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Hello community,

So rencetly I've been struggling to get my Blood Angels up to par with the rest of 6th edition without having to go and buy all these models I'm being recommended (pretty much just playing with what I have) and when I heared rumors about Imperial Guard getting an update in March I believe, I was excited. I like the look and fluff of the Guard, and I thought they might be a nice complement to my BA.

But my question to you guys is what I should be getting in preperation for the codex drop? What is working for you in this edition, and what should we be expecting when the update arrives? I want to be able to have a competative list with my IG once I get my hands on them, so I should first know what works and what doesn't, right?

I really appreciate the help I'm getting from the Dakka community (most other forums aren't very nice and some don't reply as often as they should) so thanks a lot!

Straight up infantry platoons with commissars are probably the only safe bet at this point. We really have little to no idea what's gonna get changed but the rumours suggest it could be a pretty potent upheaval.

I agree, infantry platoons will not be changing all that much - they are a staple for infantry heavy guard armies. If you were looking to do a veteran mechanized army, it is safe to buy the chimeras, but I'd hold off on the veterans themselves - they are rumoured to be getting a new plastic kit and their weapon loadouts might change.

LRBT are also a safe bet, I don't think they will be touching them at all. If you a hesitant about which variant to use, pick the standand LRBT with battlecannon - it is very versatile and unlikely to change.

Thank you. So should I be aiming for a number of infantry platoons? (what is the model count for each, btw?)

The rumors are not really keeping straight. There are rumors saying FW models are coming to the GW codex, there are some saying veteran squads and command squads are totally changing (screw a Lord Commissar in a 5 man squad, he needs that IC rule), and rumors that say that Vendetta's are losing squad status and getting a price increase.

All of what I said would very drastically change builds for many of the common "competitive" builds.

Even if you do want to start building now, wait for the new vet plastic kits. They will come with all of the special weapon options. The Infantry squads now just come with flamers and grenade launchers. There is one plasma and one melta gun in the Command Squad kit, but still, you need more.

A PCS -5 models
10 man guard squad
10 man guard squad. 25 models minimum. 135 points naked.
Welcome to the guard!

 BattleCapIronblood wrote:
Thank you. So should I be aiming for a number of infantry platoons? (what is the model count for each, btw?)

Well it depends on your preferred build. You can have a minimum of 2 ten man squads and a max of 5 ten man squads in a single platoon. That totals at 55, because of the Platoon command squad. Then you can add in Heavy weapon squads, Special weapon squads, or Conscripts. For a decent blob build, you're looking at 150+ guardsmen easy.

The way guard plays most strongly right now is to take mechvets and russes and hide behind an aegis, never to leave. Guard are just too fragile now to do much more than running and hiding. Standing your ground or, emperor protect you, ADVANCING is likely to just get you killed.

The only thing I got that really broke the mould of "yet another gunline" was by spamming stormtroopers and vets with carapace to make a 95-model-4+-army. That said, I don't know how much I could suggest this for you, as both stormtroopers and have rather seriously changed in... well... every guard codex that's come out.

If you want to be more conservative in lieu of a codex update, then yeah, get yourself some infantry platoons and basic artillery or russes. How much success you'll have until then...

There's a lot that's up in the air. The IG codex has always had a lot of armor, but 6E has gone out of it's way to drastically reduce the effectiveness of armor. We've seen a couple armies get a lot of slack on that, the Xenos skimmer lists, either through enhanced cover saves+inherent jink (eldar and tau) or AV13 shields with reinforced rear armor (for defense against assault) and an extra HP on basic transports on top of Jink (Necrons). Will IG have something of the sort? Probably not. Will IG tanks be made substantially cheaper? Probably not. Ergo, I'd avoid purchases of tank kits at this time.

Infantry...you can always use infantry no matter what list you're running. Start building up all those putz lasgun guardsmen you'll need and the like, and collecting plasma/melta guns as you'll need a lot of them. an Aegis line is also basically mandatory.

I dont know what you are talking about. Can you send some blankets? And alcohol? And a stub pistol with one round?

Oh, you meant Imperial Guard players! Id buy some infantry and save money until the codex drops. Its really uncertain what the new uber unit will be.

Leman russ wont really change, eradicator or whatever the plasma one is called will probably go away.

griffon will probably be dropped. (which is sad)

Hydra will get updated.

chimera as dedicated transport will probably be 10-20 points more expensive

probably no more veteran spam or they will be more expensive

storm troopers will probably be more useful. hopefully hot shot las gun will be stregth 4 instead of 3.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 TheCustomLime wrote:
I dont know what you are talking about. Can you send some blankets? And alcohol? And a stub pistol with one round?

Oh, you meant Imperial Guard players! Id buy some infantry and save money until the codex drops. Its really uncertain what the new uber unit will be.

the big change i would like to see for the guard is that you can have more bodies in a special weapons team. Right now they are pretty useless with anything but snipers becuase their low numbers make them get gimped super fast.

Majsharan wrote:
Leman russ wont really change, eradicator or whatever the plasma one is called will probably go away.

I think we'd be very surprised if the plasma russ went away considering it's in the mainline plastic kit.

You should seriously hold off until the Inquisition codex is dropped.

It will open some options for IG that are not available now.

Majsharan wrote:
Leman russ wont really change, eradicator or whatever the plasma one is called will probably go away.

griffon will probably be dropped. (which is sad)

Hydra will get updated.

chimera as dedicated transport will probably be 10-20 points more expensive

probably no more veteran spam or they will be more expensive

storm troopers will probably be more useful. hopefully hot shot las gun will be stregth 4 instead of 3.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 TheCustomLime wrote:
I dont know what you are talking about. Can you send some blankets? And alcohol? And a stub pistol with one round?

Oh, you meant Imperial Guard players! Id buy some infantry and save money until the codex drops. Its really uncertain what the new uber unit will be.

the big change i would like to see for the guard is that you can have more bodies in a special weapons team. Right now they are pretty useless with anything but snipers becuase their low numbers make them get gimped super fast.

Thats's odd..

The Leman Russ Executioner is most certainly not 'going away' any time soon. Why the heck would they include it in the new Leman Russ Demolisher/Punisher/Executioner kit if it was going to be removed as an option?

Similarly: Why would we be having rumors of a new Chimera based kit that contains parts to make it either a Salamander or Griffon (and possibly Colossus) tanks if they were about to remove the Griffon as an option? Makes no sense to be honest.

I doubt the Chimera is going to get much of a points increase, if any. But you may be right. We'll see.

Veterans may get a slight point hike, but the rumor I've heard is that you'll only have two special or heavy weapons per veteran squad (one per five models), so depending on what weapons you run, the point difference from now to the new codex will likely be negligible at best.

I do hope storm troopers are more viable, they certainly get out preformed in every way currently by Veteran Squads. Having them be able to take up to three special weapons would be a nice way to distinguish them from Veteran Squads only having two special (or heavy) weapons max.

Lastly, I disagree on special weapon squads being too small. I run two fire teams of six models, two armed with Flamers, one armed with a Demo Charge and a Lasgun, and three Lasgunners. They are remarkably effective when dropped out of a Vendetta. The smaller squad size also helps when you deep strike and have to try and land them in the thick of it so they can use their flamers and demo charge to good effect (if they don't scatter too much and/or mishap, obviously).

Just my thoughts.

Take it easy.

-Red__Thirst-

 Vaktathi wrote:

Majsharan wrote:
Leman russ wont really change, eradicator or whatever the plasma one is called will probably go away.

I think we'd be very surprised if the plasma russ went away considering it's in the mainline plastic kit.

Just in terms of the fluff it seems like it should go away soon as an option to take. if not this edition than 7th.

same with my thinking on the griffon. the codex says that fewere and fewer regiments are using it and that losses are no longer being replaced. seems like if its not gone this edition it should be gone in 7th. Although i hope not, i think its the best option for arty for games 1000 points or lower. i mean you get 3 of them for 225 points thats a lot of hurt for 225 points.

to me the one of the biggest changes that need to be made is that rough riders have swords but keep their las pistols so that they have 2 melee weapons after they use their hunting lances.

Guard hasn't always been a vehicle heavy army. The last codex had exactly 4 vehicles in it (5, if you want to count the demolisher as separate from the LRBT).

Of course, as mentioned, they have a plastic kit for them all now. Anything that has a plastic kit isn't going away. Of course, that doesn't necessarily mean the "newer" stuff is going to be the same as when it was the older stuff.

Majsharan wrote:

 Vaktathi wrote:

Majsharan wrote:
Leman russ wont really change, eradicator or whatever the plasma one is called will probably go away.

I think we'd be very surprised if the plasma russ went away considering it's in the mainline plastic kit.

Just in terms of the fluff it seems like it should go away soon as an option to take. if not this edition than 7th.

Why? What's wrong with it?

same with my thinking on the griffon. the codex says that fewere and fewer regiments are using it and that losses are no longer being replaced. seems like if its not gone this edition it should be gone in 7th.

unless they expand the timeline...why? Everything Imperial is disappearing slowly in the fluff, Imperial borders, space marines, terminator armor, vanquishers, etc.

according to the current codex it says its a very rare relic. i think the official fluff beyond that is only ryza makes them and keeps most of them for its self.

by my logic with the other posts, the vanquisher should be gone too as the last forge world that could make it went bye bye.

realistically the imperium would probably replace it with twin linked las cannons or 2 sets of twin linked las cannons

Majsharan wrote:
by my logic with the other posts, the vanquisher should be gone too as the last forge world that could make it went bye bye.

Nope. Vanquishers are currently in production on several other forge worlds, they're just rare and supply never meets the demand for them.

Anyway, nothing with a plastic kit is going away, which means all of the LRBT variants will be in the new codex.

I really hope the vanquisher gets a twin link buff or just flat up to bs 4. I really want to use them but they suck balls.

The rumours really are all over the place, so I'd wager the only safe bets are men (The Guard always needs men!) grabbing some Commissars might not be a bad idea, they're metal, but with plastic character being 2x as expensive, and the metal models are actually half decent, they'd be a safe, frugal investment.

As for armour, I think the Russ is also a pretty safe investment; exactly which variant to build is a little more nebulous, but since vehicles are, in general, less desirable, fewer armies bring reliable means to crack open AV 14. My Leman Russ tanks have performed well in all variations, particularly against the new hotness of Eldar/Tau; they just don't have long-range AT, and since a Russ should be sitting back or well supported against those various AT weapons, they act as an excellent equalizer.

the "Sacred Cows" unlikely to change much are the standard battle tank, and likely the Demolisher. Vindicators in all their styles haven't really changed, and seeing as the demolisher is merely a better armoured, less mobile version thereof, there's no precedent to change it much, and it's a cost effective, if somewhat riskier tank to use due to its short range gun. Shame the standard turret is so bloody ugly.

Basically, in terms of wanting to save yourself money, if there's any metal models you want, grab them now, characters in particular (applies to Finecast as well), as the existant plastics are unlikely to change with one notable exception; the Basillisk. it's a mediocre choice at present unless used en-masse, at which point it becomes points intensive to field, but it might see some love in the next book, and is currently not in general production. As the plastic multikits are always more expensive, if you want to run men & artillery (a valid enough tactic in of itself), it would not be a bad idea to grab one or two now to save yourself some money later.

 MajorStoffer wrote:


Basically, in terms of wanting to save yourself money, if there's any metal models you want, grab them now, characters in particular (applies to Finecast as well), as the existant plastics are unlikely to change with one notable exception; the Basillisk. it's a mediocre choice at present unless used en-masse, at which point it becomes points intensive to field, but it might see some love in the next book, and is currently not in general production. As the plastic multikits are always more expensive, if you want to run men & artillery (a valid enough tactic in of itself), it would not be a bad idea to grab one or two now to save yourself some money later.

the minimum range for the basilisk to use its large blast attack is simply too long. On most tables you might get 2 shots with it before you are forced to use its direct attack which while a nice attack is not worth the points. As i said in a different post I think griffons are a better choice unless you are playing a high points game and therefore a larger table.

Majsharan wrote:
the minimum range for the basilisk to use its large blast attack is simply too long. On most tables you might get 2 shots with it before you are forced to use its direct attack which while a nice attack is not worth the points. As i said in a different post I think griffons are a better choice unless you are playing a high points game and therefore a larger table.

I don't think you understand how artillery works. You always use the large blast template, the only thing that happens inside 36" is that you no longer subtract your BS from the scatter distance.

 Peregrine wrote:

Majsharan wrote:
the minimum range for the basilisk to use its large blast attack is simply too long. On most tables you might get 2 shots with it before you are forced to use its direct attack which while a nice attack is not worth the points. As i said in a different post I think griffons are a better choice unless you are playing a high points game and therefore a larger table.

I don't think you understand how artillery works. You always use the large blast template, the only thing that happens inside 36" is that you no longer subtract your BS from the scatter distance.

lol well gak, i have been misreading that rule for like 3 years now then. when it says "regular ordinance" i thought it meant like an autocannon or something. *hurries off to rebuild list*

Smokeydubbs wrote:
The rumors are not really keeping straight. There are rumors saying FW models are coming to the GW codex, there are some saying veteran squads and command squads are totally changing (screw a Lord Commissar in a 5 man squad, he needs that IC rule), and rumors that say that Vendetta's are losing squad status and getting a price increase.

All of what I said would very drastically change builds for many of the common "competitive" builds.

Even if you do want to start building now, wait for the new vet plastic kits. They will come with all of the special weapon options. The Infantry squads now just come with flamers and grenade launchers. There is one plasma and one melta gun in the Command Squad kit, but still, you need more.

the Command Squad boxes also have Heavy flamer and Sniper rifle options too.