Why do people take Psyfleman dreads?

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**Sir Arun**

So a psyfleman dread with 2 autocannons and psybolt ammunition clocks in at 140 points.

The big argument here, is that you can move and fire 4 S8 AP4 shots at 48"

But I was thinking...why not invest those points in a purgation squad instead?

For 140 points, you get 5 guys with 2 Psycannons. That's 8 S7 AP4 shots at 24", all of which are rending.

Okay, so they:

1) cant move and shoot to that extent (if they move and shoot its only 4 S7 AP4 rending shots at 24")

2) only have half range

3) are more vulnerable to enemy fire (it isnt that hard to kill five 3+ save dudes compared to a 3HP AV12 walker)

but given that 6th edition's meta has shifted to lighter enemy armor, dont you think the additional firepower the Purgation squad packs over the psyfleman dread and the fact that all their shots are rending means they are a better HS slot occupation? Plus for an additional 40 points you can always scale up their firepower by two additional psycannons, so thats 8 more S7 rending shots

**Kain**

A purgation squad is one markerlit riptide or heldrake away from not existing anymore.

A Psyfledread is somewhat more resilient.

Also, having to be in 24'' with MEQs as expensive as psycannon wielding purgation squads really sucks.

**TheCaptain**

Sir Arun wrote:

1) cant move and shoot to that extent (if they move and shoot its only 4 S7 AP4 rending shots at 24")

2) only have half range

3) are more vulnerable to enemy fire (it isnt that hard to kill five 3+ save dudes compared to a 3HP AV12 walker)

You pretty much said it here.

1) If you move you're getting 4 S7 Rending shots, vs 4 S8 Twin Linked shots.

2) You have to be much further upfield for a Psycannon squad to have good target saturation, meaning they are easily avoided.

3) They can be killed by small arms fire, and anti-MEQ weaponry is widely available/used, which will wipe them quickly.

**Sir Arun**

Ahh. I forgot the twin-link. That settles it then.

**ansacs**

Also there is the reinforced aegis. That thing is horrific against psyker based armies.

Due to TL the psyrifle dread is one of the best nightscythe killers in the codex. It is your AA for most armies.

The biggest thing though is that a 48" range keeps you alive. A 24" range means that to shoot anything you need to be in range of all the opponent's guns.

**Martel732**

Because 48" is awesome. That's why.

**Ailaros**

As you say, they have short range, which means attacking less-than-ideal targets, being out of range of more-ideal targets, and having to expose yourself more. Plus, I'd trust the durability of AV12 in cover way more than 5 MEq.

Also, as mentioned, you're forgetting twin-linked.

Not that there aren't uses for purgation squads here (though I'd think psycannon interceptors would be better), but people like psyflemen because they're easier to use and do more reliable damage.

**Neorealist**

That and that extra point of strength is the difference between instant-deathing MEQs and not which is usually handy. (not to mention Strength 8 will penetrate AV12 or lower more reliably than rending Strength 7 does)

to sum:
it's
Reliable (twin-linked)
Effective (Strength 8 wounds on a 2+ against most things in the game)
Plentiful (4 shots)
and
Efficient (Doesn't cost a whole lot of points, especially not for the psi-ammunition)

It's mostly that last one: Auto-cannon dreads are not as widely taken in other armies that I've noticed, though I suspect there are other factors there as well.

**Sir Arun**

I notice a recent trend in where the good stuff always lacks models in one way or another.

**Mythra**

I haven't actually seen people using dreads lately. They are on the outs.

**meh_**

Don't forget the psychic defence.

**PipeAlley**

As an Ork player, having something be able to strike reliably at 48" versus the rest to the codex at 24" is huge, much like Grey Knights.

Of course ours is Str 7 which does not prevent FNP on T4 models which there is quite a bit out there. So yeah, those dress are still pretty good.

**Exergy**

It's the 48" range. In an army lacking much longer than 24"

**Kain**

Neorealist wrote:
That and that extra point of strength is the difference between instant-deathing MEQs and not which is usually handy. (not to mention Strength 8 will penetrate AV12 or lower more reliably than rending Strength 7 does)

to sum:
it's
Reliable (twin-linked)
Effective (Strength 8 wounds on a 2+ against most things in the game)
Plentiful (4 shots)
and
Efficient (Doesn't cost a whole lot of points, especially not for the psi-ammunition)

It's mostly that last one: Auto-cannon dreads are not as widely taken in other armies that I've noticed, though I suspect there are other factors there as well.

Having S8 over S7 for rather few points is pretty huge for autocannons, especially for the pittance psy-ammunition asks