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so 5 cammand squad with melta guns (not combi meltas like sterngaurd) with a drop pod is cheaper than 5 sterngaurd in drop pod with 5 combi meltas.
and if they do survive by some miracle can shoot those meltas again, unlike sterngaurd who only have one go at it.
cammand squad also dont take up a force org slot.

i havnt seen anyone use this before.... is there a reason? seams really good to me.

Well, people like the special ammo that Sternguard get, so there's that.

For Melta, Command squad os better. Five melta shots is enough to reliably slag a Land Raider, so more is on a diminishing return.

For plasma or grav, Its Sternguard, Combi weapons are cheaper than the actual gun and you typically need more than five guns to kill a riptide, wraithknight or full squad of Terminators. In addition, the SIA compliments plasma and grav while it does nothing for melta.

Sternguard can combat squad and kill two tanks and take 3-5 combi-melta per combat squad. They can also throw two kraks instead of one or none.

 Tyberos the Red Wake wrote:
Sternguard can combat squad and kill two tanks and take 3-5 combi-melta per combat squad. They can also throw two kraks instead of one or none.

Good point.
However it's my belief that Sternguard are much better targetting "organic" targets because their special ammo works alongside any combi weapon.

I think a 1:1 ratio of Grav to Plasma would be pretty deadly to anything with wounds.

Sternguard really shoudlnt be used for anti-tank anymore, at least in pods. way too expensive

You're essentially throwing away the special ammunition beacuse they will, more than likely, get annihilated in response.

Furthermore for the cost id much rather have a 5 man tactical marine pod with meltagun/combi -melta

much cheaper, and get 2!

While sternguard still rock in pods, they're best in an anti-MC role which is cheaper, lets you save those combi points for more bodies, and better at taking down the current meta anyways (wraithknights, riptides, demons)

 Wilytank wrote:
Well, people like the special ammo that Sternguard get, so there's that.

For me the special ammo is the reason why they are pointless as a suicide anti-tank squad.

A plain 5 melta Command Squad has been the go-to anti-tank suicide-pod squad for me.

The Sternguard do have the advantage of not requiring a Captain/Librarian/Chaplain to unlock though.

 AlmightyWalrus wrote:
The Sternguard do have the advantage of not requiring a Captain/Librarian/Chaplain to unlock though.

But the chances are you are taking one of the above anyway. I know the Chapter Master has become more popular, but captains aren't the tax they used to be, and most armies can fit a librarian in somewhere. Chaplains are a little more situational, but you are very likely to take a captain or libby.

Was the Captain the only option to unlock a Command Squad in 5th?

 Paradigm wrote:

 AlmightyWalrus wrote:
The Sternguard do have the advantage of not requiring a Captain/Librarian/Chaplain to unlock though.

But the chances are you are taking one of the above anyway. I know the Chapter Master has become more popular, but captains aren't the tax they used to be, and most armies can fit a librarian in somewhere. Chaplains are a little more situational, but you are very likely to take a captain or libby.

There's also a bunch of named Characters that you could be taking. I know Librarians are rather ubiquitous, but there's still armies without them.

 AlmightyWalrus wrote:

 Paradigm wrote:

 AlmightyWalrus wrote:
The Sternguard do have the advantage of not requiring a Captain/Librarian/Chaplain to unlock though.

But the chances are you are taking one of the above anyway. I know the Chapter Master has become more popular, but captains aren't the tax they used to be, and most armies can fit a librarian in somewhere. Chaplains are a little more situational, but you are very likely to take a captain or libby.

There's also a bunch of named Characters that you could be taking. I know Librarians are rather ubiquitous, but there's still armies without them.

The Emperor's Champion is the only non-chapter-master who doesn't have access to a command squad, all the cap/libby/chap characters still unlock them. Calgar, Helbrecht and Kantor get Honour Guard as they are Chapter Masters.

Ive been using the command pod meltacide since codex DA allowed this. Add a cheap div lib for extra melta madness. I use Sternguard more as a counter punch in my endzone.

Largo39 wrote:
Sternguard really shoudlnt be used for anti-tank anymore, at least in pods. way too expensive

Seriously.

Riptides bringing TL Ion Cannons with intercept and ignore cover means both of them will be annihilated before they can shoot.
The only viable option for that role is LotD with melta, MM and combi-melta. This should be ran in conjunction with Vulcan if your wanting to go that route.

Now the question you need to ask yourself is how critical that anti-heavy armor squad is. If your just shooting at riptides/wraithknights your better off with grav guns on bikes 18" away. That melta squad is really designed to kill vehicles or double out t4 targets. It will do a heck of a number against broadsides, for example.

Since LotD ignore cover, 3 shots (preferably TL) should wreck any serpent that has shot its shield off and has not hidden its rear arc. If your opponent is not shooting off his shields from fear of LotD drops -- your already ahead of the game.

So do you even want to take drop-melta? Well, that depends on your meta.

Sternguard are more expensive, but can engage two targets on the drop, as well as engage two targets on the drop. Sternguard can also engage enemy infantry of a variety of stripes, even without any special weapons remaining.

Command squads have some additional options for increased survivability, room in the pod for an IC even when at full capacity, and are cheaper if you are just going anti-tank.

I think they can both do the job to a functional degree. This might be one of those situations where you may want to run it both ways and see which option works best for you.

Command Squad is better for killing vehicles. Sterngaurd are more well-rounded, though.

Lucarikx

 labmouse42 wrote:


So do you even want to take drop-melta? Well, that depends on your meta.

You could spend those points on Lacannon Tac squads, maybe with TLLC Razorback support. Gives you more turns to get that damage in, but you are less likely to grab first blood I think.