be scarier if they had a Crazy Old Man with them' statement.

Uriah does nothing for a battle conclave that a priest with the litanies can't do cheaper and better without costing an HQ slot.

Here's the problem. From a points efficiency standpoint, a priest and canoness is 130. Uriah is what... 100. More efficient.

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Also, the canoness does one thing. She tanks wounds. I'd rather spend less points and have things that actually do damage.

**Mavnas**

In that case the most efficient is adding 2 additional priests with power mauls to Smash. Uriah's Damage is non-existent. The Canoness can take an eviscerator, but she's still there to tank.

Uriah is best in a blob that he can give 5++ to or a squad that needs its AoF 3 times.

A Canoness is only worthwhile in a unit that will be facing the enemy's biggest beatstick.

Those two will never be the same unit.

**pretre**

Mavnas wrote:
In that case the most efficient is adding 2 additional priests with power mauls to Smash. Uriah's Damage is non-existent. The Canoness can take an eviscerator, but she's still there to tank.

Uriah is best in a blob that he can give 5++ to or a squad that needs its AoF 3 times.

A Canoness is only worthwhile in a unit that will be facing the enemy's biggest beatstick.

Those two will never be the same unit.

But now you're dropping even more points, making it even less efficient.

**Mavnas**

The battle conclave is never efficient to begin with. It works best if the enemy brought a melee deathstar at which point it needs to be strong enough to take on said deathstar. The Canoness exists to keep the SM captain with SE or equivalent busy so the DCAs and friends can pour their attacks into the. Unit. Otherwise, the enemy might just have him tank all your AP3 hits.

**pretre**

/shrug. I guess that's why I don't run conclaves.

**deviantduck**

https://www.flickr.com/photos/35046713@N02/8706257126/in/set-72157649731734196/

Who are you saying isn't a beatstick?

Beefy Jacobus disagrees.

**MrFlutterPie**

Damn! That old man has been hitting the gym

**war**

Gone are the days of the power maul/power Axe DCA squad. I use to run them with only ablative acolyte wounds because I could pretty much kill a unit per turn regardless of what it was. Now you really have to avoid 2+ armor like you would avoid a hand gernade dipped in plague.

As for Jacobus. He is best in a large sisters unit when he is the warlord, but the counterstrike and fearless bubble gives him some flexibility. He has recently become my go-to general and I've had some success with him.

I really wish that the seriphim formation wasn't apoc only. Jump troops are lords of the maelstrom missions and it would give me an excuse to bring 20 to the table.

**Mavnas**

Enough DCAs with an inquisitor will bury even 2+ with number of attacks, esp if the inquisitor has a force axe and you can spare a priest or two to smash with a maul. The unit gets expensive though, but if it can't kill each of the enemy's units 1 on 1 then it's a waste of a LR. I'm tempted to try 3 Crusader, 3 DCA +. 1 priest x3 in allied Drop pods. 150 points each for units he has to remove or run from... Might work if I drop enough other stuff or scout a bunch of doms forward.

**SisterSydney**

I point to this discussion as an example of why we desperately need more upgrade options for the Canoness.

**Mavnas**

Yeah, now I keep trying to figure out if the Mace of Valaan can be worth it if your inquisitorial henchment bring a couple daemonhosts. The problem is Fleshbane doesn't ignore armor so you'd still need to give yourself Smash. All it really helps with are T5+ enemies (or T4+ when no Rad Grenade exists).

And even then on the charge you only get 4 attacks that wound at AP2 about 72% of the time at I3. (Though on average one of them should be a precision hit that will allow you to pick off some troublesome enemy.)

Actually, this might be a chance for that new BA primaris to shine. You'd be able to buff the priest to 4 + d3 attacks at I 3 +d3, which might give you a chance to knock out enemy special weapons before they go. You could give the BA psyker Valour's Edge and with their new formation have him also swing at S5 I5 giving you 8 +d3 total AP2 attacks before enemy MEQ would swing. The problem is you still don't have someone who can survive a challenge reliably against a melee beatstick character. Your only real hope then would be that that guy has a Thunderhammer or Power Fist and you can wipe his unit and spill enough wounds into that challenge to kill him too (or be willing to throw away a priest).

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That and for all my Deathstar theory crafting I still run lists full of MSU.

**BlackTalos**

deviantduck wrote:
In addition, Uriah puts the 'Crazy Old Man' in 'These girls would be scarier if they had a Crazy Old Man with them' statement.

deviantduck wrote:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/35046713@N02/8706257126/in/set-72157649731734196/

Who are you saying isn't a beatstick?

Beefy Jacobus disagrees.

At least "Real" Jacobus looks like the old underdog in the SoB force. Creepy but you can chase him away.

The above, however, is a model i would gun down on sight if he tries to get close to anyone from the covenant.... lol. Too creepy...

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Cannot find source, but this is definitely looking good

**Mavnas**

So looking deeper into it, Smash + Mace relic + demon host should give 5 + 2d6 rerollable against vehicles. That's a decent chance to pen a knight at AP2, but even with extra attacks your priest won't singlehandedly knock it down. On the other hand the rest of that unit might be able to. There would be the 10% or so chance you'd lose everyone to the Str D blast (yay for saves being rerollable until the end of the phase, boo for a roll of 6 on str D).

**deviantduck**

unless you put it on the priest at 4++.

**Mavnas**

The priest would have a 1/6 + 1/4 * 2/3 = 1/3 chance of dying if he had to make his rerollable save, but with templates, don't you keep making saves with one model until it does then move to the next one? If so a crusader with his 1/9th chance of dying should eat it first. It all breaks down if the D portion scatters onto your unit and a 6 is rolled (you can't LOS!that part, right?)

Actually after all this, I'm thinking Mephiston buffing himself is more sensible at least for vehicle killing. I guess that brings is full circle to an expensive battle conclave + ICs with no great answer to AP2.

**Mr Morden**

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Cannot find source, but this is definitely looking good

**deviantduck**

anything new is good news.

**BlackTalos**

deviantduck wrote:
anything new is good news.

Pretty much this.

Them making an "effort" in painting new pictures and writing new fluff means that they are not forgotten. Although it still leads to the "End of Times" dread:

SisterSydney wrote:
"And then every Sister of Battle everywhere in the galaxy died, because reasons. The end."

But i'd go for the positive reason, as always!

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Mavnas wrote:
Actually after all this, I'm thinking Mephiston buffing himself is more sensible at least for vehicle killing. I guess that brings is full circle to an expensive battle conclave + ICs with no great answer to AP2.

Melta Guns? And the Battle Conclave running at something else, cause they know Termi Armour is not their thing?

I still remember the best way to get Deep Striking Terminators:
All 3 (i had 2) Exorcists in one corner of the board, moving forward while pounding the enemy every Turn.
Ultramarine player Deep Strikes awesome expensive CC Termies 3-4" behind them.

I drive 12", Flat out 6". Guess how fast they move and charge range?

Drove across craters too, and didn't roll a 1, plus he'd hidden the rest of his army out of range on the other board side, guess how the next turn went?

**Furyou Miko**

If you're taking a Canoness for a fighty unit, you really should look into the Sacred Standard of the Orders Militant.

Personally, I like the Canoness. She puts a couple more meltas into my Dominion squad and can tank a couple of wounds on her Rosarius and Eternal Warrior.

Also, there is one other unit in the army who can take a Relic: The Dialogous.

**Mavnas**

If the battle conclave can't knockout or at least tarpit the enemy's biggest, baddest unit it doesn't belong in a land raider. That said, I've been tempted to experiment with smaller battle conclaves in the 100-150 point range as distraction or counter-assault units. Those could get by without without being made of pure murder.