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Finishing up my Sternguard squad and cannot decide between taking two combi-gravs or two combi-plasmas, both are ideal for killing a MC and TEQ which special ammunition may struggle with. As I see it the pros and cons go like this:
Plasma
-Longer range
-Greater strength

Grav
-More Shots
-No overheat

Plasma has extra range and utility, but grav has more shots and don't over heat. What everyones opinions on this?

Grav only has more shots if the unit hasn't moved or if it has relentless which is why it is an ideal choice on bikes/centurions. If the unit moves it is only 9" range and gets 2 shots compared to 2 shots at 12" for plasma, and the plasma is going to be wounding most things on a 2+ or 3+ anyway. It isn't so much that grav is bad on Sternguard, but there are other units in the codex which make much better use of it.

I would probably go for combi-melta over both of them
but since you ask, i would choose grav, just because i am prone to rolling 1's..

Usually I run pods half combi flamer half combi melta, or combi plasma/combi melta

I don't think pods and grav weapons really work well, since you lose out on that extra shot.

If you use UM tactics, you can re-roll all the 1's in your plasma anyway, and any dropped tactical marines reroll all misses...

You running flamers in the unit? If you are, the range for the grav is not that big a deal. But I'd run plasma on any non-relentless source over grav guns.

I'm running them with Iron Hands or (Red Scorpions) CT, with two heavy flamer in a Rhino or Razorback as predominantly infantry/MC hunters so anti-tank isn't a concern for this unit. As they aren't in a drop pod, I'm guessing range is somewhat more important so I think I'm swinging towards the plasma

spartiatis wrote:
I would probably go for combi-melta over both of them
but since you ask, i would use plasma, because you don't have relentless.

Fixed that for you.

Also, what if you run into Orks or some other unit that has low armor? The Grav guns are pretty much worthless against targets like that, where the Plasma doesn't care.

Combi-Melta/Plasma/Flamer unless it is on a Relentless unit.

 BlkTom wrote:
Also, what if you run into Orks or some other unit that has low armor? The Grav guns are pretty much worthless against targets like that, where the Plasma doesn't care.

I'm adding these two combi weapons mainly as a failsafe in case they get into short range of any MCs, for pretty much every other target they will use special ammunition as why I'm only taking 2 combis any more would be overkill and too expensive given in my list their ideal role isn't for killing MCs or vehicles.

On that though I think its fairly settled on Combi-plamsa then for the extra range and otherwise almost identical killing power
So the squad ends up as

Sternguard Veteran Squad (x10) 285
Power Axe
Heavy Flamer
Heavy Flamer
Combi-plasma
Combi-plasma

Will probally run them with a Librarian with Shield Eternal and Mastery level 2 for 140 points

 BlkTom wrote:
Also, what if you run into Orks or some other unit that has low armor? The Grav guns are pretty much worthless against targets like that, where the Plasma doesn't care.

I wouldn't put it like that. Paying 15 points AND dealing with "Gets Hot!" for wounding on 2's instead of 4's is a lousy deal. You might not care that you're firing plasmas at orks, but I very much do. If I'm paying for that firepower, I want to fire it at something that deserves it.

Most Orks are armor 6, so your wounding on 6s unless they have Eavy Armor (and few get that option) or Meganobz. Most IG are 5+, Eldar Guardians are 5+, DA are 4+. Don't know Crons, Tau, or Nids, but I am sure most of their armor saves are 5+ or 6+. Demons don't even have a Armor save, so you need 6s to wound them as well. A lot of power armor out there though. My point is that there are bad match ups for Grav guns, and almost no bad match ups for Plasma.

And Grav guns are not that great against vehicles, while Plasma is Str 7 which can pop most transports or thin armor on heavier vehicles. You can drop plasma behind Ork Battle wagons, IG Leman Russes, or Eldar Wave Serpents and still be effective.

Grav on any non-Relentless platform is an automatic no-go. You just have to get too close and even then you lose shots.

Powercream wrote:
Grav only has more shots if the unit hasn't moved or if it has relentless which is why it is an ideal choice on bikes/centurions. If the unit moves it is only 9" range and gets 2 shots compared to 2 shots at 12" for plasma, and the plasma is going to be wounding most things on a 2+ or 3+ anyway. It isn't so much that grav is bad on Sternguard, but there are other units in the codex which make much better use of it.

Grav weapons are salvo, not rapid fire. Check the BRB to see how Salvo works again.

Grav-weapon flow chart:
Is it a bike?
If yes, put grav-guns on it.
If no, don't.

Is it a grav pistol?
Then never put it on anything.
Unless its a foot captain, in which case take two and gunsling away.

Sternguard are better with Plasma or melta than they are with grav weapons, simply because they don't get the most out of the weapons.

 McNinja wrote:

Powercream wrote:
Grav only has more shots if the unit hasn't moved or if it has relentless which is why it is an ideal choice on bikes/centurions. If the unit moves it is only 9" range and gets 2 shots compared to 2 shots at 12" for plasma, and the plasma is going to be wounding most things on a 2+ or 3+ anyway. It isn't so much that grav is bad on Sternguard, but there are other units in the codex which make much better use of it.

Grav weapons are salvo, not rapid fire. Check the BRB to see how Salvo works again.

Grav-weapon flow chart:
Is it a bike?
If yes, put grav-guns on it.
If no, don't.

Is it a grav pistol?
Then never put it on anything.
Unless its a foot captain, in which case take two and gunsling away.

Sternguard are better with Plasma or melta than they are with grav weapons, simply because they don't get the most out of the weapons.

While tangental to the original topic, I think grav pistols pair well with unwieldy weapons. Mostly for getting a concussive wound in before the charge, allowing you to strike at the same time. If you are the kind of person who would use plasma pistols, they compare well. 15 points is to many to spend IMHO, but they have a place.